Short Talk; 'sow generously' Gratitude: An expression of thanks to God for His indescribable gift. Generosity: The importance of generosity, highlighting that all good things come from the generous love and grace of God. The metaphor of a seed, emphasizing how a seed must be sown, die in the ground, and then produce an incredible harvest. Jesus' fascination with seeds and how He used parables like the sower and the seed to convey important lessons. Seeds are described as fascinating because they contain life within a tiny shell and, under the right conditions, can produce something marvelous. Paul's challenge to a vibrant but sometimes divided Corinthian church. Giving Cheerfully: Paul encourages cheerful giving and emphasizes that it should be a personal decision rather than driven by guilt or comparison with others. Multiplication of Seeds: How a single seed of Jesus' life has multiplied into millions or billions of changed lives over centuries. An example of a simple act of generosity, starting with a small cupboard in Saint Andrews Church, which has grown to help hundreds of thousands of people in need. The Abundance of God's Love: The immense, indescribable gift of God's love and grace, freely given, and encourages generosity in response. All good things come from God's abundant love and grace Generosity is a reflection of God's love and a means to bring blessings to others, creating a harvest of joy and love.

Join us in looking back 📻 ! Listen again to timeless messages from our services from 1 year ago.

Hear truths on God's unconditional love, Jesus' radical inclusion, and how we can love all people. 🙏️ Be encouraged to walk in love as Christ did. ✝️

Spread hope - share this podcast! 💌 Let it inspire you and others to follow Jesus' example. 👣 Invite friends to tune in! 🗣️

Join us for worship every Sunday, #AllAreWelcome

Don't just listen - come every Sunday and experience God's love! ♥️ We'd love to worship with you in person! 👐 See you there!

Website: https://www.trinity-urc.org.uk YouTube: https://youtube.com/@trinityhighwycombe

Podcasts: https://anchor.fm/trinitycoresend-1year-ago Twitter: https://twitter.com/trinity_urc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinity_urc/ What's on: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/trinity-and-cores-end-united-reformed-churches-32072022553 #Church #ListenAgain #WhatDidYouSay #Worship #TheMessage #God #Jesus #Podcast #Faith #ChurchLife #GetConnected #GrowTogether #LoveOneAnother

Jacob was a lonely, guilty figure fleeing his past when he had the dream. God had to speak to Jacob in a dream when he was passive to get through to him. In the dream, Jacob saw a ladder between heaven and earth with angels going up and down. The passage points to Jesus as the ladder between heaven and earth. Jesus referred to himself as the ladder between heaven and earth. The passage also tells us something about the church as a "trusting" place where heaven and earth meet. The church is a special meeting place between God and people. The passage addresses us individually in our own lonely, guilty, or dark places. Even when we don't know it, God can be present with us in those painful places. Those painful places can later become "Bethel" - the house of God.

Join us in looking back 📻 ! Listen again to timeless messages from our services from 1 year ago.

Hear truths on God's unconditional love, Jesus' radical inclusion, and how we can love all people. 🙏️ Be encouraged to walk in love as Christ did. ✝️

Spread hope - share this podcast! 💌 Let it inspire you and others to follow Jesus' example. 👣 Invite friends to tune in! 🗣️

Join us for worship every Sunday, #AllAreWelcome

Don't just listen - come every Sunday and experience God's love! ♥️ We'd love to worship with you in person! 👐 See you there!

Website: https://www.trinity-urc.org.uk YouTube: https://youtube.com/@trinityhighwycombe

Podcasts: https://anchor.fm/trinitycoresend-1year-ago Twitter: https://twitter.com/trinity_urc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinity_urc/ What's on: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/trinity-and-cores-end-united-reformed-churches-32072022553 #Church #ListenAgain #WhatDidYouSay #Worship #TheMessage #God #Jesus #Podcast #Faith #ChurchLife #GetConnected #GrowTogether #LoveOneAnother

All age Talk: ‘Season of Creation – rivers of justice and peace’ The river of Life from Revelation, bringing healing. Rivers start small but grow large, which fascinates the speaker. The local River Wye is a precious chalk stream needing protection. The Wye has been polluted and neglected over the years. Local groups like Revive the Wye aim to restore and protect the river. Rivers worldwide are being damaged through pollution. Rivers are sacred places in scripture that we must protect.

