CBC Podcast

How do we respond to God's warnings? Are we tempted to brush them off, ignore them, make excuses? How did God's people respond to the prophet Zephaniah and what does this have to say to us today?

How can the words of an Old Testament prophet (Nahum) have anything to say into a world that is threatened with AI?

For many of us September is much more of a new beginning than January is. Starting school for the first time, moving to a new school year, moving up to secondary school, moving on to university. So we are going to be marking that in our all age service - reminding ourselves of God's faithfulness and therefore we are able to put our trust in God for the future.

If you've ever read the first few books of the Old Testament you may have noticed just how many animals are killed in the various required sacrifices and how much blood there is. If you're used to living in the UK and getting your meat neatly packaged from the supermarket this might not be a pleasant thought. If you've lived in other parts of the world it might not seem so out of place. But why so much focus on blood? And how does this help us when we start to think about what the New Testament says about Jesus' death on the cross?

What would it look like for you to 'step out of the boat'? What is Jesus asking you to do? What's stopping you? What's the worst that can happen?

Reflections based on the recent NASA trip around the moon and back.

What are we to make of the weird dreams and visions that make up the second half of the book of Daniel? And more importantly, what can we learn from these chapters and similar chapters in places like Revelation and Isaiah? And how can they encourage us as we live in a world that sometimes seem to be out of control?

Last week our children explored the first half of the book of Daniel in Holiday Club - 5 great stories covering about 70 years of Daniel's life. This morning we're touching on each of those stories and seeing how they continue to speak to us today.

How did Daniel and his three friends end up in Babylon? What choices were they going to make? Could God still be trusted? Just some of the questions we'll be exploring in our all-age service as we look forward to next week's Holiday Club.

Given that following Jesus is not about ticking rules off a 'to do' or 'not to do' list, how do we know how to live? This requires wisdom and through the Holy Spirit God provides us with that wisdom. Ultimately it comes down to knowing God better.

What was the role of the Holy Spirit in the writing of the Bible? What do we mean by ‘the inspired word of God’? How does the Holy Spirit help us as we read the Bible? Some of the questions we will be answering this morning.

You might struggle to tell a pear tree, and orange tree and an apple tree apart, just from their leaves - but once they are loaded with fruit these trees are easy to name. Paul talks about the 'fruit of the Spirit' - qualities and characteristics that you would expect to see, visible in the life of someone who is following Jesus. But does this just happen or do we still need to work at developing this fruit?

What are spiritual gifts? Who has them? What are they for? Just some of the questions that we are answering as we continue our series on the Holy Spirit.

Why is unity within the church so important and how can we live in such a way as to promote unity within the church?

In this all age service we explore what faithfulness looks like. Our starting point is that God is faithful. What difference is this going to make in my life this week?

How does the Holy Spirit help us to pray? What about those times when we find it difficult to pray? How does the Holy Spirit enable us to become more like Jesus even through our sadness and tears?

What do we mean when we talk about life in the Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit give us life? And what does this life look like?

We know that the Holy Spirit didn't arrive at Pentecost - the Holy Spirit has been present from the first page of the Bible story. But what was the role of the Holy Spirit in the gospels and in the life and ministry of Jesus?

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in a person's conversion? What does the Holy Spirit do at conversion? What does it mean when people talk about 'baptism in the Holy Spirit' or 'being filled by the Spirit'? Just a few of the questions we'll look at this week.

When the Bible talks about being patient it means more than just waiting for your birthday to come. In our all age service we explore the different aspects of patience and have a practical activity to practice the different elements of being patient!

Are you a creative person? Do you think in images? Do you process thoughts through painting or composing music? Do you always have a creative project on the go? Today we're looking at the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament - where his role in creation and creativity is evident. The Holy Spirit didn't just turn up at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has been present and active since the first verses of the Bible. So what can we learn about the Holy Spirit from the Old Testament and how is this relevant for us today?

