Sunday 14 September 2025: Matthew 25:14-30

The Parable of the Ten Talents

The master was clearly a wealthy man to be able to give away that amount, and he entrusted the gold with his servants. He was also trusting them that they knew him and what he would want them to do with his wealth. The first two servants clearly knew what was expected of them. They put the gold to good use and traded it to gain profit for their master and for this foresight they were richly rewarded. They were praised and given even more responsibility. However, the third servant was afraid and mistrusted that his master will be merciful to him. This does not motivate him to do more for his master, instead he is just focused on ensuring he can give him back what was given to him. This lack of trust and his fear, leads to him being scolded and punished.

When you were a child were you ever told that you could be anything you wanted to be. Maybe an astronaut, the prime minister, a scuba diver, etc. Well, the truth is that this just isn’t true. Why? Because the gifts we have and the things we are good at may not match the skills needed for what we aspire to. So, what ends up happening as we grow older is that we find ourselves taking on roles that play to our strengths. God gives us gifts to be who we are. Some of us are good at teaching, some of us are good with figures, some of us maybe good at planning, and some good at music. Whatever your abilities, they are given from God and can be used for God. We can see the glory in God when we use the gifts He has given us to do His work.

In some versions of the Bible gold is translated as talents, which although is a monetary term, is useful for us to think of them as gifts or abilities. Now did you notice in the reading that the servants were not given the same talents, but they were given them according to their abilities. Therefore, the one who was given 5 talents was given them because his master knew he could cope with looking after that large sum of money. Now what this shows us is that life is not equal. We do not all get the same. That may be a little unfair you may be thinking, but that does not mean that it is not fair. What would have been unfair was if the master treated them all equal and gave some of them way too much responsibility that they could not cope. Instead, the master knows them so well that he gives them just the right amount of responsibility according to their abilities. This is the same with God. He does not dish out gifts in equal amounts, but He is fair and gives us just what we need. In Romans 2:11 it says – ‘For God does not show favouritism.’ So while God may not treat us all equally, He is still fair. Like the master in our reading.

Jesus was using this parable to teach that when the Lord returns there will be true servants of Christ and there will be false servants. It is clear to see that the example He uses shows Jesus as the master, and the long journey could be referred to as the period between the two comings of Christ – the first as a man and the second still to come. The three servants represent those living to represent the interests of the absent Lord and are given responsibilities that match their abilities.

When Jesus describes the return of the master, He is referring to Himself and the second coming and the blessings and judgement that will lead to salvation for the righteous and damnation for the wicked.

The first two servants were rewarded for their good judgement of using their abilities to the best use. Verses 21 and 23 say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

The test of their service to their master was not how much they earned, but how hard they tried. They used their abilities to the full and earned 100% of what they put in. They were excited to show their master what they had produced. When was the last time you were excited about something you had done for the Lord? These two servants represent true believers whose reward will be to enjoy the blessings of His eternal kingdom. That should be our goal, not to just sit back and think we have made it, we are going to heaven. We should be constantly working for God and seeking His blessing.

However, the third servant had nothing but insults and excuses towards his master. He accused him of being a ‘hard master’, being unreasonable, and reaping where he had not sown and gathering where he had not scattered. In blaming the master for his lack of work, he made excuses that he was scared and therefore buried the gold. He was an unbeliever and not a genuine servant and this led to his rebuke.

Rather than agreeing with the accusations made by the servant, in verses 26 and 27 the master made a very valid point. If he was guilty of the things that the servant accused him of, then surely the best thing to have done would be to actually put his money to work for him. Therefore, instead of being a valid excuse, the servant further condemns himself and his one bag of gold is taken from him and given to the one who has ten already. Now you may think that is a little unfair to take from the man who has the least and give it to the man who has the most, but remember we have already said that God does not treat us equally, but He is fair and just. Let’s just think about this situation for one minute. The servant with the one talent did not bother to do anything with it, why therefore would the master leave him with it. He wants to put his money to work and as such decides to entrust it with the one who was the most fruitful. That is how you maximise any investment. And this is how God enables His kingdom to grow. Verse 29 says, ^‘For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them’. 

Those of us who desire and are willing to be used for God’s glory are equipped with the means to do so. It is not through our own strength, power, intelligence, determination, words, etc, that we work for God, but it is through the gifts that He has given to us. We are told that the more we do for the glory of God, the more we are enabled to do for Him. Equally, that could also be turned around, that the less we are willing to do, the less we use our gifts for His good, the more stagnant we become. Those who squander what they have will lose that little bit that God trusted them with. Think about this from a church perspective, if we want to be entrusted to work for God, then we must be willing and ready to make sacrifices, for example with our time, getting involved, or helping others.

Then finally we come to the end of the parable. Verse 30 says, ‘And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

When we put our faith in the Lord Jesus and love Jesus, we need to be obedient to Him, and others should see the fruit of the Spirit in those working for God’s kingdom. We can’t just expect to be saved because we simply show up to church and sing hymns. We are all part of a team, God’s team, and we each have gifts according to our abilities. When we love Jesus, obey Him and serve Him, His glory shines through. We need to recognise what may be getting in our way of doing this. Maybe we are too busy (or that’s what we convince ourselves), and yet we find time to do other things. Maybe we are too lazy and get too distracted by other things such as TV or leisure activities. Or maybe we are too unaware, we simply fail to understand what God expects of us and neglect to pay attention.

This parable teaches us an important lesson. We are not bystanders. God has blessed us with many gifts, all given according to our own unique needs and abilities, but God expects us to put these gifts to work. God does not expect us to be like the lazy servant and stand on the sidelines; He wants us to act like the first two servants and make our talents grow and be productive. We should all examine ourselves and ask how we are putting our talents to work for God. We need to spend time investing and serving God, and like the servants in our reading, one day God will say to us, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and share your master’s happiness.’

Sunday 7 September 2025: Mark 4:26-34

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

We live in a fast-paced world. Everything is moving quicker, especially with the growth of technology. We have high-speed internet access. We have high-tech televisions that can download movies, communicate with our phones and tablets, update our computers, and tell us what to do next, all with the touch of a button.

Technology has sped-up life to such an extent that we live in an instant-moment culture. Life happens in the ‘now’.

The growth of technology has many benefits, of course. Just last week I was talking with some youngsters – they were about 30 years old – wondering what life would be like when they reached my age. They will likely be able to see and do things we can’t imagine at the moment.

Digressing slightly, and talking about the world of work – if I can remember that far back – have you heard some of those office phrases that sometimes get trotted out? Phrases such as blue-sky thinking, circle back, square the circle, idea shower, brainstorm, thinking outside the box, touch base, and of course, singing from the same hymn-sheet! But there is one that maybe we should consider as part of the mustard seed parable and that is ‘seeing the bigger picture’.

Too often, maybe, we have a tendency to look inwards and focus on our immediate concerns and worries. The mustard seed parable suggests to me that the bigger picture is more worthy of our focus. For the Kingdom of Heaven awaits and its riches will be greater than anything we are able to imagine in our current earthly form.

So back to technology. Right now, we can have conversations and relationships with people from different cultures and countries. It’s amazing that we can have a conversation, by video, with friends, family, colleagues or just about anyone from just about anywhere in the world simply through the use of a computer or an app.

One of our visiting speakers pointed out to us recently that technology has enabled God’s Word to spread further and faster than ever, to the extent that it has now reached every corner of the globe. Something for us to ponder on, I think.

But, there are drawbacks to technology because it has sped-up life, and many of us want things to take place now. We no longer want to wait for things to happen. We do not believe we have the time, or energy, for things to take place at a natural pace. If it cannot happen now, or in a short period of time, we believe it is not worth the effort. We want the get-rich-quick plan. We want all that this life has to offer and we want it now.

Also, we sometimes measure ourselves by how we see others. If someone else has a bigger house, then our house isn’t big enough, even if it comfortably houses our entire family. If someone has a bigger car, then we need a bigger car, even if we can’t really afford the payments.

When it comes to faith, are we sometimes tempted to do the same thing? We want all that the Christian life has to offer - today. And sometimes we are not willing to wait. We are, sometimes, unwilling to be patient in our growth in Jesus. If we are not a deeply-devoted, heart-changed person in a few weeks, then, in our consumer-driven mindset, perhaps we are starting to look elsewhere to see what other options are available?

