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29th June 2025

Sunshine and light

Isaiah 60:1-5

1 John 1:1-5

In the Bible, light is a powerful symbol representing God's presence, holiness, goodness, truth, and guidance. It is often contrasted with darkness, which symbolizes sin, ignorance, and spiritual blindness. Jesus is frequently referred to as the ‘light of the world’, and we as Christians, are called to be ‘children of light’, reflecting God's character in a dark world.

The Bible begins with God creating light to dispel the darkness, signifying the beginning of creation and God's power over chaos. The light is a manifestation of His glory and presence, right from the very beginning. Throughout the Bible, light remains as a symbol of salvation and truth; representing God's word, His law, and His wisdom, and guiding people towards righteousness. And we often view the teachings of Jesus as a source of spiritual light, leading people out of darkness and towards eternal life. We are called to walk in the light, thus reflecting God's character and truth in our lives.

But to have light, we need a contrast, dark. Biblically, darkness symbolizes sin, evil, and separation from God, and those who reject God and His truth are said to be walking in darkness. This whole book [LIFT BIBLE] encourages us to turn away from darkness and embrace the light.

So when God comes to earth  in human form, Jesus declares himself to be the light of the world, and offers salvation and guidance to all who follow Him. We  are called to be lights in the world, shining their good deeds before others to glorify God.

So, when we open our Bibles, from start to finish, we are blessed with images of light.

Genesis 1:3: And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light.

John 8:12: I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

1 John 1:7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

And in the natural world, we physically see light as radiating from the sun. The sun, our greatest star, is at once both a source of light and warmth, and a powerful symbol of God's presence and love in our lives. Just as the sun dispels darkness, God's love and truth can illuminate our lives, bringing joy and purpose. We are called to reflect that light, letting our actions and words shine, so that others may see God's goodness.

So light is both a physical and metaphorical representation of goodness. Physically, we need light to live. Spiritually, we do so too. Just as the sun rises each day to overcome the darkness, God's love and truth can overcome the darkness of sin, doubt, and despair in our lives.

Just as the sun is essential for life on Earth, providing light and warmth for growth. Similarly, God is the source of our spiritual life, offering hope and sustenance.

And in the same way as a mirror can deflect light into a dark crevice, Jesus calls each of us to be a light to the world, letting our good works be seen so that others may glorify God. We reflect the light upon others, we share God’s word, we help the needy, we lift each other. Our whole lives should reflect God's light.

And as we let our light shine, we enable others to do the same, creating a ripple effect of positive influence.

This, like much in our lives, should cause us to be thankful for God's blessings; blessings that include the gift of sunshine We should always recognize the light as a reminder of God’s goodness. In doing so, and recognizing that our time is limited, we should be diligent in our work for God, making the most of the opportunities He gives us. May we all be aware, may we not take the easy life of lazing in comfort, but rather all do what we can whilst we are here.

For, just as the sun warms the earth, God's love can ignite our hearts, leading us to spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Him.

So, both physical and spiritual light are good.

Physical light is necessary for physical life. The earth would certainly change very rapidly if there were no longer any sunlight. A forest full of trees with very thick canopies of foliage high above has very little plant life on the ground except for moss or lichen, which needs little sunlight. Plants will never move away from the light—they are said to be positively phototropic, drawn to the light. In the same way, spiritual light is necessary for spiritual life, and this can be a good test of our standing in Christ. The believer will always tend toward spiritual things; tend toward fellowship, prayer, the Word of God. The unbeliever always does the opposite (John 1:5; 3:19–20) because light exposes evil.

Following Jesus is the condition of two promises in John 8:12. First, His followers will never walk in darkness, which is a reference to the assurance of salvation we enjoy. As true followers of the Light, we will never follow the ways of sin (1 John 1:5–7). Rather, we repent of our sin in order to stay close to the light of the world. The second promise is that we will reflect the light of life. Just as He came as the light of the world, He commands us to be ‘lights’ too. In Matthew 5:14–16 we see believers depicted as the light of the world. Just as the moon has no light of its own, reflecting the light of the sun, so are believers to reflect the light of Christ so that all can see it in us. The light is evident to others by the good deeds we do in faith and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So, let us embrace the symbolism of the sun and strive to reflect God's light in all we do. By allowing His love to shine through us, we can bring hope and joy to a world most certainly in need of His grace.

In the name of our crucified and risen Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

 

 

22nd June 2025

Walking in faith

Micah 6:6-8

Hebrews 11:1-3,8-10

Was it last week I was at Blaby Congregational Church? The week before? When there I surprised them by selecting the upbeat ‘Send the fire!’ as a hymn. Not like me at all. I am on firmer ground with the Victorian offerings. And what a hymn Lead, kindly light is. Thank you so much, Sue. Many of the Victorian hymns have fallen out of vogue, for various reasons, not least the language can appear aged and the subject is often dark. Lead, kindly light, that we have just heard by John Henry Newman, even I must confess, is shrouded by a hanging morbid, gloom. However, there is one line that is very apt for today’s message, I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me. How better to describe our journey in faith?

But, what do me mean when we say ‘walking in faith’? My personal definition would be something along the lines of, the Christian concept of living a life guided by trust in God and His promises, even when circumstances are unclear or challenging. You may think likewise? Indeed, the notion of faith in itself is difficult to grasp, for faith is not simply a belief system, but a way of living that involves obedience, reliance on God, and persevering through trials. And make no mistake about it, we are all tested in this life.

