bread church

By breadReligion & Spirituality Christianity

bread church episodes

December 03, 2023 Advent: Through the Eyes of Joseph
In this talk, we look at the nativity story through the eyes of Joseph -
the quiet, faithful carpenter, and adoptive parent of Jesus Christ. Even in
the version that tells his side, Joseph functions like a “minor character”.
He’s low on the call sheet. He sings in the ensemble. He’s an extra. He,
very literally, has no lines. Yet Joseph never tries to take glory. He has
all of the power, and still, everything he does shows kindness, humility,
and obedience to God. Joseph goes to bed one night and meets with an angel
in his dreams, telling him that the baby to be born is not only a
supernatural work of the Spirit, but will be known as Immanuel, God with
us. In revealing this to him, God shows that he is not only Immanuel, God
with the world, but he is also Immanuel, God with Joseph. Immanuel is God
seeing us, knowing us, and then meeting us exactly where we are. Not where
we appear to be, not where we want to be, but where we are, with what we
need.
By Tavia Grubbs
31 min
November 27, 2023 Philippians: How to be content with money.
In the final section of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he thanks them
for their generosity in supporting him financially. However he is at pains
to show he’s more appreciative of the friendship and partnership in the
gospel that their generosity reveals than he is with the money they have
given. This is because, in God’s kingdom, people are more important than
things. The gospel is more important than money. To have our priorities
correctly aligned like this requires learning to be content in all
circumstances. In particular it requires contentment in relation to money.
We live free from the enslaving power of money when learn to treat it as
Jesus taught - something not to be worshipped, nor fled from, but to be
mastered and held lightly. Generosity, discipline and learning to give
money away is one of the best ways to set ourselves free. At the end of
this talk we consider why and how all of us, as integral parts of the
church, can financially support the work of bread.
By Ed Flint
51 min
November 26, 2023 Philippians: How to be Content with Money
In the final section of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he thanks them
for their generosity in supporting him financially. However he is at pains
to show he’s more appreciative of the friendship and partnership in the
gospel that their generosity reveals than he is with the money they have
given. This is because, in God’s kingdom, people are more important than
things. The gospel is more important than money. To have our priorities
correctly aligned like this requires learning to be content in all
circumstances. In particular it requires contentment in relation to money.
We live free from the enslaving power of money when learn to treat it as
Jesus taught - something not to be worshipped, nor fled from, but to be
mastered and held lightly. Generosity, discipline and learning to give
money away is one of the best ways to set ourselves free. At the end of
this talk we consider why and how all of us, as integral parts of the
church, can financially support the work of bread.
By Ed Flint
51 min
November 20, 2023 Philippians: Anxious about nothing.
As a population we are becoming more and more anxious. We live in one of
the most opportunity-rich nations on earth, and yet we worry more and more.
In this context Paul’s command to not be anxious about anything seems
particularly stark. And yet Paul has such a depth of relationship with
Jesus that he knows this isn’t an anxiety free life is not a pipe dream. In
Jesus we access to a peace that is so profound that it washes away every
worry. The question is: do we want to let Jesus into the source of our
anxieties?
By Ed Flint
45 min
November 19, 2023 Philippians: Anxious About Nothing
As a population we are becoming more and more anxious. We live in one of
the most opportunity-rich nations on earth, and yet we worry more and more.
In this context Paul’s command to not be anxious about anything seems
particularly stark. And yet Paul has such a depth of relationship with
Jesus that he knows this isn’t an anxiety free life is not a pipe dream. In
Jesus we access to a peace that is so profound that it washes away every
worry. The question is: do we want to let Jesus into the source of our
anxieties?
By Ed Flint
45 min
November 13, 2023 Philippians: Be of the same mind.
Whilst the Philippian church is clearly doing very well - they are Paul’s
‘joy and crown’ - there is nevertheless some unresolved conflict within
their ranks. Conflict is not necessarily a sign of dysfunction. In fact,
biblical churches are marked not by an absence of conflict - it is
inevitable - but by the presence of a deep desire to reconcile. Conflict
exists because whilst the church is full of redeemed, Spirit-filled people,
we still exhibit traits of our fallen nature. We always have a choice
between living in one of two kingdoms: the kingdom of darkness which brings
slander and unforgiveness and division and hate, or Jesus’ kingdom, which
is marked by peace. Let us be a church that chooses the latter. And let us
be people insistent on resolving conflict healthily, graciously,
biblically, and regularly.
By Ed Flint
40 min
November 12, 2023 Philippians: Be of the Same Mind
Whilst the Philippian church is clearly doing very well - they are Paul’s
‘joy and crown’ - there is nevertheless some unresolved conflict within
their ranks. Conflict is not necessarily a sign of dysfunction. In fact,
biblical churches are marked not by an absence of conflict - it is
inevitable - but by the presence of a deep desire to reconcile. Conflict
exists because whilst the church is full of redeemed, Spirit-filled people,
we still exhibit traits of our fallen nature. We always have a choice
between living in one of two kingdoms: the kingdom of darkness which brings
slander and unforgiveness and division and hate, or Jesus’ kingdom, which
is marked by peace. Let us be a church that chooses the latter. And let us
be people insistent on resolving conflict healthily, graciously,
biblically, and regularly.
By Ed Flint
40 min
November 06, 2023 Philippians: Citizens of Heaven.
As well as persecution and conflict, it’s clear from this week’s passage,
that the church in Philippi was also dealing with the age-old problem of
false-teaching from within. Paul, who is never anything but crystal clear
about how to deal with anything or anyone that would infiltrate, distract
or dilute the central message of Jesus’ saving power in His churches,
reminds his friends of who they are (making some fascinating tangential
remarks about maturity, and what it looks like, along the way.) To a city
built on a colonist’s mindset he makes the searing statement: You are
citizens of heaven, NOT to keep their eyes focussed on future glory (in
this instance) but to reverse that logic. It is your highest call, to bring
the ways of heaven (its love, justice, and humility) to earth! To meet your
universal human condition, wired for tribal belonging and expansion, with a
totally other kind of existence. A challenge surely as relevant to us
today, as it ever was!
By Hannah Flint
34 min
November 05, 2023 Philippians: Citizens of Heaven
As well as persecution and conflict, it’s clear from this week’s passage,
that the church in Philippi was also dealing with the age-old problem of
false-teaching from within. Paul, who is never anything but crystal clear
about how to deal with anything or anyone that would infiltrate, distract
or dilute the central message of Jesus’ saving power in His churches,
reminds his friends of who they are (making some fascinating tangential
remarks about maturity, and what it looks like, along the way.) To a city
built on a colonist’s mindset he makes the searing statement: You are
citizens of heaven, NOT to keep their eyes focussed on future glory (in
this instance) but to reverse that logic. It is your highest call, to bring
the ways of heaven (its love, justice, and humility) to earth! To meet your
universal human condition, wired for tribal belonging and expansion, with a
totally other kind of existence. A challenge surely as relevant to us
today, as it ever was!
By Hannah Flint
34 min
October 30, 2023 Philippians: Surpassing worth.
Paul warns against valuing things which squeeze Jesus out as being our
supreme value. Culture puts a high value on success, money, fame,
intelligence and beauty amongst other things. Religion values outward
performance and empty tradition. From time to time we need to reevaluate
our values. Our faith can slide into performance. Our hearts are always
susceptible to going after culture’s values. Paul calls us to worship the
living God as a safeguard and antidote to these. It’s in the presence of
Jesus that we see him for who he is again. And here, we can both die to
that which robs us of life, and be resurrected to the life of fullness that
Jesus promises.
By. Ed Flint
34 min