St. Luke's, Ramsgate

As Christians we are called to be finished with sin by being willing to face the ridicule and pressure of those we used to hang around with. This is to live for God.  ​Yet, God does not leave us alone in the world he gives us a Christian community to embrace.

Who or what do you fear? Fear controls and drives our lives in many ways. In the midst of a scary world, Peter encourages us to fear God and shows us what this looks like in practice.

Peter continues to explore how as Christians we are to live among those who have rejected Christ. In this passage he focuses on wives with non-Christian husbands. Once again the model is Christ.

As Christians we have change loyalties and allegiances. We no longer follow the ways of the world, but of Jesus Christ. So, how then are we to relate to a world that has rejected our Lord? In particular, how are we to relate to the authorities and those who are bosses over us?

Church has changed in recent months as we have spent months away from the building we are used to meeting in. But, what is the church fundamentally? In this passage Peter gives a vision for what he thinks the church is.

The shape of our lives has been transformed by the Coronavirus. We behave differently and in some ways even think differently as a result. In this passage Peter writes that Christians should be shaped by their new relationship with God. Now they have a future hope, are freed from sin and have God as their Father their lifestyle and thinking should be transformed.

How are Christians to live when they feel out of place in the world? When they are in small scattered groups surrounded by those who do not follow Jesus. These are the kind of people Peter writes to with words of great encouragement!

Jesus claims that to do what he says is the wise choice. Yet most of us don't like having to do what others say! So, why choose to follow Jesus and do what he says?

As Jesus comes to the end of his Sermon on the Mount, he helps us consider the choices we face around following him. In doing so he urges us not to look at things superficially!

What kind of person does God want us to be? As Jesus draws to the conclusion of the sermon on the mount, he sums up his teaching on what kind of person he wants us to be, by showing simply how to relate to God and other people.

Jo Kelly-Moore, Archdeacon of Canterbury reflects on Paul's prayer in Colossians 1:9-14 on Trinity Sunday.

Gordon Warren reflects on Nehemiah's prayer for Jerusalem. It is a masterclass that we can learn from as we consider how to pray for our church today.

Jesus says very clearly, 'Do not Judge!' But how are we meant to understand that? Are there exceptions? Should I serve on a jury? Can I judge who is safe to look after my children? Is it ever right to point out someone's fault? If so, what do I need to be careful about? As ever, Jesus's wisdom helps us flourish in this area of life.

With so much anxiety around the Coronavirus, how do we as Christians obey Jesus's command not to worry?

Your money or your life? The answer seems obvious, but in the normal run of things is our focus more often on acquiring wealth and possessions than pursuing what truly leads to life? Jesus challenges us to consider our heart motivations.

The Lord's Prayer is one of the most famous and important parts of scripture. But how does Jesus use it to show how Christian prayer is to be distinctive and how does it help us with our anxiety?

What does Jesus have to say about religious practice? The first thing he says is do not be a hypocrite! Don't do it to impress people, but in secret to seek God's reward!

The Sermon for St. Luke's, Ramsgate for Easter Sunday 2020. Looking at Matthew 28:1-10 and the difference between blind optimism and living hope.

The story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey is one of the better known Bible stories, remembered every Palm Sunday. But why is Jesus riding into the city like this such a big deal? Why did it cause such a stir at the time?

What is God teaching us during these strange times? One way to answer that is to look at what God taught the Israelites when they found their lives radically changed having left Egypt and now in the wilderness.

To most of us family really matters. Wonderfully, Jesus invites us to be a part of his family. This brings immense privileges as well as responsibilities.

As Jesus continues to explain what he means by a surpassing righteousness he comes to his most revolutionary command: 'Love your enemies!' But how are we to love our enemies? And why is this something Christians should do?

None of us like it when people fail to keep their promises to us and Jesus in calling us to a greater righteousness calls us to be people of faithfulness in our sexual relationships, marriages and in our word.

Jesus calls us to live a righteous life. Yet, people today see that as restrictive, judgemental or even bad for your mental health. However, we need to see how Jesus smashes those stereotypes and understand the kind of righteousness he is calling us to.

Jesus has said that when we take on his ways as part of the Kingdom of Heaven we will flourish. He now goes on to explain how it will not only mean our flourishing, but us having a positive impact on the world so that others come to praise God.