So, let us delve deeper.

Firstly, I suppose we should define ‘faith’ itself. I would say that faith is trust, for we have to believe; it is not a blind leap into the unknown, but rather a confident step towards a future that God has promised. Faith is not based on feelings, but is simply about believing what God says, even when circumstances may suggest otherwise. And, of course, faith is a journey. It is not a one-time event but involves ongoing trust and obedience.

If the above is true, we can then ask ourselves how we can live by faith. As I said, we all have difficulties in our lives, but walking in faith means obeying God's commands, even when they don't make sense or are difficult. It involves acknowledging our need for God's guidance and provision in every aspect of life.

And as with all things Godly, it is a partnership. We are trusting God to guide us, but we still have to act. For, faith is not a passive state, but an active force that helps us endure trials and temptations. It helps us to move forward.

And, of course, we have to trust what we cannot see, what we cannot prove by earthly means. Faith enables us to see beyond the limitations of our physical senses and trust in God's promises.

When we open our Bibles we are beset with stories of faith. In this time after Easter we are constantly reminded of the faith of the disciples. They believed. They were scared, they were confused, but they believed. The journey of the disciples, including their struggles and triumphs, provides numerous examples of how faith is developed and tested.

Of course, Jesus Himself lived a life of faith, demonstrating unwavering trust in God's will.

But the greatest story of faith in the Bible is surely that of Abraham, the ‘Father of Faith’ himself. During most of His life, Abram was ordinary, there was little special about him. But then He was called by God. Called by God to commence on an incredible journey of faith that would lead the world to Jesus and onward to all of humanity. To us. Abraham was unsure, he questioned, he stumbled along the way, but he remained faithful.

Those of you with pew Bibles to hand may wish to turn to Genesis 12. The first few lines of Genesis 12, as God is calling Abram, Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’ (Genesis 12:1-3).

Abraham is being called, but is under no doubt that God is with him. Look at that passage again. There are no ifs and maybes on God’s side. I will. Not maybe or perhaps, but I will.

So Abraham set out on his journey. Things were not easy for him, but he remained faithful. And look where it led. For, if we turn to the very beginning of the New Testament, to the opening lines of Matthew’s gospel, we find a genealogy. That that traces the line of Abraham forward to Jesus. And from Jesus, we know that all are welcomed. In the final lines of Galatians 3, So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. So, due to the faith of Abraham, we, we, are heirs according to the promise.

Abrahams journey was difficult, both geographically and spiritually, from Ur to Canaan on a winding road of trust. A road of twists and turns, highs and lows, but each step taking him nearer to his goal.

And so it is with us. Our lives are not easy. Our lives are not straightforward. But onwards and upwards we march. And where do we travel if not in to the unknown. Unknown to us, but known to God. In some ways it is similar to an earthly journey, we may encounter easy stretches and then be tested by barriers. On an earthly journey we can plan our route, we know what to expect.

[MAP]

But on our journey of faith we have no idea what lies before us. But we must trust, as Abraham trusted. And we have an advantage. In fact we have several. For we are told that, if we trust, then Christ is with us. Again from Galatians, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20). We are not alone, for Christ is with us. We are also not alone, for we have each other. However long we have been connected to this church, let us all think of those times that we have been supported through fellowship. What strength that brings! Friends, we are not alone. However difficult things get, we are not alone. We have Christ and we have each other. And in a way we can only marvel at, if we recognise Christ in others, which we are taught to do, we not only look at our neighbour and see a friend, but we also see Christ. Christ Himself is with us, and He is also in others who are with us.

The eternally magnificent mystery that we will never fully understand.

God cannot be tamed or tied down. He cannot be predicted. But He can be trusted. The ancient Israelites knew this, as did our forebears, but do we? God is, and always will be, a mystery. Yet, without seeing the final scene, we set out in faith. We are essentially taking a chance on mystery. Like Abraham we do not know where we are going. Yet we are encouraged by God to set off into the strange and unfamiliar. We do this because it is the way to our inheritance, which is the gradual unfolding of that peace and harmony which is our safest and truest home.

Irrespective of what stands in our way, surrounded by our friends, with the encouragement of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, and emboldened by the Holy Spirit, may we all continue to put one foot in front of the other and walk deeper into this great mystery.

Amen.

 

 

15th June 2025

Focus on God (Matthew 6:19-24)

What an interesting passage today’s key text is. The words are based on those of Jesus preached during what we call the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ and follow that great passage we now know as The Lord’s Prayer. One could therefore say the message is central to His teaching, and is one we often ponder; that we should focus on God rather than earthly matters. Like much of what we are called to do, this is easy to understand, but often difficult to put into practice, for we are often self-centred and by nature tempted by the material wealth that surrounds us.

The analogies used follow nicely from last week’s passage from 1 Corinthians 12, which Jo will have expanded upon last week.

So let us break down the passage and see if we can learn from it.

‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’. These initial verses are encouraging us to focus on the heart. The meaning of the words would perhaps have been easier to understand in the time of Jesus, or even a decade or so ago. For whilst we are now becoming more reliant upon our web-based banking, touch-screen payments and the like, the people gathered as Jesus spoke would have fully understood the value of physical objects, and thus be very aware of how their metals could tarnish, clothes be eaten by moths, cattle stolen, crops blighted by disease or insect infestation. Their ‘things’ could be taken from them. We can still relate to this; an accident or theft can deprive us of a car, a spillage of tea can destroy the workings of a laptop, and many of us dread losing our mobile telephones and all of the information they contain. Again, things can be taken away from us. But Jesus shows us something better. He points us to the treasures that are found in heaven. Treasures that cannot break or be stolen. They cannot be faked, cannot be affected by market trends. These treasures are safe, imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. But it is not easy to see them as treasures, especially when we are satisfied by our earthly belongings. So we are encouraged to focus on the heart. We can do this by praying to desire God’s riches, searching for the riches in His word, and then prioritising these riches over our earthly temptations. Focus on the heart.

