Advent is a time of waiting in anticipation for the one who will make all things right. In this talk from Oxford Community Church’s carol service, I reflected on the message of Christmas, and how Jesus stepped into our story to rescue us.
Tag: jesus
A tale of two desert roads: a further reflection on Acts 8
While preparing a talk on Acts 8, the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Official, I was struck by something I’d never noticed before. It wasn’t strictly relevant to the talk, so it didn’t make the cut (despite how much I wanted to keep it in. Gotta keep killing those darlings!) But here it is……
Ready for Revival (Acts 8.26–40)
On Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at the Advance Celebration, a gathering of all the churches in the Salt and Light Advance family of churches. We met in Oxford for a wonderful morning of worship, we welcomed in a new church to the family, and I spoke on being ready for revival, based…
Standing in the Gap (Genesis 18–19)
This Sunday I continued our series on the life of Abraham by looking at Genesis 18–19. A challenging passage, but one that gloriously points to the gospel! “The Lord announced his judgment on the city of Sodom, but Abraham intervened, pleading with the Lord for mercy. In this talk, Liam considers the theme of intercession,…
The Promised Child (Genesis 15)
This Sunday I preached at our Baby Dedication service on Genesis 15. Perhaps not the natural choice – Abraham cutting animals in two as he makes a covenant with God! But it did connect nicely with testimonies shared at the service about disappointment, faith, and trusting God’s promises. We considered how covenants worked in the…
God’s Book: An Honest Look at the Bible’s 7 Toughest Topics
By now you will have heard the stats, I’m sure. The Quiet Revival report from Bible Society indicates that church attendance in the UK has risen by over 50% in the past 6 years, with the most dramatic growth coming from 18–24 year olds. And with that has come an enormous increase in people turning…
Jesus and Temptation (Matthew 4.1–11)
On Sunday I got to preach at Horizon Church Carterton, continuing their series on Jesus and Discipleship. We looked at Matthew 4, Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, and I explored three attacks that Jesus faced, which we also often experience ourselves: You can check out the video and podcast below.
Jonah 2: A Prayer from Rock Bottom
Sinking to the bottom of the ocean, Jonah must have felt his life was over, but God had other plans. In this talk from Oxford Community Church, I look at Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish, and what it tells us about the nature of salvation.
A God-given Name
There’s a moment I love in the story of David, when he and Bathsheba have a child, who would go on to become Israel’s wisest king and build the Temple for God’s presence. His parents named him Solomon, which is a solid name. It’s related to the Hebrew word shalom, so it means in essence:…
A Living Community
At Oxford Community Church we are currently in a series on Community Groups, and this Sunday I co-preached on one of my favourite gospel stories in Mark 2 Four men bring their friend to Jesus, seeking healing. When faced with a crowd blocking their way, they take a courageous choice to do whatever it takes…
Liam Thatcher 