Talks, Sermons and Reflections

2 Kings 6:14-23; Mark 8:22-30 Today we honour the men and women who fought in the Battle of Britain: those who were up in the air, the ground crews, observer corps, those who defended the airfields, those who provided practical and logistical support, the families and many others, military and civilian. We give thanks for their commitment, courage and hard work. The fact that our celebrations still include a church service means that we have not forgotten that this was not simply about we have done. We recognise that behind the reality of human history there is another reality, an eternal reality - and we give thanks to God for his merciful act of deliverance. Our reading from the OT today speaks of a moment when a man who could only see the physical reality, had his eyes opened and he saw the eternal reality. There are elements in the story that are familiar. An enemy intent on invasion and occupation. An enemy with a strategic objective. Israel has a secret weapon. I...

1 Corinthians 10:23 – 11:1 This seems a very obscure passage. Should Christians eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols? It is not the burning issue of today The burning issue of a few days ago was literally a burning issue: riots in the streets of our cities. Groups of young people out on the street – not protesting about a political issue but trying to get stuff for nothing and, as two 18 year old girls said, ‘having a laugh’ at the same time. The thing that makes this so sad is that, in parts of our society, we have young people who are profoundly lost. Yes, it may be because there is little respect for authority; it certainly is due to the significant breakdown in family life. But on the other side, it is also because here are people who do not know to live for. We are offered freedom. The freedom to live as we want, to do what we want, to go where we want, to have what we want. There are no limits. That is true in the virtual world. We really can build a universe around...

Jeremiah 31:15-26 Jeremiah had a tough job: locked up, mocked, conspired against, dropped in a pit, treated as a traitor. Described as the ‘weeping prophet’. Occasionally had a good dream! (v26) This part of dream begins with another person weeping Rachel weeping in Ramah Ramah was 5 miles out of Jerusalem. It was significant because it was the town that the Nebuchadnezzar gathered all their prisoners from Jerusalem before taking them into exile in Babylon. Rachel - mother of Joseph; grandmother of Ephraim - and Ephraim made up the largest part of the population of Judah So Rachel - symbolically Israel - is weeping for her children. Why? They have gone into exile. This verse is used in another place in New Testament. Matthew 2:18 - when Herod slaughters the baby boys under the age of 2 when Jesus was born. It is used of the weeping mothers of Bethlehem. And Matthew is likening the slaughter of the children in Jesus time to the exile of Jeremiah’s time. These are the sorts o...

A talk on the occasion of the wedding of Philip Taylor and Maaike Schoute Based on Psalm 84 Many congratulations Today is a day of great joy. We delight in your love for each other and in your delight in each other. Psalm 84 speaks of a journey Today marks the beginning of another journey. I say ‘beginning’, even though you have been together and been committed to each other for some time, and God has blessed you with Noa. But it is a new beginning. A new beginning with a new identity: Maaike literally has a new name; but it is a shared name. People will see you in a different way; literally as part of each other. A new beginning with a new role in society: up to now your love has been about a personal commitment that you made to each other. Now you’ve gone public. It is something that is bigger than either of you or both of you – and it will make you bigger people. Today God crowns your relationship. People often speak of marriage as being ‘proper’....

Acts 2:37-47 Peter, in Acts 2:40, urges the people who listen to him: ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation’ How could he say that? How can you call any generation corrupt? It is very simple. Peter is speaking to a generation which has crucified the Son of God. Some people here may be landlords. I don’t know whether you ever have any problems getting rent. If you do, God knows what it is like! Jesus tells a story about a vineyard. The owner gave it to some people. He said to them, ‘Look after it for me. Care for it, enjoy it. All I ask is that you remember that it belongs to me, that it is my gift to you, and give me what is mine when I send my messengers to you for the rent. The owner goes away. Some time later he sends a messenger. The tenants beat up the messenger and send him away with nothing. The owner sends another messenger. The tenants do the same thing to him. Finally the owner says, ‘I will send my own son. He will come with my full authority. They will respect ...