Jesus then encourages us to focus the eye. ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!’ This can be quite confusing. But Jesus is saying that the eye shows us where to go, it sets our direction. We need to see where we are going. Therefore, if we set our gaze on earthly riches, that is where we will head. But if we set our sight upon God, then to God we shall move.  We must therefore focus on God. Jesus tells us that if our eyes are full of light, we shall be healthy. For the direction of the eye helps determine the direction of the heart. We aim for bad things, we find them. We aim for material wealth, we find it. We aim for God, and the light floods into our lives. Anything that impedes our spiritual eye, we must clear away. Temptations abound, yes, but we must rise above them.

We then come to the age old problem of serving two masters. ‘No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth’. Here Jesus uses the term ‘master’ in the sense that we are completely devoted to someone. Everything we do is for them. Jesus is saying in the passage that our master can be God, or it can be money. In some early translations the word ‘mammon’ is used. This is a Syriac term for riches, gain, possessions, as well as money. God or mammon? That is the question we must ask ourselves. Of course, this notion is further complicated by the fact that good things can be obtained or done with money. Money in itself is not bad. Money can be used to help others, it can be used in many good ways. It is the selfish use of money Jesus is warning us about, and perhaps (more so) our coveting of it.

For, if we are focused on money and possessions we will not be able to see the vision that God has given us. We will not be able to see that sacrifice is better than selfishness, that generosity is better than greed, that the divine is better than the earthly. We must focus our hearts, our eyes, and our lives on God.

But the notion of focusing can itself be confusing. What does it mean to focus in the way Jesus implies? When I read this passage, for whatever reason, binoculars come to mind. Anca and I love our binoculars. Watching the birds, checking the shipping off the Kent coast when we visit Millie and the girls. So what do binoculars do? They don’t necessarily show us things we can’t see with the naked eye, but more they bring detail to them. They bring focus. Without the bins I can see the clock at the rear of the church. I can even read the time. But with them I see every detail. I can see with focus. That perhaps, is what we should do when searching for God. God is always there. He is there in good times and bad, this is when many notice Him. But He is also there in the everyday, the mundane; perhaps this is when we should really focus on Him. When it is easy to ease back into our comfortable chairs. When it is easy to enjoy the luxury of our earthly possessions.

So, in this passage, Jesus is not instructing us this way because He wants to punish us. Not at all. He doesn’t want us to miss out on riches. He wants us to see what true riches are.

He wants us to see that love is better, peace is better, grace is better, forgiveness is better, and best of all is adoption into the family of God, made possible by His sacrifice on the cross. It is all we need.

I often speak of my concern for the fading of Christianity in modern Britain. But what is the greatest threat to Christianity? Is it the spreading of other religions? Is it the rise of secular people who don’t believe in God? Or is it a lack of genuine godly living among those of us who profess to be Christians? How many of those in Britain professing Christianity are in churches today? We are.

So, what sets us apart from others? It is our faith in the risen Saviour and our belief in a better place.

This coming week may we all focus on God, treasure heaven, and allow our lives to reflect the light. The light that shines in the darkness and that will never be extinguished.

All of this in Christ’s name.

Amen.

 

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8th June 2025

Togetherness 

(JS de Klerk)

We first heard Jason read these words from Psalm 133: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” The psalmist’s words ring through the centuries, carrying forth the yearning of all humanity for harmony. The description of unity likened to precious oil, running down Aaron’s beard and upon his robe, evokes not only sacredness but a deep sense of blessing and joy that comes when the people of God stand together, undivided.

This call to unity is not some abstract sentiment, nor a fleeting ideal. It is, as we heard  from Hilary, reading Paul’s instruction in his first letter to the Corinthians, foundational to our very existence as Christians and members of Christ’s body. “There are many parts, but one body.” Paul does not mince his words: it is God who places each part of the body—each individual, each culture, each background—in its proper place, “just as he wanted them to be.”

In our contemporary world, unity and its challenges are on display not only in our churches but on the world stage, as seen in recent current affairs. I’m referring to a recent BBC article, drawing on the contentious and dramatic Oval Office meeting between President Trump and President Ramaphosa of South Africa. The atmosphere, described in this article is charged with accusations, political pageantry, and attempts at provocation and starkly illustrates the human tendency toward division—racial, political, and national. In that meeting, as in so much of our world, lines are drawn. The “us” and “them,” the “insider” and the “outsider,” become categories by which people are measured, elevated, or dismissed.

Yet, as Christians, we are called to transcend all such barriers. Paul writes, “For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free.” He could as well have written—English or South African, Conservative or Liberal, black or white, privileged or marginalised. The boundaries that the world so often draws, our scripture compels us to erase.

Let us not imagine that such unity is always comfortable, or that it is achieved by ignoring our differences. Rather, Paul insists that each part of the body matters, precisely in its uniqueness. The foot cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” The eye and the ear, though different, each serve their irreplaceable purpose. Unity, then, is not uniformity. It is the divine weaving together of diversity into a single tapestry—a tapestry that reflects the grace and beauty of our Creator.

