Matthew 21.23-32.

Annoyed by Jesus' incendiary behaviour the previous day, the temple leadership approach Jesus when they find him teaching publicly and ask him what right he has to be doing that. Jesus responds with a simple question which perfectly exposes their evil intentions before telling a story which shows that repentant sinners are more righteous than finely dressed clergy with unbelieving hearts.

10 November 2024.

Matthew 21.12-22.

In the week leading up to the cross, the tension between Jesus and the religious authorities grows and grows. Not least because Jesus' behaviour is increasingly confrontational. He causes a right old disturbance in the temple and then curses a perfectly healthy-looking fig tree, making it wither and die. What is going on? What did it mean for those watching these extraordinary scenes and what does it mean for us today?

3 November 2024.

Matthew 21.1-11.

At the beginning of the week that will end in his death, Jesus enters Jerusalem humbly, on a donkey, triggering a fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah. What will people make of it? Will they welcome him as king of their nation? And will we welcome him as king of our lives?

27 October 2024.

Matthew 20.17-34.

On Jesus’ way to Jerusalem he predicts his death for the third and final time before being met with two very different requests; one for honour and the other for healing. In this sermon, we are invited to join Jesus on the road and to explore why he responded in the way he did to each request.

20 October 2024.

Matthew 20.1-16.

Why is life so unfair? Why has he got more than I have? Why is she prettier than me? Constant comparisons with others can lead to life becoming quite miserable. Jesus tells a parable to his quick-to-compare disciples to show them that in the Kingdom of God, the values are not the same.

13 October 2024.

Matthew 19.16-26.

A wealthy young individual, confident in his impeccable record of good works, approaches Jesus and asks what he needs to do in order to inherit eternal life. Jesus' reply leaves him crestfallen and the disciples greatly astonished.

6 October 2024.

Matthew 19.13-15.

On a day when the disciples are rebuking parents for bringing their little ones to Jesus in the hope that he will bless them, Jesus - as usual - turns the world's values upside down and orders that they be allowed to come to him. But why does he then say that the kingdom of heaven belong to those who are like children? In our children-oriented society the answer may not be at all obvious to us.

29 September 2024.

Matthew 19.1-12.

The Pharisees approach Jesus with an apparently random question about marriage and divorce. As so often with the Pharisees, it's a trap. What is Jesus going to say about how God views divorce in a society where ditching your wife was as easy as signing your autograph? Jesus, as usual, gives a startling reply.

22 September 2024.

Matthew 18.21-35.

Jesus' words about dealing with sin in the local church (Matthew 18.15-20) prompt a question in the mind of Simon Peter. How many times should we forgive people who have wronged us? Jesus' reply is more than Peter bargained for. Apologies: the first few minutes of this recording including the Bible reading was lost due to a technical problem.

15 September 2024.

Matthew 18.15-20.

Sometimes, relationships in even the best local churches can turn sour. How should we go about repairing broken fellowship, and what should we do if, despite all our best efforts, things don't improve? Jesus anticipates that church life would not always be sweetness and light, so he gives us a simple process and a superb promise for when things go wrong.

8 September 2024.