[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2026]
After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise.
Joshua 10 v9 [NIVUK]
In 1405BC, the route from Gilgal (near Jericho in the Jordan River valley) to Gibeon (in the central Judean highlands) was a gruelling, uphill march of approximately 15 to 20 miles. So why did he do it? And who are ‘them’?
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during May 2026]
Sages, leave your contemplations [1]
During the current sermon series on Sunday mornings the congregation at HBC has been considering various types of prayer, including prayers of adoration, petition, intercession and, more recently, contemplation. The latter may be the remit of sages and hermits but, for us, pausing for contemplation brings its own challenges.
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during April 2026]
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isaiah 55 v1 [ESVUK]
In the UK the 21st April has been designated as National Tea Day. Whether your preference is the scent of Earl Grey or the real taste of Yorkshire, this date gives us an excuse for an extra ‘cuppa’. A cup of tea is an excellent aid when reading the Scriptures so it is particularly disappointing that there is no mention of tea, as we know it, in the Bible.
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during April 2026]
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy’. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Matthew 5 v43-44 [ESVUK]
These words come from Matthew’s account of the teachings of Jesus collectively known as the Sermon on the Mount. He was speaking in the context of a nation under occupation at a time when there was no shortage of enemies and persecution.
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[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 29/Mar/2026]
‘Connect in Faith’ has recently been looking at the names or titles of Jesus and I have been struck by how often these names were given to him by people outside the Jewish faith. It was astrologers from the East who first called him a king (Matthew 2:2) and a Roman centurion who called him Lord (Matthew 8:6).
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[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 22/Mar/2026]
There is no doubt that Jesus first came to this world at the best time, as He had decided. The city of Rome and its emperors ruled over a vast empire including Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and our country too. The Romans had built a massive road network for their army to keep control over the whole area, and as a result there was peace over the whole empire. If God was going to bring the truth of His Kingdom into the world in people’s hearts it was 2000 years ago.
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