Holy Trinity Winchester Podcast

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. Andthe dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him...

Jesus and NicodemusOur Gospel reading today needs context. Jesus is speaking to a high-ranking Pharisee called Nicodemus who has come to him secretly because he thinks there is something to the things Jesus has been saying but is afraid to be seen by his peers. They have a slightly odd conversation most of which isn’t in the reading we’ve just heard. But I think in the whole conversation, Jesus is...

Fr Jamie Franklin speaks about a Gentile woman who would not take no for an answer. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit holytrinitywinchester.substack.com

Why aren’t you observing our traditions?(The Pharisees) saw that some of (Jesus’) disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed… And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” (Mark 7:2,5)-       Significance of this question? Disciples not observing the tradition of the Pharisees....

The Devil and the ChurchEphesians 6:10-20Final sermon on Ephesians, ‘The Devil and the Church’Spiritual WarfareIllustration – Cooperative and Antagonistic board games. Central Point – Spiritual life is not just cooperative but involve a battle again the Enemy. Therefore – we must be focussed, aware of the enemy, aware of what he does. Who is the enemy? Who is the enemy? The devil (v.11) and the ru...

The Church is a Place of Genuine JoyEphesians 5:15-21Worldly and Christian JoyI’m calling this sermon today ‘The Church is a Place of Genuine Happiness’ and I’ll come to what I mean by that in a moment. But I’d like to tell a story to begin with. Some years ago, as part of my training for ministry, I had to attend a particularly tragic funeral. This was of a young man who had taken his own life mu...

The Assumption of MaryThursday 15th August, 2024Some Initial ObjectionsThe Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the belief that Mary the mother of Jesus, having completed her earthly life was assumed, body and soul, into heavenly glory to be with her Son. More will be said about that in a moment, but how do we make sense of this belief as Anglicans? The Reformation anxiety about such beliefs i...

The Church is a Picture of the GospelEphesians 4:25-5:2Introduction – The Most Important Thing About the ChurchContinuing with this series of homilies on the book of Ephesians and the Church, I’d like to start with the end of our New Testament reading and work my way back to the beginning. This is because the end of this passage tells us maybe the most important thing about the Church, that which...

The TransfigurationLuke 9:28-36Just over a hundred years ago, many elite Christian professors and intellectuals came up with the idea that the supernatural elements of Christianity were unpalatable to modern tastes and so they decided to get rid of them. The most famous name here is that of Rudolf Bultmann who is associated with the project of ‘demythologising’ Scripture. This project and others l...

The Church is a Place of Growth and UnityEphesians 4:1-16The Holy Trinity and the New BirthIn our reading from the Book of Ephesians there is quite a remarkable passage which describes the church:‘There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through and in all....

The Church is the Place where the Love of Christ is KnownEphesians 3:14-21Today I’d like to speak once again on the New Testament reading from the Book of Ephesians 3:14-21 and to concentrate on what we learn from it about the Church. I’m calling this sermon ‘The Church is the Place where the Love of Christ is Known’.Let’s begin with some observations about the prayer of the Apostle Paul which beg...

The Church Exists for OutsidersEphesians 2:11-22Friends, we find ourselves in the middle of the Sundays after Trinity and the lectionary provides us with an opportunity to speak about the nature of the Church. It does this because, for the next few weeks, the New Testament readings are taken from the book of Ephesians. And the book of Ephesians is all about the Church: what it is and what it shoul...

-       Story of Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth and sending out the twelve to preach and to work miracles.-       Three basic points: Jesus causes offence. Prepare to be offended by Jesus. Prepare to offend and to be rejected.1)    Jesus causes offence-       Jesus preaches well. Instead of positive reaction, suspicion: “Where did he get these things?” And insult: “Isn’t this the son of Mary?” Not J...

Scenario-       Gospel reading a story within a story. We can learn much from it.-       Jairus: lay-ruler of synagogue. Demonstrates faith and humility:‘(Jairus) fell at his feet, and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”’Mark 4:23-       All is well. Jesus, the crowd, Jairus go.-      ...

Introduction-       Series of miracles in Mark’s Gospel starts here.-       Miracles not arbitrary but demonstration of Christ’s power in and over all things.-       Here power over nature: “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41).StormsFrom Capernaum, Christ suggests they cross the sea of Galilee: “Let us go across to the other side” (v.35)…‘And a great windstorm a...

Following on from the teaching of Christ, Fr Jamie Franklin encourages us to labour for God’s Kingdom whilst remembering that the power to see growth in any meaningful way ultimately comes from God. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit holytrinitywinchester.substack.com

Fr Jamie Franklin comments on Christ’s teaching from the Sermon on the Mount:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother wil...

Special Guest preacher Fr Dominik Chmielewski, Master of the Hospital of St Cross, Winchester, and vicar of St Faith’s, Winchester, challenges us not to allow our apparent knowledge and experience stand in the way of hearing God’s voice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit holytrinitywinchester.substack.com

The ConflictIn the Gospels, you’ve probably noticed that certain groups of characters come up multiple times. They are called things Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Lawyers. In our passage today, we see a typical example of the conflict between these groups and Jesus. To put it quite simply, we observe that there are two spirits at work that oppose one another. And this opposition is present throug...

We often start in the wrong place with the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The immediate problem presents itself: How can God be one and yet, at the same time, also three? And then we invent comparisons which we are subsequently told involve us in some kind of ancient heresy – God is like an egg with shell, yoke, and the white part. God is like water that is variously ice, water, and steam. God is l...

If you would like to watch this sermon, please visit our YouTube channel .The Need for a Helper: Story of Brian Clough and Peter TaylorActs 2: Birthday of ChurchFulfilment of “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:9Miraculous events: “A mighty rushing wind”, “divide...

A Hidden LifeStory of Franz Jägerstätter, Austrian farmer, refused to swear allegiance to Hitler, “The Antichrist”, arrested and put to death. Terence Malick film depicts agonising journey from idyllic hillside village and life with wife and three daughters, to arrest, imprisonment, and death. Jägerstätter’s stand Christian in nature. Recognised as a martyr and beatified in 2007.At one point in fi...

A short sermon for the Ascension by Fr Jamie Franklin from Holy Trinity Winchester. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit holytrinitywinchester.substack.com

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…’John 15:10Introduction-       Last week focus on individual soul abiding in Christ. This week, corporate dimension.-       Christ not only present to us ‘inwardly’, but also in the Church.-       The Church is a sacramentum, a sign that participates in the reality. We can know Christ in it. Consider the words of Christ;“If you keep my comman...

Abide in Me“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5Introduction – The Vine and the Branches-       Christ tells us that he is the true vine, his Father is the vinedresser, and we are the branches.-       Consider the image: the vine is the source of the life of the branches. If branches are not connected to the vine, they...