So how do we, as Christians rooted in this tradition and living in an age marked by ideological, political, and religious competition, take up our calling as unifiers?

Firstly, our unity is not a fragile peace maintained by ignoring hard truths. Rather, it is a robust solidarity born of mutual concern and sacrificial love. “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.” When our world is wounded by injustice, prejudice, or indignity—whether across the globe or right here in Leicester—we do not stand apart as spectators. The suffering of one is the suffering of all.

Secondly, our calling is not to hide from difference but to bear witness to a God who delights in it. Ours is a faith that proclaims both truth and grace; that calls all people, regardless of history or identity, to the foot of the cross. Here, in the presence of Christ, worldly distinctions are not effaced, but are transformed. We no longer view one another “from a worldly point of view,” as Paul says elsewhere, but as beloved children of God, co-heirs in the promise.

But let us not keep this vision only to ourselves. Our world is filled with competing doctrines, both religious and secular. Today’s intellectual landscape is a crowded marketplace: ideologies jostle for attention and hearts can easily be led by the loudest or the most sensational. Whether compelled by ancient faiths or by purely secular ambitions, the desire for justice, peace, and unity is universal.

Within our own Christian doctrine is a truth that reaches beyond our church walls—a radical declaration that each person, of whatever faith or background, possesses infinite worth. Our doctrine of the Imago Dei—the belief that all are made in the image of God—demands that Christians always strive to transcend division, and take a stand against any ideology, policy, or rhetoric that dehumanises or divides.

Moreover, Psalm 133 reminds us that when God’s people dwell together in unity, God’s blessing follows. It is not merely for our own benefit that we seek union, but for the blessing and witness of the world. The world does not need more division; it needs people willing to reach across divides, to work for reconciliation, to defend the dignity of all, and to speak truth with compassion and humility.

As we reflect soberly upon the political theatre of our time, let us be clear: the Christian response is not to descend into the divisive language and behaviour that so often characterises worldly power. We must never confuse the loudest voice for the truest voice, nor mistake provocation for courage. In humility, we pursue the ministry of reconciliation—not by flattery, not by show, but by the quiet strength that transforms hearts and societies.

Let us be reminded then, that Christ himself crossed the greatest divide of all—between God and humankind. He broke down every wall that would keep us from receiving and sharing his love. If we are to be his body, his hands and feet in the world, then we too must be bridge-builders and peacemakers. We must open our doors, our hearts, and our lives to others, striving with all dignity to be faithful witnesses of God’s reconciling love.

So then, brothers and sisters, let us take up our charge. Let each of us, in our uniqueness, serve as an indispensable part of Christ’s body. May we affirm our faith not in word only, but in our actions, our conversations, and our prayers. Let us embody the unity that scripture commands and Christ enables.

And may the Lord, who blesses “even life forevermore” where unity prevails, keep us steadfast in his service, gentle in our speech, and courageous in our reconciliation—today, and always. Amen

 

 

1st June 2025

The Ascension/ Church membership

As I mentioned earlier, Thursday marked the Ascension, the day we remember Jesus ascending into heaven.

‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled’. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written’ […] ‘See, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven (Luke 24:44-46, 49-51).

The ascension comes forty days after Easter, reminding us that Christ had forty days on earth to pass on His final teachings to His disciples. Unbeknown to them, but now known to us, those He left would in a mere few days’ time experience the power of the Holy Spirit upon them. Jesus was, to use a phrase, ‘handing the baton’ to them. Or to us, as I should say. For we are the disciples of Christ. It is our calling to take the teachings of Jesus and use them to advance ourselves and all others. We have been shown the way. So it is with added significance that we shall welcome our new members shortly. What could be considered the first church started shortly after Jesus ascended to heaven. We continue after two millennia of tradition, unity and division, success and failure, to do the same. The early church, as we read in Acts, consisted of a ragged assortment of varied and flawed individuals, and here we are today. They were confused as to what they should do, which direction to take, and here we are today. And they took heart from their togetherness and their bond with Jesus. Here we are today.

So on this day of celebration here at Clarendon Park Congregational Church, let us all accept that we are not perfect, far from it, but let us all aim for perfection, that found in Jesus Christ. Let us help each other, help those in our community, help all we come into contact with. To do this we need strength. So may we be buoyed by all who have gone before, supported by those we meet here each week, and let us never forget that with the Father looking down upon us, enthused by the Spirit, and with Christ in our hearts, that we do have strength. The strength of the Lord.

In His glorious name, Amen.

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1st June 2025

Church membership

It is fair to say that the Church is not held in the regard that it once was. There are many reasons for this, many of which are the fault of Christians failing to act in the ways of Jesus. However this came about, our job today is perhaps more difficult than ever.

Many on the outside question the relevance of church, perhaps seeing churches as institutions putting form before substance, tradition before truth – a closed, old-fashioned place, which doesn’t necessarily feel the problems of the modern world. In today’s society, spirituality may well be fashionable in some forms, but organised Christian religion is most certainly not.

But we know different.

As we gather together, we feel the love flow among us. We come together each week in varying circumstances, in sadness and in laughter. We support and encourage each other through all.

And let us not forget that church membership is deeply rooted in the Bible. In Acts 2:41-42, we read that about 3,000 people were added to the disciples after Peter's sermon at Pentecost. This passage highlights the importance of being part of a community of believers. Additionally, Ephesians 1:22-23 and Colossians 1:18 emphasize the significance of being part of the body of Christ. These scriptures illustrate that church membership is not just a modern concept but has biblical foundations.

