Search Results
Sometimes convictions deep within
Sometimes convictions deep within
by Andrew Pratt
Sometimes convictions deep within can energise our action, to move us in another way, to find a new direction. God's spirit speaks within each mind, but like the sense of conscience is easy for us to avoid, a trick of our sub-conscious. Verses 3-5 follow Tune: BARBARA ALLEN; DOMI…
The shepherd of sheep scorns the safety of shelter
The shepherd of sheep scorns the safety of shelter
by Andrew Pratt
The shepherd of sheep scorns the safety of shelter, the wilderness beckons, the flock has run wild; but here in lush pasture, beside the still waters, the shepherd calls people, both parent and child. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: FRIARMERE VICARAGE (Hymns for Today’s Church 26; Jubila…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Creativity and inspiration
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Creativity and inspiration
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Creativity and inspiration Criticism of scripture Some of our actual readers may be feeling by now that this is all very exciting, but perhaps a bit much! It is usually a good idea in a picture gallery to sit down and take stock occasionally. So far, we have seen that the four go…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Living under the shadow of his wings
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Living under the shadow of his wings
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Living under the shadow of his wings Like most animals, the eagle rushes into conflict when protecting its young, yet the same instinct causes it to exhibit tender care. Moses’ final song compares God’s concern for Israel to an eagle ‘hovering over its young . . . bearing them al…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - What kind of animal is this creature?
Four Gospels, One Jesus - What kind of animal is this creature?
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
What kind of animal is this creature? Identity and interlude, Mark 8—10 So, everybody misunderstands Jesus during the first half of this gospel – his family (3.21–35), the crowds (4.10–12), the Gerasenes (5.17), his own home town (6.1–6), the religious leaders (7.6; 8.11–12) and …
PAUL AND THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD - Introduction
PAUL AND THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD - Introduction
by SPCK - N T Wright
Chapter TWO LIKE BIRDS HOVERING OVERHEAD: THE FAITHFULNESS OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL 1. Introduction A complex person in a complex time. Paul stands where three great roads converge; and he has made of them another, travelled less, and making all the difference. We ‘explain’ his life …
Journeying with Luke - Introduction: Getting to know the Gospel of Luke
Journeying with Luke - Introduction: Getting to know the Gospel of Luke
by SPCK - Woodward, Gooder and Pryce
Introduction: Getting to know the Gospel of Luke Exploring the text The attempt to ‘get to know’ any one of the Gospel writers is fraught with difficulty. So little is known about who wrote the Gospels that it is hard to discover much about their authors at all. This is partially…
Lectionary Reflections Year A - The Second Sunday Before Advent Year A
Lectionary Reflections Year A - The Second Sunday Before Advent Year A
by SPCK - Jane Williams
Twelve Months of Sundays – Year A Sundays Before Advent The Second Sunday Before Advent Zephaniah 1.7, 12–18 1 Thessalonians 5.1–11 Matthew 25.14–30 The word ‘gospel’ means ‘good news’, and Christians believe that, in Jesus Christ, the whole world is offered the good news of God’…
Numbers in the Bible Assembly Collection - 5 loaves, 2 fish, 12 baskets Assembly
Numbers in the Bible Assembly Collection - 5 loaves, 2 fish, 12 baskets Assembly
by Christian Assembly Team
Five Loaves, Two Fish and Twelve Baskets (2, 5 and 12) Bible ref: Luke 9:12-17 Introduction What do these stories have in common – The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Three Billy Goats Gruff? Three is the special number. The Bible includes many stories which in…
Numbers in the Bible Assembly Collection - 70 Going out in Twos Assembly
Numbers in the Bible Assembly Collection - 70 Going out in Twos Assembly
by Christian Assembly Team
Seventy Going Out in Twos Bible ref: Mark 6:1-13 and Luke 10:1-11 Although there is reference to holidays and leaving school or moving on, this assembly can be used to demonstrate the value of friendship and the love of those who care for us. Story (Hold up the number card when i…
Enabling Church: inclusion of disabled people - Author's introduction
Enabling Church: inclusion of disabled people - Author's introduction
by SPCK - Gordon Temple and Lin Ball
Author’s Introduction: Living interdependently The life experience of those in the African bush is so different from that of those in Europe, as I discovered on a trip to Malawi and Uganda. I felt privileged to spend time with some of the poorest people on the planet: blind peopl…
Lectionary Reflections Year A - Proper 11 Year A
Lectionary Reflections Year A - Proper 11 Year A
by SPCK - Jane Williams
Lectionary reflections - Year A Ordinary Time Proper 11 Isaiah 44.6–8 Romans 8.12–25 Matthew 13.24–30, 36–43 This section of Romans is part of a long and not always lucid discussion of life and death, slavery and freedom. In chapter 6, Paul has been explaining that our Christian …
Lectionary Reflections Year A - Proper 14 Year A
Lectionary Reflections Year A - Proper 14 Year A
by SPCK - Jane Williams
Lectionary reflections - Year A Ordinary Time Proper 14 1 Kings 19.9–18 Romans 10.5–15 Matthew 14.22–33 There is something about us that is deeply resistant to the grace of God. It’s not that we don’t believe in him, or wish to follow him, or that we consciously reject him, but w…
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - Proper 11 Year B
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - Proper 11 Year B
by SPCK - Jane Williams
Proper 11 Jeremiah 23: 1-6 Ephesians-2: 11-22 Mark 6: 30-34, 53-56 In today’s reading from Mark’s Gospel, we get a strong sense of the enormous pressure Jesus and the disciples were under at this point in his ministry. Jesus is at the height of his popularity and although his con…
Gazing on the Gospels Year B - Proper 17 Year B
Gazing on the Gospels Year B - Proper 17 Year B
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
Proper 17 Mark 7.1– 8, 14, 15, 21–23 Gaze on Jesus’ hands wiping the dust of the journey away. Large, tough hands, rough from years of carpentry; prone to splinters, cut from slips of the saw, nails blackened from a slipped hammer. Hands that poured water for friends, drew in the…
Gazing on the Gospels Year B - Proper 18 Year B