Daily Devotional Preaching

Peter Cooper talks with Alan Riley about the first chapter of John's Gospel, starting at the very beginning. John's Gospel is a highpoint of theological writing with deep truths embedded within it. What or who is God's word and how does God's word affect us. Pete and Alan argue that God's word bring about both creation and new creation in a way that changes everything.

Whether it be enjoying a day out with the kids or getting some peace and quiet with the sea by your side - most of us love the coast. Rubbish, including plastic, food wrappers, paper plates and beer bottles were left strewn across the beaches in the UK, leaving people furious at the disgusting state of them. What is to be done about this outrageous behaviour and breeching of social distancing? Mark and Pete have the answers.

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Reading the Bible is much easier if you follow some simple steps and get prepared. And, as you delve into it, you might find that you are more familiar with the Bible than you expected: it crops up in everything from Shakespeare to Hollywood movies; it’s inspired musicians, historical figures and campaigners. The Bible is complex. It’s not one book but a collection of 66 books, split into two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. All of the books are divided into chapters and verses. People often find it easier to begin at the opening of the New Testament, which starts about three-quarters of the way through. Maggie and Pete give their tips. Here's a link to the book mentioned: https://amzn.to/38bPH4K

As lockdown measures have been eased across England, people have been returning to beaches, parks and beauty spots to enjoy the warmer weather.
But they've found many public toilets are still closed, and without the option of using loos in cafes, pubs and restaurants, it has left scores of people with an urgent question - where do I go when I need to go? Mark and Peter have the answers.

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The women in the Bible are rarely mentioned by name, with named women representing only 5.5 to 8 percent of the total of all named characters, male and female. This suggests that women were not usually in the forefront of public life. Those women that are named, rose to prominence for reasons outside the ordinary. They are often an aspect of the over-turning of man-made power structures and the women are often heroic or at the heart of an important doctrine. Does God really sideline women? What does the Bible say? Peter and Maggie discuss this important issue for contemporary Christian thought.

Overnight in March, the doors of every church building were closed, unilaterally. And they were not responsible. It was not their fault. But it could have a permanent effect. Lockdown was dramatic and shocking for church communities. Emerging from it will be far more nuanced, and no less difficult. Mark and Pete look at the changes in leadership and structure that could enable to churches to enjoy revival rather than permanent closure.

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For those of us who grow up within Christianity, one of the first things we’re taught about God is that God never changes; God is the same yesterday as God is today or as God will be tomorrow. Unfortunately, this attribute of God has been historically misunderstood, both to the detriment of ourselves and in the way we see God. Where we get into trouble is not in confessing that God never changes, but when we assume that God never changes his mind. This is dangerous thinking: here Maggie and Pete thrash out the implications. What do you think?

God does exist but how do you know that. Steve, Shereen, Maggie and your humble host Peter put forwards the reasons why they personally believe in God. We all know and believe many things about ourselves, our world, and the people around us. Many of these things can’t be “demonstrated by logical, controlled, and repeatable methods.” You can know, f that your mother loves you and that a particular Beethoven symphony lifts your spirits: is that similar to how we know that God exists? Or it all more scientific than that? what do you think?

The death of George Floyd, an African-American man in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has prompted a global outcry over the scale of racism and police brutality that exists today. Mr Floyd pleaded to officers “I can’t breathe”, but police officer Derek Chauvin continued to press his knee into Mr Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes. Mr Floyd was pronounced dead, and the tragedy of his death has sparked protests in the US and beyond. The UK Black Lives Matter Twitter account tweeted on June 3: “As BLMUK we have agreed that while we are not calling for protests, we will support people to protest in a way that is safe for them, as well as for our communities. What is the best way to protest? Are these protests valid? Mark and Pete have the answers.

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Pete is joined by Dr. Maggie Cooper this week for the conversation. The question of God's relation to time has generated a great amount of theological and philosophical reflection. The traditional view has been that God is timeless in the sense of being outside time altogether; that is, he exists but does not exist at any point in time and he does not experience temporal succession. But does this make sense? Is this view in fact morally repugnant?