News

How to cope with change | Bible Wisdom

Posted on by Phill Sacre

A short video from a Biblical perspective about how to cope with change. It’s the start of a new academic year, and there have been so many other changes lately – how do we cope? In this video we think about how we can take comfort from God in these times.

Bible verses I talk about:

  • James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
  • Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.”
  • Genesis 50:20 “ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Share this:

God our Creator – Apostle’s Creed #3

Posted on by Phill Sacre

One of the most fundamental things to understand about Christianity is that God is our Creator. It’s a distinctive of Christianity and it makes a practical difference to our lives. In this session on the Apostle’s Creed we look at the line “Maker of heaven and earth”.

When it’s complete, this course will be available on the courses page.

Share this:

Being Christian in a hostile culture – Daniel 1 Sermon

Posted on by Phill Sacre

In the Western world it’s getting harder to be a Christian. We can no longer see the UK as a Christian country. So how do we live in that situation? The book of Daniel helps us to know how to live.

Enjoyed this sermon? See more on the sermons page.

Sermons are also available on the podcast.

Share this:

God our Father – Apostle’s Creed #2

Posted on by Phill Sacre

What does it mean to believe in God the Father? In the second part of the Apostle’s Creed we look at what difference it makes to call God ‘Our Father’.

Recommended books

When it’s complete, this course will be available on the courses page.

Share this:

Does God give us what we want?

Posted on by Phill Sacre

Verses such as Psalm 37:4 say that God fulfils our desires. But what does that mean? Why is it that so much of the time it seems like we don’t have everything that we want?

Key Points

  • Psalm 37:4 suggests that God does fulfil our desires: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – so why does that seem so alien to our experience?
  • There are two wrong ways of looking at desire:
    1. Our desires are all sinful and wrong (asceticism). This is the belief that godliness is denying ourselves of everything, people such as Simeon Stylites. However, this is wrong because of e.g. 1 Timothy 4:3-5 – God made good things in the world to be received with thanks. Our desires are not all wrong.
    2. Our desires are everything (hedonism). This is the belief that we should seek for all our desires to be fulfilled all the time – think about the song I Want it All by Queen. BUT – this is wrong because we are not to do what we want (Galatians 5:17), plus when we get our desires we often them empty (see the book of Ecclesiastes, such as Eccl. 2:10-11).
  • Does this mean we are stuck with one of these two options, or somewhere in between?
  • There is a third way! “God + Desire = fulfilment”.
  • The first part of Psalm 37:4 is “Take delight in the Lord”. When we desire God first and foremost, then we can really start enjoying everything else.
    • We enjoy good things as a gift from God (James 1:17)
    • We ask our heavenly Father for the things we want (James 4:1-3)
    • We mustn’t be resentful for when God doesn’t give us things! God is not a cosmic killjoy.
    • God often wants us to have a deeper fulfilment than we could desire for ourselves.
  • Ultimately, our desires are fulfilled in Jesus – as God forgives us for our sin (including sinful desires), and makes us new by giving us new desires.

Explore Further

The series on Ecclesiastes is on the YouTube playlist.

Your questions answered

This is part of the Your questions answered feature. See that page for more videos in the series.

If you have a question about Christianity or the Bible, please send them in or comment below.

Share this:

New course! – “I believe in God”: why creeds matter

Posted on by Phill Sacre

This is the first part of a new series looking at the Apostles’ Creed. In this session we look at what creeds are and why they matter. When we say “I believe in God” – what do we really mean?…

This video covers:

  • What is the benefit of studying the creeds – why would you want to do it?
  • What are the creeds and where do they come from?
  • The start of the apostles’ creed – “I believe in God”.

When it’s complete, this course will be available on the courses page.

Share this:

The Spirit’s power in our lives – Acts 19:1-22 Sermon

Posted on by Phill Sacre

Why would anyone bother to be a Christian? Because there is a truth and a power about the Christian life, and the Holy Spirit, which is not found anywhere else. But how do we put that in to practice?

Enjoyed this sermon? See more on the sermons page.

Sermons are also available on the podcast.

Share this: