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Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - People Who Are Standing Need to Watch Lest They Fall
Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - People Who Are Standing Need to Watch Lest They Fall
by SPCK - John Goldingay
People Who Are Standing Need to Watch Lest They Fall Psalm 78: 38-72 A few months ago one of the members of our church, a lively lady in her nineties who always had something to contribute, suddenly became less consistent in coming to church, and then didn’t appear for two or thr…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Strength to bear the burdens
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Strength to bear the burdens
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Strength to bear the burdens Luke’s spirituality As well as a patient steady plodder, carrying heavy loads, the ox was a very religious symbol for Jews, being used for sacrifice, and its horns representing the power of God. If Luke is the evangelist who depicts Jesus as the beare…
The Living God - Mystery or muddle? The Trinity
The Living God - Mystery or muddle? The Trinity
by SPCK - Alister McGrath
Mystery or muddle? The Trinity 5 When I was an atheist I regarded religious people as deluded and irrational souls who believed all sorts of ridiculous nonsense. If I had been asked to single out what I regarded as the most absurd aspect of Christian belief, I would have pointed …
The Living God - The Christian story of salvation: doing justice to God
The Living God - The Christian story of salvation: doing justice to God
by SPCK - Alister McGrath
Mystery or muddle? The Trinity 5 The Christian story of salvation: doing justice to God The Christian Church has always realized that getting God right trumps everything. The doctrine of the Trinity aims to integrate all the elements of the rich and complex biblical witness to th…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The ox, the herd, and the drivers
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The ox, the herd, and the drivers
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
The ox, the herd, and the drivers Luke’s characterization The gospels’ stories involve three main protagonists – Jesus himself, his disciples and the religious leaders of his day, with three storylines developing en route to their shared climax at the death and resurrection. So l…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The sacrificial, saving victim
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The sacrificial, saving victim
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
The sacrificial, saving victim The Passion, Luke 22—23 In Luke’s Passion narrative, Jesus becomes passive, like Mark’s lion being tied up and muzzled, or Matthew’s Teacher refusing to call up legions of angels. Here the reason is divine necessity: ‘it is necessary’ (dei) appears …
Four Gospels, One Jesus - What about the authors?
Four Gospels, One Jesus - What about the authors?
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
What about the authors? Redaction and composition I cannot always read my favourite newspaper at coffee-time in our staff common room, because someone else has bagged it already! Never mind, there are others around, and reading various papers reveals their different styles and vi…
Paul for Everyone The Prison Letters - Celebrate in the Lord!
Paul for Everyone The Prison Letters - Celebrate in the Lord!
by SPCK - N T Wright
Celebrate in the Lord! Philippians 4.2-9 You never know when it’s going to happen. Two people who one day are good friends, working alongside each other in the church or community, can suddenly get across each other. A sharp word from one, half-heard by the other; a bitter respon…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Parable of the Weeds Explained
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Parable of the Weeds Explained
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Parable of the Weeds Explained Matthew 13.36-43 I have on my desk a photograph of a sunset. The sun is going down over one of my favourite countryside scenes, lighting up the sky above and silhouetting, on the skyline, hills I have loved since boyhood. The sun is mostly behin…
Revelation for Everyone - A Call for Endurance
Revelation for Everyone - A Call for Endurance
by SPCK - N T Wright
A Call for Endurance Revelation 14.6-13 ‘Yes,’ says the spirit, ‘so that they may rest from their works, for the deeds they have done follow after them.’ I had a long email the other day from someone eager to know whether hell is really going to be eternal. Really ‘eternal’. The …
Nativities
Nativities
by Colin Price
Six perspectives on the Christmas story in poetry, with or without music. Extract: Joseph's version So far to come, with your youth complete; so lately, part of a bevy of girls at play in a Nazareth street: now a subject for Romans' levy. So uncomplainingly reconciled to trudging…
Transforming Preaching - Using visual images
Transforming Preaching - Using visual images
by SPCK - David Heywood
3 A step-by-step guide to sermon preparation Using visual images The first two vital ingredients in any sermon are the message and the structure, deciding what God is calling you to say and planning how you want to say it. The third ingredient provides the vital spark that makes …
RE Active - Christmas... with templates
RE Active - Christmas... with templates
by SPCK - Jenny Gray
5 Christmas In each school year, the RE curriculum will probably build on what children already know about Christmas. In Hertfordshire (at the time of writing), Year 3 focuses on angels’ messages; Year 4 Christmas celebrations; Year 5 Advent waiting and Jesus as the “Light of the…
RE Active - Christmas
RE Active - Christmas
by SPCK - Jenny Gray
Christmas In each school year, the RE curriculum will probably build on what children already know about Christmas. In Hertfordshire (at the time of writing), Year 3 focuses on angels’ messages; Year 4 Christmas celebrations; Year 5 Advent waiting and Jesus as the ‘Light of the W…
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