Today we start a new series on the Holy Spirit with this overview/introduction. But we don't want the outcome of this series just be that we know more about the Holy Spirit - instead we want to know Jesus better and be more like him.

Life is not a sprint. It is full of ups and downs. There are times we might feel like giving up. But in Hebrews we are encouraged to fix our eyes on Jesus, to throw off everything that will get in the way. We should also be encouraged by the prize that awaits.

The first Easter Sunday changed everything. Jesus came back to life, the tomb was empty, and therefore the stone, the burial cloths, the ritual spices... these were just some of the things that were no longer needed. But what else is no longer needed now that Jesus is alive?

Although Pilate and Jesus were talking, and using the same words, Pilate really had no idea what Jesus was talking about. How often do I use the same words as Jesus - but mean something totally different?

Do you pray? And if you do, what sort of things do you pray for? As we conclude our series on Jesus' words in the Upper Room, we come to the longest recorded prayer of Jesus - John 17. And amongst other things Jesus prays that his disciples might be united. Why is this so important?

Especially at the moment, with all that is going on in the world and how the ripple effects are impacting everyone in one way or another, it can be very easy to feel overwhelmed. To feel anxious or worried. And yet Jesus wants his followers to know that he has overcome the world and that we can know peace.

We have reached the point where it is nearly impossible to tell whether images or videos you watch are genuine or fakes. We don't know what is true or what isn't. But truth is really important. How do we know what is true? Jesus promises his followers that the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of truth - will guide us. But how does he do that?

A Christian is someone who Jesus has chosen from out of the world. And yet, for the moment, we still live in the world. So what does it look like - in my context - to be a follower of Jesus?

Our fruitfulness does not depend on our efforts or our abilities - it depends on whether or not we remain in Jesus. If we do we will be fruitful. But what does that mean and what does that look like?

Why don't we talk more about self-control? As we move into Lent why is self-control important? How can I practice self-control this week?

Peace is one of those things that can seem very elusive and in very short supply. Our news is full of stories of war and conflict and threat of conflict. But even in countries where there is 'peace', often people can be anxious and worried. We hear a lot about the mental health crisis. Jesus promises his followers peace. But how can we experience this peace for ourselves?

When you think of Jesus' words, 'I am the way' - what pictures come to mind? What does the 'way' look like? A narrow track through the woods, a paved route through a valley...? Are you at a cross roads in life and wondering which way to turn? So what does Jesus mean when he says that he is the way?

How would you explain what compassion means? Jesus often explained things by telling a story. Today we're exploring this theme of compassion.

When Jesus was asked to summarise the whole of the law he told his disciples it was all about loving God and loving your neighbour. In his final few hours before his death Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another. And it is the love that we have that marks us out as disciples - not the miracles or the clever arguments.

If you're a fan of the Traitors you will know it is possible to think that someone is your best friend, only to have them 'throw you under the bus'. Jesus knew Judas was going to betray him from the beginning and yet he loved Judas. Jesus knows that there will be times when we will let him down, deny him, betray him, and yet he loves us too. We have a God who is gracious and ready to forgive us.

There are times when we read the Bible and we can be left scratching our heads as we wonder how it can possibly apply to our lives in 2026. This is not one of those passages. Jesus shows his disciples what kind of followers he wants. Those who will love others by serving them. The specifics might look different from context to context - but our attitude should be one where we are willing to serve.

At a time of year when many are thinking about their goals and choices for the year ahead, are you the sort of person who makes New Year's Resolutions? Even if not, if you are a follower of Jesus, our desire for the coming year should be to walk more closely with Jesus and to be more like him. But what does that actually look like?

Donut Sunday. 'What's that?' you ask. Join us as we use donuts to explore the good news of Jesus.

Apparently 58% of adults will receive an unwanted gift this Christmas. But what percentage leave the greatest gift of all unwrapped under the tree?

