Tuesday, 17 January 2012 | FFMC, Subjects
After a short delay we’ve published the sermon series information for January and February 2012. Printed leaflets should be available this Sunday, the online leaflet is available here.
Live at Peace with one another
The word peace appears over 360 times in scripture – once for every day. God is also described as the ‘God of Peace’. The Hebrew word most often translated ‘Peace’ is ‘Shalom’ which means ‘wellbeing’ and ‘completeness’. Scripture tells believers to live at peace with those around us, bringing the wellbeing, peace and reconciliation God has brought to our own hearts. This can be easier said than done. We consider some tough challenges faced by Joseph, which uncannily mirror present day issues.
Podcasts for this series are available here.
Hebrews
Seen as one of the most difficult New Testament books, Hebrews doesn’t clearly identify its author or audience. Written as a response to the needs of a struggling people, sermon like in style, it gives warnings, challenges, examples and reminders of the faithfulness of God and calls the reader to endure in following the Son even when faced with persecution. It also deals with the question which constantly faces us: How can we approach God?
Podcasts for this series are available here.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 | The Bible in a Year
I recently talked about finishing reading through the Bible in a year. I mused on that post about what I would do this year, in 2012.
The answer is that I’m going to do it again, but not in the same way.
Like many people I suspect the amount of reading required to complete the whole of the Bible in a year meant that on many days I felt like I was racing through with the only aim being to finish. More specifically, I was dashing through the New Testament reading as I felt the pressure of the day.
While I was pondering what to do about this year I was just about to conclude on only reading through the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, and then to read through the Old Testament next year.
Then my son was given as a Christmas present the whole of the Bible on MP3 DVD. That got me thinking.
So this is what I’ve decided to do.
I’m going to read the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs and I’m going to listen to the Old Testament.
I’ve tried it for a few days now and it seems to work great.
Have you decided on what you are going to read in 2012?
Sunday, 8 January 2012 | Weekend Reflections
As I edit the weekly podcasts I’ve started noticing that there is always a cough at the end of the sermon.
As Andrew, Ian or anyone else says ‘amen’, or a similar word, it’s always followed by a cough.
I don’t have anything profound to say about this, it’s just an observation 
.
Saturday, 31 December 2011 | The Bible in a Year
For me the final words of my journey through the Bible this year were:
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
Proverbs 31:31
I also read the last words of the Bible:
He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.
Revelation 22: 21
With those words my Bible in a Year journey for 2011 reaches 100%. It feels good to have been able to read through the whole of the Bible, it’s an achievement.
Congratulations to you too if today has also been the marking of a goal achieved.
But this isn’t the end of the journey. As I look back there were so many bit where I was conscious that I was reading, but not really understanding. There were parts where I’m sure that I didn’t understand the significance of what was being said. I’m also reasonably sure that there will be parts that I misunderstood. So it has been an achievement to read the Bible in a year, but it’s only been a part of the longer journey of faith, hope and love.
I’m still not sure what I’m going to do next year (tomorrow), but I am sure that I’m going to take another step towards understanding our saviour as he reveals himself through the words of the Bible.
Saturday, 26 November 2011 | The Bible in a Year
It was back in January when I first started reflecting upon a journey I had started, a journey to read the whole of the Bible in a year. At that point I had barely started having completed a small 3.3% of the distance.
I set out a number of things that I intended to do and as we pass the 90% mark I’d just like to reflect on how that has gone:
Personally I’m using a new One Year Bible that was very kindly given to me as a Christmas gift. There’s something very tactile about a new book.
My new Bible has become a wonderful part of my daily reading time. I’ve loved knowing that I’ve worked through every page as I’ve progressed.
“I’m trying to set aside the same time every day so that it becomes something of a ritual”
Although I work in an office, I don’t work 9-to-5 but I have, for the most part, managed to carve out a regular consistent time. Much like many others, I attend meetings in different places and at different times, but there are also holidays and other times when I’m not getting up at my normal time it’s not always been possible to hold to a regular time. I’ve tried to hold these differences in the programme lightly and to be as consistent as I can.
So I’m also tracking my reading through YouVersion.com which has exactly the same reading plan online.
As well as using a physical Bible I’ve also been using an online reading plan. Seeing the progress online has been a great help but also writing these blog posts has meant that I’ve felt like I’ve had an accountability framework around me. When we are trying to build new habits or to strengthen existing ones it’s important that we have a framework that supports the change that we want to make. It’s a lesson I’ve learnt through Celebrate Recovery.
While I’m here, you may think that Celebrate Recovery is there for people with big problems and issues to resolve, it is, but that’s not all it’s there for. The purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to deepen our relationship with Jesus. As I’ve read through the Bible this year, time and time again, I’ve seen how God has been there for people through life’s journey.
As we pass this 90% mark let’s be thankful for the journey we’ve come on, but also let’s start looking forward to the wonderful journey that Jesus has for us ahead.
Friday, 4 November 2011 | The Bible in a Year
I’ve missed a number of milestones recently – we’re passed 300 days, passed 75%, passed 80%.
So I thought I would celebrate them all together by highlighting that we are beyond 80%. We’re actually, nearly at 85%, but while that’s all good there’s nothing that feels like actually finishing.
It’s time to keep on keeping on, you can do this.
Although please don’t forget today’s Proverb: “Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth – a stranger, not your own lips.” Proverbs 27: 2.
