In What Are People For? an essay in his 2002 The Art of the Commonplace, Wendell Berry wrote: "Marriage, in what is evidently its most popular version, is now on the one hand an intimate 'relationship' involving (ideally) two successful careerists in the same bed, and on the other hand a sort of private political system in which rights and interests must be asserted and defended."

Now, 24 years later, what is the future of marriage? Find out more in this podcast.

In a world where voices in the media and social media criticizing Christianity have morphed from constructive conversation into emotive smearing, our lifestyle and our attitudes will often have greater impact than what we say. Paul's words in Ephesians chapter 5 verses 1 and 2 are key to the life God calls us to: Be imitators of God ... and live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us ...

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In his book Christians: The Urgent Case for Jesus in Our World (2021), Dr Greg Sheridan, an Australian journalist and writer, comments: "In the West ... religious belief has been in serious decline in recent years. The loss of faith is part of a broad movement in the culture. It is also partly ... related to a shocking loss of knowledge.

Paul the Apostle, in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4 verse 17 writes: Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live ... darkened in understanding, separated from the love of God ...

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Commenting on how we understand Jesus's parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10 verses 25-37, Rebecca McLaughlin writes: We hear a call to care for strangers in need. But Jesus's first audience heard more. They heard a story of love across racial, religious, and political difference, in which the moral hero was their sworn enemy. (The Secular Creed, 2021: p.11)

Yet how many today are even aware of the parable of the Good Samaritan let alone understand its significance for us? Even more importantly, how many today know the Jesus of the historical Gospel accounts?

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Cell phones have given us an extraordinary capacity for connectivity. But does this actually lead to community? Created in the image of God, we are designed for meaningful relationships. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesian church develops God's expectations for this new community of people.

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How can we weather the challenges of our divided and uncertain world? In Ephesians chapter 3, verses 14 through 21, we are given a glimpse of Paul at prayer. 'I kneel before the Father', he begins, 'from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.'

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The 250th anniversary of American Independence brings to mind a key statement in the Declaration: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal". This is a very Christian idea. We often forget that the opening chapter of the Bible describes humanity as being created in the image of God.

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Seven hundred years ago, Dante recognized that the human propensity to lie is our greatest flaw. Two thousand years ago, Paul the Apostle wrote in Ephesians chapter 2 of our flawed human nature.

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AA Milne's Christopher Robin's prayer, "Little boy kneels at the foot of his bed ..." has touched the hearts of millions. The poem is a picture of childhood innocence, a mixture of God language and the distractions of inner thoughts. For adults it raises questions about prayer. Is it something we grow out of? If we do pray, what should we pray? Will we every grow out of the distractions in our prayers? Paul the Apostle provides very helpful answers to these kinds of questions in Ephesians chapter 1.

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Over the northern summer, the Word on Wednesday will offer a series of reflections on The Letter to the Ephesians. The letter plumbs the depths of biblical Christianity, opening up the riches of God that shape the mind and warm the heart. It was written to be read in churches in the region of ancient Asia Minor, modern Türkiye.

Find out more in this podcast.