64 - Prisons and wells
How often are our choices and decisions driven by our fears of what may or may not happen? In today's talk, we see that Jeremiah, although fearful for his life, continues to do what God wants. Whereas the king makes a series of bad decisions based on saving his own skin. What does it mean to 'fear the Lord'?
Mon, 11 Nov 2024 - 22min
63 - Courageous faith
Today, to mark the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church we are going to be thinking about and praying for those 1 in 7 Christians worldwide who are persecuted because of their decision to follow Jesus.
Mon, 04 Nov 2024 - 22min
62 - Jeremiah buys a field
Disaster is about to strike the city - so why would God be telling Jeremiah to buy a field? And what can this incident say to us today?
Mon, 28 Oct 2024 - 13min
61 - Pictures Jeremiah used
Jeremiah loved a visual aid and today we're going to be looking at 5 of them and seeing how they remain relevant to us today.
Mon, 21 Oct 2024 - 31min
60 - Restoration and covenant
There was a message of hope for the exiles - God would come and rescue his people and bring them back home. It was going to happen - just not anytime soon. But that knowledge of what was going to happen in the future should impact the way that they live and experience the present.
Mon, 14 Oct 2024 - 18min
59 - Living beyond common sense
Being a Christian will mean that there are times when we have to go beyond doing what just makes the most sense - and therefore it is vital that we learn how to listen to God.
Mon, 07 Oct 2024 - 20min
58 - Baruch
How much do we value the Bible and allow God to shape us through it? That's one of the questions we're going to be thinking about as we look at the ancient story of Baruch and Jeremiah this morning.
Mon, 30 Sep 2024 - 23min
57 - Jeremiah's complaints
If you've ever felt despair or had questions about God, the Bible or your faith - then you're in good company. This morning we're looking at some of things that Jeremiah said when he'd reached the end of his tether and how God replied.
Mon, 23 Sep 2024 - 24min
56 - Words of judgement
No one likes being told that they're doing something wrong. Jeremiah spent most of his life warning the people of Israel that they were doing it wrong and as a result God's judgement was coming. They ignored Jeremiah. How do we respond when God challenges us about our behaviour or thoughts or attitudes?
Mon, 16 Sep 2024 - 18min
55 - Jeremiah's call
Why would I want to read or listen to talks about the Old Testament book of Jeremiah? Today's introduction to our new series will hopefully whet your appetite.
Mon, 09 Sep 2024 - 27min
54 - Harvest 2024
This week we're celebrating harvest and thinking about what it means to 'seek first the kingdom'.
Mon, 02 Sep 2024 - 10min
53 - A work in progress
God hasn't finished with us yet. We are all a work in progress. If you're waiting until you feel ready before serving God then you're going to be waiting a long time. Instead God wants us to step out in faith and trust him.
Mon, 12 Aug 2024 - 18min
52 - Light in the darkness
Join us this week for the first of our summer talks - this week exploring the theme of light in the darkness.
Mon, 05 Aug 2024 - 19min
51 - Grumble in the Jungle
A special Holiday Club service - continuing our theme of looking at stories Jesus told.
Mon, 29 Jul 2024 - 14min
50 - Jesus stories told - parable of the four soils
As we prepare for Holiday Club we're going to be looking at the parable of the four soils today.
Mon, 22 Jul 2024 - 08min
49 - From Ephesus to Jerusalem
We cover a lot of ground this week - from Turkey to Israel, via Greece. What can we learn from Paul's work, his words and his warnings?
Mon, 15 Jul 2024 - 34min
48 - Baptism Sunday
As we've been reading through Acts we've read about lots of people getting baptised. But why did they do it and why do we still do it?
Mon, 08 Jul 2024 - 17min
47 - From Galatia to Ephesus
There are many parts of Paul's story where it is obvious that he is involved in a spiritual battle. Often, in the western church, this is a part of our Christian life that we hear very little about - but for Christians in other parts of the world it is very much a part of their everyday experience. So what do we mean when we talk about spiritual warfare?
Mon, 01 Jul 2024 - 24min
46 - From Athens to Antioch
There are plenty of verses in the Bible about not being afraid because God is with us. But does that mean that I shouldn't feel afraid? Did people like the apostle Paul ever feel afraid knowing that physical persecution was a likely outcome of his actions as he approached a new city? Let's find out.
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 - 22min
45 - In Athens
What is God like? Many of us may have ideas about what God is like - and the people of Athens had ideas about what God is like - but Paul wanted to show them, and us, what God is really like - and he wants us to know how we can know God for ourselves.
Mon, 17 Jun 2024 - 24min
44 - From Thessalonica to Athens
How do we know what is true? The Bereans wanted to know whether or not what Paul was saying was true - so they went away and studied the Scriptures. They didn't just reject his message out of hand because of centuries of tradition - they were open to the truth. What can we learn from their example?
Mon, 10 Jun 2024 - 29min
43 - Go
Today we're taking another look at the Great Commission and thinking about what it means to 'go'.
