On Sunday I kicked off a new sermon series at Oxford Community Church, looking at biblical images of the church. We considered Paul’s conversion, and what that taught him about Christ and the church, before turning to Ephesians 3 and thinking about how the wisdom of God is made known through the mystery of the…
Tag: gospel
Re-Branding Through Baptism: Celebration, Cynicism, and Cautious Hope
So Russell Brand got baptised. Last Sunday, in the Thames. I watched this video of him describing the experience – you may have seen it. It was moving and beautiful to hear him describe the peace he has searched for in many places, and has now come to experience, since accepting Christ as his saviour….
Put on the Suit: Cola, Christ, and the Santa-Verse
I wonder what you’ve made of this year’s flurry of Christmas adverts? Between John Lewis going all Little Shop of Horrors, M&S taking a flamethrower to family festivities, and Aldi giving us thinly-veiled euphemisms from a talking carrot, it’s been an odd bunch! For what its worth, my favourite offering for 2023 is Apple’s short…
God: The Just and Gracious Judge
On Sunday I continued our series at Oxford Community Church on the character of God, and I spoke on the theme of God as the Just and Gracious Judge. In particular we considered: We covered a lot of ground! I trust some of it will be helpful to you. If you’re interested, you can check…
To us a child is born (Isaiah 9.2-7)
On Sunday I had the privilege of speaking on the throne titles of the Messiah in Isaiah 9. This amazing passage, written 700 years before the coming of Jesus, introduces him as the light who breaks in to the darkness of the world. In this talk, we consider how Jesus is: If you’re interested, you…
Living Sacrifice: Four talks on Romans 12
Last week Helen and I had the privilege of speaking at a weekend away for Wheatley Community Church. It was such a fun weekend getting to know them better, and serving them. We were certainly grateful for the way they welcomed and embraced us as a family, and I also loved the opportunity for me…
Joseph and Restoration (Genesis 42-45)
On Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at Oxford Community Church, continuing a series on the life of Joseph. We looked at Genesis 42-45, this long stretch in which Joseph is reunited with his brothers after 22 years. But rather than revealing his identity to them immediately, he puts his brothers through a series…
Healing in his Wings (Luke 8:40-56)
This weekend I preached at Christ Church Manchester, and in the morning I spoke on one of (or rather, two of!) my favourite stories in Luke’s gospel: the healings of Jairus’ daughter and a lady who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. It’s a remarkable passage, which demonstrates the heart of God, the power…
Living Sacrifice: Leave Room for God (Romans 12:17-21)
When we are wronged, we can easily feel tempted to retaliate, defend ourselves and seek revenge. But Paul says there is a better way. In the penultimate talk of our series, I consider how and why we should resist vengeance, and what it means to trust in the justice of God. For more on this…
Living Sacrifice
If you run a google image search for the word ‘worship’ you will have to scroll a good few pages to find anything other than photos of raised hands, guitars, and crowds singing in moodily-lit auditoriums. This seems strange to me. And it would have seemed very strange to the writers of the New Testament. God’s people…
Liam Thatcher 