Word on Wednesday with John Mason

Last weekend, Emmanuel Anglican Church New York City celebrated the 10th anniversary of its formation and Dr Jim Salladin's ministry there. It is a wonderful tribute that the church has not only developed and grown over the years, but also testifies to the goodness and loving kindness of the Lord.

Find out more in this podcast.

In his Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis says that there are two equal and opposite errors that people fall into regarding the dark powers. One mistake is to disbelieve in their existence: the other is to believe in them to excess.

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Every day we make decisions. It's part of being human. While many decisions are simply a matter of personal preference, some of our decisions carry with them a sense of obligation - a sense of duty. But such obligations need to be awakened.

Find out more in this week's podcast.

In What Are People For? an essay in his 2002 The Art of the Commonplace, Wendell Berry wrote: "Marriage, in what is evidently its most popular version, is now on the one hand an intimate 'relationship' involving (ideally) two successful careerists in the same bed, and on the other hand a sort of private political system in which rights and interests must be asserted and defended."

Now, 24 years later, what is the future of marriage? Find out more in this podcast.

In a world where voices in the media and social media criticizing Christianity have morphed from constructive conversation into emotive smearing, our lifestyle and our attitudes will often have greater impact than what we say. Paul's words in Ephesians chapter 5 verses 1 and 2 are key to the life God calls us to: Be imitators of God ... and live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us ...

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In his book Christians: The Urgent Case for Jesus in Our World (2021), Dr Greg Sheridan, an Australian journalist and writer, comments: "In the West ... religious belief has been in serious decline in recent years. The loss of faith is part of a broad movement in the culture. It is also partly ... related to a shocking loss of knowledge.

Paul the Apostle, in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4 verse 17 writes: Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live ... darkened in understanding, separated from the love of God ...

Find...

Commenting on how we understand Jesus's parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10 verses 25-37, Rebecca McLaughlin writes: We hear a call to care for strangers in need. But Jesus's first audience heard more. They heard a story of love across racial, religious, and political difference, in which the moral hero was their sworn enemy. (The Secular Creed, 2021: p.11)

Yet how many today are even aware of the parable of the Good Samaritan let alone understand its significance for us? Even more importantly, how many today know the Jesus of the historical Gospel accounts?

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Cell phones have given us an extraordinary capacity for connectivity. But does this actually lead to community? Created in the image of God, we are designed for meaningful relationships. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesian church develops God's expectations for this new community of people.

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How can we weather the challenges of our divided and uncertain world? In Ephesians chapter 3, verses 14 through 21, we are given a glimpse of Paul at prayer. 'I kneel before the Father', he begins, 'from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.'

Find out more in this week's podcast.

The 250th anniversary of American Independence brings to mind a key statement in the Declaration: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal". This is a very Christian idea. We often forget that the opening chapter of the Bible describes humanity as being created in the image of God.

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Seven hundred years ago, Dante recognized that the human propensity to lie is our greatest flaw. Two thousand years ago, Paul the Apostle wrote in Ephesians chapter 2 of our flawed human nature.

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AA Milne's Christopher Robin's prayer, "Little boy kneels at the foot of his bed ..." has touched the hearts of millions. The poem is a picture of childhood innocence, a mixture of God language and the distractions of inner thoughts. For adults it raises questions about prayer. Is it something we grow out of? If we do pray, what should we pray? Will we every grow out of the distractions in our prayers? Paul the Apostle provides very helpful answers to these kinds of questions in Ephesians chapter 1.

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Over the northern summer, the Word on Wednesday will offer a series of reflections on The Letter to the Ephesians. The letter plumbs the depths of biblical Christianity, opening up the riches of God that shape the mind and warm the heart. It was written to be read in churches in the region of ancient Asia Minor, modern Türkiye.

Find out more in this podcast.

God is love. Yet how often is this glibly said - without giving thought to the implications? For God to love, he must have someone else to love throughout eternity. The Old Testament consistently says there is only one God. Yet there are constant reference to the Spirit of the Lord. In the New Testament the Gospel records speak of Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God.

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Over the last twenty years or so God's people have been increasingly put on the defensive about their faith. In a climate where people of faith are dismissed as intellectually inept, many are fearful of speaking up about what they believe.

This podcast encourages us from Jesus's words in John chapter 20.

Why don't we pray more consistently than we do? And how often when we do pray, do we look to the model prayers we find in the Bible - and not least from the lips of Jesus?

Dr J.I. Packer once commented, "I believe that prayer is the measure of God's people, spiritually, in a way that nothing else is, so that how we pray is as important a question as we can ever face".

This podcast reflects on the importance of prayer.

The loss of someone deeply loved awakens a profound anguish and grief within us. Even some time after a loved one has gone from us, we can unexpectedly find ourselves tearing up.

In the course of his last evening with his close followers, Jesus told them he was going away and that they could not come with him (John 14:3). He knew what his going away would mean for them and likened their state to orphaned children - destitute and alone. However, he didn't offer glib platitudes about his going but promised them a Counselor...

Glen Scrivener's book The Air We Breathe (2022), compellingly explores ways Christianity has shaped the moral values of the West. The book alerts us afresh to the question of God and, if he exists, what he is like. History suggests that the idea of God is embedded in every culture that has existed for longer than three generations. Find out more in this podcast.

