But the Holy Spirit does not work like that. Gifts are not allocated on a merit-based selection system. If someone has the gift of wisdom, is it not because they deserve it. Nor is someone given the gift of leadership or preaching because they are super-special in some way. It can be hard to separate the person from the ministry, but I think it is important to do so. … More Acts 2:1-21 & 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
We, God’s people, are the only picture of God that a lot of folks ever see. What kind of temple are we portraying? The dodgy stonework, the lumpy bits and the pieces missing? Crikey! No wonder some folks are put off. … More 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
Yes, we believe in a Gospel of grace, a salvation based on God’s redeeming work, not our own. But there yet remains an obligation of response to that free gift of God. … More 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
This simple illustration shows how power is not held by those with the most human strength. You will need a rope something very heavy and strong, preferably a fixture such as a font. Secretly, if possible, tie one end of the rope to the immovable object. Ask for teams for a tug-of-war and have all … More Activity – If God be for us …
Do I have 100% cast-iron proof that my faith is true? No. It’s not the kind of thing one can prove, just the same as I cannot 100% prove that my daughter loves me. She could just be a very convincing actor. Nevertheless, I accept by faith that she does – and that is not an unreasonable faith. … More 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, (13-16)
Western culture values the rich and famous, it values reason, technology and image, it values power and prestige. Jesus was nothing like that. In today’s culture he would be a complete nobody, and the Greek culture of Corinth thought the same. … More 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Disagreeing is part of life, and if we take our faith seriously, we will have opinions on matters and that is right and good. The important thing is to be able to disagree well, without falling out. … More 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
How are you feeling about yourself today? Are you brightly forging ahead with your New Year’s resolutions and starting to see the ‘new you’ emerging from the cheese-induced stupor of festive over-indulgence? Or are those resolutions already fading with the short January days and you’ve slumped back into the deadly same-old, same-old? … More 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
This is a simple and very tactile way to think about how our past and our environment shape the person we are, yet in Christ we do not need to be defined by that. You will need: A long chenille stick for each person. Affiliate links: The flags will take you to supplies … More Activity – Life Sticks
We are creatures both of time and eternity. This activity explores these two lives in a tactile way. You will need yarn of two different colours. Each person will need a short length (about 15-30cm / 6-12″) of one colour and a much longer length, several metres, of another. Wind the longer length into a small … More Activity – Life Lines
The Reflectionary 