Erica continues our Series on Galatians looking at the topic "Children of the Promise"
Pastor Paul continues our series on What is the Gospel in Galatians focusing on Chapter 3: 1-14
Erica brings us the next installment in our 'What is the Gospel' Series looking at Galatians 2:11-21
We continue our new series, 'What is the Gospel?', as we explore it in the Book of Galatians and the message this week is titled "Saturated"
BEC Member Ray Miller kicks off our new series, 'What is the Gospel?', as we explore it in the Book of Galatians and ask the question, 'Why is the Cross 'Good News' and what's its significance in our lives?'
Pastor Paul brings us a message on going back to basis.
Guest speaker Jonathan Oloyede brought a challenge to the churches in Rugby to pray and fast for our families, our communities and town, and our country and beyond. He was leading us to look at revival in our towns and country.
Note: Each talk in this series is a one-off and is not following a particular theme or passage of the Bible.
14th January 2024.
Guest speaker Jonathan Oloyede brought a challenge to the churches in Rugby to pray and fast for our families, our communities and town, and our country and beyond.
Note: Each talk in this series is a one-off and is not following a particular theme or passage of the Bible.
14th January 2024.
Pastor Paul Rogers brought us the first in a series on Lift Your Gaze.
Note: Each talk in this series is a one-off and is not following a particular theme or passage of the Bible.
7th January 2024.
Pastor Paul Rogers preaches on the first Sunday in Advent about preparing for Christmas
Ruth’s loving loyalty and Boaz’s act of redemption reverse all the despair and desperation of chapter 1 for Naomi. It is also the beginning of Israel’s rescue from lawlessness and godlessness, and later still, of Christ’s redeeming of the world. Our kinsman-redeemer replaces death with life, emptiness with fulness, homelessness with a home to come etc.
Pastor Paul Rogers preached on how Boaz was the kinsman redeemer for Ruth.
There is a contrast of Boaz with the other kinsman who wants the land but not the obligations that go with Ruth’s hand in marriage. Boaz knows the Law and uses it well, but goes beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of it, acting in Ruth, Naomi and the clan’s interest, not his own. He ensures Ruth is fully welcomed into the nation of Israel (vv11-12). As Christ had no need to give up his rights for our sake, so we should live lives of love which go beyond obligation to self-sacrificial love. Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law, so we are now freed from its restrictions to live by the Spirit and the law of love (Galatians 5).
Ruth courageously takes the initiative, and behind the scenes, God is also at work to provide. God wants us to welcome the outsider and care for the vulnerable.
Mark Gibson - 22/10/23.
The continuation of our series on the book of Ruth looking at "Beauty for Ashes" with guest speaker Ellie Hart, sharing a sermon titled The Return.
Ellie Hart - 15/10/23.
Key verses: Ruth: 1:1-5; Judges 19-21.
Setting the scene for the book of Ruth, introducing some major themes, e.g. hard times in the nation and our personal life call for a response. God has plans for redemption which we can trust.
Mark Gibson - 8/10/23.
Key verses: 1 Chronicles 15:16-16:6
Central to the account of the return of the Ark is David's facilitation of intimate encounter with God through prayer and worship. Themes explored:
Erica Richmond 24/09/2023
Pastor Paul Rogers shared a short prophetic message with the church.
Sunday 1st October 2023.
Making Church a Home and not just a House. Is the Home ready for the Prodigals to come back and what do we need to do to ensure it is?
David’s realisation that we must all walk in obedience to God’s ‘prescribed ways’ (1 Chr.15:13)
What could this mean for us as individuals and at a corporate level?
The Ark as a symbol of God’s presence and favour among his people.
Why knowing these is vital to our existence as individual disciples and
communities of faith.
❖ Why operating in our own strength and presumption is not how we
facilitate the favour of God (CF the unsettling example of Uzzah)
From the series "A Word to the Wise" from Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:1-11; 2:24-25; 3:9-13; 5:18-20; 6:9; 8:15
Vapour/smoke has a temporary and fleeting nature which could encourage contrasting postures towards play and pleasure. 1. What’s the point in enjoying anything because it will eventually disappear? 2. I’m going to pursue as much pleasure as possible, while I have the opportunity. Is there a healthy balance to be found of not clinging on too tightly to things that bring us pleasure and making them idols (ref. Isaiah 44) but coupling this with a genuine enjoyment of the simple things in life and acknowledging them as gifts from God? If we give ourselves completely over to pleasure, satisfaction will be temporary and Monday morning always comes around. The teacher tried to find pleasure in lots of different areas, some of them not bad in and of themselves, but this only filled his life and didn’t bring fulfilment to it. This said, life is hard work, throws up all kinds of challenges and the teacher acknowledges that God has placed this burden on us so it’s important we enjoy ourselves in amongst our toil and hardships. A posture of total trust in God helps us to enjoy life as we actually experience it as opposed to pursuing how we think it ought to be.
Ryan Baxter 27/8/2023
From the series "A word to the Wise" from Ecclesiastes.
Key Verses: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18; 2:12-16; 7:1-25; 8:1; 8:16-17; 9:13-10:4; 12:9-14
'Hebel' is an enigma/paradox and in life, particular actions don't always lead to the outcomes we expect. This brings into question what the point of wisdom and knowledge is when it can often be the case that there is little or no reward to demonstrating these qualities. This is a direct contrast to the Book of Proverbs where the general rule of thumb is that certain wise actions should result in positive and logical outcomes. However, even amongst the teacher’s scepticism, there is an underlying acceptance that cultivating and protecting wisdom in our lives is good for us but that ultimately, human wisdom has its limitations. The author in the closing poem fully endorses the teacher’s wisdom but concludes that we shouldn’t spend all our time trying to solve life’s existential puzzles and instead, fear the Lord and keep his commandments.
Paul Rogers 20/8/2023
From the series "A word to the Wise" from Ecclesiastes.
Key Verses: Ecclesiastes 3:15-17; 4:1-3; 5:8-9; 8:9-14; 12:14
There’s so much beauty and goodness in the world but just when we’re enjoying it, hardship and tragedy has a habit of striking. Just like smoke which appears solid but quickly disperses when we try and grab hold of it. A lot of people carry a strong sense of justice but ‘bad’ things happen to ‘good’ people all the time which can cause disillusionment or at the very least, confusion. Oppression makes life bitter, sorrowful and destroys people and it’s often people or groups in positions of power who are culpable. A significant part of the closing poem highlights that it is God’s intention to bring every deed into judgment, whether good or bad. This should hopefully inspire us to cultivate lives of honesty and integrity, with the confidence that the injustices we and others experience in this life will be brought under God’s judgement.
Erica Richmond 13/8/2023
From the series "A word to the Wise" from Ecclesiastes.
Key Verses: Ecclesiastes 1:3-11; 3:14; 3:18-21; 9:1-10
We spend a lot of energy and emotion on things that ultimately have no lasting meaning or significance. Eg. Wealth, work, pleasure, status. Time will eventually erase us and everything we care about, with death being the great equaliser. The death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus is the only thing that can combat the inevitability of time and death and in the meantime, He shows us why and how we should live, that true life is to know him and that it is He who ultimately ensures our lives have meaning and significance.
Paul Rogers 6/8/2023
What, on Earth, is God up to? (Daniel 3 & Revelation 21)
In a world of uncertainty, what, on Earth, is God up to?
Paul Rogers 30.07.23