Welcome to the STC Sheffield Daily Podcast. My name is Helen, and I’m going to be continuing our reflections on the book of Galatians, that my husband Alan started last week.

Our passage today is Galatians Chapter 2 vs6-10, and I’d like us to focus on verses 7 and 9:

“They recognised that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised……They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.”

REFLECTION:

In the autumn our eldest son will be heading to university to study Forensic Psychology. He then wants to complete a Masters, and ultimately his aim is to work in prisons. Prior to him applying, we went to various universities and met several lecturers. My favourite was the one who looked straight across the table at Jacob and said, “You do know that what you want to do means you are mainly going to be working with sex offenders and paedophiles.”

I’m not going to lie; my secret hope was that he would say, “No, I hadn’t realised. I’m not sure I want to do it after all.”

Instead he replied, “Yes, I know that.”

On the train back home, I asked him a few questions……just to double check. He said that he believed that every person deserved the opportunity to change their life, and it was a place where he felt called to live out his Christian faith by showing forgiveness and love to all people.

I didn’t have any reply.

And now my job is to recognise that, despite my motherly reservations, this is where God is leading him, and I need to release him to pursue this call upon his life.

Recognise and release.

In Jerusalem, the pillars of the Christian church – the senior leaders – James, Peter and John were faced with a similar situation – were they going to recognise the call upon Paul’s life and release him to follow it?

Paul felt called by God to preach the Gospel to Gentiles. However, to law abiding Jews, Gentiles were to be avoided at all costs. Jews could not do business with Gentiles, could not go on a journey with a Gentile, could not sit down and eat a meal with Gentiles. Spending time with Gentiles was taboo. They were unclean.

A bit like spending time with sex offenders and paedophiles.

There was much questioning and opposition to what Paul was wanting to do; and at the time he was writing to the Galatians, the decision to allow him to do this really could have gone either way.

However, the leaders of the church recognised that reaching the Gentiles with the Good News of Jesus was a specific calling and task that had been given to Paul, and so they released him.

They didn’t try to add, change or alter what he was doing or preaching.

His presentation, his personality, his emphasis and his style was different, and not necessarily the way they would have done it, but they recognised that he was being called to speak to a different audience.

The leaders of the church knew he was preaching the same Gospel – and so they gave him the right hand of fellowship and released him to do it.

So, how can we apply this in our own contexts and situations?

Firstly, we need to make sure that as spouses, as parents, as employers, as team leaders – in whatever role or position we find ourselves – we do everything that we can to release people into their own specific tasks or calling; because this is the only way we will see someone’s full God given potential come into being.

The other reason this should be a key priority is because it is also the way we get to see and experience the fullness of what God has planned for our marriages, our family, our workplace and our team, as well as those whom we connect with outside of or beyond this.

We may have reservations as we release other people – I shared my own experience of this just a moment ago – but these should not become stumbling blocks that we plac...

Hello and welcome to Friday’s podcast. I hope that when and wherever you are… whether a quiet moment before the kids wake up, a bit of snatched time in amongst the busyness of the all of the activity and noise or as part of another day spent on your own… I hope that reflecting on the Bible together this week has brought you closer to God and been a launch pad for further prayer and thanksgiving.

Next week Helen picks up the baton and will take us through the next couple of chapters of Galatians. Be sure to tune in.

REFLECTION:

Today, as we begin this reflection I would like to ask you a question. It’s a favourite question of mine; it is far reaching and a real indicator of where we are in our walk with God.

Ready?

Here we go…

“Who gets to tell you what to do?”

As a small child we may have followed instructions first time, without question, but as we grew a little bigger, we began to exert our will on those around us. Any parent of a 3 year old will know this too well and will be learning diplomatic skills that will come in handy if ever we encounter a terrorist!! I am only joking… but any parents, past or present, will know exactly what I mean!

As parents we very quickly learn that presenting a child with a choice… “do you want to wear the blue trousers today or the black ones?” rather than a straight instruction… “put on the blue trousers!” is more likely to see the child dressed and ready to go rather than having to endure another melt down. Note the words… “more likely,” there are no guarantees!

My point is that from a young age we all began to assert our independence and this is a good thing… as far as it goes.

But when we meet Jesus, when he rocks up in our lives with all of his love and grace and forgiveness… when we finally say “yes” and bow before him… we surrender… we submit… we swallow our pride, we recognise that we can’t do it – whatever ‘it’ is – we cannot do ‘it’ without him. We come under his authority, we give him permission to tell us what to do because we know… deep down in our hearts… that he knows best. He designed us, he knows us and he knows a little bit about how life works. So little by little we learn to trust. We learn to surrender and follow his instruction.

