Tom Wright
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus Condemns the Cities
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus Condemns the Cities
by SPCK - N T Wright
Jesus Condemns the Cities Matthew 11.16-24 A bright red sports car swept by me in the street, with a roar of exhaust and a swish of tyres. As it slowed momentarily to take the corner, I caught a glimpse of the young man driving it: dark glasses, long hair, the hint of a beard. Ro…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Identity of John the Baptist
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Identity of John the Baptist
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Identity of John the Baptist Matthew 11.7-15 One of the things that made the start of the twentieth century so dramatic was the invention of the motor car. It brought all kinds of new opportunities, new dangers, and new possibilities. But think for a moment of just one of the…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus and John the Baptist
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus and John the Baptist
by SPCK - N T Wright
Jesus and John the Baptist Matthew 11.1-6 We had rehearsed the show for weeks, and reckoned we had it pretty well sorted out. We were a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs, but we were quite pleased with our singing, acting and dancing. The show was going to be good, funny and excitin…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus Causes Division
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus Causes Division
by SPCK - N T Wright
Jesus Causes Division Matthew 10.32-42 I was once asked to go and preach at the school which I had attended as a boy. It was one of those annual events that many schools have where we were supposed to remember the great pioneers who had founded the school, developed it, and given…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Warnings and Encouragements
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Warnings and Encouragements
by SPCK - N T Wright
Warnings and Encouragements Matthew 10.24-31 Which command is repeated most often in the Bible? You might imagine it’s something stern: Behave yourself! Smarten up! Say your prayers! Worship God more wholeheartedly! Give more money away! You’d be wrong. It’s the command we find i…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Sheep among Wolves
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Sheep among Wolves
by SPCK - N T Wright
Sheep among Wolves Matthew 10.16-23 I went to the fairground with my daughter. We stood in line for over an hour for one of the biggest rides; it looked fun, and everyone was excited and happy to wait for their turn. Finally we boarded the car. Up it went, up and up, higher and h…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Twelve Are Sent Out
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Twelve Are Sent Out
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Twelve Are Sent Out Matthew 10.1-15 ‘But how will I know the way?’ I asked, setting off on my first solo car journey. ‘Don’t be silly,’ said my mother. ‘We’ve been going there for years! You’ll know it all right.’ But I didn’t. I recognized many parts of the road. But there i…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus' Fame Increases
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus' Fame Increases
by SPCK - N T Wright
Jesus’ Fame Increases Matthew 9.27-37 For many years now, one of the regular themes of fiction-writers has been the spy story. During the Cold War years in particular, when East and West were deeply suspicious of each other (normally this meant Russia and America, but their respe…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Raising of the Little Girl
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Raising of the Little Girl
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Raising of the Little Girl Matthew 9.18-26 As I write this, Britain’s farms are in a state of crisis. A powerful disease has spread through tens of thousands of animals, which have had to be slaughtered. Much of the countryside is closed off; nobody is allowed to walk through…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Call of Matthew
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Call of Matthew
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Call of Matthew Matthew 9.9-17 I was a teenager in the famous 1960s. Revolution was in the air. Protests, especially among young people, were the order of the day. Young Americans protested against the Vietnam war. Students in Paris told factory workers they had nothing to lo…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Healing of the Paralytic
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Healing of the Paralytic
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Healing of the Paralytic Matthew 9.1-8 ‘Authority’ has had a bad press, in much of the world, for a hundred years and more now. It goes together, in the popular mind, with nasty ideas like ‘repression’, ‘human rights abuses’, and such like. Think of ‘the authorities’, and wha…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Healing of the Demoniacs
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Healing of the Demoniacs
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Healing of the Demoniacs Matthew 8.28-34 I was listening to some music last night that kept surprising me. It was a great symphony, with a wonderful tune that turned this way and that, sweeping us along, catching our emotions and lifting our spirits. Then, just when you thoug…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Calming of the Storm
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Calming of the Storm
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Calming of the Storm Matthew 8.23-27 The sea has always been a symbol of wild, untamable power. You only have to stand beside the ocean, even on a calm day, to sense something of it. There is so much of it, for a start; when the tide comes in, up a beach, imagine how many gal…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - On Following Jesus
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - On Following Jesus
by SPCK - N T Wright
On Following Jesus Matthew 8.14-22 What do you always do first thing in the morning? For some, it will be shaving. For others, it will be making a cup of tea. For some, it will be vigorous exercise. For others, it will be reading the newspaper. Put it the other way: if someone fo…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Healing of the Leper and the Centurion's Servant
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Healing of the Leper and the Centurion's Servant
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Healing of the Leper and the Centurion’s Servant Matthew 8.1-13 ‘Who’s in charge here?’ The policeman suddenly appeared in the doorway. Everyone stood still. It had been a wonderful party up to that point; a bit riotous, perhaps, but great fun. Now, we guessed, one of the nei…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Obedience
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Obedience
by SPCK - N T Wright
True Obedience Matthew 7.24-29 There is a long-standing tradition among those who climb mountains in my part of the world. Often the hills, even the low ones, are covered in mist or cloud, and on many tracks and trails there is a good chance of getting lost and missing the way. S…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Two Ways
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Two Ways
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Two Ways Matthew 7.13-23 Driving the car these days becomes more and more complicated. On any given stretch of road there are more and more warning signs. ‘Lane closed.’ ‘Mud on Road.’ ‘Slow Farm Vehicles.’ Not to mention signs telling you how fast you’re allowed to drive, wa…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - On Prayer