Maybe we will even compare ourselves to other Christians? If we see someone growing in their relationship with the Lord, or in serving the Lord, we may look at ourselves, and get discouraged and say, “Why can’t I be like that?”

Instead of those words being an encouragement of growth, there is a risk that they become a discouragement that leads to separation. This is a separation between ourselves and our community, and ourselves and God. We risk feeling that, if we don’t have the biggest faith, the deepest relationship, or even the best devotional life, that we don’t measure up in the Kingdom of God.

That mindset goes against what I think Jesus is saying in our passage today. Jesus doesn’t use the analogy of the largest thing possible, but instead uses the smallest of seeds in order to point us to a deeper relationship with God.

Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed. When this seed is planted, it grows and becomes one of the largest plants around. It is a plant that can grow as high as 15 feet. Something as small as a mustard seed can reach extraordinary heights when it is planted and allowed to grow.

Sunday 31 August 2025: Matthew 22:1-14

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

When anyone hosts a wedding there is a lot of preparation that goes into it. Not only in terms of the venue, the food, the outfits etc, but most importantly who are you going to invite to share the most important day of your life. So once you have your chosen guest list and you send out the invitations, imagine how it can be if those you have chosen, refuse to come to the wedding. In our reading we learn that those who had been invited to the wedding refused to come. They simply rejected the king’s invitation. But the king does not give up there, he still has faith that they invited guests will accept the invitation. So he sends many servants out to tell then that everything is ready and to come to the banquet. But even the second invitation does not persuade them to come, with them making up excuses about things more important than going to a wedding banquet, or even worse they literally shot the messenger.

Jesus said that the ‘kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.’ A grand banquet such as that for a King’s son’s wedding would be a grand affair and would be eagerly anticipated and cherished. It would be an honour to be invited to such a wedding and therefore those who were invited should have been jumping for joy that they were on the guest list and eagerly accept the invitation. Jesus was illustrating here that many people, just like those invited wedding guests, will ignore God’s invitation to be part of His kingdom, or will simply be too busy with their lives that they do not accept God’s invitation. These individuals are missing out on the greatest banquet and being part of God’s kingdom, or they simply overlooked the wonderful offer that was put to them.

In the parable the king, rightly so, was enraged by the behaviour of the guests, so much so that he sends his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city. So that was the first wedding guest list wiped out.

The king then says to his servants that those who did not want to come to the banquet in fact did not even deserve to come. Their refusal to attend, mixed with violence against the king’s messengers, demonstrates their rejection of the king’s gracious invitation and honour. Their actions also reveal in them a lack of faith and a failure to acknowledge the dignity of the king and his son. The message Jesus was portraying through this parable was to draw a comparison between those in Jesus’ time who were initially called to God’s kingdom, but instead rejected Christ himself, his message and the message conveyed by his disciples. Some of the Jews reacted violently and mistreated and killed the prophets and messengers of God and even had a hand in the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus. This then showed that they were unworthy for salvation in God’s kingdom.

But of course, just because those who were invited did not come, the wedding banquet went ahead. Now we come to the other list of guests. These are the ones who were not invited initially, but to whom the invitation was extended and this included anyone and everyone. All are included and those who wanted to come were welcome. There was no distinction in terms who deserved to come or were important enough to come. The invitation was extended to all, good and bad. Jesus was declaring that this is like the kingdom of God in terms of who is invited into his kingdom. No longer would the kingdom be reserved only for Jews, but that Gentiles were also welcome in God’s kingdom. The Kingdom of God is open to everyone regardless and there is no special birth rite or qualification that is needed.

If you have attended a wedding before you will have probably thought carefully about what to wear to the occasion. After all you know that there are likely to be photographs taken so you want to look your best, you don’t want to look out of place, and you want to feel part of the special day by putting on your best suit or dress. So imagine if you had been invited to the wedding banquet being hosted by the king himself, surely then it is even more important that you show your respect by being properly attired. Well of course you are possibly thinking that those invited secondly weren’t expected to be invited so would not have been prepared, or they may have been poor and could not afford proper wedding clothes. However, at this time it would have been custom for guests to be provided the proper garments if they did not have any. The fact therefore that the man was not wearing wedding clothes is even more significant as he declined to be correctly clothed and therefore lacked righteousness. He attended the wedding but was not committed.

This highlights the importance that just accepting God’s invitation to be part of his kingdom is not enough. The wedding clothes here represent righteousness, where our lives are transformed through faith and a genuine commitment to live the way God wants us to live.

Jesus said, ‘many are invited, but few are chosen’. The invitation of the Gospel goes out too many, but not all will choose to accept it. Some will outright refuse the Gospel message, and some will appear to accept it, but their hearts are not in the right place, and they will eventually be exposed as false.

This then leaves us with a few who are truly chosen. The ones who are called, accept and obey. The only way you can tell whether a person is chosen is by what they do, how they act, and how they obey the word. To be chosen, we have to accept the invitation and respond with genuine faith, repentance and a lifestyle that reflects the God’s grace to be called worthy.

Jesus preached this parable in the temple courts. Back in Matthew chapter 21 from verse 23 we read that Jesus was in the temple teaching when the chief priests and elder came to Jesus and started questioning his authority. In preaching this parable Jesus was firstly claiming that no longer were the chosen few only worthy of God’s kingdom, but this was now extended to Gentiles as well. Jesus was then stating that it is not good enough just to claim to accept God, but you have to truly change your heart and live out God’s word. Imagine if this parable was preached by Jesus today, he may be preaching this to hard-working church-attending Christians. On the outside people who appear to be good and listen to God’s word, but on the inside are hard and lack the one key thing, love. We can be close to God (like those who attended the wedding), but like the man who refused to wear the right clothes, if we fail to clothe ourselves with righteousness, that means being covered in God’s moral standards, justice and love, then we may miss out.

We need to reflect on any distractions or habits that may be keeping us from fully embracing the invitation from God. We need to pray for God to open our hearts to the needs of others and to act in accordance with his will. We need to accept the invitation, and say yes to what God wants to do in our lives.

Sunday 24 August 2025: James 3:1-12

What do you think is the most powerful part of the human body? Our bulging biceps? Our beating hearts? Or our amazing brains? Did you know, for example, that supposedly our brain processes around 70,000 thoughts a day, or that our heart pumps two thousand gallons of blood every 24 hours?

Those parts of our body are amazing, but James tells us in our reading that there is an even more powerful part – our tongues. The human tongue makes-up less than 1% of our body, but it punches well above its weight, because we use our tongues to speak, and our words can have huge effects. Our words can be a powerful force for good, or for bad.

In our Bible passage, James compares our tongues to some other small objects that can have a disproportionate effect in relation to their size.

In verse 3 he says, “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.” A little piece of metal can make a huge horse change direction.

Verse 4 says, “Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go”. A small rudder can determine whether a whole ship stays afloat or crashes into the rocks!

And in verse 5, James tells us that just a “small spark”, can set a whole forest on fire. A small cigarette or a match can create an inferno – and we have seen plenty of evidence of that during this exceptionally warm summer, haven’t we?

So, small things can have big effects – including our tongues.

Whenever we open our mouths to speak, which is apparently something we do on average 700 times a day, we are wielding a powerful force. Good words can lift our spirits, encourage us, inform us and inspire us. But bad words can break a heart, sow division, or drive us to despair. Friendships and careers, marriages and even churches can all be damaged by bad words. The wrong words can be ‘weapons of mass destruction’.

At the beginning of our reading in verse 1, James suggests that people who use their tongues to teach have a particularly responsible job. They will be strictly judged for what they say. Teachers in schools, leaders in churches and parents of children have a huge responsibility to use words well.

School teachers and parents have the power to shape the lives of children with their words. And church leaders have the huge responsibility of telling people about Jesus and explaining the Bible.

But whether we are teachers or not, our words must always be chosen very carefully. They can have a huge effect on others – both for good and for bad.

I expect we all know the popular saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words – or names – will never hurt me.” That phrase actually came up in discussion during one of our Bible studies recently. But the trouble is, if we’re honest with ourselves, that phrase is not true – is it? Because wrong words can be incredibly harmful and hurtful. I’m sure we’ve all been hurt at some time or another by critical comments, harsh words, bullying and bad language.

James says our unruly tongues need to be tamed – just like we tame animals to be pets at home or to perform in a circus. Listen to verse 7: “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue.”

