Episodios

  • June 12th - John 1:1

    June 12th - John 1:1
    Jun 12 2025
    John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. Can I be honest? I listened to these words for years without really understanding them. They are often used at Christmas carol services, and they seemed very mysterious to me. John would have been saddened by my reaction because for him and his readers, it was obvious. Everyone knew what he meant by ‘the Word’ or the Logos. This was an expression often used in Greek philosophy which shaped the thinking of his day. He was saying that Jesus was nothing less than God himself, and that when God spoke to the world, he did so in the form of his Son Jesus, the Word. This reminds us of the very beginning of the Bible, where we learn that God created the world. When God spoke, something happened. On day one he said: “Let there be light,” and there was light. There isn’t a distinction between the word and the action. When God sent Jesus as the Word, we see him acting in the most powerful way to bring life to the world. John is very clear about the purpose of his Gospel. He isn’t writing a philosophical textbook but offering an introduction to his friend Jesus. He wants his readers to understand that if they want to know what life is all about, they need to meet Jesus. They need to receive the life he came to bring through believing in his name. In the other three Gospels, we hear about Jesus meeting many different people, but these encounters are all told very briefly. John’s Gospel is different. Here, we find Jesus having long conversations with people. We learn that his purpose was to get alongside people, however complicated their circumstances, and to bring them new life. Jesus is doing exactly the same today. He wants to come alongside us, amid all the complexity of our lives, and show us how he can bring us his abundant life today – a life which is so rich and wonderful that it will never come to an end. Question In what ways has meeting with Jesus changed your life? Prayer Loving heavenly Father, I worship you because you spoke to the world by sending Jesus as your Son. Thank you that in him I can find life today. Amen
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  • June 11th - Acts 2:44-45

    June 11th - Acts 2:44-45
    Jun 11 2025
    Acts 2:44-45 All the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. The Holy Spirit transformed every part of the early Christians’ lives. Yes, they were committed to teaching, fellowship and prayer, but they also looked at their possessions with new eyes. They were eager to find opportunities to share their resources with one another according to people’s needs. This is revolutionary stuff. It is really important to ensure that a church’s teaching, fellowship and prayer life are strong, but if they don’t affect our material possessions, something has gone seriously wrong. I don’t believe that there is just one way of doing this. This very brief description of the early Church gives the impression of all the Christians living together in community. It sounds so simple and straightforward, but I don’t think anyone who has lived in community would describe it like that. I remember a well-known Christian leader using one word to describe living in community: “Painful.” When asked to amplify this, he replied: “Very painful.” That doesn’t mean that living in community is wrong, but I certainly don’t believe it is God’s calling for all of us. What is clear is that God calls us to be good stewards of the resources he has put in our hands. They have been given to us so that we can share them with others, and we will only be able to do that if we are aware of others’ needs. When our love for our Christian brothers and sisters leads us to give sacrificially to support them in their need, the Holy Spirit is at work. When our concern for our communities causes us to reach out and show them compassion and care, the Holy Spirit is clearly at work. However, if the presence of the Holy Spirit is only ever seen in worship, there are some serious questions to ask. Question In what way has the Spirit led you to share your possessions with others? Prayer Loving God, help me to be a good steward of all that you have generously given to me. Amen
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    3 m
  • June 10th - Acts 2:42