Join us in looking back 📻 ! Listen again to timeless messages from our services from 1 year ago.

Hear truths on God's unconditional love, Jesus' radical inclusion, and how we can love all people. 🙏️ Be encouraged to walk in love as Christ did. ✝️

Spread hope - share this podcast! 💌 Let it inspire you and others to follow Jesus' example. 👣 Invite friends to tune in! 🗣️

Join us for worship every Sunday, #AllAreWelcome

Don't just listen - come every Sunday and experience God's love! ♥️ We'd love to worship with you in person! 👐 See you there!

Website: https://www.trinity-urc.org.uk YouTube: https://youtube.com/@trinityhighwycombe

Podcasts: https://anchor.fm/trinitycoresend-1year-ago Twitter: https://twitter.com/trinity_urc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinity_urc/ What's on: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/trinity-and-cores-end-united-reformed-churches-32072022553 #Church #ListenAgain #WhatDidYouSay #Worship #TheMessage #God #Jesus #Podcast #Faith #ChurchLife #GetConnected #GrowTogether #LoveOneAnother

Reflecting on the previous sermon series on Revelation. Why the lectionary is used for most services rather than exploring other parts of the Bible. Doing the daily office with readings and psalms from the lectionary. Fewer churches have evening services now, and we are poorer for it Certain Bible passages and hymns conjure up thoughts about God. Recalling a confirmation class discussion about hymns portraying God. One student said a hymn portrayed God like an almighty corset. Today's Romans passage reminds us of a previous sermon on not thinking too highly of yourself. Relating this to the unattractive character of Uriah Heep from David Copperfield. Does emphasizing humility makes some people think even less of themselves. Does stressing humility leads some people to think even less of themselves when they already face challenges to their self-esteem from lack of education, employment, or respect from others.

Join us in looking back 📻 ! Listen again to timeless messages from our services from 1 year ago.

Hear truths on God's unconditional love, Jesus' radical inclusion, and how we can love all people. 🙏️ Be encouraged to walk in love as Christ did. ✝️

Spread hope - share this podcast! 💌 Let it inspire you and others to follow Jesus' example. 👣 Invite friends to tune in! 🗣️

Join us for worship every Sunday, #AllAreWelcome

Don't just listen - come every Sunday and experience God's love! ♥️ We'd love to worship with you in person! 👐 See you there!

Website: https://www.trinity-urc.org.uk YouTube: https://youtube.com/@trinityhighwycombe

Podcasts: https://anchor.fm/trinitycoresend-1year-ago Twitter: https://twitter.com/trinity_urc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinity_urc/ What's on: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/trinity-and-cores-end-united-reformed-churches-32072022553 #Church #ListenAgain #WhatDidYouSay #Worship #TheMessage #God #Jesus #Podcast #Faith #ChurchLife #GetConnected #GrowTogether #LoveOneAnother

John tries to take in all he's seen and heard in the vision He is overwhelmed and kneels to worship the angel But the angel says "Don't do it" Don't worship me, worship God Don't worship lesser things, only God Not the Bible, ministers, rulers, wealth, technology or military might The emperor demanded worship as God's son But the angels say these words can be trusted - worship God Jesus says happy are those who obey the prophetic words The message is simple - worship the living God John is overwhelmed by the vision and kneels to worship the angel, but is told not to worship lesser things, only God. Rulers like the emperor demanded worship but angels tell John the words are true - worship God. The message is not to worship human rulers and powers but only the living God. This is the simple message to obey from Revelation.

Join us in looking back 📻 ! Listen again to timeless messages from our services from 1 year ago.

Hear truths on God's unconditional love, Jesus' radical inclusion, and how we can love all people. 🙏️ Be encouraged to walk in love as Christ did. ✝️

Spread hope - share this podcast! 💌 Let it inspire you and others to follow Jesus' example. 👣 Invite friends to tune in! 🗣️

Join us for worship every Sunday, #AllAreWelcome

Don't just listen - come every Sunday and experience God's love! ♥️ We'd love to worship with you in person! 👐 See you there!

