Living Out
Faith is all we need, isn’t it? Just believe in Jesus and you’re on your way to heaven. Right? James says no. There’s more to it than that. Genuine, dynamic, living faith is always, always, always accompanied by good works. If all you’ve got is some so-called ‘faith’ but no good works, then the faith you think you have doesn’t cut the mustard. Join Chris as he explores what James has to say on the relationship of faith and works to salvation, and shares inspiring stories of people past and present who live life out in...
read morePrayer Points for Week Begining 14th May 2012
Please pray for the following points: For the church familyFor Barry Roberts who has had his knee replacement operation. We continue to pray for a swift and good recovery. For the family and friends of Ben Andrews, a local teenager, who was tragically killed this week in a car accident. The funeral is being held on Tuesday 15th May at 12.30pm and we pray for God’s love, peace and comfort at this very difficult time. For Jacob Britton (Jean & Martyn Sargent’s grandson) who has had surgery on his hip. It went very well and we pray...
read moreHe’s Alive
Note from Paul: What follows is Brook’s talk from Easter Sunday. Apologises for it taking so long to post. However, a sermon like this is just as powerful whatever time of year you listen to it. Enjoy! Most of us might like to rewrite our personal history and airbrush out the bad or ugly parts of our story. The good news is that whilst we cannot change the past we can redeem it and the future can be changed. The events of the first Easter are at the pivotal point in human history. History itself is divided into before and...
read morePrayer Points for Week Beginning 6th May 2012
Please pray for the following points: For the church familyFor Barry Roberts who had his knee replacement operation last week. He has been in a lot of pain and we pray for a swift and good recovery. For Liz MacCallum, coming to terms with the loss of her mum. For Caroline & Aaron Rigby on the birth of their baby daughter, Erin Lois. For Chris Guest’s Nieces son, Simon who has returned to Camp Bastian for a tour of duty and for his young wife and son left behind. For Rich & Hannah Crocombe. Rich has been made redundant and...
read morePrayer Points for Week Beginning 29th April 2012
Please pray for the following points: For the church familyFor Barry Roberts operation next week, Wednesday 2nd May. For Liz MacCallum, coming to terms with the loss of her Mum. For Caroline Rigby who’s baby is due anytime. For Chris Guest’s Niece’s son, Simon who has returned to Camp Bastian for a tour of duty and for his young wife and son left behind. For Rich & Hannah Crocombe. Rich has been made redundant and Hannah is quite poorly with headaches, backaches and feeling lethargic. For Kim Moore as she continues to...
read moreCaring For Each Other as Family
“A new command I give you, Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 “Love is not a feeling it’s an act of the will” the words of a Don Francisco song, and a sentiment that echoes with Jesus’ command to love one another. Jesus commands that we put our wills into action and love each other as family, care for each other, not only for the good of us all but so that other people see the love of God in action and recognise Christ...
read moreIn Three Days
What has a lady who has been described as having ‘the vocal range of Maria Carey, the looks of a model and the heart of Mother Teresa’ got to offer in relating the message of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Well, Tara Mathew has creatively portrayed the impact of the Easter story through her newly released pop video ‘In Three Days’.Designed to bring the message of Easter to the mass market places of our culture, through being profiled in the media, Tara uses this genre to express her own passionate belief as a Christian...
read moreWhat we’re all about:Growing
This week we’re starting a 4-part series based around our new church mission statement:GROWING in understanding, faith and love for God CARING for one another as family LIVING-OUT lives of faithfulness and service REACHING-OUT with the compassion and message of JesusThis statement encompasses the most important things that we believe we should be all about as church (hence the series title, ‘What we’re all about’). Each Sunday we’ll be focusing our teaching upon one of these, and Chris kicked off this week...
read moreCelebrate the jubilee at BEC
Join us for a celebration of the Royal Jubilee on May 19th at Blandford Evangelical Church. Tickets are available from Anne Elsworth or the church office. For details of the event we present to you our Julilee celebration in rhyme! This should be a night of fun For young and old, yes EVERYONE Bring your granny, bring a mate We need you all to make it great. There will be a lovely tea For just £2 but kids are free At 5 o’clock we’ll make a start With game or two for young at heart. Some skiffle music playing live You may get the...
read moreCondemned
On the night before Jesus was crucified he was arrested under the cover of darkness and taken to the High Priest’s house. But what are we to make of this night-time gathering of the Jewish Sanhedrin? Doesn’t it all sound a little… dodgy? Irregular? Weren’t the Jewish leaders breaking their own rules about capital trials – if that’s even what it was? In this week’s sermon, Chris unpacks Mark 14:53-65 offering some thoughts on the run-in to the crucifixion and what Mark is trying to tell his readers about Jesus.Podcast:
read moreReflections on Mark – Mark 15:42-47
The Burial of Jesus It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and...
read moreBroken For You
Jesus was having great difficulty in getting the disciples to understand that the way ahead for him was the Cross and death. He was to be the sacrificial lamb of the Passover. Satan did his best to keep Jesus from the Cross as well as puttting doubts into the disciples minds. In this passage Jesus seals the matter in describing himself as his body broken and his blood poured out.Podcast: Play in new window | Download
read moreReflections on Mark – Mark 15:33-41
The Death of Jesus At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. With a loud...
read moreReflections on Mark – Mark 15:16-32
The Soldiers Mock Jesus The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to...
read moreReflections on Mark – Mark 14:43-52
Jesus Arrested Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Am I...
read moreHow to remember Easter
Its almost Easter! Wow that has come around quick. For many easter is just two weeks of dealing with the kids being home from school, but as Christians we know it is something worth celebrating. We believe that Easter is an excellent opportunity to come together as churches and demonstrate God’s love to the local community. We would love you to be apart of that. There are 3 events happening over Easter you will definitely want to attend. These are: A good Friday service and march of witness On good Friday there is a joint service outside of...
read moreReflections on Mark – Mark 14:32-42
Gethsemane They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba,Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what...
read moreReflections on Mark – Mark 13:32-37
The Day and Hour Unknown “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes...
read morePrayer Points for Week Beginning 25th March 2012
Please pray for the following points: For the church familyFor the ‘March Mission’ at Monday Fellowship, that lots of people would be invited to come. For the Easter preparations in the coming weeks. Paul Tuck in his ongoing recovery. For Nigel, Annette and the family looking for the Lord’s leading to new opportunities. For Barry and Sheila for patience as they are still waiting for a date for Barry’s operation. He is in a lot of pain with his knee. Also strength for Sheila as she copes day to day. For Chris Guests Nieces son, Simon...
read moreReflections on Mark – Mark 13.1-31
Signs of the end of the age As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” Jesus said to...
read more