Viewing all items in Resource Category: Looking at God

Last month I wrote about the 612 newly built churches in towns around 1818 – 1830 that cost a total of one and a half million pounds, following the huge population move from the countryside to living in towns. This month I wanted to think about the highest part of the church building – the...

Psalm 23 is well loved, and its paraphrased words are often sung in the popular hymn The Lord’s My Shepherd. At the time of Jesus, these labourers were everywhere, as sheep were a common commodity. So when Jesus described a shepherd, He was referring to someone the people all knew about. Our Lord’s description of...

Have you ever got into trouble while abroad? The story is told of a group of tourists who went to a Mediterranean country and wanted to see the sites of an old city. Four members of the group got so engrossed in taking pictures of each other by a castle that they ignored the summons...

Malachi 3:3 says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study. They got to wondering what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.  One of the women offered to find out. She rang a silversmith and arranged to watch him at...

‘Straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize…’  Phil. 3:13-14 All rubber bands work on this same principle:  they must be stretched to be effective!  Every person who has ever achieved anything for God has learned to stretch. There are no exceptions. One of the most common mistakes...

The Olympic Games From the Vicar What’s the Big Idea? – An Introduction to 1 & 2 Samuel Reflecting Faith: Commissioner Churches Doubts about the Christian faith? – take action now! Do you need a new pain-killer? ** Editor:  Canon Paul Hardingham looks forward to Paris…                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Olympic Games This month sees the start of...

This month sees the start of the Olympic Games in Paris. In describing the Christian life as a marathon race, the writer of Hebrews (12:1-2) challenges us to finish well. ‘throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles’ (1) As in a normal race, we have to get rid of any...

This month sees the start of the Olympic Games in Paris. In describing the Christian life as a marathon race, the writer of Hebrews (12:1-2) challenges us to finish well. ‘throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles’ (1) As in a normal race, we have to get rid of any...

1 & 2 Samuel was originally a single work, which focuses on Samuel, Saul and David, around 1,000 BC, mid-way between Abraham and Jesus. It was Samuel who established the monarchy in Israel after the period of the judges. He was commanded by God to give the people a king, although their request is seen...

When you look carefully at churches in towns, you may notice there are many similarities in their designs. That’s because Parliament in 1818 and later in 1824 brought about an Act to enable new churches to be built particularly in towns where the population had grown exponentially due to the industrial revolution and general movement...

Do you have doubts about the Christian faith? July is the month for you to decide what to do about them. This month the Church remembers Doubting Thomas, and there IS action you can take, either way. You know the story: Thomas was the only apostle not present when Jesus appeared to the disciples on...

Do you ever take pain killers? If so, do you take one for your shoulder, and another one for you knee? Of course not – once the painkiller enters your bloodstream, it goes everywhere, soothing and damping down the pain, and hitting all the right spots. God works a bit like that on the pain...