Episodes

  • November 25th - Proverbs 17:5

    November 25th - Proverbs 17:5
    Nov 25 2024
    Proverbs 17:5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished. Every society has poor people and Jesus affirmed that that would always be the case. But that doesn’t mean that we should be unconcerned for the poor. The Bible encourages us to take their needs seriously and do everything we can to support them. Leviticus gave some very practical advice: “When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:9-10). Today’s verse is particularly concerned about those who look down on the poor and who even mock them. This isn’t merely rude but an insult to God, who will ensure that those who rejoice at the misfortune of others are punished. We are commanded to show respect to the poor for the simple reason that they, like us, have been made in the image of God. They have infinite worth and are loved by God - just as we are. God has given us all a responsibility to care for the poor. We may be able to give specific financial or other practical help direct to individuals that we know. There are also many organisations that we can support - from food banks and debt advice services to charities that work in developing countries, many of which face horrifying levels of poverty. There is action that all of us can take and, because of our love for a God who cares passionately for all, we need to find our own way of responding. Question – How can you support people in poverty in your own community? Prayer – Lord God, forgive me for those times when I have overlooked the needs of the poor. Please show me what I can do to help. Amen
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    3 mins
  • November 24th - Proverbs 17:4

    November 24th - Proverbs 17:4
    Nov 24 2024
    Proverbs 17:4 Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander. The book of Proverbs was written more than 2,500 years ago, but the issues that it tackles are so up to date that you could easily imagine it was written yesterday! Today’s verse reminds us that there have always been gossips. There are many references to gossips in Proverbs and it is clear that the writer is deeply disturbed about their power to destroy relationships and make life miserable. Of course, everyone understands the magnetic power of a juicy bit of gossip. In Proverbs 18:8 (NIV) we read: “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.” The gossip may draw you in by telling you that they haven’t told anyone else this piece of information; it’s because of your special relationship that they are giving you this privileged insight. The gossip then shares their news in as dramatic a way as possible, and you are hooked. It’s a dangerous process, but the reality is that life today is just the same as in the ancient world. Gossip is as destructive as it has always been. Every community is fertile ground for gossip, and churches are no exception. The love and care that binds a church together means that there is a constant flow of information, and so there is a continual danger that it could amount to no more than gossip. We are wise to check ourselves when we pass on information about other people. The mnemonic T-H-I-N-K is helpful. Ask yourself: is it true, helpful, inspiring, necessary and kind? If it doesn’t pass those tests, keep quiet instead. Concern about gossip is found in both the Old and the New Testaments. The apostle Paul often spoke about its dangers and urged his readers only to share what was ““good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29). We must listen carefully to his words and respond to any gossip that we hear with decisiveness and love. Question – What is your response when someone shares gossip with you? Prayer – Lord God, help me to do everything possible not to pass on gossip. Give me your strength and wisdom so that I will always speak in a way that brings encouragement and help to others. Amen
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    4 mins
  • November 23rd - 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21

    November 23rd - 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
    Nov 23 2024
    1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. It has been estimated that as many as 20 per cent of the paintings held by Britain’s major museums may be forgeries. It is apparently extremely difficult to be certain of the precise origin of paintings and it takes a great deal of forensic work to gain any degree of certainty. The apostle Paul is greatly concerned about an even more serious kind of fake, and that is when someone claims to be speaking a word of prophecy but is not. This was clearly a matter of great concern for the early Church. There were undoubtedly many people who enjoyed the influence that they acquired by stating “thus saith the Lord” and were delighted by the ease with which they could deceive people. Paul was eager to encourage the Church to know how to approach prophecy. He certainly didn’t want them to dismiss all prophetic utterances just because there were some irresponsible people who deliberately made stuff up. He wanted people to be eagerly listening for the voice of God, knowing that God had graciously given prophets as a gift to the Church. But Paul didn’t want them to be gullible and simply accept everything that anyone claimed to be from God. They needed to test everything. The same applies to us today. We should welcome prophecies. Sometimes they will speak of things that will happen in the future, but most will declare a word from God about the present. We should listen with great attention but, just like an art expert, we must be alert to the fact that there are fakes around. We should test prophecies by looking at the character of the person who is speaking. We must also ensure that what they are saying is in line with the Bible. God would never say something that contradicts what he has declared in the scriptures. Having tested everything, God calls us to hold on to what is good. Those things will nourish and strengthen us, and surely we wouldn’t want to let them go. Question – In what ways would you test a word of prophecy? Prayer – Loving Father, thank you that you l speak to us. Help me to be eager to hear your voice. Amen
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    3 mins
  • November 22nd - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

