Toothbrushes

Good Habits

David 2015, Jubilee, Justice, Lent, Psalm Leave a Comment

Psalm 106:1-3 We all try to encourage people to have good habits. To do those things that keep us healthy and benefit us or others. The opening of Psalm 106 tells us no different. The opening words praise God for who He is and His steadfast love. Then we are told that those who observe justice and who do righteousness …

Follow Justice

David 2015, Deuteronomy, Jubilee, Justice, Lent Leave a Comment

Deuteronomy 16:18-20 As the people of God are given their instructions for how they should live, they are told to appoint Judges. These judges should be impartial; not accepting bribes or seeking to find favour with certain parties. Above all else, they should seek justice. This following of justice here is linked closely to the people inheriting the Promised Land. …

reset button

Back to the Start

David 2015, Jubilee, Justice, Lent, Leviticus Leave a Comment

Leviticus 25:13-17 Jubilee brought about a ‘system reset’ for the people of God. Land was to be returned to its original owner, slaves were to be freed and property given back. This re-setting meant that someone couldn’t become poor for ever but had a chance to be released and start afresh at the Jubilee. It also meant that those who …

Justice

David 2015, Jubilee, Justice, Lent Leave a Comment

We live in a world where justice often seems to be lacking. We see people getting way with using others to get their own way. The poor get poorer and the rich get richer and no one seems to stand up for those who are really in need. The world has always been like this to some extent but it …

Keep On

David 1 Peter, 2015, Community, Jubilee, Lent Leave a Comment

1 Peter 4:8-10 The Beatles once sang ‘all you need is love’; maybe they had been reading 1 Peter.  As well as loving each other, God also calls us to offer hospitality and to serve one another.  All three of these are vital for the life of a community.  Love helps us bear with each other when disagreements occur so …

Honest Community

Be Honest

David 2015, Community, James, Jubilee, Lent Leave a Comment

James 5:13-17 No one likes to admit they have messed up.  We don’t like to let on to others that we have made mistakes.  Most of our energy is often spent trying to make sure no one sees our halos slip.  But here, in James, we are instructed in what can be two of our most difficult and hard times, …

Moorish Food

Together

David 2015, Acts, Community, Jubilee, Lent Leave a Comment

Acts 2:42-47 The book of Acts sees the explosion of faith in Jesus from a small sect based in Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.  It is the book where the church is born and we are given an insight into the life of the early church community.  We are given lots of insight to what the believers did, …

The Greatest Commands

David 2015, Community, Jubilee, Lent, Matthew Leave a Comment

Matthew 22:19-22 + 34-40 In Jesus’ day, you could not separate politics and religion. When Jesus is asked about paying the Imperial tax he asks them to look at a coin and tell him whose image was on it. The answer is ‘Caesar’ and so Jesus tells them to give to Caesar what is his and to God what is …

Remember the Poor

What is More Important?

David 2015, Community, Jubilee, Lent, Zechariah Leave a Comment

Zechariah 7:9-10 These words from the prophet Zechariah are a reminder of what the people should be doing. It comes in a larger section in which God through the prophets, tells the people He wants to see particular things more than their fasting. This is also about more than fasting, though. It’s about how we put things in the way …

Street art : Dulwich

It Is Not Good

David 2015, Community, Genesis, Jubilee, Lent Leave a Comment

Genesis 2:18-22 In the opening words of the bible we are used to hearing God proclaim that each entity that has been created is good. As you read on, though, you come to something strange in chapter 2, God declares it is not good. What! Something wasn’t good. The issue God sees that isn’t right is that Adam is alone …

helping hands

Family

David 2015, Community, Jubilee, Lent, Leviticus Leave a Comment

Leviticus 25:35-37 In today’s climate it does not seem that it takes much for someone to exploit a situation for their gain. This kind of dishonesty breaks down the bonds between people and breeds distrust and disharmony. God specifically asks that the people do not make profit of their brothers or sisters. More than that, if any of them finds …

Community

David 2015, Community, Jubilee, Lent Leave a Comment

In recent years the term community has become a bit of a buzzword used in all walks of life from politics to religion. One of the reasons it has become a popular word is because of the perceived lack of it in society today. This has been especially so within the church where those connected with particular places have shared …

Freed

Called to Freedom

David 2015, Galatians, Jubilee, Lent, Liberation Leave a Comment

Galatians 5:1 + 13-14 The rallying cry of William Wallace in the film ‘Braveheart’ is that of freedom. Here in Galatians Paul also uses a call to believers to remind them of what God has done. He tells them it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Not to be slaves to an old way of life or …

Prison

No Longer a Slave

David 2015, Jubilee, Lent, Liberation, Romans Leave a Comment

Romans 6:6-11 It is often found that those who have been imprisoned for a long period of time find it difficult to accept their freedom upon release. A life of living to someone else rules and regime is difficult to break when they have been set free. The same is so for us, who have lived under the captivity of …

To Save, Not Condemn

David 2015, John, Jubilee, Lent, Liberation Leave a Comment

John 3:16-17 If you believe some things you read, you would think Jesus came to this world to punish us. We see a vindictive God who can’t wait to strike us down with furious vengeance. These verse tell us that God sent His Son out of His love for us so that those who put their trust in Him will …

On Patrol

Releasing the Captives

David 2015, Isaiah, Jubilee, Lent, Liberation Leave a Comment

Isaiah 61:1-11 During the period of time on which this part of Isaiah is focused, the once mighty city of Jerusalem lay in ruin. It had been decimated by invading armies and left to ruin. The very place where God’s presence had dwelt with His people was now just dust and rubble. The words of the prophet bring hope that …

River

A People Saved

David 2015, Deuteronomy, Jubilee, Lent, Liberation Leave a Comment

Deuteronomy 33:26-29 These words uttered by Moses are a final blessing to the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land without him. They declare praise to God for who He is, what He has done and what he will do for his people in the future. Moses asks Who is Like you? and answers with the response …

Kosovar refugees fleeing their homeland. [Blace area, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]

I Have Heard Your Cry

David 2015, Exodus, Jubilee, Lent, Liberation Leave a Comment

Exodus 6:5-8 As God speaks with Moses he again reminds him of why He has asked him to go to Pharaoh and request that the Israelites should be set free. “I have heard their groaning and I have remembered My covenant.” God had promised to Abraham to make him the father of a great nation and that He would be …