Today we continue to find ourselves in Paul’s defence of his ministry. Remember, after he met with Jesus on the road to Damascus he didn’t seek out the disciples, he took himself off alone and Jesus revealed to him the gospel message that Paul now lived and preached.

But who gets to tell Paul what to do?

To some extent Paul is as a lone ranger. Someone out on a limb, doing his own thing, a free radical, operating in his own authority… and potentially a problem for the sapling church… Let’s listen in to Galatians 2 verse 2…

 …meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

Paul seeks out leaders in the church and shares what God has been revealing to him. He is checking that he is on the right lines, heading in the right direction.

We all have direct access to God; we are all called to play our part in extending God’s kingdom in the world. And we know that wherever God’s kingdom is to be found there is ever increasing freedom for his followers.

“When the Son sets you free, you are free indeed,”

“where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom”

We get freed up from the sin that hold us back, our relationships, once full of fear and control, begin to be infected by his love and grace. The growing desire to serve those around us begins to affect our neighbours, friends and colleagues.

But Paul is wise enough to make himself accountable. His submits himself to those with authority to ensure he is on the right track.

Those he seeks out are full of wisdom,

Good morning and welcome to Thursday’s podcast. Today we continue with Paul’s defence of his ministry. Remember yesterday he had received his Gospel directly by revelation from Jesus Christ. You will hear more of his defence at the end of this reflection. For now I want to focus on v23-24.

[The churches of Judea] only heard the report “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.

REFLECTION:

At the beginning of March I took the team of STC trainees out to Romania. This was back at a time when we could travel and move freely. We went out to spend time with Networks, a charity working with the Roma. We had the privilege of spending a few hours with Lee Savile, Network’s founder and leader. One question he asked was “what is your gospel?” He was trying to get the team to think beyond the death of Jesus on the cross being about more than just sin management and individual salvation to the transformation of the whole world, it’s people and it’s systems and structures.

Networks don’t preach the ‘gospel’ instead they live it out by lifting Roma people out of poverty and oppression and seek to change attitudes and perceptions of the surrounding culture and the self perception of Roma people themselves. Today, from an illiterate people, the Networks team have seen the first Roma child graduate high school and go on to further education.

Today, I do not want to open up a debate on evangelism vs social transformation, both are necessary to see God’s kingdom come. Rather I want to focus on the question that Lee asked the team, “What’s your Gospel?”

The report that others had given about Paul was this, “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”

This is an indication of the gospel at work in Paul’s life. He underwent a complete turnaround: from persecutor to preacher; from enemy to friend and powerful ally; from self-righteous ‘somebody’ to humble servant.

I was saved from a life going nowhere, from drinking far too much, from a succession of failed relationships, from a heart that was battered and bruised, to life and love and purpose. I dread to think of who I would have become if Jesus hadn’t turned up in my life when he did.

What’s your Gospel? What’s your story? What is the testimony of God at work in your life? Where has he caused you to grow? Where have you learnt to trust? What are the moments in your life that you point to and say, “it could only be God!”

This may be the big moment when we came to faith or a story from today. Not everyone has a story of drink, drugs or persecuting the church – a before and after story of meeting Jesus.

You may have had the privilege of growing up in a Christian family, you might be fortunate to have known Jesus from an early age, but we all have God moments in our lives. We all have moments when God turns up: a blessing; a tough time when he revealed more of the mess in our lives and brought a bit more healing; or the church community rallying around to help in a time of need; or the word we received at just the right moment…

It is our stories that impact those around us. Our stories contain the gospel incarnate… Jesus’ sacrifice made real in our lives.

Theory, concept or theology rarely touch others’ hearts. It’s almost impossible to debate someone into the kingdom… but tell someone how God provided for you, tell of the strength that filled you as you prayed, tell of the physical healing you received as friends placed their hands on you and prayed. Tell the stories of your shattered relationships that have been transformed, the addictions that God led you out of or the peace you received as your mum lay dying in her hospital bed. Tell of the overwhelming generosity of your Christian community. Tell of the community that fed you when you had a new baby.

Hello and welcome to Wednesday’s podcast. I hope you are encouraged by these podcasts and regardless of what I have to say you, are hearing God whisper in your heart while you put time aside each day to focus on him.