Website: https://www.trinity-urc.org.uk YouTube: https://youtube.com/@trinityhighwycombe

Podcasts: https://anchor.fm/trinitycoresend-1year-ago Twitter: https://twitter.com/trinity_urc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinity_urc/ What's on: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/trinity-and-cores-end-united-reformed-churches-32072022553 #Church #ListenAgain #WhatDidYouSay #Worship #TheMessage #God #Jesus #Podcast #Faith #ChurchLife #GetConnected #GrowTogether #LoveOneAnother

The new Jerusalem needs no sun or moon to shine on it The glory of God shines on it and the Lamb is its lamp Ancient people worshiped the sun for its life-giving light and warmth The moon was seen as a lesser god, creating seasons and rhythms Cities produced their own light with oil lamps in John's day But today's light pollution would astonish ancients John knows the importance of light But the true light is God's spiritual light - the glory of God This has been seen in Jesus, the Lamb on the cross If we learn one thing from John, it is to worship the living God The theme of light, referring to the passage just read about how the New Jerusalem needs no sun or moon because God is its light. Ancient people worshiped the sun and moon but that John sees the true light as the spiritual light of God's glory, revealed in Jesus Christ. The main message from John is to worship the living God, not lesser things.

Listen again to key parts of our services from 1 year ago Join us for worship every Sunday, all are welcome

Website: https://www.trinity-urc.org.uk YouTube: https://youtube.com/@trinityhighwycombe

Podcasts: https://anchor.fm/trinitycoresend-1year-ago Twitter: https://twitter.com/trinity_urc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinity_urc/ What's on: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/trinity-and-cores-end-united-reformed-churches-32072022553 #AllAreWelcome #Church #ListenAgain #WhatDidYouSay #Worship #TheMessage #God #Jesus #Podcast

Revelation repeatedly calls us to simple heartfelt worship of God. It invites us to put aside earthly idols that demand our worship. John wrote Revelation when Christians faced persecution from the Roman empire. The churches he wrote to were frightened by the empire's military might. But John reminds them that Rome is not the ultimate power - God is. There is a spiritual battle between good and evil described in these chapters. Though it talks of destructive forces, God can destroy destruction without being destructive. Heaven falls silent so God can hear the cries of his people on earth. At the communion table, we proclaim the lamb sacrificed on the cross as the ultimate power, not political or military forces. We must continue to worship God amidst life's struggles, holding onto all that is good. We explore Revelation's call to worship God above all earthly powers. Though the middle chapters describe spiritual battles, John reminds us that God, not the mighty Roman empire, is the ultimate power. God destroys evil without being destructive himself. Overall we are to worship God amidst life's struggles, proclaiming Christ's sacrifice as the greatest power.

Listen again to key parts of our services from 1 year ago Join us for worship every Sunday, all are welcome

Website: https://www.trinity-urc.org.uk YouTube: https://youtube.com/@trinityhighwycombe

Podcasts: https://anchor.fm/trinitycoresend-1year-ago Twitter: https://twitter.com/trinity_urc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinity_urc/ What's on: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/trinity-and-cores-end-united-reformed-churches-32072022553 #AllAreWelcome #Church #ListenAgain #WhatDidYouSay #Worship #TheMessage #God #Jesus #Podcast

“The kingdom of heaven …” The parable of the mustard seed shows the kingdom started small but grew greatly. The parable of the yeast shows how the kingdom expands and multiplies. The treasure and pearl show the great value of the kingdom. The net parable refers to final judgment and separation of good/wicked. Solomon exemplifies using discernment to govern justly as part of God's kingdom. God blessed Solomon with wisdom when he sought to discern God's will as king. We are not fully living in God's kingdom now with all the world's problems. But we can see signs of God's kingdom through people helping others. Our role is to help grow God's kingdom by discerning and doing God's will. Reflecting on parables helps us understand our part in advancing God's kingdom. Examining the parables reminds us to discern God's will so we can help grow His righteous kingdom.

Listen again to key parts of our services from 1 year ago Join us for worship every Sunday, all are welcome

Website: https://www.trinity-urc.org.uk YouTube: https://youtube.com/@trinityhighwycombe

Podcasts: https://anchor.fm/trinitycoresend-1year-ago Twitter: https://twitter.com/trinity_urc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinity_urc/ What's on: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/trinity-and-cores-end-united-reformed-churches-32072022553 #AllAreWelcome #Church #ListenAgain #WhatDidYouSay #Worship #TheMessage #God #Jesus #Podcast