Emmanuel Bishopston & City Centre Key verse to learn: “Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping. ” Job 12:5 Key question to ask: What are the main points of difference between Zophar’s and Job’s worldview? Tuesday: How would you describe the way Job feels (in…
‘Some years ago, I noticed amid the grading of many papers (the plight of every English professor) how often the positive feedback I wrote on my students’ work consisted simply of the comment “good.” I contemplated varying that word with others. But then I realized that good is the best word. (It is certainly easy to write!).…
At Bishopston and City Centre we’ve been going through the book of Job together and wrestling with the idea of lament. Here’s a song which might give us the words to articulate our grief, doubt and despair in the midst of suffering. Why not have a listen to this Emmanuel Spotify playlist for some other…
‘Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth. Grace evokes gratitude like the voice an echo. Gratitude follows grace as thunder follows lightning.’ Karl Barth in Eugene H Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, p.192.
“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practise hospitality.” Romans 12:13 When we think “hospitality” we tend to think “inviting some friends over for a meal.” But even pagans invite their friends over for a meal. God’s vision for His people is much more radical. It is about inviting strangers – people who are…
“The more we work the more we need to pray. In this day of activity there is great danger, not of doing too much, but of praying too little for so much work.” Alexander Maclaren, in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p.368.
For followers of Jesus, New Year’s has no unique significance. There’s no central biblical narrative informing our celebrations. But this doesn’t mean Christians shouldn’t pause and reflect on the turning of the calendar. Moses asked of the Lord, “Teach us to number our days, so we may get a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12). Time—seconds, minutes,…
“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” Camille Pisarro
We advertise our church Christmas services as “family services”. Christmas is the one day of the year when we feel confident in asking our non-Christian loved ones to come along to church with us “as a family”. We do our Christian duty by making it a priority to get to church on Christmas Day, before…
‘Everything God wanted to say to the whole world – in a person.’ Sally Lloyd-Jones, The Jesus Storybook Bible, p.169.