Our tongues need to be brought under control. We need to make sure we say the right thing at the right time. As James says in verse 10: ^“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” We should be consistently careful and wise in what we say.

But it’s incredibly difficult sometimes, isn’t it? We have all said wrong things from time-to-time, and we find it really hard to keep our tongues under control. On our own, we can’t always say what’s right; we don’t have the power to be perfect. Verse 2 says we’re all “at fault” for some of the things we’ve said because we are all prone to stumbling.

Human beings can tame roaring lions and birds of prey, but we can’t control our own tongues. That’s because the Bible says our speech shows our heart. To change our words, then, we need a change of heart.

That is the point James is making in verses 11 and 12. Listen to them again: “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig-tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” 

What James is saying is that a plant produces its own fruit. A grape vine produces grapes, and a fig tree produces figs. We don’t see oranges on an apple tree, or plums on a pear tree. And elsewhere in nature, a salt spring can only pour out salt water – it can’t produce pure water.

In the same way, our words are the ‘fruit’ from our hearts – they ‘spring’ out from our soul. If we find ourselves speaking bad words, it shows that there is something wrong with our heart. So, to tame our tongues, we need a new heart.

On Friday, our car wouldn’t start because the battery was flat. We could have used a charger to get us going again, but that would only have been a temporary fix. Without addressing the root cause, the problem would keep on recurring. So, we had to bite the bullet and buy a new battery. And, my word, they are expensive these days! But the change of battery did the trick and the car is running reliably again.

In a similar way, we need to have a change of heart to tame our tongues. We need to tackle the problem with our speech at its source!

Jesus himself taught this, just as James does. Listen to Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:33-35, “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognised by its fruit . . . The mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good person brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” 

There’s only one person who can perform the ‘heart surgery’ every one of us needs. And that person is God’s Holy Spirit. Whenever someone becomes a Christian and first puts their faith in Jesus, God’s Spirit enters their heart and begins to change it. It’s what Jesus famously called being ‘born again’.

And when God’s Spirit gets to work on our hearts, our words will change as a result. As our heart is transformed by God, so too our tongue will be tamed. In fact, some of the most noticeable ‘fruit of the Spirit’ in our lives will be a change in how we speak and what we say. If we are eager to grow as disciples of Jesus (as I hope we all are) we should be eager to see improvements in our speech as God’s Spirit gets to work.

So, before I finish, let us consider how we can use our tongues well. What does good and godly speech look and sound like? How can we serve Jesus with our lips as well as with our thoughts and deeds?

Here are three ways I suggest we can serve Jesus with our speech; three things for which we can ask the Holy Spirit to train our tongues. We can serve Jesus with our speech by praising God, by encouraging one another, and by sharing the Gospel.

Firstly, our tongues should be used to praise God. In verse 9, James suggests that, when we “praise our Lord and Father” we are putting our tongues to very good use. Our first duty as Christians is to worship the Lord who has made us and saved us. We can praise Him in prayer, and sing songs to God in gratitude for all He has given us.

Secondly, we should use our lips to encourage our fellow Christians. In Hebrews 10:24-25 it says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Colossians 3:16 calls on Christians to “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.” So, I hope that when we gather together, as we are now, in church on a Sunday, that we don’t grumble or gossip, criticise or condemn, but try to encourage one another in love. I hope we seek to spur each other on to keep living for Jesus and growing in faith.

Thirdly and finally, we should use our tongues to share the Gospel with non-Christian friends and family. The New Testament tells us to always be ready to give a reason for the hope we have, to always be willing to mention Jesus’ name.

When we think about it, perhaps the most loving words we can ever share with someone are words about Jesus; words about the one person who can save us from sin, steer us through life, and grant eternal life beyond the grave.

So, in the power of the Spirit, let’s use our tongues to praise God, to encourage one another, and to share the Gospel. 

Sunday 17 August 2025: James 2:1-13 and 4:1-12

Favouritism Forbidden

James calls us to not just be listeners of the Word, but to be doers of the Word. Not just to hear or read is good enough, we need to also act. In our reading, James is focusing on one of the two most important commandments, ‘to love our neighbour as ourselves’. Think what this means. It means that we should care for others as we would care for ourselves. We should, therefore, be willing to share our possessions, share our time and our energy and, of course, we should share with them the truth so that they have the opportunity to know and love the Lord as we do. All too often our actions are based on ourselves, our self-centredness. How often have you shied away from sharing your faith with others for fear of ridicule or rejection? Are we, therefore, denying them the opportunity of knowing God and receiving His love and grace? How often have we neglected to give someone our time or generosity because we had better things to do or wanted to use our resources elsewhere?

James is showing us in this passage the danger of not following a fundamental commandment. Forget all the other 8 commandments, stick to the royal law he says. The royal law forbids selfish exploitation of others and James focuses on one simple truth, love others, love our neighbours. He is saying that if you only love those neighbours whom you like, who you get on with, who are like minded, who make you feel good, then you are committing a sin. Favouritism is not akin to ‘loving your neighbour as yourself’. What if the other person is not like you, is not the kind of person you would normally be drawn to? This did not worry Jesus. He loved all kinds of people. Sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, those who were lame or diseased and would have been outcast, those who were homeless. If you keep all the other commandments but fail on one, then James is saying you are committing sin. James warns us to not be judgemental, but to be merciful. When was the last time you passed judgement on someone? We were talking last week in our Bible study that when it comes to road rage, we need to remember that none of us are perfect drivers and have likely done what we are angry at another driver for doing. But we need to show mercy and not judgement for there is only one who stands in judgement.

Submit Yourselves to God

Relationships are built upon trust and love, and James shows us the dangers and strife that often exist in relationships. There are so many broken relationships. Unhappy homes, broken marriages, brothers who don’t talk to brothers, parents who don’t take to their children, co-workers who won’t work alongside each other. The sad fact is, as pointed out by James, there are fights and quarrels among us, even in churches. What causes these quarrels? Well, there are many different reasons depending on the circumstances, but ultimately as James points out, these are mostly born out of our selfish desires. That maybe to acquire personal gain, to get our own way, to drive for prestige, etc. Whatever the reason, it is in our nature to be satisfied, to fulfil our desires. So, what is the answer then? Well, James makes this very plain to see. We need to ‘submit ourselves to God and resist the devil. Come near to God and allow Him to come near to us’. James says ‘You do not have because you do not ask God’. Instead of taking things to God in prayer, we try to get what we want by our own desires. James is saying that if we want something, then we should ask God for it. If we ask, and then that prayer is not answered, then maybe our motives were not pure. We wanted something for our own glory, rather than for God’s glory or for the good of others.

James’ message about relationships, how we interact with others and treat others, is one of the most significant messages of living out our faith. Faith without love is simply believing in the Word, but not acting on it. If we were to be content with what God has given us, think about the profound effect this could have on the world. If we loved our neighbours as ourselves and were more interested in sharing than acquiring, then think about the peace that would result. If we were to follow Jesus’s words and store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, think about the great contentment that would come about across the world.

Our relationship with God, along with our commitment to act in accordance with His Word, can help to strengthen our relationships with others. As our relationship with the Lord grows, our desire to be more like Him grows, and our desire to act in accordance with His Will grows. It does not become a burden to put others first and to love others as ourselves, it becomes a very part of what we want to do.

In chapter 4, James gets us to take a hard look at ourselves with regards to all kinds of behaviours. Greed, conflict, slander and trying to work things out on our own without God’s guidance. James gets us to hold a mirror up to ourselves. What do we see when we do that? Do we like what we see or are we ashamed (I am not of course talking about our physical appearance!). We need to ask ourselves, am I content with what I have, or do I have envious thoughts of those who have more? Do we take things to God, or do we continually listen to our own lies? Do we listen to God, or do we resist when being nudged or directed? Do we speak ill of others or lift others up?

God wants us to have a deep and loving relationship with Him, but an outcome of that relationship should be that He changes how we interact with others. God’s love for us can help us to love others as He loves us all. 

Sunday 10 August 2025: James 5:7-12

As Christians, we must patiently endure hardships and heartaches until Jesus returns. To help us in this endeavour, James provides three examples of patient endurance.

First, he gives us the example of the farmer. Farmers have to be patient with the weather as well as waiting for their crops to sprout and grow. We know it is worth the wait, because the harvest will be valuable.

