John
The Raising of Lazarus
Perhaps you have heard someone say something like, ‘when a person dies he or she only lives on in other’s memories, or in their achievements’? But is that all we can say? Not according to Jesus, as we heard in today’s reading from John. Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Read more
Perhaps you have heard someone say something like, ‘when a person dies he or she only lives on in other’s memories, or in their achievements’? But is that all we can say? Not according to Jesus, as we heard in today’s reading from John. Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Read more
Psalm 23: God our Shepherd
Perhaps you have a photo album at home, with some of your favourite pictures in it. Well, the bible is a bit like a photo album containing ‘pictures’ of God. Perhaps one of the favourite pictures of God given to us in the bible is that of ‘God our Shepherd’. That’s what I’d like to look at with you this morning, we will use psalm 23 for this purpose. In Bible days psalms were often sung to stringed instruments in public and private worship. Read more
Perhaps you have a photo album at home, with some of your favourite pictures in it. Well, the bible is a bit like a photo album containing ‘pictures’ of God. Perhaps one of the favourite pictures of God given to us in the bible is that of ‘God our Shepherd’. That’s what I’d like to look at with you this morning, we will use psalm 23 for this purpose. In Bible days psalms were often sung to stringed instruments in public and private worship. Read more
The healing of the blind man
The Healing of the blind man. John 9: 1-41 2nd August, 2020 There’s a hymn, ‘Amazing Grace’ that has a line in it - ‘I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.’ ‘was blind but now I see’ could summarise the story we have just heard from John. ‘was blind but now I see’ in the hymn means spiritually blind but now my eyes have been opened and I now believe in the Lord Jesus as my Saviour. Read more
The Healing of the blind man. John 9: 1-41 2nd August, 2020 There’s a hymn, ‘Amazing Grace’ that has a line in it - ‘I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.’ ‘was blind but now I see’ could summarise the story we have just heard from John. ‘was blind but now I see’ in the hymn means spiritually blind but now my eyes have been opened and I now believe in the Lord Jesus as my Saviour. Read more
“I am the bread of Life”
“I am the bread of Life” John 6:1-15, 35, 47-51 Jesus made some great “I am” claims for himself, which we find in John’s gospel. I want to take one of these and think about it with you this morning. It is “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst." John 6:35 Do you have a favourite bread? Read more
“I am the bread of Life” John 6:1-15, 35, 47-51 Jesus made some great “I am” claims for himself, which we find in John’s gospel. I want to take one of these and think about it with you this morning. It is “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst." John 6:35 Do you have a favourite bread? Read more
Catch, Commissioned, Come
Catch, Commissioned, Come John 21:1-19 Alex Bainton. 26th April. ‘20 In today’s reading from John 21:1-19 there are three things in particular that I’d like to draw attention to; we could call them catch, commissioned, and come. Let’s consider each of these in turn. Catch. Simon Peter said to some of his fellow disciples, “I am going fishing”. They joined him, and fished all night. The Sea of Tiberius, also known as Lake Galilee, was well-known for its abundant supplies of fish. Read more
Catch, Commissioned, Come John 21:1-19 Alex Bainton. 26th April. ‘20 In today’s reading from John 21:1-19 there are three things in particular that I’d like to draw attention to; we could call them catch, commissioned, and come. Let’s consider each of these in turn. Catch. Simon Peter said to some of his fellow disciples, “I am going fishing”. They joined him, and fished all night. The Sea of Tiberius, also known as Lake Galilee, was well-known for its abundant supplies of fish. Read more
The first Easter night
We are living in days when we may be fearful or disturbed or unsettled, because of the coronavirus, and how it is changing or upsetting our lives in many ways. In the bible reading for today from John 20verses 19-31, we hear how the first disciples of Jesus were fearful and disturbed and in their case it was because their Master had just been crucified. Their world had been unexpectedly turned upside down as it were; life wasn’t the same. Read more
We are living in days when we may be fearful or disturbed or unsettled, because of the coronavirus, and how it is changing or upsetting our lives in many ways. In the bible reading for today from John 20verses 19-31, we hear how the first disciples of Jesus were fearful and disturbed and in their case it was because their Master had just been crucified. Their world had been unexpectedly turned upside down as it were; life wasn’t the same. Read more
Easter Day
Someone asked Joseph of Arimathea, “That was a great tomb. Why did you give it to someone else to be buried in?” “Oh”, said Joseph, “he only needed it for the weekend”. Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! And so I’d like to think with you about the Bible reading for today from John, because it is about this resurrection of Jesus. And there are two things in particular in John’s account that are important for us to ponder on, namely, Read more
Someone asked Joseph of Arimathea, “That was a great tomb. Why did you give it to someone else to be buried in?” “Oh”, said Joseph, “he only needed it for the weekend”. Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! And so I’d like to think with you about the Bible reading for today from John, because it is about this resurrection of Jesus. And there are two things in particular in John’s account that are important for us to ponder on, namely, Read more