[This reflection by Dennis Ginter was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 24/Aug/2025]
I’ve had this on my mind for several weeks. Reading some of the 19th century ‘Unspoken Sermons’ of George McDonald (not light reading!), I was convinced perhaps, of his most important principle: to PUT OFF obeying the Father’s instruction is the same as DISOBEYING it.
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[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 03/Aug/2025]
In our entrance hall at home we have a small ceramic plaque showing the word “SHALOM” which we bought on a visit to Israel. The word means basically peace or tranquillity, as I remember a sermon about it one Sunday. At the time of our visit to that land there was peace in and around Israel, although it is hard to imagine that today.
We even visited the Palestinian Territories and also stayed in a Palestinian hotel for a week before moving on to an Israeli hotel on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. I don’t think I would like to go there today even if I could now, at least not until Jesus, the Prince of Peace, returns to rule over a cleansed, forgiven and redeemed Israel, and also reign over the whole world. Then there will be true peace everywhere.
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[This reflection by Dennis Ginter was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 13/Jul/2025]
We have recently enjoyed a week of beautiful weather and familiar surroundings in Dorset! While sitting at an outside table overlooking the water, the three of us started talking about church stuff – as you do. On the Sunday, Chris and I visited a large church in Christchurch which friends had recommended. They called it a ‘Spirit-filled’ church.
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[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 15/Jun/2025]
Last week on Pentecost Sunday we were reminded that the resurrected and ascended Jesus poured out His Holy Spirit into His early followers. That was the birth of the Church of which we are a part, and gave each one of us various gifts of the Spirit to serve Him in His kingdom.
I remember that in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s there was a mini pouring out of His Spirit in which He showed His power in the Church. The many ways in which He showed Himself were surprising and unbelievable. I can remember falling to the ground in a service and found myself lying in God’s arms, and we were saying how much we loved each other.
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[This reflection by Martin Shorey was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 08/Jun/2025]
“What’s in a name?” Juliet famously asked in Shakespeare’s tale of two star-crossed lovers, suggesting that a name is ultimately meaningless – that it doesn’t define a person’s true nature.
But the Bible tells a different story.
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