REFLECTION:

Today’s reading is Galatians 1:10-17, the beginning of Paul’s defence of his apostolic credentials. You can hear it in full at the end of this reflection but for now, I want to focus in on versus 11 and 12

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.  I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Paul was a young man when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and had his heart radically changed. He had been a Pharisee, a religious fanatic, intelligent, steeped in the scriptures, excelling in all of the qualities that would make him a top Pharisee, even a top Rabbi one day. He looked the part, sounded the part, had a great family lineage… he was the real deal!

He probably listened to all the right podcasts, read all the right books, could quote chapter and verse, had his finger on the pulse and lived out his beliefs… to the letter… exceptional!

And yet he was way off the mark… it took an encounter with Jesus, a period of blindness and a dramatic healing to get his attention…

But here’s the thing. After he met Jesus he didn’t seek out the disciples. He didn’t pick up Jesus’ teaching from those who had spent three years with him. No, instead he went off on his own and received instruction and revelation from Jesus Christ.

Let me say that again, Paul didn’t get taught by anyone, what he preached and the life he lived, he learnt in isolation, Jesus revealed it to him directly and the rest he figured out.

So, how dependent are we on other people’s teaching for our spiritual health?

Take away our regular means of support and do we stand or fall?

We are in lockdown… are we surviving or thriving in our faith?

There is a saying… that goes something like this, “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day – teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

We can consume, sermon after sermon, podcast after podcast, book after book… fish after fish but we will still be dependent tomorrow on someone else’s relationship with God.

But… If we learn how to pray, to read the bible in such a way that we begin to recognise his voice for ourselves we will be fed for all of eternity.

Don’t get me wrong… I love a good sermon… I love a good book… They have been invaluable to me and my growth as a disciple but I don’t just want to fill my head, I don’t just want to have enough resources to cobble together my next sermon or podcast… No, I want to have a faith that is alive and kicking, I want a faith that leans in and hears God’s voice, intimate and personal.

Jesus challenged the Pharisees… of whom Paul was one… “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40)

We listen to sermons and follow the best podcasts because we think that in them we have eternal life. These are the very resources that testify about Jesus, yet we refuse to come to him to have life…

In this season let us find new depths to our relationship with the Father. Let our times of prayer be filled with his presence, let us silence the noise of a full and frantic life and listen intently for his gentle whisper, in all that we do, all that we listen to, all that we watch… let it be a springboard to our own encounter with Jesus.

Sound teaching is essential… Paul dedicated much of his letters to address false teachers and keep the new communities he planted from being led astray… a good podcast can open up a new perspective,

Good morning and welcome to Tuesday’s podcast. Yesterday we finished Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Today we begin Galatians with chapter 1 v 1-9. Right now I want to look at verses 3 and 4.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.

REFLECTION:

“…Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age.”

Yesterday we touched briefly on the love for the world that had led Demas away in Paul’s hour of need. Today we are reminded that Jesus gave himself to rescue us from the present evil age… It’s the world again!

So maybe, just maybe, God is trying to get our attention this Easter time.

We know that at the heart of the Gospel is forgiveness. Jesus gave himself for our sin. To take the weight of our guilt and shame… to lift it from us, to place it upon his own shoulders and to take it to the grave. and we know that when he rose again, he came back to life but our guilt and shame got left in the grave. it is gone, it’s power is broken and we are free. Free to approach God, yes…. and free from sin, guilt, fear and shame.

So why do we still walk around filled with fear, shame and guilt?

Surely it can’t just be me??

It was once said that the heart of the problem is the problem of the human heart. And at the heart of our heart’s problem is the problem of sin and and the accompanying feelings of shame, guilt and fear.

And it’s this fear that keeps us from becoming who we really are. Instead we hide and shrink from all that God has for us.

Before Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they were naked and felt no shame. They ate and they covered up… they hid themselves from each other, they pointed the finger of blame and even tried to hide from God.

Because that is what sin does…

And this “present evil age” is hell bent on highlighting, magnifying and multiplying our fear and hiddenness.

Flick through social media…. I don’t measure up. My family should be… well better… I should be thinner, prettier, I should be doing more…

or…

Sit through TV adverts… If I only had this or that then I would be more likeable, more acceptable, more desirable.

and so the world magnifies what we are not… and then it holds out a solution…

Shopping makes you feel great!

Food! Sweet things make you feel good… oh and what about saturated fat!

Have another beer… it’ll help dull those negative feelings…

100 likes a 1000 follows… you’re doing ok

Just a little bit more… that’ll solve all your problems!!

