Dave is the Rector of the joint benefice of St Nicholas, Stevenage and St Mary, Graveley. He began his ministry in Stevenage in 2011.
The Christmas advertising campaigns tell us wonderful and heartwarming stories to stir our aching souls – but they can’t deliver. What we need is a better story; a true story – and the Christmas Story has all we could ever need.
The reformation happened 500 years ago – so why do we need one today? Because the worldly culture, our sinful selves and false teachers all can and do lead God’s people and God’s church away from sound doctrine. We look at those 3 threats and find 4 ways to stand firm and ‘contend for the gospel’ in our age.
What is the glory of God? How does the gospel itself show the glory of God? And how should we, as those who have been saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in the finished work of Christ alone reflect the glory of God to the watching world?
In previous weeks we have seen that we are saved by grace alone and through faith alone; but where should our faith be placed? In Christ Alone!
Why was Martin Luther called a heretic and excommunicated when so many others were calling for reform? Because he challenged the claim that the pope and the church sat above scripture and were immune from error. Luther knew that popes, church councils and in fact every Christian, all need to sit under the Word of God!