Being a member of a church comes with responsibilities, but these responsibilities help members grow spiritually and contribute to the church's overall mission. We stand together, and this mutual support is crucial for spiritual growth and maintaining a strong relationship with God. When members encourage each other and hold each other accountable, it fosters a healthy and supportive community. That is what we have here.

So today, Mirielle, Tony, and Jo will make a commitment to become members of Clarendon Park Congregational Church. In doing so, they will add to the church’s stability and growth, ensuring that it can continue to serve the community and spread the gospel.

Amen.

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25th May 2025

The Book of Job - keeping the faith and aiming upwards

The Book of Job, a poetical book of philosophical narrative, explores the problem of suffering and the relationship between God and humanity. It follows a righteous man named Job who experiences immense loss, including the death of his children and the onset of debilitating sores, while remaining faithful to God. His friends and wife offer various theories about why he suffers, prompting Job to question God's justice. Ultimately, Job's faith is tested, and he learns to trust God's wisdom even when his suffering seems inexplicable.

The book begins with a prologue that introduces Job as a prosperous and righteous man, There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:1). And he said: 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21). The prologue is followed by a conversation in heaven where Satan challenges God's way of rewarding righteous individuals like Job.

Following this, God allows Satan to test Job's faith, leading to the loss of his livestock, servants, children, and ultimately, his own health.

Job’s wife and his friends are convinced that the troubles that befall him are due to the fact that, in some way, Job has sinned and is being punished. But Job counters this, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?' In all this Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:10).

Job then, during his immense suffering, questions God's justice, wrestling with God, while his friends continue to offer various explanations, some blaming him for his sins. But Job remains steadfast, Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him (Job 13:15). It is thus the book continues with Job engaging in poetic dialogues and monologues, expressing his pain and questioning God's ways.

Despite the attempts of his wife and friends, and despite losing more than most of us can imagine, Job remains true to the Lord. God’s ways are beyond us all, we can never even begin to comprehend why things happen, we know so little in comparison to the boundless knowledge of God. As Job was told, Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding (Job 38:4). This perhaps underlines arguments we all sometimes have with God. We are so embroiled in our own lives, this is all we can see. We lose the ‘bigger picture’ to use such a crass phrase for the unending manifestations and doings of God. God appeared to Job, not to explain his suffering, but to reveal his boundless power and wisdom. May we all bear this in mind.

The book concludes with God restoring Job's health, giving him twice as much property, and a long, prosperous life, demonstrating God's ultimate mercy and care, And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10), he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys (Job 42:12).

This conclusion highlights themes of redemption and the faithfulness of God, and teaches us about the complexity of suffering, the importance of faith, and the sovereignty of God. It encourages believers to trust in God's wisdom and goodness, even in the face of inexplicable suffering.

It also, I put forward, encourages us to look for the good, rather than the bad. This message echoes our theme of ‘aiming upwards’ from late January. Many in our modern Western world, are committed to doing the very opposite, and appear to actively look for wrongdoing and darkness. But what about us?

Let us look at our church building. What do we see?

I would hope that we see beauty, perhaps commitment and dedication, a noble act of leaving something for the future. A place where many have, do, and will continue to come close to God. A positive outlook, we may say?

But many in this modern world, and I say modern because this is a relatively recent phenomenon, and is infiltrating our young, will see negativity. Was the stone and timber sustainably resourced? Were the labourers paid a decent wage and treated with respect? From where did the Brice families wealth come from? Do you see what I am getting at? Blood soaks everything if you look enough to find a problem.

So, should we continue to look at the good? Look at, and rejoice in, the good? I would say, yes. Like Job, like Abraham, like Moses, like so many before, we must be positive. This is not to say that bad things do not happen, of course they do, but rather to suggest that they are far outweighed by the positive.

This can be said of our nation, our heritage, our faith. Many will pull it apart. Many, again particularly among the young have a bizarre attitude that we should somehow be ashamed of our past, and therefore move ahead almost in embarrassment. I need not tell you how angry this makes me feel.

We heard a few weeks ago some dreadful passages from the Bible, we are not ignoring or reusing to face such things, but we are rather taking the Bible, taking our history, as a whole.

Condensed down, is the world good? If you look for goodness, beauty, truth, if you aim for goodness, beauty and truth, then you may not necessarily find them, but you will certainly make the world a better place, lifting both ourselves and those around us. If you think the opposite, the opposite will occur.

[mark on wall, up/down]

Similarly, we can never be perfect, only Jesus can attain such heights on earth, but in striving to follow His way, in aiming for His heights, we progress not just ourselves, but humanity. If we don’t aim for goodness, then how can we ever find it? Burn and destroy, or build, solve, repair, and move forward?

Mephistopheles, Goethe’s Luciferian spirit, credo, ‘everything that lives should be eradicated due to its insufficiency’ (paraphrase, Faust 1&2). The world is so flawed that the best outcome is eradication. Worryingly, Marx is said to have a fondness for this quote from Faust. Worrying because, in this revelation of

Mephistopheles, all that suffers should die, only then will suffering cease.

Utterly dreadful, but distressingly, parallels can be drawn to much modern thought.

Of course, suffering can be used for good. We all know how Jesus suffered in His last days on earth. Not only was this not in vain, but the exact opposite, it has given us two millennia of hope, may it continue to do so. Individuals have prospered, nations have been built, thanks to the suffering of Jesus. But there are now people willing, not just willing, but determined, to pull this down. We must resist.

