The Cranmer Group Podcast

Drawing especially on Matthew chapter 11, verses 28-30, in The Message version, Tim reflects on what he may heave learned from the Lord during his mini-sabbatical over the summer holidays

Tim brings to a close our sermon series on our Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham's Vision 2030, reflecting on what we have to offer to the people of our communities: the "living hope" of Jesus Christ, of which Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:3-9. In the language of CS Lewis's 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe', Tim encourages us to discern where, already, "Aslan is on the move", and to join in with what God is already doing to build His Kingdom around us. Why not watch the Diocese's brief film, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFxN9lp2tZ8 , to see the new life that God is causing to spring up in our communities? [Also John 10:1-10]

Annie suggests, with advice from Jesus in Luke 8:42-48 and Luke 11:1-10, how we might go about building up prayer in our lives, both individually and as the gathered people of God in this time and place.

Looking especially at Jesus' challenge to his disciples in Luke 9:23-25, to "deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow me", Bronwen encourages us to give up our current life for a life following Jesus, in which we are promised abundant life in this life, and eternal life in the life to come [also referring to Ephesians 5:1-17].

Looking at Exodus 18:9-27 and Matthew 8:35-38, and thinking about why
we seek to be a church family that is “growing leaders", Tim challenges us to reflect on Jesus’s call on our lives as his followers, and to ask him to show us where, and how, he may be calling us to serve and lead, as part of this church family. 

Reflecting on both the Creation narrative of Genesis 1 and also Paul's image in 1 Corinthians 12 of the church as being like a body, comprised of so many different and complementing parts, Annie encourages us reflect on why we should seek to become more diverse in our church family. Firstly, we do so because Jesus embodied engaging with those who were the outsiders of society in his day; and secondly, because we are part of God's family, which extends across the globe; across time; and across boundaries.

Drawing on Psalm 95, and  John 4:7-26, Bron invites us to consider what "inspiring worship" might look like, and how, especially, "inspiring worship" ensures that our churches are places of welcome for all, because no one is beyond God’s love.

Drawing on Christ's words in Luke 18:15-17, and the declarations of Psalm 8, Clare Chambers shares with us what Scripture says about planting young spiritual seedings, and nurturing them into "oaks of righteousness", as Jesus would have us do. This is the first of the "Areas of Focus" in our preaching series on our Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham's Vision 2030: "Reaching Younger", with specific emphasis on what we're doing in our Cranmer Group context to minister to the children, young people and families of our communities.

As we celebrate joy-filled baptisms at both our 9am and 11am services on this Trinity Sunday, Tim considers how Jesus's encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-17), and especially his words in verse 16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" - encapsulate our faith in the Trinitarian God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

After our Bishops' introduction to the new Diocesan Vision (here), Tim continues his sermon considering how the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples on the first Pentecost, inspires us as we follow this new Vision 2030: "Growing Disciples of Christ, with Compassion, Confidence and Courage". Note that you need to listen to Part 1 of Tim's preach first, for this to make sense!