Sermons
Glimpses of Heaven
The Book of Revelation is protest literature from the underdogs. It’s written to Christians who are being told their kingdom is nothing compared to the Kingdom of Caesar, and they need to bow down and submit. Caesar’s kingdom is the earthly powers or forces that are seen as too powerful, too big to fail, too… Read more
God the wrestler? That’s exactly who Jacob needed to tested by.
God as wrestler – someone who chooses to meet us when we are stuck, who chooses to keep grappling with us until something changes inside us for the better. None of us would dream that image up for God, and yet it is in Scripture, and it was Jacob’s lived experience. I think God chose… Read more
Blessings still work in messy family situations. Jacob and Rebekah get the blessing through trickery.
Jacob is one of the few people in the Bible where we get a good long look at his actions, and his character. He is hardly a great role model, and yet he is shown to us, warts and all. Scripture does not airbrush him into looking good. I find it a great comfort and… Read more
A difficult pregnancy and difficult twins. Esau and Jacob.
Rebekah in Genesis 24 is an ultra-competent, confident young woman, ready to accept marriage to Isaac. God had promised Abraham and Sarah land, their own child, and blessings to the whole world through their descendants. Twenty years of not getting pregnant would have taken its toll on Rebekah’s confidence. I don’t know what they were… Read more
‘Remember what he said….the Son of Man must be crucified, and on the third day be raised again.’ Luke 24:7
There are many times when we forget or aren’t ready to hear about the resurrection. Remembering the promise of new life changes things. It changes how we look at events. It changes how we feel about things. It helps us get through grief, despair or crippling anxiety. It helps us look for the signs that… Read more
Rebekah and Isaac – not just a sweet romance
Genesis 24 is the longest chapter in Genesis. It explains why – to the great consternation of her family- a competent, beautiful, strong, self-assured young woman steps out to the city well and returns 2 hours later, wearing a gold nose ring and two massive bracelets, having accepted a marriage contract offered on behalf of… Read more
The beautiful ‘non-grasping’ of Jesus. Philippians 2:5-11
This scripture tells of Jesus letting go his safe place in heaven, to become one of us, and to continue the journey downwards, into being a servant, and suffering death for us. Then he was lifted up, out of death, and into the highest place of all, with everyone, in heaven on earth, bowing down… Read more
Will you trust me? Genesis 22:1-19. God asks Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son.
Will you trust me? Genesis 22:1-19. God asks Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son. After many long years, the promised son has been born. The promises that God gave Abraham and Sarah are becoming more real: land, their own child, and a blessing to all humankind through them. Then comes these horrible words, ‘Take your… Read more
Abraham, Sarah, Hagar and babies
Sarah, Abraham, Hagar, and Laughing Boy. Genesis 15-21. Looking at a lot of complicated hurts, plus a happy ending (of sorts). Abraham and Sarah received three great promises from God: land, their own child and that the whole earth would be blessed through them. All those promises took a long time to work out. Looking… Read more
Abraham and Sarah in the land – the mysterious Melchizedek and being good neighbours.
Abraham and Sarah – Immigrants who learn to live with their neighbours. Abraham and Sarah are promised that they will possess the land of Canaan, but that doesn’t happen in their lifetimes. They take it on trust. Thye are constantly on the move as they seek good grazing for their large number of animals, but… Read more
