What does God say when we ask him, 'Why?'  He doesn't respond with an essay, but with a story - a true story - of God become a Man.

Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Do you find being patient hard?  Paul links patience with hope and faithfulness in prayer, which can help us grow in patience.

Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Do you like surprises, or do you prefer to know what's coming so you can look forward to it?

Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

What are you 'in' today?  Your home?  Your car?  Your uniform?  Love?  A bad mood?  Whatever you are in - true meaning and fulfilment can only be found 'in Christ'.

Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

It's hard to keep going as a Christian, isn't it?  Often we don't talk about our challenges, which can make us feel as though we are the only ones struggling.  But we aren't!  It's not easy living as a Christian, and never has been.

Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

In our church Bible reading plan last week, some of us were reading the end of Daniel.  The first half is familiar to many of us – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace, Daniel in the lion’s den – but the second half gets a little… crazy.

Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Ben Green | Mark 8:1-21 

The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.’ Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

Jesus refuses to meet the Pharisees on their terms, yet, as Ben explains, he has just revealed his true nature by feeding several thousand Gentiles - something the Pharisees would never have contemplated. Even Jesus' disciples struggled to gain a true understanding of who he was. Will we, who have the benefit of the New Testament and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, make the effort to find out?

The recording begins with the reading from Alison Cooper.

Ben Green | Mark 7.24-37

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.  In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet.  The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. ‘First let the children eat all they want,’ he told her, ‘for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.’ ‘Lord,’ she replied, ‘even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he told her, ‘For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.’ She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Looking for some rest in Tyre, Jesus is found by a woman with a demon-possessed daughter, and then is begged to heal a man who is deaf and mute.  He helped them - can we trust him to do the same today?

John Lanchbury | Mark 7:1-23 

[Jesus] continued, ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, “Honour your father and mother,” and, “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.” But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God) - then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.’

Jesus' argument with the Pharisees, who believed that serving God was a matter of strict observance of rules, carries a warning for us today, says John. We too can put our own rules and customs before a heart obedience to God. John explains how to avoid falling into the same trap as the Pharisees.

The recording begins with the reading from Pat Clayton.

Graham Romp | Mark 6:45-56 

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and [Jesus] was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.

Jesus himself had sent the disciples across the lake, but as the wind and waves grew, so did their fears. As Graham explains, they did not realise that Jesus was watching them and would come to their rescue. His actions reveal who he is and something of what God is like.

The recording begins with the reading from John Davies.