Episodes

  • October 30th - Matthew 13:54-55

    October 30th - Matthew 13:54-55
    Oct 30 2024
    Matthew 13:54-55 [Jesus] returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son.” I suspect that we have all known the hurt of being put down by somebody. People’s cruel words often disfigure a person’s life. This may not have been the intention of the person who spoke them, but the words live on and continue to do damage. This is especially true if the words were spoken by parents, siblings or partners. Jesus had to withstand many put downs. In our reading today people were so amazed by his teaching and miracles that they couldn’t believe that he was a local boy. If he had been the son of an important religious leader in Jerusalem it would have made much more sense. But a carpenter’s son from Nazareth sounded ridiculous. They knew the whole family and it just didn’t seem to fit. If you are still living with put-downs, the most important thing you can do is to listen to God’s evaluation of you. John says it powerfully in his first letter: “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). If you have received God’s forgiveness and given your life to him, you are an eternal member of God’s family and loved by him. What people think of you should matter very little alongside the permanent security that you have in your relationship with your loving heavenly Father. Question How have you dealt with the put downs that you have received? Prayer Lord God, thank you for the eternal security that I have because of my relationship with you. Amen
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    3 mins
  • October 29th - Matthew 13:52

    October 29th - Matthew 13:52
    Oct 29 2024
    Matthew 13:52 Then [Jesus] added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.” When I was nine or ten years old, one of the great delights of my life was to visit my grandmother’s house. She lived quite close to our family home and I was allowed to go and see her whenever I liked. Her house was like an Aladdin’s cave for me! It was full of generations of treasures and, whenever I found something that appealed to me, I would take it to my grandmother and almost always she would ask: “Would you like to have it dear?” Many of the things she gave me sparked my interest in history and geography and gave me a much bigger appreciation of life, particularly her postcard collection from before the first world war. I thank God for her generosity. In this parable, Jesus spoke about how teachers of the law had great knowledge of Old Testament teaching. Their knowledge was like a house filled with treasure from which they could get hold of riches from the past. But, he added, those who became disciples in the kingdom of heaven were also able to take hold of brand-new gems. Jesus was always careful to say that he hadn’t come to scrap the Old Testament law but to help people see it in a new way through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. In Christ everything has been renewed. In every generation there are those who want to abandon the past. Anything that looks traditional is mocked and rejected. But that wasn’t Jesus’ way. He looked to the past with respect and encouraged people to see it with the eyes of the Spirit. God is constantly at work and we should be eager to grasp hold of the gems that he gives to us from the past, as well as the new insights he reveals to us as we open our lives to his Spirit. Question What are the gems that you have discovered recently? Prayer Lord God, thank you for the treasures that you bring to us from the past, and for the ways in which you speak directly and clearly to us today. Amen
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    3 mins
  • October 28th - Matthew 13:45-46

    October 28th - Matthew 13:45-46
    Oct 28 2024
    Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” In the ancient world, pearls were prized as highly as gold. Even today the most valuable pearls can be worth millions of pounds. Their beauty has always attracted interest. In Jesus’ time, pearls were mainly found in the Red Sea or Persian Gulf. Pearls were also found in far-off Britain; indeed, that was one of the things that attracted Julius Caesar to these islands. The point of the story is clear. The merchant was always on the lookout for the very best pearls. They all had a charm and a beauty but, like any expert, he could easily spot the best and, when he found it, he was determined to own it. Nothing would get in the way. He gladly sold up everything he owned in order to buy this one precious pearl. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is just the same. It is so precious that anyone who understands how amazing it is will gladly give up everything they possess in order to be part of it. The kingdom of heaven is the most beautiful pearl of all, but there is no suggestion that all the rest are rubbish. Jesus is affirming that there is much in this world that is fine and good and beautiful. But the kingdom of heaven is on another level. Because it is God’s kingdom it is the best, and we should be ready to give up everything in order to be a member of it. Many people look at Christian faith like membership of a sports club or a motoring organisation. You can dip into it as and when it suits you. But Jesus invites people to follow him on a completely different basis. He doesn’t say, “Come and follow me as and when it suits you,” but invites us to follow him for the whole of our lives. This is because it is his desire is to bless every aspect of our lives, not just a small part of them. Question Do you see following Jesus as the pearl of greatest value? Prayer Lord Jesus Christ thank you that your desire is to enrich every part of my life. Amen
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    3 mins
  • October 27th - Matthew 13:31-32

