Stapleford Baptist Church

Jesus has got more to teach ... and it's not comfortable to hear! "If you bother to listen to what I'm saying - and take notice", he says, "then you're going to get into problems with those who don't listen or take notice. Because any considered look at the world will tell you that there are 2, and only 2, ways to live which are complete opposites - repenting and fol...

After teaching about the power and foolishness of worry (listen to last week's podcast), Jesus continues to get his listeners to think about where life is headed. We're not to worry about this life because there's a much greater worry coming - Heaven or Hell. "Now", says Jesus, "is the time to get ready for my return. Now is the time to make sure you're ready to meet...

Today we're returning to Dr Luke's account of Jesus' life on Earth. In this part, he records 3 situations in which we should be trusting in God - when we are ridiculed (or worse) for being a follower of Christ, when we think that money and 'stuff' will give us security, and when we can't see how we are going to get through a difficulty that is heading, full speed, in our di...

We've got to the 4rd 'mark of the church' - Discipline! Does this prompt the image of an ancient Headmaster, cane in hand? But discipline is also what characterizes a successful army marching into battle, ordered and ready for whatever the enemy will throw at it. And the church is certainly in a battle against evil. Are you disciplined enough to face him and to overcome as you follow G...

Here's the 3rd 'mark of the church' - Communion a.k.a. The Lord's Supper. We've never taken a meal with the King of England (nor any other kings on earth) but today's part of the Bible tells us that Jesus' followers are under royal command to take regular meals with the King of the Universe - wow! What an amazing privilege ... and even more so when we discover how excit...

Now it's the 2nd 'mark of the church' - Baptism. Jesus was baptized and he told his disciples to make more disciples who should be baptized. Have you been baptized? If not, is it time to make a splash? https://www.facebook.com/staplefordbaptistchurch/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCON8kZnw_hT-2eaVyUXWCww http://www.staplefordbaptist.org/

Following last week's introduction comes this 'mark of the church' - the preaching of God's word. It's the major role of the church, commissioned by Jesus Christ. God's word will always be a challenge to every human because it points to perfection himself and exposes all our defects. That's the reason that preachers have so often been resisted, even persecuted - but the...

For the next few weeks we're taking a break from Luke and looking at what makes a church a church. What are the distinguishing features (and we don't me a steeple!). Is a church the name we give to a religious social club - and, if not, what is a church? Think of your own answer then watch and see if you got it right. https://www.facebook.com/staplefordbaptistchurch/ https://www.youtube.com/channe...

Most people spend a large proportion of their time thinking about how they appear to others. Maybe they employ careful make-up. Maybe they try to build a good reputation. Some even try to impress God with carefully considered religious and charitable behaviour. Sometimes what you see is what you get. But sometimes it's a mirage. But God sees deeper, much deeper. He sees the real you and the re...

This week, in Dr Luke's account of the life of Jesus Christ we find Jesus being accused. His enemies said he was making out he had the power of God while, in reality, he was in the grip of Satan. But Jesus exposes their twisted logic and, in so doing, shows us all that's there no middle ground - either you and I are full-on followers of Jesus or we're full-on his enemies. And everyone...

Our next look into Dr Luke's account of the life of Jesus Christ takes us to one of his most well-known quotes - the so-called "Lord's Prayer". We may recite it in a church service but Jesus didn't intend it as a bit of liturgy (or worse, a garbled formulaic recital). He intended it as a User Manual - How to Pray. Maybe our prayers would be better if only we'd follow this...

Today a one-off! It's the start of SBC's Week-of-Prayer so we're 'focussing on prayer' (or 'focusing on prayer' if you have a less UK English spelling!). But whether you're a 'Queen's English' speller or not, prayer is the basis of all communication between humans and their God. And what a God we se in Psalm 8 - how majestic, yet One we can speak to beca...