If you want to watch the video that is included in this talk you'll find it here: https://youtu.be/WgouzNt9LbA?si=xeIYYn-wYdSzPXh-
Mon, 03 Jun 2024 - 14min
42 - From Derbe to Philippi
Paul travels to Philippi and has quite an adventure involving being thrown into prison and having the prison doors opened in an earthquake. But that wasn't the best bit of the story.
Fri, 31 May 2024 - 30min
41 - From Iconium to Antioch
As Paul and Barnabas continue their journey they see the Holy Spirit transforming lives. But we are in a spiritual battle and so they also encounter hostility, hardships and persecution. Obedience to Jesus will often make life harder - but Paul encourages us to remain faithful because it is totally worth it.
Mon, 20 May 2024 - 22min
40 - From Cyprus to Iconium
We continue to follow Paul on his travels - this week from Cyprus to Iconium. Paul experienced ups and downs - and so do we - and yet he could see what God was doing throughout it all. We have a story to tell too.
Mon, 13 May 2024 - 23min
39 - Thy Kingdom Come
Disciples are people who make disciples. But what is a disciple and how do you make disciples. This week we're preparing to get involved in Thy Kingdom Come.
Tue, 07 May 2024 - 11min
38 - Antioch to Cyprus
God speaks to the multi-ethnic and diverse church in Antioch as they are worshipping and fasting. What is God saying to us today through this story?
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 - 27min
37 - From Jerusalem to Tarsus
This week we start a new series looking at Paul's travels - sometimes known as Paul's missionary journeys. But we begin looking at how Paul even became a follower of Jesus. When we first meet him he is persecuting the church, so what happened?
Mon, 22 Apr 2024 - 25min
36 - Building your foundation in Christ
Life is full of ups and downs - so how do we build our lives on something solid that will hold us secure in the storms of life?
Mon, 15 Apr 2024 - 13min
35 - Dress up
Are there things that we need to 'take off' and other things that we need to 'put on' now that we are followers of Jesus?
Mon, 08 Apr 2024 - 16min
34 - Easter Sunday 2024
Many people who met Jesus were trying to piece together the pieces of the puzzle - what they heard, what they'd seen, what the Scriptures said - to try and work out exactly who Jesus was. The resurrection was one piece that meant that many concluded that Jesus was who he said he was. And we can be a part of this story too.
Mon, 01 Apr 2024 - 12min
33 - Good Friday Reflection 2024
What does this death, 2000 years ago, mean for us today?
Sat, 30 Mar 2024 - 07min
32 - The money changers
Having just arrived in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus goes into the temple and through his actions and his words warns of God's judgement on those who worship God with their words but whose hearts are not compassionate towards the poor, the oppressed, the marginalised...
Mon, 25 Mar 2024 - 22min
31 - A blind man
Today we're looking at Jesus' encounter with a blind man from John 9. What does John want us to 'see' about Jesus in this passage?
Mon, 18 Mar 2024 - 28min
30 - A woman caught in adultery
Jesus' opponents try to trap him, looking to put him between a rock and a hard place. But Jesus' compassionate response leaves his accusers silent and gives us a picture of God's attitude towards us.
Mon, 11 Mar 2024 - 23min
29 - God and money
Whilst our money and what we do it with it might be a topic we'd rather not talk about in church there is quite a lot on the topic in the Bible. So what are some of the principles that will help us think about money as we seek to become more like Jesus?
Mon, 04 Mar 2024 - 26min
28 - A sick woman and a dead girl
Two very different encounters for Jesus in today's passage - one with a woman who hopes to go unnoticed without bothering Jesus and a worried father who goes to find Jesus as he is his only hope.
Mon, 26 Feb 2024 - 20min
27 - A Canaanite woman
Jesus' encounter with a Canaanite woman who asks for his help raises a number of questions - including, 'isn't Jesus just being rude?' So what is going on here and how is it relevant for us?
Mon, 19 Feb 2024 - 25min
26 - A lame man
Jesus demonstrates his compassion by healing a lame man - he wasn't looking to Jesus for help, he didn't even know who Jesus was. How has Jesus shown us compassion and what does that mean for us as we seek to be more like Jesus?
Mon, 12 Feb 2024 - 21min
25 - The little children
Not only does Jesus criticise the disciples for stopping the little children from coming to him - he also tells them that anyone who does not become like a little child will not enter the kingdom of heaven. What is Jesus talking about?
Mon, 05 Feb 2024 - 18min
24 - Nicodemus
As we continue our series of Encounters with Jesus, today we're looking at a private meeting between Jesus and one of Israel's teachers - a man called Nicodemus. Their conversation includes what is perhaps the best known verse in the Bible, John 3:16.
Mon, 29 Jan 2024 - 32min
23 - John the Baptist
John's whole mission is about pointing people to Jesus and preparing the ground - so that people are ready to respond to the news that the Messiah is here. But what does fruit 'in keeping with repentance' actually look like?
Mon, 22 Jan 2024 - 22min
22 - Anna and Simeon
We start our new series, 'Encounters with Jesus - Part 2' with one of the earliest encounters in Jesus' life. Jesus would have been a bit over a month old. But what can we learn about this encounter in the temple with Anna and Simeon?
