Communications technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, and at the same time, become easier to use. As a result, the world appears to be becoming a much smaller place than it once was. And in many ways that is especially highlighted by the rise in popularity of the likes of twitter and other types of social media. Some amazing statistics about social media are available on the “econsultancy blog”. Nowadays we can pass on news and hear news from all around the world in an instant. When I think back, even to my childhood, there have been massive advances in the technology available. It makes you wonder what it will be like for the coming generations.

So, because of all those advances in communications technology, it has never been easier to send a message to the ends of the earth; never easier to “send the gospel to the ends of the earth”. And I’m left wondering if we take advantage enough of the technology available to us in talking about the “good news” of Jesus Christ. And especially if I am, personally, doing enough.

I know I write this blog, and while I don’t think of myself as evangelising in my writing — that isn’t the intention — I hope I am sharing the love of Christ, the love of God, with those who read my words on here. And I know that, in theory, this blog could be read by thousands, even millions, of people. In practise, of course, it isn’t; in fact it’s around about a thousand a week. I have had to accept, because of my ongoing health concerns, that this is frequently going to be my only viable opportunity to share God’s love with other people — even this wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other websites written by people who all want to share the love of God with others from around the world. And probably an equal, or greater, number that are about evangelising and conversion. So the reality is that a great deal is being done to “send the gospel to the ends of the earth”.

But there is one thing that all of these websites, including mine, have in common. They all rely on people being interested enough to make an effort to read what’s being written; the same as with any other kind of website available on the internet. I suspect the social networking sites, such as Twitter, will begin to play a part in changing that, but even with them there still is an element of people needing to make an effort to “follow” you, or your message will just be lost within the myriad of others being sent at the same time.

So, on this Fourth Sunday of Epiphany, I’m left once again with questions. Are we, am I, doing enough to help with sending the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, to the ends of the earth?

God of heaven,
you send the gospel to the ends of the earth
and your messengers to every nation:
send your Holy Spirit to transform us
by the good news of everlasting life
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

I wonder where you would put yourself if I asked you whether you were rich, poor, or in between. The chances are you would do the same as me, and say, “in between”. We know that in a global context our access to clean water, sanitation, food, healthcare — and especially the computer you’re reading this on — puts us firmly into the wealthier segment of the world population. But we all know someone richer than us, probably lots of people.

So what exactly does it mean for us to celebrate our relationship with Jesus, the one who announced his presence as “good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18)? If we’re not poor, how can we discover for ourselves — and share with others — the gospel which is good news to the poor?

I recognize that there is a spiritual dimension in this. Whatever my material wealth, I can only receive Christ when I recognise my spiritual poverty. Think of those words from the hymn, “Rock of Ages”: “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to your cross I cling”. This suggests a truth we too often fail to recognise — it’s hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom partly because the more we have the harder it gets to admit that our wealth has its limitations: money can’t buy me love, and that includes God’s love.

So our beatitude of choice is Matthew’s “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3) because we can see how we might qualify for blessing; Luke’s “Blessed are you who are poor” (Luke 6:20) seems to leave us out in the cold.

A theological explanation for this apparent disparity — that seems so glaring to us in our society, in which poverty is usually interpreted purely as an economic matter — probably lies in the consistent biblical understanding that poverty is the result of sin: “There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the Lord is sure to bless you” (Deuteronomy 15:4).

People who are poor are oppressed; they are sinned against as much as they are sinners. That’s why the gospel is good news — it sets them free (“let the oppressed go free” Luke 4:18). Even more strikingly, one of the ways the gospel becomes good news to the poor is because it sets the rich free from sin and they cease to be oppressors.

So that’s the challenge. Is the gospel we present — by our words and actions — one that is good news to the poor because it changes our attitudes to wealth and poverty? Are we willing to be good news to those in our locality that we find it most difficult to relate to because they’re not ‘people like us’?

Perhaps you can cope with one more rhetorical question: do we prefer to adapt the gospel to our culture to make it more acceptable, or ensure that it is as true and counter-cultural in a world obsessed with wealth and celebrity as it was two thousand years ago?

Let’s face it; we’re in a minority. The global church is now predominantly made up of people who are poor, as will heaven be: the gospel really is good news to the poor!

