Sermon: 9.15am service, Sunday 19^th February.
Bible reading: 2 Corinthians 4

 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The words of Paul, as translated in the King James version of Paul’s letter to the Philippians [Phil 4: 13]. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

I like Paul. Of all the many and varied characters we meet in the Bible, Paul is one of my favourites. It is not a view universally shared. When I was studying at Trinity, the Bible College, Paul was a person who could split a class. To some he is a brilliant scholar. It is Paul who shaped Christian thinking with his ideas of God’s love and grace. It is Paul who understands Jesus as the fulfilment of the law of the Old Testament. Paul who believes passionately in the power of the church to testify to Christ and to God in the world; who insists that everyone – everyone – has a part to play in that ministry because together we are a body, the greater sum of the parts. It is Paul’s letter to the Romans that has been described as “the most influential book in Christian history, perhaps in the history of Western civilisation” [in Fee & Stuart, How to Read the Bible Book by Book, p. 317]. Yet, to others, reading Paul is pretty hard going: like wading through treacle, overly moralistic, a misogynist even, whose influence on, say, attitudes towards women in the church has created a legacy that is not overly helpful and leaves the church looking out of touch with the world.

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Sermon, Christ Church Downend, evening service, Jan 15, 2012
Bible readings: Matthew 8: 5-13; Isaiah 60: 9-end

As many of you will be aware, a member of this church, David Stevens, died last Sunday from cancer. He was not a regular at this particular service, though you may remember the creative service, Encounter, that he helped to lead.  In any case, he was an honorary godfather to my younger son, Timothy. I say honorary because, sadly, Tim’s first godfather too died of cancer some years ago. It was a blessing to my family, and I hope also to Dave, that he had the opportunity to take on the role, albeit for what turned out to be a sadly short period.
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Sermon, Christ Church Downend, evening service, Jan 1, 2012

Bible reading: Deut. 30

Well, it’s a great pleasure to spend the first day of 2012 with you all. I hope that whatever your circumstances you were able to find some sense of peace and joy this Christmas period. And, for those of you who queued from 5am at Cabot Circus on Boxing Day, that you were able to secure the bargain you were looking for.

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