This brings us to faith. Faith is not a hollow belief in some superstition or other, but something far deeper.

So what do we think?

We can believe that the world in its essence is good, as is the spirit of being, or we can forgo that and do as our selfish minds may tell us. This is the situation Job found himself in. His wife, his friends, pointed him (perhaps even rationally) towards the darkness. But instead he decided, despite all that had happened to him, to stay faithful to the Lord. The evidence even suggested that he should curse God. But no, he stood firm.

May we all have the strength to do the same.

We will never understand God’s ways, but we must always know, like Job, that God is good. The spirit that underlies being is good. The essence of aiming upwards is good.

Friends, in conclusion, let us never forget that the answer that we seek is dependent on the aim.

Amen.

 

18th May 2025

Stillness

Have you noticed the amount of noise in our lives? An onslaught of sound and visual interference. There are innumerable things vying for our attention. We are bombarded with imagery and noise; a multitude of television channels, radio, telephones, mobile telephones, magazines, advertising boards, signage, email, and the internet itself. Never before have we been subjected to so much information and noise. ‘Buy this!’, ‘Shop here!’, ‘Must see TV!’ all seem to be shouting at us, demanding our attention. Everything seems to be a demand. Now, now, now! At times this can appear too much for us.

Psalm 46:1 tells us that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. A refuge. When we think of a refuge we think of a quiet place, a safe haven from the noise and the battle. He is our strength, our power, the one from whom we derive the will to go on. The psalm continues, ‘Therefore we will not fear’. For, fear is useless. Fear is indicative of a lack of faith in God. How can you feel fear if you are in a safe haven? A refuge? So why then do we often find ourselves so stressed? We become embroiled in modern life. For many, hectic is the norm, there is no rest, no recouperation. Despite this, the Lord says we should not fear. The fear we feel today has less to do with a physical enemy surrounding our town and bringing siege to it with battering rams as alluded to in the psalm, but the anomalous fear of economic collapse and the search for material wealth; that someone is getting ahead of us at our expense, that we are missing out on something so important that we will never catch up to the rest of society unless we have that one thing. We fear the other; that the other person is taking what is ours and usurping our prerogatives. This is, for many, the basis for our unease. Material greed.

If only we could see the truth. We have nothing to fear if we rely on God. He is our collective strength and He allocated His power to all His children equally. We are all assured of His very present help in our trouble. To calm our fears the Lord gives us, toward the end of today’s psalm, a simple command. Be still and know that I am God! How wonderful that phrase is. He uses the same command over and over in the Bible. In Psalm 4:4 He tells us to Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Commune with your own heart, listen to yourself … listen to the voice of God within ourselves as He guides us. Be still. This command works. We remember that famous passage from Mark’s account of how Jesus used it on the storm in Mark 4:39 when he stood up in the boat and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still’. And when He did there was a great calm. Think of the power in that command. A raging storm was brought to a halt and the sea calmed to nothingness in an instant. Jesus was not overly loud or theatrical when He spoke, but He simply said, “Be still” and it was enough. It can be enough in our lives as well. The Lord is with us today, and gives us the same command. And as it worked on the storm, it will work on our lives. The wise psalmist knew this. Our Good News Bibles use the phrase Stop fighting, and know that I am God, the majority of translations simply state Be still, and know that I am God.  (Psalm 46:10). Be still and know that I am God.

Those of us above a certain age, which is practically everyone here, will remember the days before the Sunday Trading Act of 1994. Other than going to chapel or church, a Sunday pre- this date almost forced us to do less than normal. Sunday was a day of difference. A day of rest. Pre-computers, the internet and multiple television channels, we used our imagination for entertainment and we rested our minds and bodies. Nowadays there is little to no rest from the cloying business of modern life, especially for the young. This is a worry. I don’t think we realise what we are doing sometimes. Meditation and reflection has fallen out of style in the West since the Transcendental Meditation fad of the 1960’s, although in some circles is becoming popular again. But the Christian is always encouraged to reflect. The dictionary defines meditate as “to focus one’s thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over” and that is just what we should do. However difficult and stressful our lives are, and every one of us has experienced hardship, we must attempt to take time to be as one with God.

A few weeks ago, on Good Friday, we painted a picture of the very darkest of the dark. This is what Jesus was facing. What did He do? He didn’t rant and rave and scream of unfairness, but rather took Himself to the Garden of Gethsemane to be as one with the Father among nature. Surely we can learn from this? So let us try. Let us, when things are difficult, be warmed by the fellowship we have with each other and let us take time to be as one with God. Beauty can help with this. Nature, poetry, and, as we heard by listening to the movement from Peer Gynt that Sue played earlier, music, can all help. Anything to clear our minds of external influence and be still with the Lord.

One looks at the BBC website and social media and sees ‘specialist courses’ and ‘experts’ in ‘mindfulness’, and help in how to ‘find peace’. Many people will dismiss the Bible and listen to such things, but is it not simply ‘rebranding’ what is already written within? Self-help! This, friends, is the only self-help manual we need! For, as Christians we should focus on, and reflect on, God. Focus on God, and that will take the focus away from our fear. Perhaps we should all take time to sit and think. Take time to get away from the noise and shouts of daily life. Even if only for five minutes during a busy day, stop. Listen and commune with your own heart. Hear the voice of our Lord as He says, “Know I am God”. For He is our God. Our God of presence, omnipotence, wisdom, truthfulness, goodness, grace, love, fore-knowledge, righteousness, wrath, stillness. Everything. So, let us take time to accept, to be still and to listen. Listen, knowing that He will be there.

