Monthly Archives: March 2025

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God’s offer of salvation

Below is a video of this 19-minute message about God’s persistence in offering salvation to each one of us.

Throughout the scriptures, God is reaching out to humanity with the offer of salvation. Isaiah 55 is filled with words of invitation from God. Joshua 5 links the liberation of the Israelites from slavery with the first Passover meal in the promised land. 2 Corinthians 5 has Paul telling us, that if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation – the old has gone, the new is here! And Luke 15 tells the remarkable story of the prodigal son – or perhaps it is the story of the forgiving father, who welcomes back his wayward son. The father runs down the road to embrace him and celebrate his return. The prodigal son is saved, thanks to the generosity of his father.

Today’s readings are:

  • Isaiah 55
  • Joshua 5:9-12
  • 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
  • Luke 15:1-3 & 11-32

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Christ Almighty Transfigured

Watch the video recording of today’s 16-minute message here at YouTube.

We focus a lot on Jesus’ love, generosity, healing, and forgiveness – and so we should. But emphasising these gentle qualities of Jesus can sometimes lead us to diminish him – gentle Jesus, meek and mild. The transfiguration, in Luke 9, reminds the disciples and us that Jesus is the Son of God, a divine being, creator of all that is, and our God. It is a sober reminder that we are accountable to God, who is both demanding of holiness and generous with forgiveness. We must live in that space between these two qualities of Jesus Christ.

Mid-12th Century icon of the transfiguration, at Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, Egypt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfiguration_of_Jesus#/media/File:Transfiguration_of_Christ_Icon_Sinai_12th_century.jpg

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Love abnormally

Watch the video recording of last Sunday’s 18-minute message (23 February 2025) here at YouTube.

Jesus calls us to love our enemies, and goes on to give crazy examples of this, that almost no-one would follow. We are reminded that God loved us even while we were his enemies, and that he even died for us. That takes loving to a whole new level of abnormality. Not easy! Let’s be abnormal! Let’s love abnormally.