    June 10th - Acts 2:42
    Jun 10 2025
    Acts 2:42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper) and to prayer. The early weeks of the Church must have been amazing. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit had totally transformed everything. From a small group of disappointed and frightened believers, there was now a large number of believers fired up with a determination to change the world. These verses in Acts give us the first clues of what the Church looked like, and this verse spells out three key aspects. Firstly, the believers needed teaching. The Christians in Jerusalem were probably all from a Jewish background, so they needed to be shown how Jesus was the fulfilment of their Scriptures. They also needed to be reminded of Jesus’ teaching, because they had all heard different parts of it. It was decades later that the Gospels were written, although people had almost certainly started to write down some of Jesus’ sayings. Secondly, the Christians got together to eat. Sharing meals is a wonderful way of deepening relationships, and this was a key feature of Church life from day one. At some of these meals, they specifically met to remember the death of Jesus in the way he had commanded at the last supper. Christianity is never just a set of doctrines and beliefs. It is a way of life lived in community, and these first Christians were quite clear about that. Thirdly, the believers met together to pray. They knew they had an enormous challenge in front of them and, although their numbers were growing, they lived in a society which was fundamentally opposed to their beliefs. They needed God’s continual strength and inspiration for the road ahead. Times have changed, and Christianity is no longer brand new, but our needs are just the same as those first believers. Living in a sea of cynicism and materialism, we still desperately need good teaching, deep fellowship and an ever-growing commitment to prayer. Question What should be the priorities for the Church today? Prayer Loving God, thank you for the privilege of being part of your Church. Help us to learn from the faith and commitment of those first Christians. Amen
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    4 m
  • June 9th - Acts 2:37-38

    June 9th - Acts 2:37-38
    Jun 9 2025
    Acts 2:37-38 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied: “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” A sermon is worth nothing if it doesn’t lead to action. Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost powerfully described the reason for Jesus’ death. In words that would have shocked much of his audience, he pointed out that they had been responsible for it. It was their sin that had driven Jesus to the cross just five weeks before. Having heard this, the people were deeply challenged and knew that they needed to take action. Peter’s response is interesting because of the way it speaks of the covenant partnership that God wants with us. There was something that the people needed to do, and then a response that God would make. Firstly, they needed to repent. They needed to recognise that they had done wrong and head in a new direction, and this would be powerfully symbolised by baptism. This would show their clear intention to live a new life. The result would be the forgiveness of their sins, and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. God loves to bless us, but he will only do so when we make it clear that we mean business with him. He will never impose his blessings on us if we don’t want them, but when we recognise that we have messed up and are ready to turn around, he will bless us in the way that he longs to. On that amazing Day of Pentecost, 3,000 people were added to the Church. They could all have congratulated Peter on a wonderful sermon, gone home and forgotten all about it, but they didn’t. They took action, and the world has never been the same since. Question When were you last pierced to the heart by something that God said to you, and how did you respond? Prayer Lord, help me to listen carefully to what you say to me, and make me ready to respond decisively to your words. Amen
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    3 m
  • June 8th - Acts 2:16-17

    June 8th - Acts 2:16-17
    Jun 8 2025
    Acts 2:16-17 What you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.’ When Peter spoke these words, he was addressing huge crowds of Jews who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the harvest festival known as Pentecost. On that day, the first fruits of the wheat harvest were offered to God. It was known as Pentecost because it occurred 50 days after the Sabbath that followed the Passover. It was one of three annual pilgrimage festivals, so Jerusalem would have been heaving with people. On that particular Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ 120 followers. An enormous wind roared and flames appeared to settle on all the believers. Then, as the Spirit filled them, they started speaking in tongues, which meant that the pilgrims who had come from many neighbouring countries were all able to hear God being praised in their own languages. It isn’t surprising that onlookers struggled to know what to make of these events. Some people thought the only possible explanation was that the believers were drunk, and Peter began his sermon by referring to this suggestion. He pointed out that it was far too early in the morning for that to be the case. Because he knew that his listeners were all Jews, he then pointed back to their scriptures and showed that what had happened was exactly what God had promised. In the last days, God would pour out his Spirit on all people, and that’s what they were witnessing. It was going to be a brand new era for God’s people. The Day of Pentecost can be considered the birthday of the Church. Without the Holy Spirit, there can be no Church. Fired up by the power and wisdom of the Spirit, we can go forward with confidence and strength. Question In what ways does the Holy Spirit give you confidence? Prayer Loving God, thank you for sending us your Holy Spirit. Help me to allow him to occupy every part of my life. Amen
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    3 m
  • June 7th - Psalm 59:17

