Posts Tagged: ‘Matthew’

Great Blessings, Great Risk

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during November 2026]

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Luke 12 v48 [NIVUK]

In some social circles the opulent display of worldly wealth can bring admiration and an encouragement for others to emulate such success. However, it can also arouse jealousy and attract the attention of people with intentions of a less noble variety. Equally importantly, being blessed with worldly success can bring a risk of pride or complacency.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Did You Get the Message?

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during October 2026]

For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.
Malachi 2 v7 [NIVUK]

In some Christian churches the weekly sermons are called ‘Messages’. The understanding is that the words of the preacher have been inspired by the Holy Spirit, albeit that they are being delivered by a fallible human.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Are You Listening?

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during October 2026]

He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’
Psalm 46 v10 [NIVUK]

Stillness and its companion, silence, are increasingly rare experiences in our modern world. Even those who do not live close to a major airport or a motorway will always be aware of the persistent intrusion of movement and noise around us.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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All We Like Sheep

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during September 2026]

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53 v6 [NKJV]

As a general rule, people do not take kindly to being likened to sheep. However, there are some semblances which help to justify the description. Like sheep, we prefer to move with the crowd, we tend to repeat our mistakes and we often think the grass is greener elsewhere.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Those Pesky, No, Those Blessed Interruptions

[This reflection by David Makanjuola was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 23/Aug/2026]

You must have had those days….. You find that you are running a bit late and then someone says something like “Ah, just the person. Have you got a couple of minutes?”, or “Oh could you please tell me how to get to …?”

Much as you’d like to help, you feel that you really can’t. If you do stop to help, it’s hard to hide the fact that you’re doing this reluctantly. Can’t they see that you’re busy, that this is an inconvenient time?
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Contributor: David Makanjuola
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And The Rest

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during July 2026]

All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest.
Ecclesiastes 2 v23 [NIVUK]

We have all, at some time or another, had the experience of lying awake when we want to be in the land of Nod. Sleep eludes us, to be replaced by persistent worries or mental gymnastics beyond our daytime capabilities; our only consolation is that we are not sharing the experiences described by the Lord Chancellor in ‘Iolanthe’.[1] Even Job started to lose his patience:

I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.
Job 3 v26 [NIVUK]

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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