We are living in the era of the Selfie. Recently two American academics wrote a book called "The Narcissism Epidemic" - everyone is obsessed with themselves and their own 'brand'. But that is not Jesus' way - what he says in this passage is very counter-cultural and we need to hear it. See https://understandthebible.uk for more like this. The quote from No Little People at the end which I unfortunately missed off is this. Just to explain, in this sermon he has been looking at Moses' staff (or st...
Jun 17, 2020•19 min
Jesus disabuses us of our notions about what life in the future will be like - it's so much more than we think, not less! See more at https://understandthebible.uk Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 10, 2020•15 min
Jesus' words in this passage are famous: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's". But what does he mean, and what is the Bible's view of how Christians should relate to earthly authorities? See more at https://understandthebible.uk Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe
May 27, 2020•22 min
Who is your authority in life – who do you listen to? A sermon on Luke 20:1-19. See more at https://understandthebible.uk Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe
May 20, 2020•20 min
This is a sermon which is traditionally preached on Palm Sunday before Easter (Jesus comes to Jerusalem as King) - but we're going to be thinking about the question: what is true spirituality? Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe
May 13, 2020•17 min
This is the first of a series on "Encouraging Prayer" at our church. In this sermon we look at Jesus' prayer from John 17 and how it encourages us to pray - both that we should pray, and what we should be praying for. See more: https://understandthebible.uk Great Clacton on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4IHJzq_Dc-txp8oE0DlUhg Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe...
May 03, 2020•25 min
How does God want us to use the things he gives us? Lessons from a slightly puzzling parable. Originally recorded as part of the Wednesday Worshippers livestream on the Great Clacton Parish channel. See https://understandthebible.uk for more. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe...
Apr 29, 2020•20 min
They say "A picture is worth a thousand words" - well in this case, we are given a picture of salvation. See https://understandthebible.uk for more. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe
Apr 22, 2020•21 min
The last of our lent series on repentance - turning from sin. How do we walk as children of light? The answer is actually quite surprising... The passage is online here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians+5&version=NIVUK The Doctrine of Repentance is available in lots of places online e.g. as a PDF here: http://www.onthewing.org/user/Watson%20-%20Repentance%20-%20Modern.pdf The Understand the Bible website is here: https://understandthebible.uk Facebook: http://facebook.c...
Apr 08, 2020•26 min
I think many of us feel uncomfortable about saying that we hate anything - but yet the Bible does tell us to hate certain things. The passage is online here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+97&version=NIVUK The Doctrine of Repentance is available in lots of places online e.g. as a PDF here: http://www.onthewing.org/user/Watson%20-%20Repentance%20-%20Modern.pdf The Understand the Bible website is here: https://understandthebible.uk Facebook: http://facebook.com/bible.unders...
Mar 25, 2020•20 min
Shame is a dirty word in our society, yet the Bible has a lot to say about it. Should we feel shame? And how? What does the Bible say about it? This is what was to be the sermon at Wednesday Worshippers today (18th March 2020) but due to the coronavirus situation had to be online instead! The passage is online here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james+4%3A1-10&version=NIVUK The Doctrine of Repentance is available in lots of places online e.g. as a PDF here: http://www.onthewin...
Mar 18, 2020•21 min
The second part of the series in repentance (unfortunately I didn't record the first part!) The passage is 1 John 1:5-10. The book I mention is called "The Doctrine of Repentance" by Thomas Watson, a puritan, and - because it is well out of copyright - is available for free online e.g. here . These sermons are based on his section "Ingredients of Repentance" - the first one we looked at was sorrow for sin. Sermon preached at St Mark's Church on Wednesday 11th March. Get full access to Understand...
Mar 11, 2020•17 min
Many people have the view that, on the day of judgement, God will tot up our good deeds and - if we've done enough - will let us into heaven. Many people think it doesn't matter whether you have faith, just that you've done enough good deeds. But what does the Bible say? The passage is Hebrews 11:1-6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews+11%3A1-6&version=NIVUK If you like this podcast, don't forget to subscribe! For more information about Understand the Bible and to continue...
Feb 25, 2020•15 min
One of the biggest questions people ask: if God forgives us anyway, why should we bother trying to good in the first place? In the fourth part of our series on Justification, Jesus gives us the answer. The passage is available online here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+7%3A15-23&version=NIVUK For more information about Understand the Bible and to continue the discussion see http://understandthebible.uk . To support Understand the Bible, please see the support page: htt...
