With Patrick Boyns.

Recorded on location at the Palace of Diocletian in Croatia.

From Jerusalem to Illyricum … this was the geographic extent of Paul’s mission activity. And though we know nothing in particular of what he did in these parts, we know that Christ was working through him to bring salvation to those lost in this life.

I am actually in the city of Split – an ancient Roman city made particularly famous for its associations with the emperor Diocletian. He ruled at the end of the third century A.D. and instigated the last and most brutal persecutions of followers of Christ within the empire.

It is not unusual for those who choose to live lives apart from the ways of the world to be shunned and even hounded today. But there are times when such rejection reaches extraordinarily extreme levels, And such was the time of the Roman Emperor, Diocletian.

Broadcast on 28th August 2022

Scriptures referred to: 

Romans 15:17–22

Philippians 3:20-21

2 Timothy 4

1 Peter 1:3-9

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With Patrick Boyns.

Recorded on location at former RAF Douglaswood in Scotland.

It’s hard to believe that once this place was such a strategic part of our national defence. Of course, much has changed over the years, but the need for defence has always been a part of the story of human survival.

When this site in which I’m standing was operational as a means of frontline defence, it was able to see the unseen enemy. Within a range of about eighty miles, it could detect enemy aircraft that might pose a threat to national security, long before they could be seen by the naked eye, or even heard from below.

To see the enemy before the enemy can be seen is to gain a significant advantage, and can provide much needed time to be better prepared for the battle. So Peter warned his readers to “Be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” So we are to keep a watchful eye and not be caught unawares. We are to be watchful … as a watchman who looks out for the dangers of an approaching army.

Broadcast on 21st August 2022

Scriptures referred to: 

1 Peter 5

John 8, 12

Ephesians 1, 2, 3, 6

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With Jon Galloway.

Broadcast on 14th August 2022

This talk is based on Ecclesiastes 3

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With Mark Hill.

Broadcast on 7th August 2022

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With Jack Paton.

Psalm 138 is classified as a psalm of thanksgiving, sung in the voice of an individual person. It is well established that such individual psalms can also reflect and express the experiences of a community.

There are plenty of opportunities for us, as congregations, to reflect on what is happening when we hear and read these words.

Broadcast on 31st July 2022

This talk is based on Psalm 138

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With Steve Whitehead.

Our tongue is in many ways what reveals our hearts to the rest of the world. People will judge us by what we say and how we say it. I'm not talking about accents here, whether regional or class. How we say something can mean different things depending on tone of voice.

I like the figures of speech that James employs in his description of how dangerous the tongue can be. They tell us much about the world in which James lived and by and large they communicate clearly to us today.

None of us truly controls our tongue. Admitting the fact is a start. With God's spirit to guide us, we can aim to do better. And when we fail, as we surely will, we can respond like David in godly sorrow and genuine remorse and be confident that in God our Father, we have forgiveness through his Son, our Saviour, Jesus.

Broadcast on 24th July 2022

This talk is based on James 3.

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With Patrick Boyns.

Prayer had never been heard this way before. But such was the experience of God as Father that dominated the public life of Jesus – from the Jordan River to the cross on which he died. So when it came to Jesus teaching his disciples to pray, not only does he address God as his Father, but he teaches them to do the same!

There is a very real sense of familiarity in addressing God as our Father, and it is a familiarity that lies at the very heart of the message of Jesus, who died that we might live, and that we might live having been born of God.

This ‘Father-child relationship’ into which we have been called in Christ is, by definition, a most intimate relationship. It lies at the heart of God’s purpose for humanity. So let us pray, not as those who find comfort in their rituals of religion, but as those who find strength and blessing in our loving, intimate relationship with the Father.

Broadcast on 17th July 2022

Scriptures referred to: 

Jeremiah 31:9

Isaiah 63:16

Luke 10; 23

John 1; 11; 12; 17

Ephesians 1

Quote by: Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz

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With Patrick Boyns.

I suspect that I may not be alone in having started certain tasks, but never quite getting around to finishing them. I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if some of us might have some sort of unfinished project hiding somewhere around the house – or in the workshop or somewhere.

I know that it can often be something of a challenge to begin a new project, or activity, or whatever it might be – but it can sometimes be an even greater challenge to keep going, and see it through to the end. And that is particularly true when we run into difficulties, or something seemingly more urgent demands our attention, and then we never quite get back to doing whatever it was we were doing before.

But there are some things in life which are worth pursuing with every ounce of effort we possess – and nothing more worthy than the journey upon which we embark when we begin to walk with God. That is, quite simply, worth giving up all other pursuits to pursue.

Broadcast on 10th July 2022

Scriptures referred to: 

Matthew 13

Galatians 5

Hebrews 12

1 Corinthians 9

2 Timothy 4

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With Jack Paton.

The reason why the people of Nazareth reject Jesus has never been entirely clear to me. I would have expected a small town would celebrate a local man making good in the world. The text suggests an initial positive reception, but somewhere everything seems to change. Why might this be?

The identity of Jesus is a consistent issue in the Gospel of Mark. In this gospel we hear the opinions of rulers, religious authorities, of crowds of people, disciples, and indeed family members. But for Mark, as our author, the important question keeps coming around to “who do you — the reader — say that Jesus is?” And if you do honour Jesus as a prophet (or more than a prophet), what does that make you? Does it mean new allegiances that supersede traditional country and family values? As you answer those questions, Mark is leading you into a confession of faith.

We do have one thing those early disciples did not, and it makes all the difference. We have experienced the faithfulness of God in Jesus crucified and risen. So, we may marvel at the unbelief around us, but still we go forth, proclaiming and practicing our faith in Christ.

Broadcast on 3rd July 2022

This talk is based on Mark 6:1–13, and refers to other passages from Mark’s Gospel.

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With Mark Hill.

Jeremiah is probably not regarded as one of the most cheerful books or maybe the most cheerful characters in the Bible, but if we think only of that then we'll miss out on what lessons there are for us to benefit from. There is actually a lot of encouragement that can be received from this book and this character, along with the things he went through and the way he dealt with them.

The things that happened to Jeremiah and the circumstances that he faced are not too far removed from the attitudes that exist against God’s people today – and certainly against the truth of his word. In many instances, those who purport to be speaking on behalf of God today don’t actually say a lot of what God would want them to say.

Perhaps one of the greatest causes of atheism is hypocrisy amongst those people who claim to believe in God. There's no need for hypocrisy, there's no need to be mere ‘church members’ – there is a need to stand firm and speak the truth of God's word and live according to the truth of God’s word … to know why we believe what we believe and to not hold back from speaking the truth.

May it never be said of us I can’t hear what you’re saying, because your actions are so loud.

Broadcast on 26th June 2022

This talk is based on Jeremiah 1

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