Are you looking for hope? Many people today are - and they're wondering where they are going to find it. And there were situations in the Bible where everything seemed hopeless - and yet people were invited to put their trust in God and in his promises for the future. The Christmas story is a central part of the hope that we can experience today - no matter what is going on in our lives.

Have you ever wondered what it is that God actually wants you to do? Micah, one of the Old Testament prophets gives us a good starting point. To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God. But what does that actually look like?

What is God calling us to build today? On Sunday we looked at the book of Haggai and saw that it was time for God's people to rebuild the temple after the exile. But in the New Testament we see that God's people are where God's spirit lives. So how does God want us to be building his temple this week?

Graham Daniels from CIS and CUFC was the speaker at this year's West of Cambridge Churches Joint Service. Graham encouraged and challenged us from John 2 - the story of Jesus turning water into wine.

The people had become proud. They were proud of their accomplishments. They thought they knew best. They did not listen to God or see the need to obey God. But judgement was coming. Are we proud? Or have we humbled ourselves before God?

Have you ever been in a situation where you have been praying for something and wondered either whether God has even heard your prayer, or wondered why God is taking so long to answer? That was Habakkuk's question. He even questions God answer and God's plan. But in the end he comes to a place of peace. So what does God say to him? And what does God want to say to us?

This week we were learning about and praying with the persecuted church. It was an all age service so we started with a few activities to get us thinking before thinking about how 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 could help us to pray for Christians in countries where they are being persecuted for their faith.

To find out more go to www.opendoorsuk.org

When we use the word 'worship' we often think about things we do in church - particularly singing. But it is possible to just go through the motions. We might look the part but our outward actions do not reflect our hearts. What does God have to say about that kind of 'worship'?

We might think that the Old Testament is full of an angry God who is waiting to punish people who step out of line. But if you actually read it you see that the opposite is true. God is patient - desperately wanting the people to turn back to him and choose life. Today we'll see how in the warnings of Amos there is still this invitation - seek me and live.

Jonah is so angry that he wants to die. Why? Because God was gracious and compassionate and forgave those whom Jonah thought should be punished. Are we open to the surprising and compassionate ways God might want to work in the lives of those around us?

As well as thanking God for the harvest we need to be aware of how we can help those who don't have enough. Today we'll see how God made provision for this in his law and what it means for us now.

Have you ever wished for a second chance? For the opportunity to go back and do things differently? That's what happens to Jonah here. Having disobeyed God previously, God gives him another chance. And that is what God is like with us too. Even when we mess it up, when we turn back to God he welcomes us back and gives us another chance.

Even though Jonah had hit rock bottom he still knew that God would hear him when he cried out and that God could save him. Wherever we are, and no matter why or how we got there we can still cry out to God.

Have you ever heard from God - and then wanted to do the absolute opposite? Jonah did. Called to go east - he headed as far west as was possible. What happened to Jonah and what can we learn today in 2025?

Whether it is the first day at a new school or the first day at a new job I'm sure that we can all remember some of the emotions and feeling that new things bring - nerves, excitement, worry, anticipation...Joshua was stepping into a new role and God had both promises and instructions for him - what can we learn at the beginning of this new term?

We all know from personal experience that life can be tough - and that fact is recognised in many Christian songs (including Hard Fought Hallelujah by Brandon Lake). Not everything that we experience in life is going to be good but today we're going to be exploring what Paul means when he says that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.

Humility is not something that is particularly celebrated or valued in today's culture - but is something that we see at the heart of Jesus' character. But is it a characteristic that we are given when we start to follow Jesus or do we need to cultivate it?

A reflection on Psalm 139

Before we start looking at the Exodus story and the Passover - just how did the Israelites end up as slaves in Egypt? To answer that question we need to go back into the book of Genesis.

Paul has learnt the secret of being content because he has put his trust in God. Do we struggle to trust God when we don't have enough? Do we get greedy when we have enough? What can we learn from Paul?

