Blog

“I delight greatly in the Lord...” (Isaiah 61:10) At first glance this verse can seem like a classic Christian catchphrase of goodwill and joy, something to be found on fridge magnets and coasters. It would need to be followed by a situation or reason: I delight greatly in the Lord: for He has taken away my pain, forgiven my sins, given me...

‘All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed...’ (Isaiah 61:9) What does a blessed life look like? Much of the world would assert that wealth, health and happiness are central to a blessed life. However, if we are to take our lead from the one from whom all blessings flow it is worth remembering the teaching Jesus...

"Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples..." (Isaiah 61:9) We are caught up in a story; a big God-dream.  It’s a story that began with a simple man, one to whom God made a big promise. He said, “Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.” ...

This is the one. The big one. The moment you’ve waited and planned for. Don’t you just love it when a plan finally comes together!  Small groups are built with vision They exist and work in order to achieve that  vision. Small groups are designed to cultivate growth in faith, and provide opportunities for invitation and evangelise. For small groups to do...

"and make an everlasting covenant with them..." (Isaiah 61:8) We don’t often hear the word ‘covenant’ today, do we? A covenant simply refers to an agreement or promise, and today we’re probably only likely to hear it during a marriage ceremony. And yet the story of covenant, or partnership, between God and his people is the narrative of the Bible.  Right from the beginning...

"In my faithfulness I will reward my people..." (Isaiah 61:8) This announcement by the prophet Isaiah heralds a new day and a renewed commitment. There had been a few bumps in the road for the people of God. They hadn’t a particularly good track record of faithfulness and found themselves in a long and painful exile. The same can be said of...

"I hate robbery and wrongdoing." (Isaiah 61:8) As I stood once more in the children’s clothes section in that popular-brand supermarket I felt an all-too-familiar tug. That jumper. So cute. Mustard, navy, sweet designs, from their ‘boys’ range, of course, because, what can I say, dinosaurs are more fun. The tug was there because the list had started in my head...