    October 27th - Matthew 13:31-32
    Oct 27 2024
    Matthew 13:31-32 Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” This is one of the most famous of Jesus’ parables and the point is clear. Often the kingdom of heaven expresses itself in small and humble ways. It doesn’t attract much interest or attention and is overlooked by most people. But just like a tiny mustard seed that is so small that it can easily be missed, or blown away by the wind, it can grow up into something vast. In the Middle East a mustard seed can grow into a twelve-foot tree that can provide a home for many birds. Jesus was clearly telling us not to look down on things or dismiss them just because they are small. When God is at work, miracles are just around the corner! I have often been a part of small Christian organisations that have looked seriously unimpressive to any observer. I also think of many churches that I have known which have been attended by tiny numbers of people. Humanly speaking it would be very tempting to suggest that they should be closed down because they are so small. But, when God is at work in the power of his Spirit, the tiniest and most insignificant things can turn out to be incredibly powerful and impressive. This should be an encouragement to us all. It is very easy for us to become discouraged when the results appear to be poor, and the outward appearance is one of weakness or even failure. This parable tells us that we need to look to God rather than the outward appearance. The kingdom of heaven is full of surprises because it is brought into being by the maker of heaven and earth. Question In what way do you find this parable encouraging personally? Prayer Loving God, thank you for the privilege of being involved in the life of your kingdom. I praise you that you are building it day by day. Amen
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    3 mins
  • October 26th - Matthew 13:30

    October 26th - Matthew 13:30
    Oct 26 2024
    Matthew 13:30 “Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.” In order to understand this parable fully, it is helpful to know the kind of weeds Jesus was referring to. They were called bearded darnel which, in the early stages of their growth, look exactly like wheat. As they grow, they start to look very different but, by that time, their roots are so entwined with the roots of the wheat that it is impossible to remove them without destroying the crop as well. As a result, it is necessary to allow the darnel to grow until harvest time, when the separation can then take place. The point of the parable is clear. Jesus was telling his disciples that they were living in a world in which there were good and bad people. But it was even more complicated than that. Some people appeared to be good and turned out to be bad, while others gave every appearance of being bad but turned out to be good. Jesus sent his disciples into this confused situation saying they needed to trust the God of justice who would one day judge the world. It wasn’t their job to judge now. They could leave that to God at the appropriate time. This is an important parable for us. We should always be disappointed, but never surprised, by the evil that exists in the world. However, it is not for us to be the judges. What an incredible burden it would be if we had the responsibility to make final judgement on each person and their actions. But that is God’s work and because we know that he is loving, merciful and entirely just, we can trust him to do what is best. Question How does this parable help you to cope with living in an evil world? Prayer Loving God, give me grace and strength to live for you in this confused and evil world. Amen
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    3 mins
  • October 25th - Matthew 13:23

