I recently got to sit down with friends from Bible Society and talk about the parables. Here’s our conversation on the Rooted Podcast: In this episode we discuss how Jesus used simple illustrations to convey profound truths about the kingdom of heaven, emphasising the hidden yet transformative nature of these teachings. Looking at the parable…
Tag: jesus
Stewarding Faith through Disappointment (Luke 7)
Earlier this month, we hosted a series of prophetic conferences at Oxford Community Church, with guest speakers Ben and Heather Armstrong and Paul Manwaring, from Bethel Church, Redding California. These events were SO much fun – packed with great teaching that lay a strong foundation for growing in the prophetic and developing a culture where…
Jesus and the Inner Ring
Have you ever been on the outside and wanted in? Have you observed a tight-knit group, and longed to be part of it? Maybe you’ve sought a position at a table, believing that it can give you status, power, opportunities, validation… And sure, perhaps you’ve had to push and strive a little to get invited…
Returning to our First Love (Revelation 2.1–7)
“What if Jesus’ definition of thriving leaders and thriving churches is different to ours?” Last weekend I had the privilege of speaking at Thrive – a conference for the Salt and Light Advance churches of which Oxford Community Church is a part. It was a fantastic event – with powerful times of worship, great speakers, and some…
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…
The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5)
On Sunday I spoke at Oxford Community Church, as part of our series on Galatians, and I talked about the Fruit of the Spirit. We looked at Paul’s instructions in Galatians 5, and I considered the questions: What is the fruit of the Spirit? How does it grow? How do we walk in the Spirit?…
Jesus the Healer (Matthew 8)
On Sunday I had the privilege of speaking at Christ Church Manchester’s CCM Day, where they gathered all their services together for a joint celebration. It was so much fun. We sang in English and Spanish, ate a lot of cake, and I got to speak on the subject of healing, and pray for people….
A change of heart for James the Just
I wrote yesterday about the lure of celebrity, and Jesus’ response to his brothers’ advice that: ‘No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.’ (John 7.4) Not only was the brothers’ advice worldly and built on unhealthy motives; it was…
Tempted in every way: Jesus and the lure of celebrity.
‘Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”’ (John 7.3–4) I’ve read this chapter of John countless times,…
The Lord’s Supper (Luke 22.7–20)
What is your most vivid food memory? What is the taste or aroma that you experience and it’s like “ah, that takes me back…” Food has an amazing ability to transport us across lands and through time, evoking memories that take us back to a particular place; a holiday; specific meal; a moment in time….