And in this stillness, may the peace, joy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, Amen.

​

11th May 2025

The violent God of the Old Testament

Over the past weeks we have encouraged each other to listen to the voice of Jesus, to gain strength and courage from our Lord, but todays message is far broader. It perhaps encompasses everything. That is to say the logos. For, in our search for the truth, we have to look at the whole; to attempt to expand our minds perhaps into the unknown. The truth is found in Scripture, but our Bible runs from Genesis to Revelation. Within is extreme violence, the deepest joy, the darkest night, the brightest sunshine, clarity and confusion, fact and symbolism,… none exist on their own. Without dark there is no light. All combine to guide us to the truth.

And so to today’s key text from 1 Samuel. A testing passage, but far from the only one in the Old Testament. Mark my words. The story of the Israelites seems to be a continual cycle of goodness, fall, punishment, and redemption. And then there is the reference to the treatment of other nations. The Book of Joshua alone can read as and angry attack on all who oppose God. This darkness reaches a low point perhaps at the end of the Book of Judges. So how do we make sense of it all?

Before we start, and may we always bear this in mind, there is a danger always of reading passages, especially short passages, in isolation and without context. That said, without doubt the Old Testament contains some dreadful images. Why do we rarely use Psalm 137? Perhaps the final line puts us off,… Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock! (Psalm 137:9). The running through of the Canaanites and Amalekites continues through several books, the Book of Joshua alone, as I said, can be seen as a blitzkrieg against nations. But, it is all in here (LIFT BIBLE), and if this is the word of God, let us not shy away. Let us instead wrestle with our discomfort.

And so to today’s key text, which is seemingly calling for genocide. Utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.. Not just soldiers, but non-combatants, not just non-combatants, but all even their animals. Obliteration. How do we interpret this? Well, there are perhaps a number of ways we can approach it.

Firstly, we can take it literally as the truth. This is difficult to accept, but it certainly is one way of looking at things. If any oppose God, wipe them out.

Secondly, as pointed out by Thomas Aquinas, God, being the creator, has a right to take life. Is it this we struggle with? Or is it the fact that He, in this passage, uses humans to do so? Is this worse, for example, than wiping whole nations out using plagues? Are human soldiers worse than microbes? The same number end up dead, after all.

Another argument would be that the passage is not literal, but rather exaggerated warfare rhetoric, written centuries later with the purpose of underlining the fact that the Israelites should have nothing to do with pagan influences. This may explain why Scripture sometimes gives two seemingly contrasting accounts of the same event. For example, in one case Joshua refers to ‘slaughter all’ whereas in Judges we read ‘tear down their idols and drive them from the land’. These are not the same by any means. Also, hyperbole may be at play, in the same way as we sometimes use it. I may say that hopefully Leicester City will slaughter Nottingham Forest this afternoon. Slaughter as a turn of phrase, although a somewhat crass one.

Some churches, and this is not new (Marcian in the second century proposed this) find a way around things by ignoring the Old Testament entirely and concentrating solely on the New. Accept the goodness of Christ without the darkness that has preceded. This I stand firmly against. I imagine you do too. For, as humans we are sinners, and if we are to learn from the past, we have to learn from the darkness, however unsavoury that may be.

Yet another explanation is that the Old Testament contains some ‘holding passages’, which may be seen as imperfect until a time when we reach a fullness in God, offered through Christ. The notion of ‘Verbum domine’ points to this.

But we are perhaps no nearer.

I, personally, perhaps read the Old Testament as ‘this is how it had to be’, but still with an ambiguity. We will never understand fully, we cannot, but we must at least attempt to learn something from it all.

This brings us to our complimentary reading today, the passage from Revelation 5. Our Christian story is not that of Jesus, the first century human, but rather that of God Himself, taking responsibility. God created the world, that was the only way it could happen, and on the cross He is bearing it all Himself. This is not comfortable, but the cross is not meant to be. Christ is a fulfilment. Yes, we have in the Old Testament the slaughter of Canaanite women, but at the foot of the cross stands Mary. A sword will pierce her soul. Can you picture the imagery? And as we move into Acts, we are again encouraged to pull on the armour of God, but with the literal swords of the Old Testament replaced with the sword of the Spirit. We need to open our minds to the whole. Perhaps one of the most rounded views was proposed by Origen of Alexandria, way back in the second century. For Origen said that the Bible has to be read as a whole, from the standpoint of the final book, John’s Revelation. Only then does it become whole. In the passage we heard earlier, from Revelation 5, the scroll stands for the whole Bible. It seems that no-one can unseal it. But there lies a little lamb, a lamb that appears to have been slain. He appears in honour and meekness. He alone can open the scrolls. The lamb, of course, is Christ crucified. Only through Him do we find the truth. We have to look through the standpoint of Christ crucified. For if we read the Bible in such a way that we see God as capricious and cruel, or in a way that encourages us to be violent, then ipso facto, by that very fact, we are misreading it. We have to, instead, read the whole Bible as a witness to the true God, from the standpoint of the lamb slain, though whose blood we are all saved. That is how we interpret the Bible. So let us pray to Him for guidance. For, in the words of Origen, He makes Himself known to those who, after doing all that their powers will allow, confess that they need help from Him.