    November 22nd - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
    Nov 22 2024
    1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. On the face it, we are looking at three impossible commands here. Being continually joyful, prayerful and thankful sounds wonderful, but can Paul seriously mean that that’s how we should live our lives every single day? What about those times when we are sick, feeling depressed or let down, or when we have just had an accident, or seen the death of a friend? I believe that Paul would confirm that we should indeed be joyful, prayerful and thankful and that that this apparent impossibility is actually possible for all those who belong to Christ Jesus. The point is that our relationship with God changes everything. If it was just down to us, then we would never keep it up. Moans and groans would quickly grab our attention and rob us of any sense of prayerfulness. But as we deliberately open our lives to Christ and allow his Spirit to lead us, these three seemingly impossible commands can actually be achievable. True joy has nothing to do with our circumstances but everything to do with our relationship with God. That’s why James was able to talk about being joyful in the face of suffering (James 1:2). Humanly speaking that sounds like nonsense but, when the focus of our attention is on our relationship with God, it makes sense. He was saying that whatever happens, the relationship that we have with God remains strong – and so joy continues to flow. The command “never stop praying” makes it clear that prayer is a conversation with God. At times, our prayers will be ones that we share with others as public acts of worship, but most of the time they will be a bubbling chat with God about life. Because God is interested in every single aspect of our lives, everything is a subject for prayer. Being thankful in all circumstances needs to be carefully understood. We are certainly not saying that everything that happens in life is good. It clearly isn’t. There is much in life that is sad, sinful and destructive. But, because God is present and loving in every moment, we can always be thankful. These three apparently impossible commands are possible when we know that Jesus is truly the Lord of our lives. Question – How are you going to ensure that you are joyful, prayerful and thankful today? Prayer – Lord God, thank you that you want to bless every part of my life. Amen
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    4 mins
  • November 21st - 1 Thessalonians 5:14

    November 21st - 1 Thessalonians 5:14
    Nov 21 2024
    1 Thessalonians 5:14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. Although the leaders of the church in Thessalonica had a particular responsibility for caring for the people, Paul was clear that everyone had a part to play. As members of God’s family, everyone needs to be involved in what we would call pastoral care. This is far more than merely listening to one another’s woes and being kind to one another. Paul told his readers to warn the lazy. The verb ‘warn’ is sometimes translated ‘admonish’. Paul saw laziness as being so dangerous that direct action needed to be taken. It had to stop if the Church was to thrive. Some people had stopped working because of their belief that Jesus might return at any moment, and in so doing they had become a burden on others. While Paul was also convinced that the Lord might return at any moment, he strongly objected to anyone using it as an excuse to give up work. Paul also urged the Thessalonians to encourage the timid. This may refer not only to those who were naturally lacking in courage but also those who had become discouraged and worried through particular life experiences. We are called not merely called to be kind to such people but actually to give them courage so that they will be better able to face life’s challenges. He also told the church to take tender care of the weak. Undoubtedly, he was talking here about those who were spiritually weak and needed stronger Christians to hold them up. In all of this, Paul urged his readers to be patient with one another. Anyone who has been involved with a church will know how important patience is! We are all different from one another. We see things from varying angles and want to proceed at different speeds. It is great that we are different – but this is also very hard work. Only patience will see us through. The Greek word for patience literally means ‘big suffering’ or ‘long suffering’. It is a great privilege to support one another – but never be surprised when it is exhausting work. Question – In what way is God calling you to support your Christian brothers and sisters? Prayer – Lord God, thank you for calling us and equipping us to care for one another within the Church. Amen
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    4 mins
  • November 20th - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

