James 4:9-12Don’t judge!Today we pray that you would reveal to us whether we harbour resentment, or we lack humility within our fellowship. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who …
Pause: “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” Psalm 25 : 8 – 9 Reading: “…do you think Scripture says without reason that that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives …
James 4:1-4 “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you do ask, you …
James 3: 17-18 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James is expanding on two kinds of wisdom. Yesterday Mike wrote about the kind that most people have …
James 3:13-16 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such ‘wisdom’ does not come …
Today’s reading: James 3:9-12 Sticks and stonesToday’s brief reading, which is only four verses from James, covers one topic – our speech. Yet I find there are three challenging points within it. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of …
Currently St John’s Church remains closed – we are making the necessary repairs to the church building and we will reopen as soon as we can. It is possible these could extend into November or beyond, but our regular services continue both online, weekly in the centre, and at St Nicholas’ on Thorney Island, which …
Today’s reading: Pause: “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are …