5 steps to knowing joy and peace everyday. Although this letter was written two thousand years ago it remains as relevant as ever. How can we know peace and joy - not just when everything is going well, but especially when the going gets tough.

We know that to be an elite sports person requires a life that is dedicated to training. Many sacrifices have to be made along the way. And they do it because of the rewards. Their eye is fixed on the prize. And Paul wants to encourage us as Christians to keep our eye on the prize and to press on with following Jesus.

Paul had all sorts of things going for him - and yet compared with the privilege of knowing Jesus, all those other things counted as nothing. Can we know Jesus like this?

Wherever Paul travels he is with others, and along the way, and in his letters he introduces us to many of his co-workers. But he also knows that life in community is not easy. Why is being a part of a church community important and how do we make it work?

What do we mean when we talk about God working in us - and does that mean we can just sit back and let God do it all? And how does this lead to a life with less grumbling and more joy?

Living as a follower of Jesus should lead other people to notice that our life is different and ask us about it. But are we ready to answer those questions and if not - how can we prepare?

Paul wants us to follow Jesus' example - and in this passage from Philippians 2:1-11 he helps us to see what that looks like.

Why are so many Christians reluctant to share their faith, and why would the example of someone being put in prison because they were a Christian, give us confidence to talk about Jesus? Just some of the questions we're exploring today.

Today we start a new series looking at Paul's letter to the church in Philippi. If you were in prison, facing possible execution, because you were a follower of Jesus, and were writing to Christians who were experiencing persecution for their faith what would you message and prayer be? Paul's letter is full of joy and thanks and his prayer is not for an ease in their circumstances but that they might know God better.

Fasting - as a spiritual discipline - has fallen off the radar in many parts of the western church. So what's it all about, should I fast, and how do I start?

The 'average person in the street' - who was alive in Jesus' time - would have been familiar with shepherds. They would have also been familiar with this as an image, a metaphor, for leaders - who were sometimes described as being bad leaders. And so what does Jesus mean when he describes himself as the good shepherd?

On Easter Sunday we celebrate the resurrection - a day that changed everything. How can we help those we come across this week to find Jesus?

On Good Friday we reflected on the cross and Jesus' great love for us.

Jesus deliberately and intentionally put his story within the context of the Exodus story. How does this help us understand what is going on?

As Jesus enters Jerusalem at the beginning of this most important week there are many people who are asking, 'who is this?' Our answer to this question has eternal consequences.

Jesus told the parable of the tenants just a few days before Good Friday, challenging the religious leaders whether they were going to treat him just as their ancestors treated the prophets - the prophets who were vindicated as the people were taken into exile. None of what was about to happen to Jesus was a surprise or a mistake. It was all a part of God's plan in order that we might know peace and forgiveness.

Jesus tells a parable set in the context of first Century Jewish wedding. He was not making the point that it is really important to be on time for a wedding - so what it the point this parable and how is it relevant to us?

If you like gardening (or perhaps more so if you don't) you will know the risk of pulling up a flower when you think it's a weed. What is Jesus trying to teach us through this parable of the wheat and the weeds - and what difference does it make to my life?

This week we're looking at the parable of the rich fool. Jesus had a lot to say about our possessions and our attitude towards money and wealth. Where do we base our confidence in the future? How does God want us to use our 'stuff'? What does it mean to be rich towards God?

Forgiving others can be very difficult - but it is essential if we want to be obedient to Jesus. But how can we forgive others and what does this look like? Our ability to forgive others needs to come from a place where we recognise how much God has forgiven us.

How good are we at listening to each other? Do we spend the whole time someone else is speaking thinking about what we're going to say? Following on from his talk about Listening to God (link below) Steve Clark reminds us that because God notices us, we can have the confidence to put others first and notice them and really listen to them.