James paints a picture of a spiritual farmer who is looking for a spiritual harvest. There are seasons to our spiritual life - like there are seasons on the farm. Sometimes our hearts become cold and frosty, and God has to ‘plough them up’ before He can plant His seeds into our life. God sends the sunshine and the rain to water and to nurture the seeds that He has planted. There is growth, but we must be patient for the harvest.

Although farmers are waiting, they are never standing still. They are always doing something that will help and benefit the harvest; their work is focused on what will happen at the end. James is saying we should put our faith into action – keep

working and waiting.

Farmers rarely fight with their neighbours. Rather, they welcome other people and willingly help other farmers out. Serious farmers do not have the time or the energy for arguments with their neighbours – there is too much to do. James may have had this in mind when he says in verse 9, “Don’t grumble against each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”

As Christians, God is producing a harvest in our lives. God wants the Fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, and the only way He can do this is if we surrender to His will and allow Him to grow the fruit in His way.

Second, James gives us the example of the prophets. He was writing to Jewish Christians who would have quickly understood his reference to the Old Testament prophets. Some of these suffering prophets were Jeremiah, Elijah and Amos.

These prophets were mentioned in the New Testament as examples of victory over persecution because, even though the Old Testament prophets were doing what God wanted them to do, they still suffered. The prophets faithfully preached the truth of God, yet they were persecuted.

As Christians today, we must never think that, by obeying what God wants us to do, it will result in an easy life. Jesus was obedient and faithfully did what God wanted Him to do – and yet that led to the cross! The Trials of the prophets remind us of God’s promise that He cares for us when we are going through sufferings for His sake.

The reason why people who speak faithfully and truthfully of God are persecuted, is so that their lives will back-up their message. Today, we need to keep reminding ourselves that our patience in times of suffering is a first-hand demonstration to those around us that what we say is lived out in our lives.

Even if we are going through trials and difficulties, we must keep on speaking about Jesus and what He means to us. We must surrender our lives daily to God and allow Him to grow the fruit in our lives in His way.

Third, James gives us the example of suffering, and it is difficult to find a better example of suffering than Job. His circumstances, his wife, and his friends were all against him. It even seemed that God was against him because, when Job cried out for answers to his questions, there was no reply from heaven.

Nevertheless, Job endured. He was so sure of his faith in God that he persisted in honouring Him – even though he did not understand all that God was doing. That is endurance. Through the suffering, Job met God in a new and deeper way. Through this difficult experience, God was glorified and Job was purified.

The Bible tells us that, as Christians, we will face difficulties, trials, and suffering. Hopefully, these troubles may not be as extreme as the ones that Job encountered, but, to us, they will seem just as challenging. At all times – but especially in challenging times, we are called to turn our hearts wholeheartedly to Jesus. He knows what we are going through.

So, we need to be patient in times of suffering. Like the Farmer, let us keep working and allow God to grow in us the Fruit of His Holy Spirit. Like the prophets, let us keep witnessing so that our lives are a living testimony for what we believe. And like the sufferer, Job, let us remain steadfast in our faith, patient in our suffering and live our lives for the one who faithfully loves us. 

Sunday 27 July 2025: Priscilla

Priscilla lived during the first century AD, a time of significant social, religious, and political upheaval within the Roman Empire. Christianity was spreading rapidly through cities such as Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth and Rome. This era was marked by both intense persecution and expansion, with ‘house churches’ the usual place where the early Christians met.

Priscilla appears in six passages in the New Testament – Acts 18:2, Acts 18:18, Acts 18:26, Romans 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:19, and 2 Timothy 4:19. It is interesting that Priscilla is always mentioned in connection with her husband, Aquila, and the pair are often cited as a model of marital partnership in ministry. One thing that is quite interesting is that the order in which Priscilla and Aquila, or Aquila and Priscilla are mentioned changes. In fact, half the verses put Aquila first, while the other half put Priscilla first. Language matters and is important so this would not have been a mistake or simply the way the writer wrote it. In the Bible, usually men come before women, brothers are mentioned before sisters and the male pronoun (man) is often used to include both men and women. But with Priscilla, she commanded enough respect, possibly as a teacher or leader, that she was equally mentioned first, but this was done in such a way that it did not diminish her husband or damage their relationship. When we hold women in high esteem and value them, they we often find ourselves mentioning them first.

Acts 18:1-3

“After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.”

This passage not only introduces Priscilla and Aquila but also highlights their shared profession with Paul – a detail that offers insight into their character, values, and active participation in the spread of the early church. The profession of tentmaking holds a deep significance in the New Testament, beyond its practical aspect as a trade. In the ancient world, tents were essential for nomadic peoples and travellers, and tentmaking was a valued skill. Priscilla, Aquila, and Paul were able to support themselves financially through this work, which allowed them to avoid being a financial burden on the young and often impoverished Christian communities they served. Because they were able to earn their own living, as well as their ministry, this demonstrated their integrity and humility. They did not expect others to support them and neither did they exploit their positions as leaders. They were willing to put in the hard graft to earn their keep. This provides us with a powerful example of integrating daily work with spiritual mission. Even though we have work to do, this should not detract from our role in the church. Priscilla, Aquila and Paul used their work of making tents as an opportunity for witness and discipleship. Additionally, tent making was the perfect profession for supporting their role in spreading Christianity. As the early Christian movement spread rapidly across the Roman Empire, the ability to practice their trade wherever they went meant that Priscilla, Aquila, and Paul could travel freely and plant churches in different cities.

Priscilla, like her husband Aquila, was an immigrant. When they were forcefully ordered to leave Rome, they found themselves in Corinth where they met Paul. But that is not where they stayed.

Acts 18:18-19

"Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila."

Pricilla showed great faith and courage in her willingness to leave her home, relocate with her husband, and open her life to the challenges of ministry. The Bible is full of stories of people on the move, but Priscilla and her husband did not just move within their homelands, they moved to strange lands in their mission to spread the news about Jesus. Firstly, they travelled to Corinth and then on to Ephesus where they remained to support the church there. Priscilla’s partnership with Paul, travelling, teaching, and risking her own life, shows courage and conviction.

Priscilla’s most famous biblical moment comes in Acts 18:26, when she, alongside Aquila, instructs Apollos.

Acts 18:24-26

"Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervour and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately."

This passage clearly reveals to us Priscilla and Aquila’s discerning spirit and gracious approach to teaching. We know that Apollos was a learned man, and we are told in our passage that he had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. However, Priscilla and Aquila discerned that he lacked a full understanding of the Gospel for as we are told, ‘he knew only the baptism of John’. Clearly, they wanted to correct Apollos, but rather than calling him out publicly, they invited him into their own home where they could gently explain to him the way of God more accurately to complete his understanding of the faith.  

This example from Priscilla can help to remind us of the importance to steer clear of undermining or criticising others, but nurturing their potential and helping others to grow in their understanding of God. The fact that Priscilla is mentioned first in this passage suggests that she was not just a bystander, or the one to provide the hospitality, but she played a key and leading role in this teaching. This emphases to us the importance of women in the early church and the important role that women can play in the church today.

Priscilla showed great courage, not only in her willingness to travel to foreign lands, but in risking her own life. At this time, being a Christian was dangerous. Christians were persecuted and there was a real danger that someone would be imprisoned or killed for their faith.

Romans 16:3-5

"Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them."

Paul greets Priscilla and Aquila and calls them his co-workers in Christ. They were working with Paul and risking their own lives in doing so. We already know that they were cast out of Rome for their belief, but they did not hide away to blend in. Instead, they travelled extensively across the Mediterranean sharing the Gospel with Paul, which was a dangerous thing to do. This showed great courage from Priscilla. She did not shy away from what was difficult or dangerous, instead she boldly risked her life for Paul to carry the message to other lands.

There are a number of references to Priscilla and Aquila’s house serving as a meeting place for the early church. Christians faced suspicion and persecution and, therefore, meetings often took place in homes because it was safer and more practical for them to gather in private homes rather than in public spaces. This enabled them to worship, teach and encourage one another in a more secure environment.

Romans 16:3-5

"Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house."

1 Corinthians 16:19

"The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house."

2 Timothy 4:19

"Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus."

In a time when Christians often faced suspicion or persecution, opening one’s home was an act of generosity and bravery. Priscilla’s hospitality created space for community, worship, and discipleship, but this was not without risk, which yet again emphasises Priscilla’s bravery. This example from Priscilla inspires us to consider how we can use our homes or other resources to support and nurture fellow Christians in their faith journey.