Mon, 15 Jan 2024 - 21min
21 - It won't just happen
Part of our vision here at CBC is to be more like Jesus - but we know that that is not just going to happen all by itself. We need to put things in place if that is going to happen. In this service, we think about some of the things that we can put in place this year that will help.Please note that this is an all-age service and therefore some of the more interactive parts of the service have been edited out - so the talk might jump at various points - but hopefully, you can still follow the general theme.
Mon, 08 Jan 2024 - 17min
20 - New Year's Eve 2023
Do you know why we celebrate New Year on 1st January? And once you know, should Christians celebrate New Year? How can we best prepare for the year ahead?
Tue, 02 Jan 2024 - 11min
19 - The surprise of the Magi
This Christmas morning - what can we learn from the story of the Magi? What do we know actually about them? And why are these such surprising characters to find in Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus?
Tue, 02 Jan 2024 - 07min
18 - Preparing for Christmas
We'll spend our service today preparing for Christmas.
Fri, 29 Dec 2023 - 14min
17 - God with us
In our Carol Service we were thinking about how, at the heart of the Christmas story, there is the reality of a God who is with us in our messy and dark world - and the difference that makes for us still, today. The less Christmassy we feel - the more important this story is for us.
Mon, 18 Dec 2023 - 08min
16 - God with us
In the run-up to Christmas we conclude our series in Isaiah looking at some of the promises of the coming Messiah and in a dark world we thank God for the promise of Immanuel - which means 'God with us'.
Mon, 11 Dec 2023 - 31min
15 - But how do I know? - Discerning God's will for my future
If you are a Christian you probably have some sense that when it comes to decisions in your life, especially big decisions, you want to be doing what God wants. But how do we know what God wants? How do I tell the difference between God's voice and my own thoughts and desires? Keith explores this theme this morning.
Mon, 04 Dec 2023 - 29min
14 - Where do I fit?
Amy Bland was our speaker at this year's West of Cambridge Joint Service. As many local churches closed their own buildings and met together, Amy took the theme 'Where do I fit?' - to explore how we all have a special place in the church - each with a vital role to play.
Mon, 27 Nov 2023 - 24min
13 - How it ends?
Does the Bible tell us about what is going to happen at the 'end of the world'? We've been looking at the Old Testament book of Isaiah this term and we've seen how some of his prophecies were fulfilled in the short term, some hundreds of years later in the life and death of Jesus - but others are pointing to the end of time, and are still in our future. But what does he say, and why does it matter?
Mon, 20 Nov 2023 - 26min
12 - Justice, peace and reconciliation
With the backdrop of all that is happening in Israel and Gaza, Richard, from Jews for Jesus shares from Isaiah 58 on God's desire for justice, peace and reconciliation. We will think about how we can pray for the situation but also our responsibility to be those who live this way.
Mon, 13 Nov 2023 - 24min
11 - My ways are not your ways
Even a quick glance at Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) reveals that in so many areas of our lives we need a total re-work of the ways in which we think and behave.
Mon, 06 Nov 2023 - 18min
10 - Portraits of Jesus
Although written hundreds of years before Jesus' birth the book of Isaiah gives us many images of who Jesus would be, what he would do, and its significance for us.
Mon, 30 Oct 2023 - 30min
9 - The suffering servant
700 years before Jesus, Isaiah predicts many details of Jesus' death - and he wants us to know that this was no accident, and that it was so that we might know peace with God.
Mon, 23 Oct 2023 - 18min
8 - Good news in bad places
Our news is full of stories of ashes, mourning and despair. Something that Isaiah's audience were familiar with - living through the exile. What words of hope does Isaiah have for them and for us?
Mon, 16 Oct 2023 - 19min
7 - An invitation
As we continue our series in Isaiah God offers an invitation to the people - but will they accept?
Mon, 09 Oct 2023 - 27min
6 - God of science
In this episode Dr Ruth Bancewicz from The Faraday Institute explores topics related science and faith. There are a few points in Ruth's talks that will make more sense with images - so pop over to our YouTube channel for the video if you want the full effect.
Mon, 02 Oct 2023 - 31min
5 - Who is like God?
What are the comforts and the challenges of knowing what God is like?
Mon, 25 Sep 2023 - 23min
4 - Isaiah's call
Isaiah experiences God's grace and forgiveness and immediately volunteers for a ministry that from a human perspective would be judged a failure. But Isaiah isn't interested in the human perspective - but only what God thinks.
Mon, 18 Sep 2023 - 20min
3 - Isaiah - an introduction
In this series we're looking at some of the key themes in the book of Isaiah and seeing how these words, written about 2,500 years ago, can have anything to say to us today.
Mon, 11 Sep 2023 - 20min
2 - Harvest 2023
During our harvest thanksgiving service we were thinking about those things we want to thank God for and how we can help others locally and further away.
Mon, 04 Sep 2023 - 14min
1 - A nervous return?
Bringing our summer series to a close we're looking at the story of Onesimus and Philemon.
Wed, 30 Aug 2023 - 23min