Sarah B continues our study of the Sermon on the Mount, reflecting on our relationship with money, possessions, and the things that worry or concern us. The reading is Matthew 6:19-34. You can listen here or using the player below.
Jesus gives us a model or map for prayer as part of his Sermon on the Mount. Helen A guides us through this prayer which draws us close to God as Father, reorientates us to God in worship and involves us in God’s work of reuniting earth with heaven then invites us to bring our longings and our needs for forgiveness, rescue and courage. The reading is Matthew 6:5-15. You can listen here or using the player below.
Helen refers to resources from the 24-7 prayer movement which you can find here and the Bible Project video and discussion questions which are available here.
As we celebrated Easter Sunday, Ben spoke about Jesus’ transformative meeting with two discouraged disciples as they walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus, talking (or perhaps arguing) together and finally recognising him through the familiar gesture of breaking bread.
‘Resurrection power triumphs, God’s love is victorious.’ How can we live in the light of that reality? Jesus walks with us, he can handle our pain and anything we’re wrestling with; Jesus is present in our ordinary lives; Jesus sends us to day-to-day places to demonstrate his glorious, powerful, resurrecting love as we pray, care, listen, share and welcome others. The reading is Luke 24:13-35. You can listen here or using the player below.
Continuing our series studying the Sermon on the Mount, Helen B reflects on our use of language, creative responses to oppressive behaviour, good disagreement, and how food brings us together. The reading is Matthew 5:33-48. You can listen here or using the player below.
You can find a link to the next Bible Project video in this series, and some discussion questions, here.
Continuing our series studying the Sermon on the Mount, Ben reflects on Jesus’ challenging words in Matthew 5:21-32. Jesus calls us to live in a way that demonstrates what God is like by the way we relate to each other, honouring and valuing one another in relationship, not crushing, objectifying or discarding, not only in public but in our hidden inner lives. Jesus offers kindness to those who are wounded and space for honesty where we have got it wrong. His redemption and ability to restore are more powerful than our worst failures. You can listen here or using the player below.
You can find a link to the next Bible Project Video in this series, and some discussion questions, here.
Sunday 2nd March was Jen’s last Sunday with us as a curate. We read Matthew 14:22-36 and Jen shared her reflections on the excitement and challenge of leaving the safety of the harbour and responding to God’s call to new adventures. ‘We are not meant for the harbour…we gather to be equipped so we can go out and grow God’s kingdom.’ You can listen here or using the player below.
We continue our series exploring the Sermon on the Mount and Paul reflects on Matthew 5:13-20. What does it mean to be ‘the salt of the Earth’ and ‘the light of the world’? In an anxious, selfish world, how do we put God back in the centre, on the throne, and live by the values of God’s kingdom while remaining engaged in the world? Paul encourages us that we are not alone in this, God’s Spirit is at work in us, we encourage one another and God has not given up on the world. You can listen here or using the player below.
On Sunday 2nd February, Chris introduced our new series: listening carefully to what our Master says. We’ll be working through the Sermon on the Mount, listening afresh to Jesus’ wisdom and praying that we will be surprised by these familiar words. What does it mean for us to respond to Jesus’ challenging, puzzling, revolutionary call to establish God’s kingdom on Earth, ‘where Love has the final word but it’s costly too’? The reading is Matthew 5:1-12. You can listen here or using the player below.
On Sunday 19th January, we welcomed Bishop Anna of Ripon to our gathering and she spoke to us about the story of Jesus turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). In this Epiphany season of signs and wonders, what helps us to realise that God is with us here on Earth? How are we to be God’s co-workers? Bishop Anna encouraged us that God offers us a life of abundance even in tough times, and can transform whatever challenge we face. You can listen here or using the player below.
On Sunday 5th January, we had a small gathering for those who were able to make it to Kairos in the snow and ice. The day did not unfold quite as we expected and there was need to improvise, including recording the talk on a mobile phone rather than proper sound equipment! So please excuse the occasional coughs and rustles as you listen to this encouraging message.
We read Romans 15:1-13 and Ben focused on v13 (see picture) as he spoke about hope. How can we find or build hope, especially if we’re experiencing a ‘hope deficit’ in our lives? Searching out others’ sources of hope can be so encouraging and discussing the question ‘what makes you hopeful?’ in your communities or households might be a place to start.
Many of the biblical encouragements to hope were written by people in exile or dealing with difficulty or times of waiting. As the new year starts, do you need to take some time to clear away the ‘rubble’ that can get in the way of building hope, honestly lamenting the times you’ve felt God’s absence?
Jesus gives us solid foundations on which to build our hope – affirming the goodness and beauty of creation; sacrificing himself to solve all that has gone wrong, unite all with God, beat death and offer us a certain future of eternity with God; promising to return and put everything right; and empowering us by God’s Spirit to pray and work for God’s kingdom here and now.
You can listen here or using the player below.
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