You'll find Steve's previous talk from October here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0opuAYNiZm07KsHwClYjO5?si=ec89b2647ab945c8

Today we're looking at two parables (Luke 11:5-8 and Luke 18:1-8) where Jesus is teaching us about how we should pray.

Jesus tells a story about two men - one was a member of the religious elite, and the other was despised and hated, a cheat, a "sinner". One could boast of his righteous deeds, the other couldn't even bring himself to lift his head towards heaven. But when God looked at their hearts what did he find?

Again, apologies for the audio quality of this podcast, which was recorded on a phone due to technical issues on the day.

Light is a metaphor that we are familiar with and Jesus used one image - not lighting a lamp and hiding it under a bowl - as the start of three different parables. [Due to technical issues this audio recording was taken from a phone - sorry for the poor quality.]

Money, particularly our personal finances, might be one of those topics that we are uncomfortable talking about - but Jesus has a lot to say about money and our attitudes towards it. So, what does he say, and how are we going to respond?

Jesus tells a parable about a man who hired workers all day long - and then paid them all exactly the same, whether they started at 6am or 5pm. Was this boss unfair to those who started early? Or generous to those who started last? And what point is Jesus trying to make?

Jesus tells three parables about lost things - a sheep, a coin and a son. But what does Jesus want us to learn? There's certainly something here about God's love, and therefore our love, for the lost. But also a warning to those who don't even realise they are lost.

This week we're starting a new series looking at some of Jesus' parables - short stories that are told to make a point. So what is the point of this story about the wise and foolish builders at the end of Matthew 7?

This morning we are going to be thinking about our vision and how that will shape us as we move into the new year.

Today we look back over 2024 and thank God that he has been with us through the good and through the tough times. And as we prepare for 2025 we recognise that we are on a journey and the goal, the destination is Jesus.

Will we find (or make) the time to pause and ponder the wonder of the Christmas story today? Our lives are so filled with distractions and noise, and a moments quiet often has us reaching for our phones to check social media - but what can we learn from Mary's story?

This morning we're going to reflect on a couple of the journeys that happened as a part of the first Christmas story. How can these stories help us to prepare for our Christmas in 2024?

Peace is something we hear a lot about at Christmas and yet we are often so busy and stressed at this time of year that peace is the very last thing we experience. So how can we find peace this Christmas?

This is a 100% AI generated podcast conversation based on our 'The righteous branch' sermon from 1st December. You'll find the original sermon elsewhere on our Spotify channel.
Remember that this content is 100% AI generated. It may ask interesting and challenging questions that might make you think more about this sermon - but make sure you check anything out - feel free to get in touch.

This week we were joined by Dan and Annie from Tek Ura. Here Dan reminds us of some of God's promises and encourages us to live in the light of these promises, starting in Joshua 1.

This is a 100% AI generated podcast conversation based on our 'The fall of Jerusalem' sermon from 17th November. You'll find the original sermon elsewhere on our Spotify channel.
Remember that this content is 100% AI generated. It may ask interesting and challenging questions that might make you think more about this sermon - but make sure you check anything out - feel free to get in touch.

Today we conclude our series on Jeremiah with a look at one of Jeremiah's prophesies that point his audience forward to the coming of Jesus - and so these prophesies point us back to the story of the first Christmas, but also forward to Jesus' return at some point in the future.

This is a 100% AI generated podcast conversation based on our 'Prisons and Wells' sermon from 10th November. You'll find the original sermon elsewhere on our Spotify channel.
Remember that this content is 100% AI generated. It may ask interesting and challenging questions that might make you think more about this sermon - but make sure you check anything out - feel free to get in touch.

This Sunday we welcomed Clare Miles from Baca to speak at our Joint Service. Clare shared from Psalm 84 and used the image of a swallow to help us recognise that we can find a safe home in God - and then to think about how we offer a welcome to the stranger and the alien.Baca works with unaccompanied young refugees and you can find out more about their work at https://bacacharity.org.uk