May we be forever thankful to the lamb, and may we go forth and tell of His glories.

Amen.

 

4th May 2025

The road to Emmaus

I stand before you today on the third anniversary of my being called to ministry at this great church. As I enter my fourth year, I can say that the honour is greater than ever. We have had good times, and bad, but we stick together. We have each other, and we have Jesus.

Now, there are many texts that provide solid foundations for ministry, today’s text is one.

The passage from Luke begins with two disciples on their way back home to Emmaus. They have just left Jerusalem, and are walking back home. They are sad and confused. Sad because their hope died on a cross, and was buried in a tomb. Confused, though, because they have heard reports that the tomb was found empty by the women who went there, and that there were angels telling them that Jesus was alive. Although no one had yet seen Him. So, you can imagine their conversation as they walked back home that day.

And while they were talking about all these things, Jesus himself joined them but, we are told, their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. And what did Jesus do when He joined them on their journey? First, He listened to them. He asked them a simple, open-ended question, and then He listened to their answer. ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ He asked. Of course, Jesus knew what they were discussing. But He still wanted to listen to them. Jesus wants to know what is happening with all of us. In our own words. And so, in this story, Cleopas and his friend share what is in their hearts. Standing still, looking sad, they share their story. This reminds us, first of all, that the risen Jesus is walking with us through this life, even when we don’t recognize Him. But it also teaches us about how to share our faith with others. Because we can learn from Jesus. The best teacher. It is all in here.

Jesus teaches us that it all starts simply by joining someone on their journey: Walking with them. Talking to them. Listening to them. It starts there. To be present to them. Before we ever share our faith, we listen. As Jesus did.

When commencing ministry, I sought advice from many people. Two, Delia O’Halloran and Alan Argent, both gave the same advice in two simple words, ‘Be there’. Isn’t this what the Bible is telling us too in this passage?

After Jesus listened to Cleopas and his friend, He then opened the Bible. Not literally, as we do, but He began to interpret what Scripture had to say about His death and resurrection. As He spoke, their hearts burned. Their hearts burned with a fierce joy. Why? Because He helped them to see their story wrapped up in God’s story. And He helped them to understand that the cross was necessary. That everything Jesus did in His life and in His suffering was done out of love for us. And that it was all necessary to bring forgiveness, healing and hope to our sad, broken and sin-filled world. Oh how we wish the words of Jesus here were recorded! What a lesson that would have been. But even by hinting at what Jesus said, we can not only see our own lives, but can help others to see their lives through the lens of God’s grace and mercy. We can help them to better understand their place and purpose in this world, by helping them to see that they walk through this world with Jesus, who died for them, and is with them now. What a privilege it is to do this.

Now, it is also important to notice that Jesus does not just offer them those two disciples a pat on the back and a gesture of love. He also rebukes them for their lack of faith, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe,’ He says to them. Sometimes, in other words, when we look at our life through the lens of eternity, we don’t like what we see. We have wandered off the path. Or a friend has wandered off the path. Sometimes we need to hear, from our Lord or from a friend, a word of rebuke. Reminding us how foolish we are, and how slow of heart we can be to believe. And sometimes we might need to say that to another.

So, what is next? Well, Cleopas and his friend are nearing their home in Emmaus. Jesus walked ahead, as if He were going on. They still don’t know it is Jesus, but they urge him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’

So, let us think about that: Jesus doesn’t invite Himself into their home. He waits for an invitation. He teaches us to do that. And He does that for us. Jesus joins us on the journey without our asking, that’s true. But at some point, and maybe at a lot of points, He waits to be invited in. ‘Listen, I stand at the door, knocking,’ Jesus says in Revelation. ‘If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.’ Jesus comes to the doors of our hearts knocking, but He waits to be let in.

Now, once the disciples in Emmaus did invite Jesus in, they broke bread together. And this simple meal becomes holy. Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them. And then, their eyes are opened, and they recognize him. In the breaking of the bread. To some, the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, is the summit of the Christian life. It is arguably the most important thing that we as Christians do. We worship the living God. It is amazing, when you read the Old Testament, to see how much of it is dedicated to proper worship, and to the building of the temple, or the restoring of the temple. In the New Testament, we learn that Jesus is the temple; and that proper worship is all about gathering in Jesus’ name to do what we are doing today: To confess our sins, to hear God’s Word, to pray for our world, and then to bless and break the bread in remembrance of Him. And there really is nothing more important that we do than this. It may not always feel that way. But we trust that it is true. And we can pray that our eyes will be opened when we worship Jesus; and that we, like those disciples in Emmaus, will have Jesus made known to us in the breaking of the bread when we join in communion with Jesus shortly.

So let us never reduce the importance of faith and the ways in which Jesus reveals Himself to us, even when we are facing doubt and despair. He constantly encourages us to remain hopeful, even when we can't see Him clearly.

And let us not be too hard on ourselves for, as we know, sometimes the disciples themselves didn’t recognise Jesus. They knew Jesus as a person but were still often confused. But ultimately, they had faith.

So, do we realise and appreciate that Jesus is with us? Yes, we call out for Him when we are in need. Yes, we probably give thanks when things go well (although maybe not as much as we should). But ordinarily do we appreciate His presence? For He is with us.

So, may our eyes be opened, so that we can recognize Jesus in our midst. May our hearts burn with joy as we see our story wrapped up in His. And may we always be eager to share the joy of His resurrection and presence among us.

To the glory of God. Amen.