Dear friends

I do hope that you will join us for online church again this Sunday. Why not join us twice this week? Click here just before 8am, 10am and/or 5pm, to join us live. There are some notes attached to go with the morning sermon, you can click here to print out.

It is difficult to know what to make of the times in which we live. Even before the present troubles, some were thinking that we are witnessing the disintegration of western civilisation. The exaltation of individual “freedom” above all other values has undermined the foundations (it is thought). The rejection of any truth other than “scientific” truth has robbed us of any basis for moral consensus (many feel). Some see the extraordinary confusion of our time around “gender identity” as a threat to the fabric of the society we have known. Others are more positive. What we are witnessing (they think) is “progress”: liberation from outdated restrictions and taboos, from the constraints of conventional morality, from the intolerance of traditional religion, and from the expectations of old fashioned gender roles. Now we need to add the uncertainties that have suddenly made everything less clear than we might have only recently imagined.

What do you make of the times in which we live?

The Bible does not give us a simple answer to that question. That is not surprising. It is not a simple question. But the Bible gives us a perspective on the question that is brilliantly illuminating.

The times in which we live are the days for building the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the work of the gospel of Jesus. That is the most important building project in all of history. The outcome of Jesus’ building project has not changed. The apostle John was given a glimpse of it:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3, 4)

That is the day we are living for. That is where history is heading. The times in which we live are more confused and confusing than they need to be because people have lost sight of — or do not know about — that day.

Please do join us online on Sunday.

Your brother in the Lord Jesus Christ

John Woodhouse (Acting Senior Minister)