“Jesus wept.” At the graveside of his dear friend Lazarus, “Jesus wept.” It is a good thing that John 11:35 is there marked out for us as the shortest verse in the Bible, because it is so helpful in times of grief and mourning. Jesus…
In 2015 the World Bank estimated that 702.1 million people were living in extreme poverty, down from 1.75 billion in 1990: about 347.1 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa and 231.3 million in South Asia. In 2012 it was estimated that, using a poverty line of…
Tomorrow we celebrate Good Friday, the day when Jesus Christ was crucified. Tonight we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, remembering Jesus’s death with bread and wine as He commanded us to do. Why did Jesus die? The First Letter of Peter explains the mystery of God’s…
What was the most important hour of your life? Was it your wedding or the birth of a child? Perhaps it was an important exam or the interview for a new job? Maybe it was an operation which saved your life or a miraculous escape…
Dating from the 4th Century, in this very simple act of worship we reflect upon the shadows which fell upon Jesus Christ in the last week of His life. We begin by lighting again the Advent Candle we used to count down to celebrating Christmas.…
The Bible has a great deal to say about the need for justice in trade and challenges us to act justly as consumers, promoting products that benefit people and planet, rather than harming and exploiting them. As ethical consumers, we can make a difference. We…
“Hear O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is one.” Those words from Deuteronomy 6 formed the beginning of the Shema, the prayer every orthodox Jew has prayed every day for the last three thousand years. They have been at the heart of the…
There is a story about a group of pilgrims who were on a tour around the Holy Land. The guide was explaining how for thousands of years the shepherd would walk in front of his sheep leading them and they followed him, just as Jesus…
Being a shepherd in the Middle East in the time of Jesus was not an easy job! If your picture of a shepherd comes from Emmerdale or One Man and His Dog then forget it. Think instead of the cowboys in the Wild West. Pasture…
The Old Testament Jubilee laws show God’s concern for justice in society. We are challenged to loose the chains of injustice. Today, this may include tackling the root causes of poverty and the traps of debt, locally and globally. ‘Righteousness and justice are the foundation…
As Christians, we are challenged to love our neighbour in very practical ways. Our neighbours include those in most need in the poorest countries of the world. We can work together with them to help transform their communities. By working with other churches to do…
Have you ever wanted just to escape? To get away from everything and start life all over again? Just to be free? People sometimes come to me as a minister saying that kind of thing. I want life to be different. I want to be…
What does the Lord require of you? To Act Justly… A series of studies adapted by Peter based on material by Christian Aid. Session 1: A call to act justly Session 2: Social action Session 3: Drop the debt Session 4: Fair trade combined with…
There was a time before I turned out to be good at chemistry when I thought about becoming a lawyer. Not a solicitor but a barrister. Courtroom dramas have all the exciting ingredients, compelling characters, making arguments, battles of words, all the twists and turns…
Micah 6: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Here in the prophet Micah we find a wonderful summary of what…
The beautiful city of Cambridge lies on the river Cam. Along the picturesque stretch of river called The Backs, behind the raised banks many of the lawns and gardens of the historic colleges are at the same level as the river, or even lower. To…
The words that I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life (v 63) The Words of Jesus are full of the Spirit Jesus the Son of God was full of the Holy Spirit. So His words convey the Holy…
As part of our Week of Prayer and Fasting, this short study will help us as we are listening to God. As we draw near to God in prayer let us remind ourselves with two questions IN WHAT KINDS OF WAYS MIGHT WE EXPECT…
Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. “Pray in the Spirit.” When you think how important the Holy Spirit…
“In general we must hold that whenever any religious controversy arises, which either a council or ecclesiastical tribunal behooves to decide; whenever a minister is to be chosen; whenever, in short any matter of difficulty and great importance is under consideration: on the other hand,…