2 Timothy 4:19

Paul, near the end of his life, requests greetings be sent to Priscilla and Aquila, testifying to their enduring faithfulness and partnership.

Priscilla’s appearances in Scripture are not very long or frequent, however, the legacy that she leaves is profound. Through these few passages we get a glimpse of how Priscilla played a vital role in the early church which is carried forward to today. Not only did she support her husband and Paul, but she also demonstrated her own leadership, teaching and service to the faith. The qualities of Priscilla such as courage, faith and teaching, show us that these things are not bound by gender, but by faith, wisdom and willingness to serve God.

Priscilla’s example encourages us all, especially women, to pursue lives of faith, boldness, and engagement with God’s Word. Cultural circumstances often limited the formal roles available to women in ancient times, and this is true in some cultures or churches today. However, Priscilla’s story testifies to the remarkable ways women contributed to the growth and vitality of Christianity from the beginning and can also remind us of the important role women play in faith today. 

Sunday 20 July 2025: John 20:1-18

Mary Magdalene

Our reading featured one of the most prominent people in the life and ministry of Jesus – Mary Magdalene. She is mentioned several times in the Gospels as a devoted follower of Jesus who was present at His crucifixion and burial. And as we have heard today, she was also the first witness to the resurrection of Jesus.

She was a woman of strong faith who had been healed of seven demons by Jesus, and thereafter, her loyalty to Him was unwavering. She was one of the few female disciples of Jesus and played an important role in the early Christian church. Her story serves as an example of faith and dedication, and of course, she remains an important figure in Christianity today.

Not every Gospel account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection focuses on the same events and details, but all four tell us that Mary Magdalene witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. So, her connection to Jesus is undeniable.

We can only speculate about what it might have been like when Jesus was about to heal her of those seven demons. Only He could have seen who she really was regardless of her troubled state. Though not many details are recorded about this event, her name is among the few mentioned in the recordings of Jesus’ healings. Having been freed by Jesus’ healing, the friendship she forged with her Lord served as a reflection of her gratitude.

As we build a picture of Mary Magdalene, we find a woman of wealth who had been struck by seven demons. Could that be a mirror on our own society where sometimes the privileged fall into disrepute? But, in this case, Mary’s wealth, and the fact she was freed from her troubled life by Jesus, help us understand why she was so generous and dedicated in her discipleship.

All four Gospels record the presence of women at the foot of the cross. Three – Matthew, Mark and John – mention Mary Magdalene by name. She remained at the cross until Jesus’ body was taken down, and then followed to witness Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus in the tomb. Having watched Jesus’ burial, she knew the exact location where he had been laid to rest. She must have known the path well enough that she could retrace her steps in the dark on that first Easter morning. 

What must it have been like for Mary to witness an empty grave? Here is a suggestion from a commentator about that moment: “Mary sat with her tears long enough to peer into the tomb and see something the men hadn’t seen. Angels. They asked her why she was crying. She gave the most telling answer: ‘They have taken away my Lord.’" So, here is a woman, confused and grief-stricken, and about to have her tears wiped away as the first to witness the resurrected Jesus after the crucifixion.

Mary reported to the apostles all she had seen and heard. As we heard in the final verse of our reading, the Gospel of John says, “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her.”

Given that, generally, the accounts of women were not held in high regard at that time, it is remarkable that Mary Magdalene should have been chosen to be placed at the heart of this story. Her powerful witness of Jesus was surely put in place to strengthen the faith of others.

Many of the disciples and Apostles went on to live lives of evangelism, and became martyrs for the early establishment of Christianity. But what about Mary Magdalene? There are some who claim she married the Apostle John, and others that she accompanied him to Ephesus. Still more say that she evangelised south-eastern France and spent her last 30 years in an Alpine cavern. One legend tells a story of her and other disciples being stranded on a rudderless boat in the middle of the sea and miraculously coming ashore.

But legends aside, one thing is certain. This woman held a special place in the story of Christianity and was placed there by God. 

Through her eyes, we learn a little more about who Jesus was. He found her in her darkest place and healed her miraculously. She was one of His friends and a faithful follower. To what she thought was the bitter end, she gave her life to follow Him and care for Him. Mary’s actions perhaps spoke the loudest, supporting Jesus’ ministry with all she had to give. May her extraordinary story inspire us to do the same. 

Sunday 13 July 2025: Luke 10:38-42

Mary and Martha

Who do you think you are more like? Are you more like Mary, or are you more like Martha? There isn't necessarily a right answer. Some people will think it is better to be more like Mary, while some people will think they are more like Martha. Some people will think you can't ignore all of the things that need to be done, for example we need to eat, we want to have a clean house, but other people will think that there are other things that are far more important.

I'm sure there are many of us who have felt aggrieved that some people don't ever seem to pull their weight while others do all of the work. It can be quite demoralising feeling like the one who is preparing all the food when others take the glory for doing very little. Everyone else is relaxing having a good time while you're slaving away trying to make sure that all of the chores are done, the house is ready and it's clean, the food is prepared, the drinks are served. It's easy to see why Martha cried out to Jesus for her sister to help. Martha was doing her best to provide for all of the guests and she should have been commended for the hard work that she was doing. She was tending to their every need, making sure that everyone had everything they needed, making sure that they had something to eat, making sure they had something to drink. Martha, we are told in the reading, was distracted by all of the preparations that she needed to do. She was focused on the physical needs of her guests rather than focusing on Jesus. Mary, on the other hand, was not concerned by the work that was needed to be done. She was not worrying about whether people had something to eat or drink, she was not worried about ensuring the house was clean and tidy. Mary's focus was solely about spending time in Jesus is presence.

Of course, food is important, it's one of the key things that sustains life and without it we won't be able to live, but of course food should not become our primary focus. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6 verses 24 to 25, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes.”

It's interesting how in our society some people place a value on how busy people are. The busier you are, the more important things you must be doing. We rush here and we rush there, trying to make sure that we've met every need. But that type of frantic life can mean that that takes our focus away from what is important. It can take our focus away from Jesus. Jesus said to Martha, “Martha, Martha you are worried and bothered about so many things.” A lesson we can learn from this passage is that sometimes the best thing we can do is to stop rushing around and worrying about everything and start focusing on Jesus and resting in his presence. We need to refocus on what is important in our life. It's very easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. It's very easy to let the chores take over, after all there is always something to do.

We know that God cares for each and every one of us, but Martha is not so sure. She says to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care?” There is an accusation from Martha to Jesus that he's not paying attention to her, and not paying attention to what is happening and the fact that her sister is not helping her. She says to Jesus, “Don't you care that I'm the one here doing all of the work while my sister just sits there doing nothing. Don't you care about me. Martha was angry at Jesus. She was angry because He allowed Mary to not help her. She was angry with Jesus because she was doing all of the work and Jesus had not recognised it. Martha was accusing Jesus of not caring for her.

Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt that Jesus does not care for you or have you questioned where he is when you're in trouble? When you go to God in prayer, but he doesn't seem to listen and there is a silence. Do you ask yourself then, “Does God care for me?” Well of course He does. In Hebrews chapter 13 verse 5 it says, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”

We know that God cares for us, but of course there may be times in our life when we don't always feel God's presence or feel that He cares for us, but that doesn't mean He doesn't. We cannot base the truth of God on our feelings and our emotions.

In the second part of our reading, we see Martha explode in anger. She has taken just about as much as she can. She has done all the work, fetched and carried and worked up a sweat while her sister just sits at Jesus feet doing absolutely nothing. She comes out of the kitchen in a rage. She says to Jesus, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work alone, tell her to help me.” This passage is very emotive. You can sense the anger in Martha's voice and you can sense the accusation towards Jesus. Martha doesn't even to refer to her sister by her name but simply calls her ‘my sister’. She is mad at her.

Do you ever get mad at people for things they do or haven't done or do you know people who seemed to take their frustration out on everyone and everything? The Bible teaches us how we need to deal with anger. In James chapter 1 verses 19 to 20 it says. “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

It's right to feel angry at times, and of course it might be justified, but we need to look at the motive for our anger. Martha was angry because she was self-pitying herself. She felt she was getting a raw deal. She felt it wasn't right that she was being treated that way, that she was having to do all of the work while her sister relaxed at Jesus's feet. But we need to look at the cause of the situation. If we go right back to the start of the passage, we know that Martha was distracted with all of her preparations. It doesn't appear that anyone had asked her to do all of the work, but Martha was simply placing that work above Jesus. She was being dragged away by her desire to be the perfect host rather than to spend time listening to Jesus. Her sense of duty got in the way of her doing something far more important, listening to Jesus.