God of all mercy,
your Son proclaimed good news to the poor,
release to the captives,
and freedom to the oppressed:
anoint us with your Holy Spirit
and set all your people free
to praise you in Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Third Sunday of Epiphany
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Today’s Collect, for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity, gets me thinking about the spiritual gifts. I must admit to being somewhat sceptical of some of the big outpourings of the “gifts of the spirit” and have tended to avoid them. I guess, in this particular thing, I’m a little like Thomas, and need to see things for myself. But I do know that there are some very sincere people who have been affected by these events, and set great store by them.

However, I do at least try to keep an open mind; and certainly don’t want to limit God by keeping him in my particular box. Who knows, one day something may happen that turns my scepticism around completely; in which case I would want to celebrate those new insights.

My own, somewhat more conservative, thoughts on the spiritual gifts go something like this:

There are several instances recorded in the book of Acts in which the apostles were involved in healing and casting out demons (3:2-16; 5:12-16; 9:36-42; 20:6-12; 28:1-6). These miracles helped to give validity to the apostles’ teaching. Only two people who weren’t apostles were said to have performed miracles: both specially commissioned “deacons” (Acts 6:5), Stephen (Acts 6:8) and Philip (Acts 8:5-13).

The apostles had a unique function to play in the establishment of the early church. Ephesians 2:20 tells us that the church was “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone”. Paul spoke of miracles being the mark of a true apostle. Describing his own ministry he wrote, “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works” (2 Corinthians 12:12).

Nowhere in the New Testament do we find believers in general performing the same types of dramatic miracles as the apostles do. The apostles were commissioned especially for the founding stage of the church.

I don’t think we need dramatic “signs and wonders” to mature or minister, we can do both without the drama.

Despite all the protests to the contrary, those who promote the use of “spiritual gifts” — such as: speaking in tongues; healing; words of knowledge; prophetic utterances; and ecstatic feelings — do exert an intimidating force on those who don’t share their experiences, or question their validity. I’ve been on the receiving end of that intimidation, and the urge to conform was immense, and, I believe, not from God.

Paul warned the Corinthian believers against false teachers who were trying to force them into submission with incredible claims of spiritual authority (2 Corinthians 11:1-15). These “super-apostles” even claimed to be superior to Paul. He was concerned that the believers may be led astray from the simple truth of the gospel.

We would be naive to think that we don’t face the same threat today. That’s why we must carefully examine our faith, evaluate what we’re being told, and test all things by what God has said in the Bible.

As I said in my opening paragraph, I do know people who have been affected by these “spiritual gifts”, and wouldn’t really want to question their validity, or limit God by putting him into my particular box. I’m just not totally convinced myself, and tend towards this far more conservative stance. But I am open to other ideas, and will listen to, and respect, the position of others.

Generous God,
you give us gifts and make them grow:
though our faith is small as mustard seed,
make it grow to your glory
and the flourishing of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Seventh Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Today is the Sixth Sunday after Trinity. In our Collect we’re reminded that we are all created in the image of God, we all reflect something of God in who we are, and what we are.

It’s clear when you look around at people that, at least in outward appearance, we are all quite different. We differ a bit in eye colour, skin colour, the way we walk, how tall or short we are, the way we talk, etc etc. And there is, of course, the much more obvious differences between male and female. However, we’re not really so very different in the way we’re made up. Most of us have two eyes, two ears, a nose, a mouth, a couple of arms with hands on the end, and a couple of legs with feet on the end. Obviously there are some exceptions to this, but basically we’re all pretty much the same. But despite the outward differences in our appearances, we all reflect something of God.

It’s fair to say that there are probably many more differences between us that are less visible. Some people are happy all the time, some are depressed; some are healthy, some ill; some are addicted to drink or drugs, some never touch either; some are homosexual, some are heterosexual; etc etc. And there are, of course, many people, most of us, who fall between the extremes mentioned here. But despite the less visible differences in our appearances, we all reflect something of God.

If we take seriously the thought that we all reflect something of God, because we are all made in the image of God, then, surely, we must also take seriously Jesus’ command that we should not judge one another:

‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-5

Whilst that passage gives us an indication of Jesus’ wonderful sense of humour, it also carries a very serious message, “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged”. We have to learn to accept people for who they are, whoever they are! It isn’t for us to decide that one person is worth less than another, or worth less than us. And neither is it for us to decide that one person is worth more than another, or worth more than us. Because we are all worth everything to God, and we all reflect something of God.