    November 20th - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
    Nov 20 2024
    1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Dear brothers and sisters, honour those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. Leaders were appointed from the earliest days of the Church. Paul knew that it could only thrive if it had committed, loving, and wise leaders, so in every place he sought to appoint such people. When he referred to the Thessalonian leaders who “work hard among you” you can be sure that he was drawing on his own personal experiences. Paul not only devoted himself to the work of ministry but, in order not to place a burden on the churches, he also made a living as a tentmaker. Paul knew all about hard work, and he knew that this particular church was going to be a challenge. It seems that in Thessalonica there was a particular problem with those who had given up their work because of the possibility of the Lord’s imminent return. Paul was concerned that the leaders took action to address this, and that was never going to be easy. Every church needs leaders, and all leadership is a partnership. In order to thrive, it is vital that Christian leaders receive the “great respect and wholehearted love” to which Paul refers. Through the years I have seen excellent leaders struggle, and sometimes fail, simply because they were surrounded by an atmosphere of criticism and disrespect. They became so discouraged that they were unable to flourish. In other places I have seen churches encourage people into leadership positions that they never thought they could fulfil. But with love and encouragement they have thrived. Whether you are a leader or a follower you have a crucial part to play. At the heart of this will be love and respect - and the result will be the encouragement and strengthening of the Church. Question – In what way do you show love and respect to your leaders? Prayer – Lord God, thank you that you raise up people to be leaders in your Church. Help me always to give them love, encouragement and support. Amen
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    3 mins
  • November 19th - 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6

    November 19th - 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6
    Nov 19 2024
    1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 You are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. When I was in my teens, I did a fascinating six-week course at a local fire station. Because it was held over a number of weeks, I got to know the firefighters and became familiar with the atmosphere of the station. Most of the time it felt very relaxed, but it was also clear that they were ready at any moment to respond to a call. When the deafening bells sounded, they responded instantly. As they ran, they were putting on their jackets and within moments they were all on the fire engine and heading out of the station. It was an impressive performance and gave me a wonderful picture of what it means to be alert. That was precisely Paul’s message to the Thessalonian church. Jesus might return at any time and so they needed to ensure that they were always ready for it. Paul told his readers that they needed to have clear heads, and contrasted this with those who drink too much. Intoxicating drink is a challenge in every society, and it was clearly the case in Thessalonica. Everyone knew what a drunk person looked like and it was a warning to the church. A drunk person is always a pathetic sight because they are, to a greater or lesser extent, out of control. This is precisely the opposite of what his readers needed to be as Christians. They should be fully in control and properly equipped. Paul gave a quick summary of the spiritual equipment that they needed. They should be protected by the armour of faith and love and wearing, as their helmet, the confidence of salvation (v8). The church of Jesus Christ faces huge challenges in our day, and the only way that we will be able to serve God effectively is by being alert and clearheaded. Firefighters maintain their alertness by being continually tested and trained. I recall that they would often do training exercises to ensure that they knew how to use their breathing apparatus and respond to the wide range of fires that they might face. As Christians we also need to ensure that we are maintaining a high level of readiness so that we will serve God faithfully. Question Do you consider yourself to be alert and clearheaded? Prayer Loving Father, in the power of your Spirit help me to be fully ready to serve you. Amen
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    4 mins
  • November 18th - 1 Thessalonians 4:15,18

    November 18th - 1 Thessalonians 4:15,18
    Nov 18 2024
    1 Thessalonians 4:15,18 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died…So encourage each other with these words. The Thessalonian church lived with the expectation that Jesus might return at any moment. This inevitably triggered lots of questions. It did so then and has done so ever since. The particular issue that Paul addressed in this chapter is what would happen to those who had already died. He made it clear that they will rise from their graves, while those who are still alive when Jesus returns will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then “we will be with the Lord forever” (v17). He doesn’t go into any more detail than that. The important point to recognise is that Paul saw his words as an encouragement. In truth, they didn’t need to know exactly what the programme or timetable of events for that day would look like, and neither do we. What we do need to know is that God has it all in hand, and he can be trusted to look after the future. I believe it is good for us to live with the daily recognition that today might be the day of the Lord’s return. This was deeply instilled in me as a child and, to be honest, I found it quite scary at the time. When I couldn’t find my mother, I would immediately assume that the Lord had returned, and I’d been left behind. But Paul’s intention was not to scare anyone. He wanted to give everyone the encouragement of knowing that the future was is utterly secure in God’s hands. I would love you to have that security today – whether the Lord returns later on today or in 1,000 years. Question How important is the return of Jesus in your daily life? Prayer Lord God, thank you that I need have no fear as I look to the future. I place myself and my future in your loving hands. Amen
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    3 mins