    October 25th - Matthew 13:23
    Oct 25 2024
    Matthew 13:23 [Jesus said,] “The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” The parable of the sower mixes realism with huge encouragement. It confronts us with the fact that, when the word of God is spoken, there is a wide range of reactions. Some people just don’t want to know. Others are incredibly excited for a short while and then forget all about it. Another group receive the word, start applying it to their lives in a serious way but are then distracted by the pressures and temptations of life. Anyone who has been involved in sharing the good news of Jesus will recognise that all of this is an accurate reflection of life. However, here’s the massive encouragement: when God’s word finds a home in the right soil, it doesn’t merely cause growth to happen but it leads to an enormous harvest. How amazing for a farmer to look at his crop and realise that it is 30, 60 or even 100 times more than he planted. This is a really important parable for us because it is so easy to focus our attention on the discouragements of life. At times it would be tempting to give up when you see people rejecting the word of God and wandering away from the faith. Over the years I have often felt a deep personal pain when I have seen people reject the Lord. It is very easy to blame oneself and to draw attention to all the inadequacies of the Church. This parable puts the many discouragements of life into a bigger context. It reminds us that the miracle will happen, and there will always be those in whose lives the word of God goes deep and has a spectacular result. I can think of countless occasions when that has happened and quite often it has been in the most unlikely situations. The conclusion has to be that we should continue to work hard for God, even when the going gets tough and people are not responding in the way that we had hoped. As Paul said to the Corinthians: “Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” 1 Corinthians 15:58. Question In what way does this parable encourage you? Prayer Lord God, help me to faithful in serving you today. Amen
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    3 mins
  • October 24th - Matthew 13:20-21

    October 24th - Matthew 13:20-21
    Oct 24 2024
    Matthew 13:20-21 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. Today, farmers sow seed with great precision and very little is wasted, but in Jesus’ time it was a much more haphazard process. Skilled as the farmer might have been, when he scattered his seed with his hand it was bound to land in a variety of places. It landed on the path, in rocky soil or among thorns so only a proportion would find good soil. Jesus used this parable to describe the very different ways that people responded to his message, and we can easily recognise the truth of his words today. The seed that landed on the rocky soil struggled from the outset because it couldn’t put down adequate roots. It grew fast for a while but soon keeled over and died. Jesus said that this was like people who heard the message of the kingdom and got really excited about it. But because they hadn’t put down deep roots, they soon became distracted by problems and persecution. Their initial burst of enthusiasm was soon a distant memory. This parable teaches us many lessons, but it particularly emphasises the importance of putting down deep roots. It is always encouraging when people respond enthusiastically and joyfully to the Christian message. But it isn’t enough. The sudden rush of enthusiasm needs to be followed by the growth of long, tapering roots that ensure the steady flow of nourishment for the years to come. The roots grow as we get to know God better and that happens through prayer, fellowship, the reading of the Bible and by deliberately turning our attention towards God. Roots are, by their very nature, hidden but without them there can be no life. Question How are you intentionally developing your roots in God? Prayer Lord God our Father, help me to grow in you today and to find ways of developing deep roots that will sustain me for the years to come. Amen
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    3 mins
  • October 23rd - Matthew 12:49-50

    October 23rd - Matthew 12:49-50
    Oct 23 2024
    Matthew 12:49-50 [Jesus] pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” We know very little about Jesus’ family. On this occasion we hear that they had come to see him and wanted to speak with him. By this time, it seems that Joseph was dead and so Mary came with Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Jesus used the moment to point out that the family that meant most to him was made up of those who were obedient to his Father’s will. Blood relationships are important - and the Old Testament law made clear the fundamental responsibility that we all have for and to our birth families - but what matters far more is obedience to God’s will. Belonging is essential to our wellbeing. We all need the security of knowing where we belong. Many people in our society have had a disappointing experience of family life. They have felt let down and some have been rejected and even abused. But whether our experiences have been bad or good, our human families are temporary and fragile. That is why it is so important for us to become children of our eternal heavenly Father. Jesus himself knew what it was to be rejected by his own people. In his Gospel, John says that: “to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God” (John 1:12-13). Through being born again, all of us are able to enter into the family of God and know security for time and eternity. Being a part of the family of God is miraculous in every way. It connects us with all those in history who have lived the life of faith, and it also binds us together with all those who love him throughout our world today. On many occasions I have travelled to other parts of the world and not shared a common language with the Christians I have met. In a beautiful way it hasn’t seemed to matter. I have spent many, many hours sitting through times of worship in languages completely unknown to me. What has mattered is that we are family. We belong and always will do. Question In what ways are you blessed by belonging to God’s eternal family? Prayer Loving heavenly Father, thank you for my brothers and sisters around the world today. Thank you for my unity with them. Amen
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    4 mins