Just a Thought 4th April

1 Samuel 4-5 should be considered one of the lowest points in Israel’s history. The nation is morally corrupt and spiritually bankrupt. The priestly house of Eli is to be judged as they have used their position of authority for their own ends rather than honour God. Israel uses the ark of the covenant as a lucky charm in battle against the Philistines and are defeated. Worse still, the ark, the very symbol of God dwelling amongst his people is captured and taken into Philistine territory. As news reaches Eli’s daughter-in-law, she gives birth to...

Just a Thought 25th March

On Sunday morning we considered the famous account from John 3 where Nicodemus visits Jesus at night. In the dialogue, Jesus explains how eternal life comes about. The truths that come out of the passage are helpful as we think about our own evangelism. Firstly, new birth is absolutely necessary if anyone is to enjoy eternal life and only the work of the Holy Spirit can give this new life. To have eternal life a complete transformation is needed. This cannot be brought about by better ourselves, reading self-help books or learning from past mistakes. The Spirit must bring...

Just a Thought...11th March

On Sunday morning we considered the well-known miracle of Jesus turning water into wine. All of the signs recorded in John’s gospel are there to help us understand who Jesus is, that we might believe in him and have life (see 20:31). This miracle is no different. No-one else could provide the wine needed for the wedding by doing this miracle. Jesus is God and he is the one we must believe in. And yet, this miracle also points us to something deeper. Consider Jesus’ unusual response to his mother in v4: “My time has...

Just a Thought 4th March 2025

In my studies this week we have been considering the future. There are several passages which tell us that believers will be judged. For example, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10: So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. What does this judgment involve? Firstly, a couple of things it’s not. It is not salvation...

Just a Thought...25th February

Can we know God? How do we get to know God better? These are questions that we will all ask at some point in our lives. Deep down we have a longing to know and be known by our Maker. In one sense the answer to these questions is “no.” We are finite, limited human beings. We have a beginning and an end, we have a body which is limited to being in one place at one time. Our mind is finite and our head hurts as we try and do some maths or recall some information! How...

Just a thought... 26th January

The news last week was full of Donald Trump returning to the White House for his second term as US president. One of the first things he did was to issue a series of presidential pardons. As president, he is able to grant full pardons for crimes committed against the United States. Many people have understandably questioned how pardons can be granted. We understand the need for justice. Whenever we do wrong there is always a price to be paid. We understand the guilty should be punished. Indeed, one woman, so conscious of this, refused her pardon. However, when a...

Just a thought... 21st January

How do we view the events which come across our paths in life? Particularly the stuff we wish did not happen? Sometimes it can cripple us. Sometimes it can cause us to doubt God’s kindness. Sometimes we plough on as if nothing has happened. Many try and take control of their lives and put things in place to minimise the risk of bad events. It doesn’t work. As Christians one temptation can be to use the events of life as excuses as to why we have not lived as wholeheartedly for the Lord as we might otherwise have...

2025 Motto Verse

Just a thought... 7th January

It is the start of the new year and perhaps you have made some resolutions. Many will have some plan for how they will improve their fitness, diet, home etc. It is good to make resolutions and determine to be different and all of these have some value, but have you made any resolutions concerning your spiritual life? Christians throughout history have understood that the main duty we have as Christians is to become more like Jesus. John Calvin quotes Romans 12: “The duty of believers is ‘to present their bodies to God as a living sacrifice, holy...

Just a thought... 3rd December

On Sunday evening we were really helpfully reminded from Genesis 27 that every part of scripture points us to Jesus. The Old Testament are not stories with moral lessons for us to follow – none of the characters in this chapter are good examples for us. The Old Testament is about Jesus. We saw how even mess and sin cannot thwart God’s plans. We were also shown a wonderful picture of God’s grace as sinful, scheming Jacob received blessing from his father. In the story Jacob enters into the presence of his father dressed in the clothes of...