I know how easy it is to slip into making snap judgements of people for all sorts of reasons. But, it’s important that we strive to be non-judgemental — as hard as that can be at times. Sometimes it’s easier to talk, or even preach, the gospel than it is to really live it. But that is the goal we should be striving towards, to genuinely live the gospel, because we all reflect something of God.

Creator God,
you made us all in your image:
may we discern you in all that we see,
and serve you in all that we do;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Sixth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Today is the Fifth Sunday after Trinity. Our Collect today reminds me of the awesome responsibility we each hold as ministers of the gospel. Everything we do should show the grace that we have been fortunate enough to receive, and to share that grace with all whom we minister to.

To help me in this, I try to base my preaching and ministry on two truths. The first is that God loves each and every one of us. And the second is that the gospel is good news (which is what ‘gospel’ means).

I always try to consider how, what I want to say, fits with the God of love, the God who loves each of us as much as if we were the only ones too love. If it doesn’t, then I have to seriously consider whether it’s the right thing to be saying.

And then I consider whether what I want to say is good news for those who will hear it. If it isn’t, again I would need to seriously consider whether I’m saying the right thing.

I hope, and pray, that trying to base all of what I do as a minister of the gospel on those two truths is the right thing to do — fire and brimstone really is not my style. As ministers of the gospel I don’t think it’s a bad gauge for us to be measuring ourselves against, the Love of God. And even though I know I will frequently fall woefully short, it doesn’t mean I should stop striving towards that goal.

I appreciate that people from varying traditions will have differing emphases than me. I don’t think they’re wrong and I’m right, nor vice versa, I just think we’re different, and that’s a part of the countless gifts of grace that the God of love gives us.

Almighty God,
send down upon your Church
the riches of your Spirit,
and kindle in all who minister the gospel
your countless gifts of grace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Fifth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Communications technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, and at the same time, become easier to use. As a result, the world appears to be becoming a much smaller place than it once was. And in many ways that is especially highlighted by the rise in popularity of the likes of twitter and other types of social media. Some amazing statistics about social media are available on the “econsultancy blog”. Nowadays we can pass on news and hear news from all around the world in an instant. When I think back, even to my childhood, there have been massive advances in the technology available. It makes you wonder what it will be like for the coming generations.

So, because of all those advances in communications technology, it has never been easier to send a message to the ends of the earth; never easier to “send the gospel to the ends of the earth”. And I’m left wondering if we take advantage enough of the technology available to us in talking about the “good news” of Jesus Christ. And especially if I am, personally, doing enough.

I know I write this blog, and while I don’t think of myself as evangelising in my writing — that isn’t the intention — I hope I am sharing the love of Christ, the love of God, with those who read my words on here. And I know that, in theory, this blog could be read by thousands, even millions, of people. In practise, of course, it isn’t; in fact it’s around about a thousand a week. I have had to accept, because of my ongoing health concerns, that this is frequently going to be my only viable opportunity to share God’s love with other people — even this wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other websites written by people who all want to share the love of God with others from around the world. And probably an equal, or greater, number that are about evangelising and conversion. So the reality is that a great deal is being done to “send the gospel to the ends of the earth”.

But there is one thing that all of these websites, including mine, have in common. They all rely on people being interested enough to make an effort to read what’s being written; the same as with any other kind of website available on the internet. I suspect the social networking sites, such as Twitter, will begin to play a part in changing that, but even with them there still is an element of people needing to make an effort to “follow” you, or your message will just be lost within the myriad of others being sent at the same time.

So, on this Fourth Sunday of Epiphany, I’m left once again with questions. Are we, am I, doing enough to help with sending the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, to the ends of the earth?

God of heaven,
you send the gospel to the ends of the earth
and your messengers to every nation:
send your Holy Spirit to transform us
by the good news of everlasting life
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

I wonder where you would put yourself if I asked you whether you were rich, poor, or in between. The chances are you would do the same as me, and say, “in between”. We know that in a global context our access to clean water, sanitation, food, healthcare — and especially the computer you’re reading this on — puts us firmly into the wealthier segment of the world population. But we all know someone richer than us, probably lots of people.

