Romans 9-11 are probably the trickiest and most mysterious chapters in Paul’s letter. In the space of just 3 ½ pages of our pew Bibles, Paul expresses his intense sorrow that most of his contemporary countrymen rejected Jesus, then plumbs
Broken?
What do you do when something breaks? There are choices: use it even though it’s broken (my car has a small dent, and I have no plans to fix it); throw it away and buy a new one (which bizarrely
Friday Sunday
If Jesus is risen (sorry, if you’re reading this before Easter Sunday – but it is true!), why the focus on suffering of Lent and Holy Week? If it’s all good news (and it really is Good News!) does it
The Gospel: Green light for sin?
This week’s passage opens by asking an excellent question. If justification comes purely as a free gift and our good works don’t contribute to it, why can’t we just sin as much as we want? After all, if God is
Q&A
When there is a serious disaster, like a plane crash or a pandemic, we often demand to know what went wrong – so we can avoid it happening again. It’s made many things better: safer air travel, more successful medicine,
Even more compassion than a mother
Here in the UK, the fourth Sunday in Lent is traditionally a time to remember – and give thanks for – mothers. Scripture teaches us to honour our mothers and to remember how much their care and provision shapes our
How much faith?
“Increase our faith” the disciples asked (Luke 17:5). I wonder what they were expecting? A transformative parable or some secret knowledge? Or were they expecting Jesus to just zap them with a suffusion or infusion of faith? Maybe you’ve found
Plot Twist!
Some of the most iconic moments in cinema history involve an unexpected plot twist. Done well, it can be the making of a film. Apparently, the Empire Strikes Back’s “No, Luke, I am your father!” was such a closely guarded
Problems and Solutions
It has been said that (and as with many things, it might be true, it might be not – but even if it’s not, it’s still quite plausible), when the Times Newspaper wrote to some notable people asking them ‘What
What is the Gospel for?
Most of us have household objects that we use for something different to the thing they were made for. Perhaps it’s a straightened-out paper clip we use to press hard to reach buttons, or a book that’s acting as a