«Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash»
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13)
This Sunday is a Confirmation service. At our 10:30 service, we’ll be joined by the Bishop of Ebbsfleet who will be confirming Abigail, Ed, Jemima and Thomas. Please do be praying for them as they prepare for confirmation and in the days and weeks to come.
Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. (Luke 8:8)
This Sunday is our Harvest service. At 10:30, we’ll be collecting donations for Broxbourne Foodbank, and we’re also being joined by Northaw School’s Choir.
Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ The other guests began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’ (Luke 7:48-50)
There has been a focus on faith in Luke for the last couple of weeks. This Sunday’s passage looks at the great benefit of faith: it is what saves us. If we know who Jesus is - by his words and his actions - and we believe it, we are saved though that faith.
“Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (Luke 7:22-23)
What do we expect from Jesus? Does he do what we think he’s going to do? Does the Jesus we see in action - both in God’s Word and around us - make us question who he is? What Jesus does tells us what he is like, and what we should be like.
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.’ (Luke 7:9)
What is faith? What does it mean for us to have faith? As we return to Luke's gospel for a few weeks, we start with a look at what faith is. How can we have faith in the way Jesus describes?