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The debt that we owe to one another – Romans 13:8-14 Sermon

Most people think that a moral life is about living without hurting anyone else. But Paul turns that on its head: Paul says that we actually have an obligation to love one another. What does that mean?

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.

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How Christians should relate to the authorities – Romans 13:1-7 Sermon

This is one of the most controversial passages in the New Testament. Paul seems to say that Christians should obey earthly authorities no matter what, because they have been put there by God. But is that really what he means?

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.

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Filled with the Holy Spirit – Practical Guide to Holiness #11

The Holy Spirit has – sadly – been one of the most contentious issues in the church over the last 100 years or so. However, the Spirit is essential to our day-to-day lives as Christians. What part does the Holy Spirit have to play in our holiness?

Find out more about this course by watching the Introduction.

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What sincere love looks like – Romans 12:9-21 Sermon

In these final chapters of Romans, Paul is explaining how the gospel should make a difference to our lives. In this passage, we think about how we should be as a church: we should love one another sincerely. This is especially important when we are dealing with people who have done us wrong.

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.

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Treasuring the Bible – Practical Guide to Holiness #10

The Bible is not a book like any other. The Bible is uniquely God’s message to us, and as such has a power unlike any other to change and transform our lives. In this session we look at why the Bible is so important, how we should read it rightly, and consider why it can be difficult to read the Bible and what we can do about it.

Find out more about this course by watching the Introduction.

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Offering ourselves as a living sacrifice – Romans 12:1-8 Sermon

Have you ever listened to a sermon and thought “so what”? What difference does that make? Good preachers apply the Bible and help us to understand what we need to do. Paul, in this passage and onwards, helps us make the gospel that he has been explaining real to our lives.

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.

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Beware reverse pride – Romans 11:1-36 Sermon

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.

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2023 Christmas Update

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.

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