Pride is one of the most insidious sins – it can affect us in lots of different ways. In this passage Paul warns us not to be complacent but to be humble in the face of God’s plans. He does this by warning the Gentile Christians not to feel superior to the Jews.
Sermons are also available on the podcast.
Church with UTB: This is part of Church with UTB. Please do have a look at that page for more information.
As you may know, the very first video I recorded for what became Understand the Bible was a Christmas message. This was recorded for Christmas 2017 – which feels like a very long time ago now! It feels like so much has changed in the last six years, like we’re living in a different world.
Every year since then, I have recorded a Christmas message. This year I have decided to break that tradition. This is partly because I feel that the world probably has enough “Christmas messages” at this time of year – everyone is doing it. I also feel that no-one is really interested in “Christmas messages” either. The Christmas we all want, the Christmas we really need, comes simply from Jesus being part of our lives day-by-day. As we grow to know him more, and grow in our love for him and for one another, life becomes more joyful.
That said, I do believe that Christmas demonstrates that God can and does step into our world, into our darkness. I pray that, if you are in a dark place this year, that you would know the real presence of Christ at work to transform your life – not simply a platitude, but the real presence and power of the king of heaven and earth. No darkness can keep God out, there are no ‘no-go areas’ for him.
If you have been following Church with UTB, I’d just like to say I will be having a couple of weeks off doing services. I hope that this gives you an opportunity to try it out yourself – do your own thing! There are lots of sermons available here if you’d like to find one, or just do something simple and read and talk about the Bible with whoever you are with.
I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has supported UTB over this last year, whether you’ve just joined in or whether you’ve been here from the beginning. Happy Christmas, and I pray that whatever your 2024 looks like, Christ may scatter the darkness from before your path and lead us forwards in him.
Are all people equally in need of Jesus? In this chapter, Paul looks at the people of Israel and says that all are the same before Christ. What difference does that make to how we live and how we are as a church?
Sermons are also available on the podcast.
Church with UTB: This is part of Church with UTB. Please do have a look at that page for more information.
Being a Christian isn’t a life of unbridled happiness – although we are joyful. There are struggles and sorrows. In this session we think about what it means to feel sorrow in the Christian life with respect to holiness. How should we feel sorrow as Christians?
Find out more about this course by watching the Introduction.
If nothing can separate us from God’s love, then what about those who do not Christian? And does that mean God is unfair to choose some and not others? In this passage Paul laments over his own people, the Jews, but shows that God is acting according to his word and promises.
Sermons are also available on the podcast.
Church with UTB: This is part of Church with UTB. Please do have a look at that page for more information.
Many people go through their Christian lives without really treasuring Christ. What is the difference between someone who treasures Christ and someone who doesn’t? How do we get there?
Find out more about this course by watching the Introduction.
In our suffering we might think “is this a punishment?” or “am I on the wrong path?” In this passage we discover that nothing – absolutely nothing – can separate us from God’s love. No circumstance, hardship, suffering, persecution – anything.
Sermons are also available on the podcast.
Church with UTB: This is part of Church with UTB. Please do have a look at that page for more information.
For most of us, our only experience of servants is what we watch on TV shows. But serving God is fundamental to the Christian life. In this session we think about choosing wisely who we serve, what it means to serve God, and then to serve other people.
Find out more about this course by watching the Introduction.
Suffering is the hardest thing to cope with in life – especially long-term or chronic suffering. The only thing that keeps us going is hope – hope that one day things will change. In this passage, Paul shows us how God gives us hope through Jesus Christ, and how that changes the way that we suffer.
Sermons are also available on the podcast.
Church with UTB: This is part of Church with UTB. Please do have a look at that page for more information.
Worship is fundamental to the Christian life. But what does worship really look like? How do we do it? Is worship about singing, or praying, or reading the Bible? In this session we think about how God wants us to worship him, why worship is important, and how we can avoid getting it wrong.
Find out more about this course by watching the Introduction.
