‘I want to make a case that […] this unapologetically Black and orthodox reading of the Bible can speak a relevant word to Black Christians today. I want to contend that the best instincts of the Black church tradition – its public advocacy for justice, its affirmation of the work of Black bodies and souls,…
Tag: jesus
The Spirit Filled Life: Not by Power or Might
The prophet Zechariah saw a strange vision of olive trees and lampstands, and heard a promise of a new temple. In this talk, Liam unpacks Zechariah’s vision and looks at what it means to build, not by might or power, but by God’s Spirit. Audio: Listen or download. Here is a small-group practice to help…
Carson’s Three Sonnets on John 14
Flicking through some old notes, I stumbled across a few quotes from D.A. Carson’s The Gospel According to John, which incidentally is one of the best commentaries I’ve ever read. I particularly appreciated these three sonnets based on Jesus’ claim in John 14 to be the Way, the Truth and the Life. I I AM the…
The Spirit Filled Life: Order from Chaos
The Bible begins with the Spirit of God hovering over the chaotic waters and bringing forth order and life. In the first talk of our new series, Liam considers how the Holy Spirit empowers us to continue his work today. Listen or download To read more about the story of Pastor Mick Fleming from Burnley,…
God. With. Us.
I have a four-year-old daughter, who performed in her first school nativity last week. She played the role of Angel Number 1, which I suspect means ‘1 of many’ but I like to think it means ‘number 1 angel.’ Each kid gets one line to perform, and my daughter has been practicing hers for months….
Kingdom Come: Family (Mark 3)
Loneliness in an epidemic, which leaves us feeling empty, and points to our deep need for human connection. In this talk, Liam considers how the church is God’s plan for dealing with the problem of loneliness, by placing the lonely in families. Listen or download audio
The West Wing and the conundrum of unenforceable laws
I am currently rewatching The West Wing, whilst also reading Bearing God’s Name by Carmen Joy Imes, which, it turns out, is a pretty good pairing! In Take Out the Trash Day (Season 1, Episode 13), Sam Seaborn has heard about a town in Alabama that proposed to abolish all laws except the Ten Commandments….
The Crown: A Parable of the Parables
Whenever I teach on Jesus’ parables, people ask whether they are intended to reveal his true message or conceal it? If I’m feeling in a sensible mood, I give a detailed answer. If I’m feeling more playful, I give this one… The question arises from the seemingly contradictory explanations in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and…
The Epic of Eden: Ordering your Dysfunctional Old Testament Closet.
Everyone has a dysfunctional closet somewhere in their lives. A closet where Jabba the Hut could be living, and no one would know it. The closet is crammed full of clothes slipping from their hangers, accessories dangling from the shelves, shoes piled in disarray on the floor. It is impossible to tell where one item…
Kingdom Come: Healing (Acts 10)
Jesus regularly healed the sick as a sign of the Kingdom of God, and a foretaste of his plan to heal the world. In this talk, Liam looks at how we are also called and equipped to pray for the sick today. Listen or download audio
Liam Thatcher 