The magic key is just around the corner!

Jesus died to rescue us from the lies and enticements of this fallen world. Because the things of this world will beat us down and little by little draw us away from the truth, the love and freedom of the father.

So how do we deal with the rubbish that pollutes our hearts and the fear that keeps us locked up?

Well the Bible is crystal clear… don’t hide it!

Both Old Testament and New:

Psalm 32:5…Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

James 5:16…Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

I often say that if one day I lead my own church I’m going to have a sign placed above the door… It will read, “no perfect people allowed.”

Why? Because when we own that we are not perfect… but God loves us anyway… when we realise that God’s grace is just that…. undeserved… and yet lavishly, scandalously, abundantly poured out on us anyway…

When we get it… when we really get it… that we are loved… despite everything… despite me!

Good morning and welcome to Monday. It’s Easter Monday… a bank holiday, yay!!

We are entering into our 4th week of lock down. I pray that we are finding moments to pause in God’s presence and to be thankful for those you live with or connect with regularly.

Today’s passage is 2 Timothy chapter 4 v 9-22. It contains Paul’s closing remarks, his greetings and a list of names which are tricky to pronounce (Listen to the end of this reflection to see how I get on!) But right at the start of the list are these verses… verses 9-10,

Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.

REFLECTION:

Today is the day after Easter day… The day after Jesus rose from the dead and swung open the gates to his kingdom and invited us all in. So, having been won at a price, how do we stay on track?

Well, there is a little warning for us in today’s verse:

“… because he loved this world…”

You see Demas got lured away from Jesus… he got enticed, intoxicated by the distractions of the world, all its delights and pleasures, its power and prestige… and he deserted Paul…

Now, is it possible for us, as believers, to take the same journey, down the same path… and dare I say it… turn our backs on Jesus and his kingdom and become deserters like Demas?

Once, before Helen and I were married, when we were just getting to know each other… I went to America. I was away for over a month and I had missed my girl! I managed to get on an early flight and arrived back home while Helen was at work. I spent the day catching up on sleep and then, at the end of the working day, I went down to the local station to meet Helen from the train.

It was London… it was rush hour… and although it was only a small station it was busy… I watched and I waited… I looked past the men in suits, the female executives, the kids getting back from school… I barely noticed them… I only had one person on my mind… and then I saw her…

24 years later, when I wake in the morning, I roll over and see her sleeping peacefully. I still feel that same love, I still delight in her.

The love that we first had for Jesus, when we were first getting to know him… that’s the love that we need to keep alive. Do you still feel it?

The world is a pretty awesome place. The sights, the sounds, the smells… the joys, delights and comforts.

But the world is not the same as God’s Kingdom… and it will draw us away.

It was made by God but is ruled by the prince of this dark world… It is not shaped to bring us closer to God… in fact it’s pull is in entirely the opposite direction.

We have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves… (Colossians 1:13) But we still have to be on our guard. We have to engage in the ongoing fight, it is a battle that will last our lifetimes, it is a battle against ourselves and a war that we can only win with Jesus as our commanding officer.

I know that this time of lock down is a huge opportunity to go deeper with God, but…  I love a Sudoku! I love a puzzle to solve and that often seems like the more attractive option. Or social media, I’ll just take a quick flick through Facebook… I wouldn’t want to miss out on anything that’s going on… and suddenly my time can leak away.

and there is so much out there… even Christian stuff: online services, podcasts, sermons, books, articles, YouTube clips, Instagram stories, Facebook posts… that’s before I turn on the TV: Netflix, Disney+, Amazon, iPlayer…

Lockdown is an awesome opportunity to spot Jesus’ face in the crowd. This is an opportunity to allow our isolation from the world to rekindle our passion for Jesus. To slow down. To step out of the usual frantic routine. Switch off… to breathe deep… to drink deep from the well.

We are cut off from the world. We cannot go out.

This podcast is an audio version of our Thursday evening Holy Week meditation.  You can listen here or watch the full video on our YouTube channel.

 

This podcast is an audio version of our Wednesday evening Holy Week meditation.  You can listen here or watch the full video on our YouTube channel.

 

This podcast is an audio version of our Tuesday evening Holy Week meditation.  You can listen here or watch the full video on our Facebook page or our YouTube channel.

 

This podcast is an audio version of our Monday evening Holy Week meditation.  You can listen here or watch the full video on our Facebook page or our YouTube channel.