[This reflection by Dennis Ginter was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 08/Nov/2026]
A couple of Sundays ago, Rob Bell drew our attention to the rich variety in our church. We are people of every race, nationality, economic background, education, sexual orientation …and AGE! I’m going to be 87 next spring and, naturally, I’ve begun to consider that fact.
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[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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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2026]
That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water-carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose.
Joshua 9 v27 [NIVUK]
Last week we considered the implications of making promises from the perspective of the promise maker; our case study was based on the incidents recorded in the book of Joshua, chapters 9 and 10. However, the relationship between the Israelites and the Gibeonites did not end with the former rescuing the latter in a memorable and miraculous battle.
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during March 2026]
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11 v25-26 [ESVUK]
Jesus was speaking to Martha whose brother, Lazarus, had died. His death provided the context for Jesus to make that declaration of the way of salvation. The statement is, at the same time time, both simple and extremely profound. The simplicity can be recognised in the words that Jesus had spoken to Nicodemus on an earlier occasion:
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[This reflection by David Makanjuola was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 25/Jan/2026]
I received a lovely Christmas present – a journal. It looks really upmarket; the sort of journal you want to make sure you don’t make any spelling mistakes in as you write. Each blank page invitingly encourages you to fill it in with … Yes, that’s the problem. Fill it in with what?
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[This reflection by David Makanjuola was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 07/Dec/2025]
How was your week? Before you say “fine”, or “oh, not too bad” – the reflex answers, let me tell you about mine.
It started off with going to work on Monday. It was busy, but actually not that bad. Tuesday was a bit more difficult as things were a bit difficult with a work colleague, and as the week progressed the interaction, which had cooled, became ‘definitely frosty’ as the interactions became more difficult. Initially I tried to carry on as if nothing was happening, but after a few days, I was not just frustrated, but was beginning to get angry at what I thought was now quite disrespectful behaviour.
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