SPCK - N T Wright
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Reasons for Parables
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Reasons for Parables
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Reason for Parables Matthew 13.10-17 We went out one windy day to plant a row of trees. The storms of the previous winter had damaged some of the oaks that surrounded the ancient church, and we had decided to remove them and plant new ones. The actual planting was to be done …
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Parable of the Sower
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Parable of the Sower
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Parable of the Sower Matthew 13.1-9 We stood on the shore of the Sea of Galilee on a spring morning. The bus was up by the road, and we had walked down, several dozen of us, to where the lake was glistening in the sunshine. It was peaceful and still. The ground slopes up stee…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus' True Family
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus' True Family
by SPCK - N T Wright
Jesus’ True Family Matthew 12.43-50 One of the saddest moments in my pastoral ministry came some years ago when I was contacted by a man in prison. He was coming towards the end of his sentence, having served some years for serious business fraud. During his time in jail he had t…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Sign of Jonah
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Sign of Jonah
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Sign of Jonah Matthew 12.33-42 We all like to play at being amateur detectives. Every year another crop of novels appears, and sometimes plays and movies as well, in which a wicked deed has been performed and nobody can figure out who did it. Some of the greatest names in fic…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus and Beelzebul
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus and Beelzebul
by SPCK - N T Wright
Jesus and Beelzebul Matthew 12.22-32 ‘How did they do it?’ We stood looking up at the west front of one of France’s great medieval cathedrals. It was massive, majestic and awe-inspiring. At the same time, the overall shaping of the stone was so beautifully worked that it seemed t…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Servant
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Servant
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Servant Matthew 12.15-21 The bishop sat at his desk and put his head in his hands. Another three letters had just arrived complaining at the way in which a particular parish had changed its style of music. The director of finance had just reported that unless people in the di…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Lord of the Sabbath
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Lord of the Sabbath
by SPCK - N T Wright
Lord of the Sabbath Matthew 12.1-14 Some years ago I read a book by a man who had worked most of his life with poor and homeless people in one of the toughest parts of London. It was a gritty tale of just how hard real life can be for some people – and of how the love of God can …
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus' Invitation
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - Jesus' Invitation
by SPCK - N T Wright
Jesus’ Invitation Matthew 11.25-30 I went this morning to a memorial service to honour one of the world’s great sportsmen. Colin Cowdrey was one of the greatest cricketers of all time; not quite cricket’s Babe Ruth, but not far off. He was known and loved all around the world – n…
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