Media

Revd Keith Saynor explores Jesus' encounter with the Pharisees where they accused Jesus of acting unlawfully when carrying out good deeds on the Sabbath. Revd Keith summarises this situation as one where legalism collides with grace and challenges us to ask ourselves whether we have really learnt to love, whether we have received the blanket of God’s love into our lives and learned to cast it onto others who we encounter.

Revd Colin Baker reminds us that the world is constantly changing and that we need to change with it. He challenges us to fast and to pray, to listen to the Lord’s prompting and be prepared to step out in faith and do new things in new ways – new wine in new wine skins.

Revd Graham Coldman takes us through the extraordinary events of the paralysed man being lowered through a hole created in the roof of a house where Jesus was teaching in order to receive healing. We’re challenged to consider what type of faith we have – the sort that drives us to action and results or is it passive, something we keep in a box? Jesus announced his divinity by forgiving the man’s sins and then healing him. We too need to receive God’s forgiveness and enter into the fullness of life he offers

Revd Graham Coldman discusses Luke's account of Jesus' teaching in the synagogue of his home town of Nazareth. Jesus challenges some of the traditional beliefs of the nature and character of God. The listeners were initially amazed at what he said, his insight and knowledge of the scriptures. This soon turned to anger as he painted a different picture to the one they were familiar with, so much so that they wanted to kill him. But Jesus walked away unscathed, Jesus’ mission concluded as planned.

Revd Colin Baker unpacks Luke’s account of events following Passover, when rather than setting off for home with his parents, Jesus remained in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Colin challenges us to reflect on 3 priorities – our relationship with God, our relationship with authority figures in our lives, our desire to be right with God.

Revd Graham Coldman uses a quiz to tease out some interesting and less obvious facts about the visit of the Maji. We are challenged to consider our journey into 2025 ahead – to make wise decisions, to consider a “new route” a new way of serving Jesus, a new way to honour Him, and in all things to be aware of His presence as he journeys with us.

Geoff Wilson challenges our response to situations where we make plans and they don’t work out the way we hoped. We can make our plans, but we have to trust God for our future. God will sometimes surprise us with what he has in store – a new and more exciting plan, a God adventure that causes us to grow and to prosper.

Revd Graham Coldman shows us that God's gift of Jesus was a planned gift of love to all mankind. It may be that God's gift to you this Christmas may come as a surprise. Let's be ready to both give and receive God's gift of Jesus this Christmas.

As part of the Carold by Candlelight service, Revd Graham Coldman shares thoughts on the Magic, Mystery and Matter of Christmas