Of course, we all need to take our responsibilities seriously, but the message here is that we should not allow the physical things of life to get in the way of our spiritual life. In verses 41 and 42 Jesus says, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one.” The one thing Jesus was referring to of course is Him. Jesus was saying there is nothing greater than God. There is no better way of using our time than using it for God. When we put God first in our life, everything else will work out. If we get so distracted by other things, things that take us away from God then we can miss what is really important. As we battle with everyday demands, being pulled in all different directions, having to work hard, or tend to the needs of others, we need to remember to have regular rest in the Lord.

Psalm 62 verses 1 and 2 says, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress. I will never be shaken.”

I pray that you find time to rest in the Lord today and this coming week and may His presence be a blessing on you all. 

Sunday 6 July 2025: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah’s Prayer of Praise

Although there are many obvious differences between men and women, there are also many qualities, experiences, thoughts and feelings that we share.

The story of Hannah is centred around her ability or otherwise to bear children – something only a woman can do. As she struggles with her circumstances, both women and men can relate to her experiences, her relationship with God and her response to the blessings she receives.

We live in a society that often encourages us to find our fulfilment in our achievements, in our material possessions and in our leisure time. Hannah was a woman who faced similar temptations, but she learned that it was only God who gave her fulfilling security. After He answered her prayer for a child – Samuel – Hannah praised God for being her Rock of security and her source of satisfaction.

When we are tempted to find our security in our achievements or in the things we possess, let us remember five characteristics of Hannah’s great prayer of praise for God as the Rock of her security.

1. Hannah praised God because He was the Rock who gave her firm strength in the ups and downs of life. When we praise God as our Rock and deliverer, He will help lift our focus above the uncertainty of our circumstances. Achievements come and go, as do possessions, but only God’s security satisfies the longing and hungry soul with what is good and lasting. If we desire lasting peace and security, we need to go to the Rock that is higher than ourselves.

2. Hannah praised God because He lifted her up above the hurtful mocking of her love-rival Peninnah. When people criticise, misunderstand and doubt us, we can be assured that the Rock of our God will shelter us from the storm. Hannah knew that God was all-knowing and that He will judge all sin and pride in His way and in His time.

We should never fear when people attack us, because God’s sovereign power is greater than anyone or anything. David wrote in Psalm 46:1-2 that, "God is our refuge and strength a very present help in the time of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."

Martin Luther wrote his famous hymn based on this verse because he needed to seek shelter in the Rock of God’s protection from the onslaught of abuse he received at the hand of the religious leaders of his day. He wrote, "A mighty fortress is our God. A bulwark never failing. Our helper, He amidst the flood. Of mortal ills prevailing.” And in 1 John 4:18 it says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Hannah knew that, and she praised God so everyone could join hearts with her in worshiping the Rock who delivers us from evil.

3. Hannah praised God, not because of the gift of a son, but because of the GIVER. We should not focus only on the blessings we receive, but seek the one who blesses as much as the blessings themselves. We should praise God from whom all blessings flow. Hannah knew that she could praise God for His glory, splendour and love in good times and in bad.

And we, too, should praise God in times of feast or famine. We would do well to learn from Paul when he says in Philippians 4:12-13, “I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power."

So, let’s praise God when we are feeling great and when we are feeling down, because His glorious and loving nature are the focus of our desire.

4. Hannah praised God because she knew that there was no other Rock like our Lord. There are so many people, events and temptations that try to replace God as our idol, but they cannot compare to Him. To paraphrase another great hymn taken from Psalm 23, when we praise God as our Rock, our Fortress and our Deliverer, He restores our soul and makes us lie down in green pastures. He leads us beside the still waters. He makes us to walk in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though we may walk in the valley of the shadow of death, we shall not fear because we know He is with us.

We live in a world where evil is all around us, but our Rock is greater than any power. Greater is He who is in us than the one who is in the world. Sing praises to God, the God of all creation. Thank Him for being Lord of all and Lord of our lives. Honour Him for being above and beyond the understanding of our minds. For, as it says in Romans 11:36, “From him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory for ever!”

Praise Him following Hannah’s example and we will find greater power in our personal lives, in our relationships, and in our discipleship.

5. Hannah praised God because He makes the strong weak and makes the weak strong. He replenishes those who are lacking, and strips away wealth from the greedy. He breaks down barriers from those who think they are indestructible and He gives freedom to the prisoners. As Hannah’s prayers says in verse 4: “The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.”

God lifts up the feeble and gives friends to the lonely and companionship to those who are without a family. He feeds the hungry and takes away the appetite of those who are hoarding what they have. He gives strength to the weary and humbles the proud. He works wonders to those who believe His promises and He disappoints those who boast of their greatness.

God’s grace is sufficient for whatever we need and He deserves our continual praise despite the way we may be feeling.

This is what the Lord says in Jeremiah 9:23-24: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.”

Let us praise God every morning and honour Him throughout the day as our Rock and our defender. Let us pray as Hannah did in verse 2 of our reading, “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”

When we are confused, disappointed or unsure of what to do, we can always praise God as our Rock who delivers us from any circumstance. Praise to the holiest in the height, and in the depths be praise. 

Sunday 29 June 2025: Ruth 1:1-16

Over the past few weeks, we have been looking at ‘women in the Bible’ and the important roles they played. So far, we have learned about Eve, the mother of all the living, Miriam, the sister of Moses, and Deborah, a prophetess, judge and leader. Now we have reached Ruth who lived in a kingdom called Moab which is now part of modern-day Jordan.

Ruth was a remarkable woman for many reasons, but not least because, when her husband died, she remained loyal to her mother-in-law, and they took care of one another. There was another significant trial that Ruth had to face earlier in her life when there was a famine in the land. This was the reason for Ruth and her family moving to Moab.

In the same way, life isn’t always straight forward for Christians. We face the ‘ups and downs’ of life in just the same way as anyone else. Although God blesses us when we ask for good things that are part of His plan and teaching, He also challenges us and tests us in order to guide us back onto the right path when we stray out of line.

So, we should look out for God’s prompting and ask ourselves what He might be calling us to do. When something goes wrong, I’m sure we’ve all asked ourselves, “Why me?” But maybe there’s something God wants us to understand from a difficult challenge?

Or perhaps when we’ve been unwell, we wonder why we are suffering? Well, we know that none of us are immune from illness, but maybe sometimes God makes us lie on our backs in order that we should look up.

Ruth was a woman who responded to God’s promptings. When her husband died, she knew the right thing to do was to stay loyal to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Although Ruth endured tests and challenges, God blessed her with the opportunity to re-marry and enjoy family life once more.

Not only that, but her family line would eventually lead all the way to the Saviour Himself – Jesus. That is where our faithfulness leads us, too. The circumstances of life may sometimes be tough to endure, but if we believe in Jesus and are sorry for the things we have done wrong, then, like Ruth, it will all come good for us in the end. 

Sunday 22 June 2025: Judges 4

Deborah

Well, I don’t know about you, but our Bible reading today seems to have all the ingredients for a top-draw, blockbuster movie. We’ve got the underdog led by a heroine who comes good against the evil oppressor, and some gruesome, gory detail delivered by another heroine using a tent peg of all things as a weapon!

It's great that, in the Bible, God shows women in all their complexity, in all different circumstances, in all different places, and the way God works through women is simply incredible. There is perhaps no better example than in this action-packed, thriller of a passage, starring Deborah and her co-star Jael.

Our story this morning is found in the Book of Judges, which is after the time of Moses and Joshua and before Israel's first king

is anointed. Deborah is the third of the twelve judges. As we heard in the reading, there is a great deal going on in her life.

There is the wonderful image of the palm tree where she sits while the people bring their problems to her for resolution. There is oppression in the land from the Canaanites which presents an immediate and challenging problem for her to deal with. She is a wife and a prophetess.

It was during the time of the judges that the people of Israel often turned away from the Lord and did their own thing. So, when the people of Israel sinned against God, He would bring judgment, then the people would repent, then God would deliver them. And so the cycle went on. As is often the case with stories from the Bible, we might ask ourselves, “What has changed?”

