This month at the churches I serve we are observing Bible Month. This is an initiative launched by the Methodist Church to foster Biblical literacy by encouraging congregations to focus on a particular book of the Bible during June.  This year we are looking at the New Testament book of Colossians, dividing the whole book up over four … Continue reading Bible Month 4:”Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt”

This is the talk I gave on Sunday at Putney Methodist Church. I shall also be sharing it with my congregations at Barnes and Roehampton Methodist Churches next week. This is part of the Bible Month initiative, which this year focuses on the book of Colossians. We have been working through the entire book during the … Continue reading Bible Month 3: “seek the things that are above”

This month at the churches I serve we are observing Bible Month. This is an initiative launched by the Methodist Church to foster Biblical literacy by encouraging congregations to focus on a particular book of the Bible during June.  This year we are focusing on New Testament book of Colossians.  Last time I wrote about Colossians 1:1-23 and next … Continue reading Bible Month 2: “with you in spirit”

This is the talk I gave on Sunday at Putney Methodist Church. I shall also be sharing it with my congregations at Barnes and Roehampton Methodist Churches next week. This is part of the Bible Month initiative, which this year focuses on the book of Colossians. We shall be working through the entire book during the … Continue reading Bible Month 1: “To the saints … in Colossae”

This is the sermon I preached today at Barnes Methodist Church. The reading was John 5:1-18 (Jesus heals on the Sabbath).  Introduction If you are lucky enough to travel to the old city of Jerusalem, you will find it a fascinating, colourful and often incredibly hectic city. When I was there a few years ago, I … Continue reading Do you want to be made well?

This is the sermon I preached today at Wesley Methodist Church, Mandalay in Myanmar. I have been out here for nearly two weeks now, helping to train local preachers in Mandalay and Tahan, and meeting local Methodists. It has been a fascinating experience. The text I chose for today was John 14:1-20. The sermon was translated … Continue reading A guide in a strange land

Happy Easter! This is the sermon I preached today at Barnes Methodist Church. The texts were: Isaiah 65:17-25 and Luke 24:1-12. This Holy Week began with the news of the disastrous fire at Notre Dame in Paris. Tragically, it has ended with reports of the terrible tragedy in Sri Lanka, as ordinary women and men … Continue reading Resurrection re-creation

This is the sermon I preached today at Putney Methodist Church today. It was Mothering Sunday but I chose texts that focussed on the role of women in scripture: Exodus 1:13-21; 1 Samuel 19:8-13; Luke 8:1-3. A few years ago, when I was at the Christian festival Greenbelt, I was lucky enough to hear John Bell … Continue reading Blessed among women…

This is the sermon I preached this morning at Barnes Methodist Church on the first Sunday in Lent, on the theme of reconciliation. The texts were Matthew 5:21-25 and Romans 5:6-11. Reconciliation is much in the news at the moment. Recently, Prince William joined the Queen, and many others, in urging the nation to 'come … Continue reading True reconciliation

This is the sermon I delivered today at Barnes Methodist Church. The set text today was Luke 6:17-26 but I added Matthew's account of the same passage (the Sermon on the Mount) to it, Matthew 5:1-12. Introduction This year, our lectionary gospel readings are generally taken from Luke. For many Christians, his is the favourite gospel. … Continue reading Blessings and woes