Frederick Buechner, American pastor and theologian, in The Magnificent Defeat, commented: "We all want to be certain, we all want proof, but the kind of proof we tend to want - scientifically and philosophically demonstrable proof that would silence all doubts once and for all - would not in the long run, I think answer the fearful depths of our need at all ... It is not objective proof of God's existence we want, but the experience of God's presence."

Find out more in this podcast.

The decline of Christianity in the US - and in the West generally - recent decades seems to have slowed, if not leveled off. Indeed, there are signs it is slowly growing again, especially a amongst 18-24 year olds.

How important it is that those of us who are professing Christians are praying for God's mercy and kindness towards all people. It's also important that we are assured in our own faith and are in turn prepared to tell our story of faith.

The decline of Christianity in the US - and in the West generally - in recent decades seems to have slowed, if not leveled off. Indeed there are signs it is slowly growing again, especially amongst 18-24 year olds.

How important it is that those of us who are professing Christians are praying for God's mercy and kindness towards all people. It's also important that we are assured in our own faith and are prepared to tell our story of faith as and when the opportunities arise.

In today's world, influential voices sometimes angrily dismiss Jesus's bodily resurrection. But when we consider the evidence, it becomes clear that his resurrection didn't occur because of some natural mechanism. It happened because the creator God chose to intervene.

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Easter Day that we celebrate this Sunday, is a gala day as we remember Jesus's resurrection from the dead. His resurrection underscores the validity of the Christian faith. Without it, we are lost.

Easter Day that we celebrate this Sunday, is a gala day as we remember Jesus' resurrection from the dead. His resurrection underscores the validity of the Christian faith. Without it, we are lost.

Today, God is not so much dead as cancelled. He is not to be spoken about. If he does exist, there's nothing good to say about him: he is grim and uncaring.

How different this is from what the Bible actually says about God. Consider the most well-known words in the Bible: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3 v.16)

This podcast reflects on this truth.

Aspects of Christianity can seem far-fetched to our 21st century minds. But before dismissing the supernatural events in the Bible, listen to this podcast which focuses on Jesus' Transfiguration.

At a time of economic challenges and inflation, it is easy to be consumed with anxiety about money and possessions. As Jesus' Sermon on the Mount moves on, he exhorts us to view life and the material world from a bigger perspective.

Find out from this podcast what Jesus has to say about money and possessions.

Human relationships on the personal and international level must rate as the greatest challenge for the world's future. The season of Lent focuses on the themes of repentance and God's forgiveness, spiritual renewal and growth through Bible reading and prayer.

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Many people reckon real freedom is the ability to do whatever you want without external restraints. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lays out the pattern for living for his people, opening up the real meaning of love for God in loving our neighbor.

Find out from this podcast how Jesus frames freedom.

Many people reckon freedom is the ability to do whatever you want without external restraints.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lays out the pattern for living for his people, opening up the real meaning of love for God in loving our neighbor.

Find out from this podcast how Jesus frames freedom.

As Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, this podcast reflects on God's Word, focusing on Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10 through 19. In the face of a troubled and conflicted world, Paul the Apostle exhorts us to stand firm in the faith, grounded in truth, living a life of integrity and trusting prayer, committed to promoting God's gospel.

Great leaders are remembered for their speeches as well as their accomplishments. This week we turn to the introduction of Jesus' memorable Sermon on the Mount which begins with his Beatitudes. We find the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of St Matthew, chapter 5 verses 1 through 12.

Loud voices today insist that there is no God, leaving us adrift on the ocean of life without an agreed moral compass. This podcast considers the implications of Jesus' timeless words to all his followers, "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world".

This week we turn to the introduction of Jesus' memorable Sermon on the Mount which begins with his Beatitudes. We find the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of St Matthew, chapter 5 verses 1 through 12.

The wisdom books stand apart from the main narrative of the Bible, asking questions about our experiences of life. Job asks 'How do we make sense of suffering, especially the suffering of the seemingly innocent?' The Song of Songs explores God's gift of the joys of love and sex. Proverbs provides a framework for street-smart and successful godly living. Ecclesiastes asks, 'What's the purpose of life?'

Find out more in this week's podcast.

Another year has passed, and now another has begun. With the rapid and seemingly endless passing of the years and seasons, and with our experiences of life, how do we make sense of it all?

Ecclesiastes chapter 3 provides answers and encouragment.

Articles over Christmas and the New Year often call for a reawakening of the meaning and application of the true Christmas story. However, driven by the trickle-down effect of writers who say that God is dead, our culture tells us that the Bible is fanciful andfictitious. But this conflicts with the historical evidences for the life of Jesus.

Find out more in this podcast for the New Year.

Most people who reflect on life ask themselves, at some stage: 'What's it all about?'

The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the wisdom books of the bible. In the opening verses of the book, the writer asks, Vanity of vanities ... vanity of vanities! All is vanity. The podcast reflects on the opening chapter of this book.

Articles over Christmas and the New Year often call for a reawakening of the meaning and application of the true Christmas story. However, driven by the trickle-down effect of writers who say that God is dead, our culture tells us that the Bible is fanciful and fictitious. But this conflicts with the historical evidences for the life of Jesus.

Find out more in this podcast for the New Year.

Catastrophic events such as occurred at Bondi in Sydney, challenge us to see life with new eyes. Many are now looking for leaders to chart a course to preserve life and secure livelihoods. Isaiah wrote about a special leader whom God would raise up.

Find out more in this podcast.