Our own generation even now is perhaps witnessing a fall from grace where the faithful yearn for repentance and peace. The only one who can bring a permanent end to this cycle of ‘boom and bust’ is our Lord Jesus when He returns as our Saviour.

But, for now, let us see what we can learn from Deborah and Jael. We have this group called the Canaanites and, not wishing to be too black and white, but these are kind of the ‘baddies’ of the story. Their leader, King Jabin, has Sisera as his army commander and they have ruthlessly oppressed, tortured, pillaged and plundered the Israelites for 20 years. This is because the Israelites had abandoned God as part of this cycle of ‘boom and bust’ that I am talking about. They had forgotten about God and had fallen into evil ways. But now they are starting to realise their wrongdoing and want to turn back to God. So, God speaks through Deborah.

Deborah was known by the people of Israel and she was respected first and foremost as a prophetess. We learn that Deborah would sit under that palm tree, and people would come to her to hear from the Lord regarding disputes they had with one another. Really, Deborah was fulfilling two roles: that of a prophet, and that of a judge.

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‌Some of the judges that we learn about were military heroes, but this was not initially the case with Deborah. She was at first fulfilling the role that was more in line with the men who Moses appointed to help take care of the people of Israel, because the work had become too burdensome for him to do by himself. However, we’re going to see that Deborah went far beyond that type of role.

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So, the people respected Deborah; they came to her to hear from the Lord and to hear her wisdom regarding disputes. We also see that she was respected by those in power. In verses 6 to 8 it says, ^“She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: “Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the River Kishon and give him into your hands.”’ Barak said to her, ‘If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.’”

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We see two indicators in this passage that Barak, this military leader, respected Deborah. First, he came and listened to her. He didn’t dismiss her. Rather, Barak listened to Deborah because he respected her leadership. Second, we see that Barak says that he will only go down into battle if Deborah goes with him. That’s quite something, isn’t it? A male military leader will only go to battle if a female prophet and judge will accompany him.

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Barak was willing to risk his life, and the lives of his troops because he respected Deborah as a leader. So, Deborah was a respected leader.

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Second, we see that Deborah was ready for action as a leader. She was hanging out under her own palm tree, delivering prophecies and settling disputes, doing what she does, when all of a sudden opportunity came her way that required action.

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Those of us who are leading in any way, whether it be in our families, in our relationships, in our places of work, in our communities, or in our church; we need to be ready for action.

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Deborah was ready! As a prophet of the Lord, Deborah was ready and she responded when the Lord gave her a message to deliver to Barak. In those days, men did not usually listen to women. Military leaders did not always listen to prophets in those days. Nevertheless, Deborah was ready, and she delivered her message.

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‌For whatever reason, Barak didn’t want to go into battle without Deborah. Perhaps he felt that by her going with him, the prophecy would come true? Or, perhaps he was scared and he believed the Lord would protect Deborah, so he wanted to stay close to her?

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We need to remember that, at this point in the story, Deborah was not the kind of Old Testament judge who was a military leader. But she was ready for action. She said to Barak, “I will gladly go with you.”

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She did warn him that it may hurt his reputation that the Lord would use a woman to bring victory to Israel, rather than him. This does not mean that she was saying women were weak or they couldn’t lead. But Deborah knew full well that other men may think that it was dishonourable for Barak to rely on Deborah to help bring victory.

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‌Deborah was not only a leader ready for action; she was a reliable leader. She got the job done. She delivered the Word of the Lord to Barak, and she rode out with the army of the Lord to battle. And, we see that the Lord kept His word and He brought victory. Our reliable God brought victory through a reliable leader.

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Our world needs reliable leaders. Our country needs reliable leaders. Our churches, our families, our circumstances need reliable leaders. Leadership is not necessarily an appointed role, but rather behavioural characteristics. When God calls us to leadership, Deborah’s example tells us to be someone who is trustworthy, who takes action, who has integrity, who is godly, who is courageous, and who is reliable.

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And I mentioned earlier, there is a co-star in this story; a woman by the name of Jael. Like Deborah, Jael was reliable, too. She got the job done, didn’t she? She must have been one brave and strong woman.

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Let us look back to an amazing prophecy delivered by Deborah in verse 9: “’Certainly I will go with you,’ said Deborah. ‘But because of the course you are taking, the honour will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.’”

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‌At first reading, we might think that Deborah was talking about herself, but actually she was talking about Jael. The Lord delivered the evil leader Sisera into the hands of a simple tent-dwelling woman named Jael, when she drove a tent peg through his head.‌

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Deborah was reliable and Jael was reliable, but they had completely contrasting positions in their society. Deborah was a highly-respected judge and prophetess, whilst Jael was a lowly, nomadic tent dweller.

Just imagine for a moment what Jael was facing. A battle-hardened warrior was approaching and yet, despite being alone, she courageously goes out to meet him and offers him shelter and rest in her tent.

If this was our blockbuster movie, we would now be at the moment of highest tension as Jael silently held the tent peg over the sleeping Sisera’s temple. We would be waiting for his eyes to pop open and thwart her plan. But Jael held her nerve and reliably completed the job.

Leadership qualities need pay no regard to status. We can all play our part, regardless of our circumstances if we are ready for action.

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Deborah and Jael were ready, but there is no one more ready than Jesus. Deborah and Jael were reliable, but there is no one more reliable than Jesus.

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The book of Judges shows us how desperately we need a Saviour. Time and again, people turned away from God, then judgement came, then God provided a saviour. But, in the book of Judges, that saviour was always a temporary. We need a permanent Saviour.

The cautionary tale that comes from the story of Deborah warns us not to let the trials and temptations of this world draw us away from God. May we use the example that she delivers to help us be trustworthy, maintain integrity, have courage, be reliable and ever-ready to take action. Such qualities will help us as disciples to follow Jesus’ example, remain faithful, and win the battle on God’s side.

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Then we will be ready to meet the greatest leader, the greatest prophet, the greatest judge, the greatest king, the greatest Saviour, when Jesus comes again! 

Sunday 15 June 2025: Miriam

[READ Exodus 2:1-10]

Miriam watched over Moses as a baby when he was placed in the basket among the reeds in the River Nile to escape being killed by the Pharaoh of Egypt. There are a number of qualities we see in Miriam through this passage.

Firstly, she was obedient and showed compassion. She stood at a distance to see what would happen to Moses, watching over him to make sure that he came to no harm.

Secondly, she showed courage. She boldly approaches Pharaoh’s daughter to offer a Hebrew nurse for the baby, knowing the potential risks of the Pharaoh’s daughter was to discover the truth. Her quick thinking and ability to ensure that Moses’ mother could be the one to fulfil the princess’s request is what ultimately saves Moses and also ensures he could be raised by his own mother.

This was a very courageous thing for Miriam to do, for the princess was a powerful figure and Miriam was a young girl. But this did not put her off doing what she felt was right and what would save Moses.

Thirdly, she showed great resourcefulness. Miriam was great at thinking on her feet and finding a solution to a big problem. She quickly suggests to the princess that a Hebrew woman should be found to nurse Moses, and this then allows her to suggest Moses own mother for the job.

Ultimately, it is Miriam’s love for her brother and her nurturing desire to protect him that spurs her on. She does not think about the danger she is putting herself in, and she is willing to take risks to ensure his safety.

We next encounter Miriam who is described as a prophetess who led the community of the exiled in the ‘Song of Sea’. This took place after Pharaoh’s army had been destroyed by God when the sea parted to let the Israelites through and then crashed back down again to crush Pharaoh’s army.

[READ Exodus 15:19-21]

In this passage, Miriam is clearly described as a prophetess. A prophetess is a woman who is believed to speak for God, delivering messages or teachings. There are only a few prophetesses mentioned in the Bible and the Old Testament records several occasions where women celebrate and proclaim military victories. When Miriam leads her people in singing, dancing and playing musical instruments, she is giving praise to God for their deliverance, and she is trying to rouse those that are faithful. By singing about a victory, this is one way that the Israelite people could remember what had happened. Miriam is giving the victory to God when she sings ‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed’.

This shows Miriam’s leadership, faith and musical abilities. Her obedience and trust in God are displayed in her words that celebrates God’s miraculous deliverance.

