On Sunday I spoke at our old church, Christ Church London, at their Mile End Services. It was great fun to see old friends, make new ones, and preach on the subject of faith. We looked at the story of Jesus (and then Peter) walking on water, and drew out three principles for living a…
On Riding and Reading: A reflection (and confession!) about C.S. Lewis and Cycling.
Since moving to Oxford two years ago, I have been aware of two looming inevitabilities. The first is that I must become a cyclist since, as the road signs around me brag relentlessly, ‘Oxford is a cycling city.’ And the second is that I really must read C.S. Lewis. I put both off until this…
Fellowship with Focus (Acts 2.42–47)
Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking at Witney Community Church, continuing their series on the book of Acts. We looked at the picture of the early church in Acts 2.42-47 (a passage I think I’ve heard more sermons on than any other, but had never preached on until this week!) We considered some of…
The Host. (A very short story).
His lips turned an icy blue. A shocking contrast against the crimson rising around his neck and cheeks. His whole body screamed in silent convulsions. At first unnoticed. Then slowly awareness began to spread among the other guests. Is he…?Should we…? One hand clutched his throat. The other shot out and began flailing around, seeking…
The Spirit of Truth (1 John 4.1–6)
On Sunday I had the privilege of speaking at Gloucester Community Church, continuing their series on 1 John, Life in Community. In chapter 4 of his letter, John addresses the subject of false teaching that has arisen in Ephesus. So in this sermon we consider how to spot truth from falsehood, and how to ensure…
The call to (de)influence: an article and an interview.
The other week I wrote a piece for Connecting with Culture, the weekly email from London Institute of Contemporary Christianity (LICC). In it, I reflected on the rise of ‘deinfluencers’, and the dual role of Christians to deinfluence and influence, through a combination of prophetic critique and joyful celebration. If you fancy a read, you can…
Baptism in the Spirit (sermon)
On Sunday I had the privilege of speaking at Carterton Community Church, continuing their series on life in the Spirit. After a fantastic time of worship (it was one of those precious times when I didn’t want it to end TBH, and was reluctant to start preaching!) we looked at what it means to be…
Romans: A Letter that Makes Sense of Life
The book of Romans is arguably the most important letter ever written. But for many readers – and certainly for many preachers – it can be a daunting book to dive into. So for those keen to explore this letter, Andrew Ollerton’s latest book is a fantastic resource.
Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit
On Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at Henley Baptist Church, where I was asked to speak on the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5.13–25. We looked at what the fruit of the Spirit is, how it grows, and what it means to walk in step with the Spirit. If you fancy giving…
A line I hate. A line I love.
A line I love, and a line I hate. In 15 words or fewer.
Liam Thatcher 