Advent 3 – What is greatness in the kingdom of God?

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Bible reading: Matthew 11:1-15 (NIVUK) Jesus and John the Baptist 11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, ‘Are you the one […]

Advent 2

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Bible readings (NIVUK): Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort for God’s people 40 Comfort, comfort my people,     says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,     and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed,     that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand     double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: […]

Advent 1

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Bible readings (NIVUK): Isaiah 64:1-9 64 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,     that the mountains would tremble before you! 2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze     and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies     and cause the nations to quake before you! 3 For when you […]

Developing a faith sharing culture 8 – People of peace

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Bible reading: Luke 10:1-11 (NIVUK) Jesus sends out the seventy-two 10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send […]

Developing a faith sharing culture 7 – Practising hospitality

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Bible readings (NIVUK) Matthew 10:40-42 40 ‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a […]

Developing a faith sharing culture 6 – Come and see

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Bible readings (NIVUK) John 1:35-46 John’s disciples follow Jesus 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’ 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning round, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’ They […]

Developing a faith sharing culture 5 – Be a blessing

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Bible readings (NIVUK): Genesis 12:1-9 The call of Abram 12 The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 ‘I will make you into a great nation,     and I will bless you; I will make your name great,     and you will be a blessing. […]

Encountering God’s creation – Lessons from the rhythm of creation

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Technical problems with the recording today caused us to lose the end of the reading and the start of the sermon. The sermon is clearer in the sermon audio recording than in the YouTube video. Bible readings (NIVUK): Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 A time for everything 3 There is a time for everything,     and a season for every […]

Encountering God’s creation – All of God’s creation is sacred

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Bible reading: Ezekiel 34:1-25 (NIVUK) The Lord will be Israel’s shepherd 34 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat […]

Encountering God’s creation – God notices every detail of creation, do we?

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Bible reading: Genesis 8:1-18 (GNT) The End of the Flood 8 God had not forgotten Noah and all the animals with him in the boat; he caused a wind to blow, and the water started going down. 2 The outlets of the water beneath the earth and the floodgates of the sky were closed. The rain stopped, 3 and the […]