Are you a sprayer, a spacer, a starer, a sinker or a snubber? What do we do with our eyes? Jesus looked at people, and so should we when we speak – but, how?
Month: October 2016
Are you a sprayer, a spacer, a starer, a sinker or a snubber? What do we do with our eyes? Jesus looked at people, and so should we when we speak – but, how?
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“A Marriage Made in Heaven”
Sunday was packed with good stuff, as usual. Church in Watford – good to see old Harrow friends and welcome the Odediran family officially – was followed by a dash down the M25/M4 to help set up the service in Lower Earley (thanks for choosing the songs, Don). Then a quick drive a couple of miles away […]
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“Harsh Reality”, Luke 14.24
Sometimes we get away with it, and sometimes we don’t. However, our choices tend to catch up with us in the end. We’re on the final instalment of our exploration of the parable of the banquet, Luke 14.15-24. The summary statement is this: “I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a […]
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“Generosity and Grace”, Luke 14.21-23
Have you ever cancelled an event due to lack of interest? Or attended one where the host clearly expected far more people to attend than actually turned up. Feels discouraging and deflating. How does our feast host respond to the social snubs of his peers? “The servant came back and reported this to his master. […]
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“Excuses, Excuses”, Luke 14.17-20
I’m going to a wedding in January. I was invited even before the couple got engaged, and then received an official invitation via email two weeks later. I was already going, but now I’m double-going. Some invitations we treat with greater significance than others. Let’s see what happened in this parable. “At the time of the […]
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“The Dining Deity”, Luke 14.16
God likes a banquet. He’s the dining deity. We looked at Isaiah 25 yesterday. Here’s another example: Psa. 23:5 “You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.” (MESSAGE) What does it mean to be invited to such a feast? We’re back for another […]
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“You can’t beat a feast”, Luke 14.15
I’ve dined well and I’ve dined poorly. Once or twice I’ve not dined at all (ran out of money in Pompeii in the ’80s, but that’s another story). There are also some meals we share with people that have greater significance than most. Wedding receptions come to mind. We don’t want to miss out on those. […]
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When does a speech begin?
Who cares what other people think of us as we approach the lectern? On one level it doesn’t matter, “Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.” John 2.23-25 NIV11 However, Jesus also said, “I am sending you […]
We look at the four-step process of starting a speech. The moment a lesson actually begins might surprise you….