    June 7th - Psalm 59:17
    Jun 7 2025
    Psalm 59:17 O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love. Is your life a struggle at the moment? I’m really sorry if so, but I want you to know you’re not alone. In this psalm, like many others, David pours out the detail of his struggles. He feels physically threatened and compares his opponents to vicious dogs, snarling as they prowl the streets. He also reflects on the curses and lies they keep hurling at him. There seems to be no limit to the challenges that he faces. Whether you are struggling or not, we should all listen to how David faces up to his situation with brutal honesty. When life is difficult, and we all experience that from time to time, it’s so important for us to be honest about it, especially with God. He already knows the whole story. He knows the kind of people we are and our history, so he is perfectly able to understand whatever we are up against. Like David, we need to make sure our prayers express exactly how we are. It’s also important that our prayers in church reflect the fact that we all experience difficulties. There can be a temptation in some churches for the prayers to be so full of victory and celebration that there is no space to offer to God our struggles and disappointments. Our worship needs to reflect the whole of life, not just our edited highlights. On two occasions in this psalm, David burst out in praise, affirming that God was his strength and his refuge. Amid the troubles of his life, he didn’t forget that God was always with him, giving him the encouragement and protection that he needed. When we face times of difficulty, however bad it gets, we can always praise God that he is standing with us, keeping us strong and secure. Question How do you cope with the struggles that you face in life? Prayer Loving God, thank you that you are always able to strengthen and help me, however hard times might be. Amen
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  • June 6th - Psalm 57:8-9

    June 6th - Psalm 57:8-9
    Jun 6 2025
    Psalm 57:8-9 Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song. I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. I have always loved singing and have sung with many choirs over the years. Many of you may have had a similar experience. You will know what a joy it is to contribute your little sound to the united voice of a choir. It isn’t surprising that singing has always played such a major role in worship. It takes our words to another level as we seek to express our love for God and our devotion to him. It is wonderful that God’s people have sung through thousands of years. Whether they have been experiencing poverty or wealth, war or peace, sickness or health, there have always been songs on their lips. Not everyone is able to sing. Some people are tone deaf and the noise that comes out of their mouth could never be described as pleasant. It feels very unfair that some people have the ability and others don’t. However, I believe that the focus of singing in the Bible is not so much upon tunefulness as upon the heart. What God is looking for is people who have a heart of love for him and want to bring him their praise, whatever noise comes out. The last thing God wants to hear is beautiful melodies from a heart that is standing in opposition to him. Early on in my ministry, I was serving in a church where there were three men who were always enthusiastic in their worship but unable to sing in tune. I derived huge pleasure from hearing them sing. They would never have won a recording contract, but the noise they made declared where their hearts were. I hope you find this encouraging whether you are a wonderful singer or not. God wants to hear your heart and we should enjoy one another’s singing ,whatever it sounds like. Question In what way does singing bless you? Prayer Thank you, Lord, that you always give us much to sing about. Help me to find ever-increasing joy in singing your praises. Amen
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  • June 5th - Psalm 56:8

    June 5th - Psalm 56:8
    Jun 5 2025
    Psalm 56:8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Everything seemed to be going wrong for David when he wrote this psalm. He was being attacked continually by the Philistines. They were constantly slandering and spying on him, looking for an opportunity to kill him. But amid it all, David affirmed his confidence in the Lord, knowing that with God on his side, he couldn’t lose. He had a deep conviction that his all-knowing God had not only kept track of all his woes, but had stored them up. We all experience times of difficulty and tragedy. Such times are woven into the fabric of life and there is no avoiding them. When we are in the dark valley of suffering, it is wonderful to know that God doesn’t merely know we are there and accompany us, but also takes our tears and anger seriously. He doesn’t try to jolly us along and urge us to sing a few uplifting songs of worship to get over it. He sits with us in our sadness and recognises the pain that we feel. He won’t ever forget what we’ve been through. The writer to the Hebrews speaks of how Jesus is able to perfectly understand the struggles that we face because he experienced them himself. He cried out to his heavenly Father with loud cries and tears (Hebrews 5:7). It is very tempting to put on a brave face when we confront difficulties, but God would encourage us to be honest and to share our frustrations and sadnesses with him with the sure knowledge that he not only understands our difficulties but comprehends them more completely than we ever will. Question In what ways do you find it helpful to know that God remembers all your times of struggle and sadness? Prayer Loving God, thank you that you take my times of struggle so seriously, and understand them completely. Amen
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