The Cranmer Group Podcast

Tim considers how the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples on the first Pentecost, inspires us as we follow our new Diocesan Vision 2030: "Growing Disciples of Christ, with Compassion, Confidence and Courage". This is the first part of his sermon on Acts 2:1-21 & Matthew 9:35-38  - listen to it; then watch the Bishops of Southwell and Sherwood introduce the new Vision, and what it means for us in our churches, here; and then listen to Part 2 in the follow-on podcast!

As we celebrate another baptism in our church family today, Tim explores with us Jesus's prayer for his disciples in John 17:6-19.  He reflects on how God the Father protects us; how God the Son prays for us; and how God’s Word - Scripture - purifies us, whilst at the same time His Holy Spirit fills us.

Tim invites us - with some help from Ella, the Vicarage Labrador - to consider the unique  qualities of Jesus' loving friendship for us all, that he describes in John 15:9-17 - sharing, 'stickability' and sacrifice.

Bronwen invites us to bear good fruit in our lives, as disciples of Jesus Christ. But, as Christ tells us in John 15:1-8, Bron reminds us that we can only be the disciples God wants us to be, when we remain connected to the vine, to Jesus himself. 

Tim looks at what Jesus says about himself in John 10:11-18 - that he is our Good Shepherd, who cares completely for us; in whom we can place our trust totally; and who gives everything for us.

Just as Bronwen reflected on Jesus's words to the Disciples in his first encounter with them after the Resurrection, as told by John, Tim considers Christ's same words to them in Luke 24:36-49. Tim examines how Luke’s message to us is that Jesus’ resurrection is real; that, despite all that we – like the Disciples – have done, Jesus comes to us with a message of his forgiveness and grace; and that Jesus has risen from the dead, so that each one of us might know his peace.

Bron speaks to us about the resurrected Jesus's first appearance to the Disciples as they hid from the religious authorities (John 20:19-end), and reflects on Christ's first words to them - "Peace be with you". Bron encourages us, also, to know this peace of the pardoned sinner in our hearts, and to be filled with God's Holy Spirit, as we accept Jesus's challenge to all who follow him, to share his transforming peace with all the world.

Tim invites us, with the three women, to look into Jesus's empty tomb, and reflect on their faith, and on our own. Although - unlike in the other three Gospels - in Mark's account of the Resurrection (Mark 16:1-8), there is no encounter between the risen Jesus and his followers, we can see from the change we see in Peter in Acts 10:34-43, that he and his fellow disciples must have had their lives transformed by meeting with the Lord once again. How might our lives be transformed by such an encounter also?

Looking at Mark's account of Jesus's entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Tim suggests that Jesus preaches not one, but two 'sermons without words', through his actions on that day. As we also join with the Jerusalem crowds to proclaim “Hosanna”, Jesus comes to us now, in humility and service, and asks us, “Am I truly your King?”

Annie encourages us, looking at Christ's words in John 12:20-33, that God's Word cannot fail; that His new covenant is already in place for us in and through Jesus; and that all we need to do is to say "Yes!" to him.