[READ Numbers 12:1-15] 

In this reading, Miriam and Aaron rebuke Moses for marrying a woman whose name we are not told. God then appears in a pillar of cloud and then in turn rebukes Miriam and Aaron for speaking out against Moses. Miriam is a faithful believer who in turn leads God’s people in their victory song. However, in this encounter with Miriam, she is failing to accept Moses authority over her and Aaron, resulting in her being punished for her unfaithfulness. This is a reminder to Miriam that God is in control and that there are consequences to being disobedient and rebelling against God’s authority. God had chosen Moses as the leader of His people, and when Miriam questions this leadership, she is questioning the authority of God Himself. This passage cautions against envy, jealousy and criticism, and instead accepting God’s guidance and chosen leadership. However, Miriam accepts her punishment by being banished for seven days outside of the camp and humbly accepts God’s judgement. Her people were obviously very faithful to Miriam, however, for we are told that they did not move on until she was brought back into the camp.

In summary, there are a number of things we can learn from the life of Miriam:

• Firstly, that family is important and that it is from our family that we can draw strength, including our Church family.
• We can learn that it is important to trust God, even in situations that appear to be hopeless.
• Thirdly, it is important to celebrate God’s victory and show Him gratitude for things He has done for us.
• Accepting God’s plan for us and embracing the role He wants us to play in His bigger plan.
• Being obedient to God, trusting in the decisions He makes and the importance of trust.
• Finally, the importance of humility and recognising that God’s wisdom and guidance are essential.

Sunday 8 June 2025: Genesis 3

Our Bible reading for today is quite lengthy – one whole chapter – and importantly so in order to have a proper context for the events it describes. As you might expect, there is debate about whether we should accept the account as factual or symbolic, but I suggest we put that argument to one side and focus instead on what we can learn from Eve.

She was a woman of many firsts. She was the first woman, she was the first wife, and she was the first mother. Eve is the only human being to have come from a man. After her, all other human beings came from other women.

The Bible tells us that Eve was created with Adam in the image of God, she was commanded with Adam to rule over the world, she was commissioned with Adam to be fruitful and multiply, and she was created from Adam to be a partner for him.

Eve was also the first to fall into sin. She was deceived by Satan into disobeying God, and then she convinced Adam to join her in her sin. When God confronted her, she blamed the serpent, refusing at first to take responsibility for her sin.

Eve was a woman who knew and understood loss. She experienced the loss of innocence when she disobeyed God in Eden. She experienced the loss of paradise when God removed her and Adam from the garden. She experienced the loss of her son, Abel, when he was murdered by Cain. Worst of all she experienced the loss of a perfect relationship with God which she and Adam had enjoyed in the garden.

Eve’s loss was our loss as well, because we are all now born into this world as sinners, separated from God and in need of a Saviour.

Verse 20 of our reading tells us, “Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother all the living.” The name ‘Eve’ apparently means ‘life’ or ‘living’, and so every time someone spoke Eve’s name, it would signify life.

When we think of Eve as the mother of all the living, we can break that down into three key areas, namely, the mother of all the physically living, the mother of all the spiritually living and the mother of Christ the Saviour. So, let’s take a look at each of these in turn.

First of all, Eve is the mother of all the physically living. We can read about God’s good plan for His creation in chapter 1 of Genesis where He created the first man and woman and from them would come all other human beings. They would come together as husband and wife, they would bear children, and their children would bear children, and so they would fill the earth with humans created in the image of God to the glory of God. That was the plan.

Then sin intervened. Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and suddenly for the first time they experienced shame, guilt and fear. When God came looking for them in the garden, they hid from Him for fear that their sin would be exposed. When God confronted them with their sin, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. And then God judged all three.

That judgement is recorded in verses 14 to 19 of our reading. God pronounced a curse upon the serpent, and to the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing.” He told the man that he would return to the ground from which he was taken.

These were strong judgments for sin, but Adam found a word of hope within them. The word of hope was that his wife would experience pain in childbearing, because that meant she would still bear children. God had pronounced judgment for sin, but in His mercy, he had not abandoned the human race. And he had not abandoned Adam or Eve.

God was not going to start over with someone else. Adam’s wife would still bear children, and so he named her Eve, because she would become the mother of all the physically living to come. She would be the mother of the whole human race. Eve is the mother of all the physically living. In God’s grace, humanity would continue through Eve. And in that sense, she is the mother of us all.

Secondly, Eve is the mother of all the spiritually living. There was a second word of hope that Adam heard that day, and we find it in God’s words to the serpent in verse 15: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.”

It's a strange word, enmity, isn't it? And it's not easy to day either. It looks and sounds a bit like enemy, and it has similar meaning. The definition of enmity is: ‘a state or feeling of active opposition or hostility’.

This was part of God’s curse on the serpent, and it was a prophesy that there was a spiritual battle to come. There would be enmity between the offspring of the serpent and the offspring of the woman.

The Bible identifies the serpent as none other than Satan himself. The word Satan means “adversary” and that is exactly who Satan is. He is an adversary. He is opposed to God, and he is opposed to God’s good creation. The offspring of the serpent are those who follow in Satan’s footsteps; those who are also opposed to God and His ways.

So, if that is who the serpent’s offspring are, then who are the woman’s offspring? Well, it can’t mean all her physical offspring, because that would include all humans, and we’ve already seen that many of the woman’s physical offspring would follow Satan rather than God. We must, therefore, take it in the spiritual sense of only those people who love and follow God.

And so we have these two groups of people: the offspring of Satan; and, the offspring of Eve. And there is a great spiritual battle that goes on between the two. That battle continues to the present day, but it began back in Genesis as soon as Eve bore her first children.

In Genesis chapter 4, Eve gives birth to Cain and Abel. Cain murders his brother, Abel, because Abel’s heart is right with God, but Cain’s is not. It is a sign of things to come. As the Book of Genesis continues, we see Cain’s line producing further violence and rebellion against God.

Meanwhile Adam and Eve have another son named Seth. And so the book of Genesis presents us with the godly seed of the woman represented by Seth and his offspring, as opposed to the ungodly seed of the serpent represented by Cain and his offspring. Therefore, Eve, as the mother of all the spiritually living, is the mother of those who follow God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

And that brings us to the third reason why Adam named his wife Eve. She would become the mother of Christ the Saviour.

This was the third word of hope Adam heard that day, and we find it again in verse 15 where God said, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” This is the earliest prophesy we have of Jesus in the Old Testament. It is an amazing testimony to God’s grace. No sooner had mankind sinned than God promised to send a Saviour.

When Adam ate from the tree, he did not die physically that day, but he died spiritually. He became separated from God by his sins. He needed a Saviour. His wife needed a Saviour. The human race needed a Saviour. And God promised that the Saviour would come through the offspring of Eve.

The Old Testament allows us to trace Jesus’ line from Eve right the way through to Mary. Eve was the first to sin, Adam soon followed, and through their sin, death came upon the entire human race. And yet Adam, hearing God’s promise of a Saviour, does not call Eve the mother of all the dying. Rather, in faith, believing God’s promise, he calls her Eve, the mother of all the living.

Adam means ‘ground’ and is a reminder of our death. But Adam called his wife Eve because the promised Saviour would come through her.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus came into our world. The eternal Son of God became flesh. He was born into our world as a human being. Satan struck at Jesus’ heel, tempting and attacking Him in his humanity. But Jesus crushed Satan’s head, dying for our sins on the cross, and freeing us from Satan, sin and death, so that we could live with God forever.

So why did Adam name his wife Eve, the mother of all the living? Because she is the mother of all the physically living. She is the mother of all the spiritually living. And she is the mother of Christ the Saviour.

So, in conclusion, God’s Word shows us that we are all one human race. We all have one common mother, and so there is no room for racial prejudice or discrimination in the Christian faith.

We are all sinners by nature and need a Saviour. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, their sin was passed on to all their children, and to all their children’s children. We are all sinners, and the just punishment for sin is death.

But Jesus is the only Saviour for all mankind. Jesus is the promised offspring of the woman who crushed the serpent’s head. He is the Saviour God promised to send, and it is only through Him and His death on the cross that we may be forgiven for our sins.

Eve is often a misunderstood character in the Bible. While she and Adam both brought sin and death into the world through eating fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Eve is the mother of the human race. She represents God’s promise to bring into the world the one who would crush the head of the devil and redeem us from sin once and for all.