Search Results
Twelve Months of Sunday year c - The Third Sunday Before Advent Year C
Twelve Months of Sunday year c - The Third Sunday Before Advent Year C
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Third Sunday Before Advent Job 19.23–27a 2 Thessalonians 2.1–5, 13–17 Luke 20.27–38 The overall theme (‘resurrection’) is obvious, but the detail is daunting. It seems a shame, as the translators’ footnotes say, that the Hebrew of Job 19.26 is ‘incomprehensible’. The old vers…
Luke for Everyone - The Transfiguration
Luke for Everyone - The Transfiguration
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Transfiguration Luke 9.28-45 The Oscar-winning movie Chariots of Fire tells the story of two athletes at the 1920 Paris Olympics. Harold Abrahams, after a gigantic struggle as much against himself as against the other runners, achieved the gold medal in the 100 yards. Eric Li…
Twelve Months of Sunday year c - The Third Sunday in Lent Year C
Twelve Months of Sunday year c - The Third Sunday in Lent Year C
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Third Sunday of Lent Isaiah 55.1–9 1 Corinthians 10.1–13 Luke 13.1–9 Just in case anyone thought the Old Testament was all gloomy and the New cheerful, here are two passages of dire warning from the New Testament preceded by a warm, redeeming invitation from the Old. Underlyi…
2 Corinthians - The Vision and the Thorn
2 Corinthians - The Vision and the Thorn
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Vision and the Thorn 2 CORINTHIANS 12.1-10 Daedalus was a legendary Greek sculptor and craftsman, famous throughout the ancient world for his many clever inventions. It’s probable that he really did exist, though many of the stories about him and his work are clearly made up …
Paul for Everyone Romans part 2 - The Two Olive Trees
Paul for Everyone Romans part 2 - The Two Olive Trees
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Two Olive Trees ROMANS 11.16-24 ‘This place isn’t big enough for both of us!’ We’ve all heard it, or perhaps even said it. Sometimes it’s in an office where two managers are both wanting their plans to go ahead. Sometimes it’s in a sports team where two players both want to b…
Paul for Everyone Romans part 1 - The Two Types of Slavery
Paul for Everyone Romans part 1 - The Two Types of Slavery
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Two Types of Slavery ROMANS 6.15-19 One of our newspaper columnists came up with a bright idea for achieving two purposes at once. British society (in common with many others in the Western world) is facing a worrying rise in youth crime. Many young people have no jobs, no pu…
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…
2 Corinthians - Time to Forgive
2 Corinthians - Time to Forgive
by SPCK - N T Wright
Time to Forgive 2 CORINTHIANS 2.5-11 ‘What can I do for you, then?’ The doctor smiled over his spectacles. ‘It’s my memory,’ said the patient. ‘I just can’t remember things like I used to.’ ‘How long has this problem been going on?’ asked the doctor. The patient looked puzzled. ‘…
Paul for Everyone Romans part 2 - To God Be the Glory
Paul for Everyone Romans part 2 - To God Be the Glory
by SPCK - N T Wright
To God Be the Glory ROMANS 11.33-36 I was taken yesterday to see the site of a new bridge across a river. We parked the car in a grassy wood and set off to walk. The trees were quite thick to begin with, and I couldn’t see the river, though I could hear it. I assumed the bridge w…
Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians - Timothy's Report
Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians - Timothy's Report
by SPCK - N T Wright
Timothy’s Report Thessalonians 3.6-10 Learning to read Paul is a bit like learning to enjoy great music. It’s quite easy to whistle a tune that you’ve heard on the radio or sung in church. The tune probably only lasts for ten seconds or so, and you can recognize and remember it. …
2 Corinthians - Unbearably Crushed
2 Corinthians - Unbearably Crushed
by SPCK - N T Wright
Unbearably Crushed 2 CORINTHIANS 1.8-14 You watch from a distance as a friend walks down the street. You see him turn and go into a house. He strides in cheerfully and purposefully. You wait for a few minutes. Then you see him come out again – only now you see, to your horror, th…
Paul for Everyone Romans part 1 - Unclean Desires, Dishonoured Bodies
Paul for Everyone Romans part 1 - Unclean Desires, Dishonoured Bodies
by SPCK - N T Wright
Unclean Desires, Dishonoured Bodies ROMANS 1.24-27 Imagine someone who knows nothing of music coming across a violin bow. It would be very puzzling. It has obviously been carefully made, they might think; but what is it for? It’s too narrow to be a kind of polishing implement; it…
Revelation for Everyone - Two Witnesses
Revelation for Everyone - Two Witnesses
by SPCK - N T Wright
Two Witnesses Revelation 11.1-14 People find many books puzzling, but the Bible is often the most puzzling of all. People find many parts of the Bible puzzling, but Revelation is often seen as the most puzzling book of all. And people find Revelation puzzling, but the first half …
Paul for Everyone The Prison Letters - Unity in Everything
Paul for Everyone The Prison Letters - Unity in Everything
by SPCK - N T Wright
Unity in Everything Philippians 2.1-4 We sat and watched spellbound as the actors moved at what seemed like the speed of light. It was a complex and intricate play, with many layers and double or treble meanings. At times things were happening so fast, all around the stage, that …
Acts for Everyone Part 2 - We Have Ways of Keeping You Safe
Acts for Everyone Part 2 - We Have Ways of Keeping You Safe
by SPCK - N T Wright
We Have Ways of Keeping You Safe Acts 23.23-35 Richard Adams’ celebrated novel Watership Down draws the reader into the dramatic and complicated world of a group of rabbits. We follow with increasing sympathy and fascination as Hazel and his companions go on their journey. (Adams…
Luke for Everyone - Watching for the Son of Man
Luke for Everyone - Watching for the Son of Man
by SPCK - N T Wright
Watching for the Son of Man Luke 21.34-38 Travel with me, back in time, to Jerusalem. The year is AD 58, nearly thirty years after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Many people in the holy city came to believe in Jesus in the heady days nearly a generation ago, and many of the…
John for Everyone Part 1 - Bread from Heaven
John for Everyone Part 1 - Bread from Heaven
by SPCK - N T Wright
Bread From Heaven John 6.26-35 The historian was in a hurry to finish his Ph.D. There was one chapter to go, which concerned the painting that had been so important during his period, and the influence the artists had had on the wider thought and culture of the time. He went hast…
Hebrews for Everyone - Warning of Judgement