So what exactly does it mean for us to celebrate our relationship with Jesus, the one who announced his presence as “good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18)? If we’re not poor, how can we discover for ourselves — and share with others — the gospel which is good news to the poor?

I recognize that there is a spiritual dimension in this. Whatever my material wealth, I can only receive Christ when I recognise my spiritual poverty. Think of those words from the hymn, “Rock of Ages”: “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to your cross I cling”. This suggests a truth we too often fail to recognise — it’s hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom partly because the more we have the harder it gets to admit that our wealth has its limitations: money can’t buy me love, and that includes God’s love.

So our beatitude of choice is Matthew’s “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3) because we can see how we might qualify for blessing; Luke’s “Blessed are you who are poor” (Luke 6:20) seems to leave us out in the cold.

A theological explanation for this apparent disparity — that seems so glaring to us in our society, in which poverty is usually interpreted purely as an economic matter — probably lies in the consistent biblical understanding that poverty is the result of sin: “There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the Lord is sure to bless you” (Deuteronomy 15:4).

People who are poor are oppressed; they are sinned against as much as they are sinners. That’s why the gospel is good news — it sets them free (“let the oppressed go free” Luke 4:18). Even more strikingly, one of the ways the gospel becomes good news to the poor is because it sets the rich free from sin and they cease to be oppressors.

So that’s the challenge. Is the gospel we present — by our words and actions — one that is good news to the poor because it changes our attitudes to wealth and poverty? Are we willing to be good news to those in our locality that we find it most difficult to relate to because they’re not ‘people like us’?

Perhaps you can cope with one more rhetorical question: do we prefer to adapt the gospel to our culture to make it more acceptable, or ensure that it is as true and counter-cultural in a world obsessed with wealth and celebrity as it was two thousand years ago?

Let’s face it; we’re in a minority. The global church is now predominantly made up of people who are poor, as will heaven be: the gospel really is good news to the poor!

God of all mercy,
your Son proclaimed good news to the poor,
release to the captives,
and freedom to the oppressed:
anoint us with your Holy Spirit
and set all your people free
to praise you in Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Third Sunday of Epiphany
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

There are two important truths I try to test my understanding of what I read, in the Bible and elsewhere against. The first is that God loves us. And the second is that the Gospel is good news. These two truths are not only a wonderful support, but are also a wonderful defence against false teaching. You may find them helpful too.

Think about the greatest love you have ever experienced, whether it be from a mother, a father, a spouse, a child, or an animal. Keep it in mind, but now think, too, about the greatest love you have ever given, whether it be to a mother, a father, a spouse, a child, or an animal. Keep a hold of those thoughts of love in your mind, and in your heart for a while; really enjoy them; really appreciate them. It’s a good feeling, isn’t it?

Now consider that as good as those feelings of love are, as happy as they can make you feel, that our God loves you, and me, more even than that, much more. God loves us even more than the person who loves us the most.

The literal translation of the word, “gospel”, is “good news”. Every authentic aspect of Christianity is good news. It’s important to remember that, it’s important to share it: Christianity, and the whole Gospel message is Good News!

Those two important truths can be used to test things against. We can use them as a test to discover if we’re understanding a Bible passage, or personal revelation, correctly; by judging our interpretation by its fruits. And I think this applies to the Church as much as it does to us personally.

Since the most important fruit is love, we can ask ourselves, “When someone who loves me is loving me the most, would they act in this way?” or “When I’m loving someone the most, would I act in this way?” And, since every authentic aspect of Christianity is good news, we can ask ourselves, “Is it good news?”

If the answers to these two questions are “Yes”, our understanding is probably right. But if either answer is “No”, then we probably need to look again at our interpretation, or our actions, because it’s most likely something’s wrong, coming from false teaching.

Lord God,
defend your Church from all false teaching
and give to your people knowledge of your truth,
that we may enjoy eternal life
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Today’s Collect, for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity, gets me thinking about the spiritual gifts. I must admit to being somewhat sceptical of some of big outpourings of the “gifts of the spirit” and have tended to avoid them. I guess, in this particular thing, I’m a little like Thomas, and need to see things for myself. But I do know that there are some very sincere people who have been affected by these events, and set great store by them.