Feb 17, 2020•21 min
One thing which always used to puzzle me: if Jesus never sinned, why did he want to be baptised by John the Baptist? In this next part of the series on Matthew, we think about this passage. Read the passage online: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+3%3A13-17&version=NIVUK For more information about Understand the Bible and to continue the discussion see https://understandthebible.uk Facebook: http://facebook.com/bible.understand Twitter: http://twitter.com/UnderstandTheB1 ...
Feb 11, 2020•11 min
Some people have the view that being a Christian is only about keeping the rules and looking down on everyone else. But, as we see in this video, we need a far greater obedience to be considered righteous by God. The main passage in the video is Galatians 2:11-21 - read online here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians+2%3A11-21&version=NIVUK If you like this video, don't forget to subscribe to this channel to get more videos like this! For more information about Understand...
Feb 04, 2020•22 min
"We wanna be free to do what we wanna do" - everybody wants freedom. But what is true freedom, and where does it come from? The main passage in the video is Romans John 8:31-47 - read online here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+8%3A31-47&version=NIVUK You can read the 39 Articles (with updated English version) online here: http://archive.churchsociety.org/issues_new/documents/Text_39Articles.pdf If you like this video, don't forget to subscribe to this channel to get more ...
Jan 28, 2020•15 min
Justification is probably one of the most important issues which Christians don't think much about. And yet, at the time of the reformation it was described as the doctrine on which the reformation would stand or fall. Why is it so important? In this new series, we delve into the topic of justification, following the 39 Articles - a document produced at the time of the reformation, part of the foundation of the Church of England. The main passage in the video is Romans 5:12-21 - read online via ...
Jan 21, 2020•20 min
Have you ever been in a situation where you had to get ready for the boss coming to visit? What did it feel like? John the Baptist here is warning people what they need to do to get ready for the Lord's coming. Read the passage online: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+3%3A1-12&version=NIVUK See all videos on Matthew through the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTPcHVNwBViQlaw0O_icr6PA1zwAGvs0n If you like this video, don't forget to subscribe to this chann...
Jan 15, 2020•15 min
At Christmas time, when you see the baby in the manger, do you see a baby? Or do you see a sign from God? What we see reveals who we are really trusting in. Read the passage online via BibleGateway - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah+7%3A10-17&version=NIVUK . Sermon preached at All Saints, Fordham, on 22nd Dec 2019. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe...
Dec 23, 2019•20 min
At Christmas, why did Jesus need to be born as a baby? Couldn't God have done it in another way? Read the passage online via BibleGateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews+2%3A10-18&version=NIVUK Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe...
Dec 17, 2019•21 min
What do you want most from Christmas? Presents? Turkey? Tinsel? Family time? Rest? I think we are all searching for something deeper at Christmas... The page I refer to in the video can be found here: http://understandthebible.uk/start-here/ Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe
Dec 10, 2019•10 min
It's sometimes easy to get a view that everyone is "nice", except for a few bad apples. The Bible won't let us get away with such a rosy view of human nature. Read / listen to the passage online: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=judges+19-21&version=NIVUK Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe...
Dec 03, 2019•24 min
What does this passage in Judges teach us about how God does and does not want us to worship him? Read / listen to the passage online on BibleGateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=judges+17-18&version=NIVUK Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe...
Nov 26, 2019•24 min
Have you ever done something so bad that you think God couldn't possible forgive you? Read the passage online here . Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe
Nov 19, 2019•20 min
It's so hard to get to church these days: sports clubs, shopping, work commitments, family time - not to mention you can get almost everything online including sermons, worship music, etc. It's hard to prioritise church. And yet, the Bible teaches that church is as important as it ever was. Why? The article I refer to about the Sabbath is here . Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe...
Nov 12, 2019•18 min
Holman Hunt's famous picture "The Light of the World" portrays Jesus knocking at a door with no handle on the outside. Only you can open the door of your heart. But is that how grace works? Read / listen to the passage online here . Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe...
Nov 05, 2019•23 min
Sometimes we just don't know why things are happening. This passage helps to encourage us that God always has a plan. Read / listen to the passage online here . If you'd prefer to see this as a video, you can subscribe to the YouTube Channel . Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe...
Oct 29, 2019•19 min
"If you don't ask, you don't get" - is that how it works with God? You can read / listen to the whole passage online here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=judges+13&version=NIVUK The YouTube channel is available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7FHWCupn6tq39btG6z4Oqg The Podcast is available here: https://anchor.fm/understand-the-bible (including Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and more) You can sign up for the mailing list via my website: http://phillsacre.me.uk/mailing...
Oct 22, 2019•25 min
Politicians like to market themselves as the ones who will sort everything out. But there is an enemy which no politician will be able to sort out. Read the passage on Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=judges+10%3A17-12%3A7&version=NIVUK Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe...
Oct 16, 2019•20 min