In this series of talks from Luke's account of the life of Jesus, we see Jesus teaching his followers (his disciples) what it really means to be such a follower. Today Luke records 2 events by which Jesus made his point - first, an example where the unlikeliest person showed Christ-like love and the second where one of Jesus' most devoted followers didn't. How do you match up? https://...

After a long break, today we're back looking at Dr Luke's biography of Jesus. In this snapshot captured by Dr Luke we discover what Jesus says his disciples will face, what they'll achieve and what they'll receive. Today's disciples take note! https://www.facebook.com/staplefordbaptistchurch/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCON8kZnw_hT-2eaVyUXWCww http://www.staplefordbaptist....

Finally! Easter is here and we can have an extra special celebration because Jesus died but came back to life, to eternally conquer death - his own, of course, but ours too if we trust him. Join in this celebration as we spend some time looking at his amazing love - giving eternal hope to hopeless sinners like us all. https://www.facebook.com/staplefordbaptistchurch/ https://www.youtube.com/channe...

At last - the greatest time of year for Christians: when we remember the final days of our Lord Jesus Christ's life, his death and then his resurrection. This year, we're using some of the prophecies of the Bible book of Isaiah - looking at Chapters 52-55. For this "Palm Sunday" our study is of the king who comes in a great, yet strange, humble glory. Consider him and be amazed!...

Today we reach the last of our studies in the Bible book of Nehemiah. Remarkable advances have been achieved by God's followers ... but the struggle is not over yet. And, once again, it is close to home that action needs to be taken. And it's just the same for us. Though we often face many external challenges, its the reformation of our own lives and hearts that often needs most attention....

We're getting close to the end of our series from the Bible book of Nehemiah. The first task of the returners from exile was to rebuild the city wall - the defences against attack. Well, the job's done, and now they want to praise God and thank him for enabling them to complete the task. It's a reminder that everything good that we're able to accomplish is only because of God's help ... and that b...

The city wall has been repaired. The people living in it have faced up their sins and confessed them. having discovered, first hand, the alternative (!) they're determined to live the way that God had planned for them. And today we see that blessings arise from that ... but not accidentally. Rather some serious organization is needed - and God's blessing is found in that. https://www.faceb...

Being sorry for the past is a common feeling. But redirecting our futures so that the sorrows of the past can be put behind us is something else. And when it comes to being sorry towards God for the way we've spurned his love, turning around in repentance is a real challenge. Maybe the experience of Nehemiah's fellow citizens can teach us something! https://www.facebook.com/staplefordbapti...

Last week we heard about the people's response as they listened to God speaking to them from the parts of the Bible that were read out loud to them. There was joy, there was obedience ... but there also needed to be confession of wrongdoing (and of the absence of rightdoing). Confession and repentance aren't easy for our stubborn hearts to do, are they? But very necessary, especially when...

After so much faith-fueled struggle, Nehemiah's compatriots find a joyful, spiritual dimension to their rebuilding work. There's still lots to do, and there are still many challenges that they face, but when they realize what God has been doing, and will do, they can't help but celebrate. And how does this realization come about? By looking in what God has written down in his book, the...

Today we reach the turning point in the story of Nehemiah. In the first 6 chapters that we've looked at in previous weeks, he's had to face, and overcome, all sorts of problems in order to complete the building up of his ruined city. But now, stage 1 is complete and the city's community needs to be built. So Nehemiah looks back to the list of people who'd resettled in the city. Peo...

The threats facing Nehemiah and his building team don't ease ... this week it's intimidation. But, Nehemiah presses on and the building project gets finished. What strategy does he use to keep going? Maybe we can learn a lesson or two to help ourselves when ridicule and intimidation come our way - for if we're trying to live God's way they're a certainty! https://www.facebook.c...

Last week we learnt about the threats facing Nehemiah and his building team ... and how they overcame them. But, just like in our lives, it's often not the challenges we experience from the world we live in that really get us down. No. It's the problems involving those we love (or ought to love!). How does Nehemiah cope with that type of problem? Listen to this week's podcast and you m...