However, I do at least try to keep an open mind; and certainly don’t want to limit God by keeping him in my particular box. Who knows, one day something may happen that turns my scepticism around completely; in which case I would want to celebrate those new insights.

My own, somewhat more conservative, thoughts on the spiritual gifts go something like this:

There are several instances recorded in the book of Acts in which the apostles were involved in healing and casting out demons (3:2-16; 5:12-16; 9:36-42; 20:6-12; 28:1-6). These miracles helped to give validity to the apostles’ teaching. Only two people who weren’t apostles were said to have performed miracles: both specially commissioned “deacons” (Acts 6:5), Stephen (Acts 6:8) and Philip (Acts 8:5-13).

The apostles had a unique function to play in the establishment of the early church. Ephesians 2:20 tells us that the church was “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone”. Paul spoke of miracles being the mark of a true apostle. Describing his own ministry he wrote, “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works” (2 Corinthians 12:12).

Nowhere in the New Testament do we find believers in general performing the same types of dramatic miracles as the apostles do. The apostles were commissioned especially for the founding stage of the church.

I don’t think we need dramatic “signs and wonders” to mature or minister, we can do both without the drama.

Despite all the protests to the contrary, those who promote the use of “spiritual gifts” — such as: speaking in tongues; healing; words of knowledge; prophetic utterances; and ecstatic feelings — do exert an intimidating force on those who don’t share their experiences, or question their validity. I’ve been on the receiving end of that intimidation, and the urge to conform was immense, and, I believe, not from God.

Paul warned the Corinthian believers against false teachers who were trying to force them into submission with incredible claims of spiritual authority (2 Corinthians 11:1-15). These “super-apostles” even claimed to be superior to Paul. He was concerned that the believers may be led astray from the simple truth of the gospel.

We would be naive to think that we don’t face the same threat today. That’s why we must carefully examine our faith, evaluate what we’re being told, and test all things by what God has said in the Bible.

As I said in my opening paragraph, I do know people who have been affected by these “spiritual gifts”, and wouldn’t really want to question their validity, or limit God by putting him into my particular box. I’m just not totally convinced myself, and tend towards this far more conservative stance. But I am open to other ideas, and will listen to, and respect, the position of others.

Generous God,
you give us gifts and make them grow:
though our faith is small as mustard seed,
make it grow to your glory
and the flourishing of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Seventh Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Today is the Sixth Sunday after Trinity. In our Collect we’re reminded that we are all created in the image of God, we all reflect something of God in who we are, and what we are.

It’s clear when you look around at people that, at least in outward appearance, we are all quite different. We differ a bit in eye colour, skin colour, the way we walk, how tall or short we are, the way we talk, etc etc. And there is, of course, the much more obvious differences between male and female. However, we’re not really so very different in the way we’re made up. Most of us have two eyes, two ears, a nose, a mouth, a couple of arms with hands on the end, and a couple of legs with feet on the end. Obviously there are some exceptions to this, but basically we’re all pretty much the same. But despite the outward differences in our appearances, we all reflect something of God.

It’s fair to say that there are probably many more differences between us that are less visible. Some people are happy all the time, some are depressed; some are healthy, some ill; some are addicted to drink or drugs, some never touch either; some are homosexual, some are heterosexual; etc etc. And there are, of course, many people, most of us, who fall between the extremes mentioned here. But despite the less visible differences in our appearances, we all reflect something of God.

If we take seriously the thought that we all reflect something of God, because we are all made in the image of God, then, surely, we must also take seriously Jesus’ command that we should not judge one another:

‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-5

Whilst that passage gives us an indication of Jesus’ wonderful sense of humour, it also carries a very serious message, “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged”. We have to learn to accept people for who they are, whoever they are! It isn’t for us to decide that one person is worth less than another, or worth less than us. And neither is it for us to decide that one person is worth more than another, or worth more than us. Because we are all worth everything to God, and we all reflect something of God.

I know how easy it is to slip into making snap judgements of people for all sorts of reasons. But, it’s important that we strive to be non-judgemental — as hard as that can be at times. Sometimes it’s easier to talk, or even preach, the gospel than it is to really live it. But that is the goal we should be striving towards, to genuinely live the gospel, because we all reflect something of God.

Creator God,
you made us all in your image:
may we discern you in all that we see,
and serve you in all that we do;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Sixth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council