Posts Tagged: ‘John’

What A Weekend!

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during April 2025]

Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Saviour,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

From a secular point of view, Easter is over for another year but that is not so for sincere Christians for whom the events at Easter are the primary and constant focus of our faith. The writer to the Hebrews urges us to remember Easter throughout the year:

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12 v2 [NIVUK]

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys

Why Are People Not Interested?

[This reflection by Dennis Ginter was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 06/Apr/2025]

I’ve been thinking a lot about reaching out into our community, and in particular the way Jesus touched so many lives.

A great example is found in the story of Jesus and the woman at the well (in John’s gospel Chapter 4), Jesus (1) strikes up a conversation, (2) does something amazing, and THEN (3) speaks life-changing words to her. He caught her attention in a personal conversation, ‘read her mail’, revealed his identity to her, and offered her eternal life (living water). (more…)

Contributor: Dennis Ginter

Thy Will Be Done

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during February 2025]

Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Luke 11 v2 [NKJV]

This extract from the template prayer that Jesus taught his disciples is ingrained in the minds of many people, not just in what we might call Christendom but also in its Jewish and Islamic equivalents. The prayer itself is often recited verbatim in the churches of many denominations but in essence it is an example of how our prayers should be constructed.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys

I Have Prayed For You

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during January 2025]

Our title comes from the words of Jesus as recorded by the gospel-writer Luke. At the end of his last supper together with his disciples, Jesus spoke to them about the difficulties ahead. In particular, he addressed Simon Peter.

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
Luke 22 v31-32 [NIVUK]

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys

Knowing You, Jesus

[This reflection by David Makanjuola was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 12/Jan/2025]

During the sermon on Sunday, Martin talked about looking away from ourselves and the difficult situations we might find ourselves in, but to look up to God for His help and then to look around us and recognise the plight of others and seek to help them.

A similar comment about looking up to God is found in Psalm 121. Verses 1 and 2 state, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
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Contributor: David Makanjuola

Love came down at Christmas

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during December 2024]

Where do I begin to tell the story of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea?

These words, composed by lyricist Carl Sigman, were written to give a vocal counterpart to the theme from the 1970 film, ‘Love Story’. Various artists have made both the tune and the lyrics very popular. But can there really be a ‘love that is older than the sea’? (more…)

Contributor: Steve Humphreys