Visit Greece in the footsteps of St Paul in April 2027
PLEASE NOTE: This trip is now fully booked! If you would like to be on a waiting list for our future trips to Greece (likely April 2028), Turkey (September 2028) or Israel, please email Steve Upton at at [email protected] I am planning to lead a study trip to Greece in the footsteps of St Paul, from Tuesday 20th to Thursday 29th April 2027 inclusive visiting Thessaloniki, Philippi, Berea, Meteroa, Delphi, Corinth, and Athens. It is a great time of year to go, as the weather is warm but not too hot, the sites are less busy, and for those in…
Gospel commentary index Lectionary Year A
On this page, you can find an index to all the commentary articles on the gospel lectionary readings for the whole of Year A, together with links to the video discussions between Ian and James. The articles will be reposted with updates during the year—but they are listed here for convenience and planning ahead.
The kingdom of God: treasure, pearl, leaven, and net in Matthew 13
The readings for Trinity 8 in Year A are Romans 8.26–39, the ‘pinnacle’ of the New Testament, and Matt 13.31-33, 44-52, the collection of short—yet vivid and compelling—parables of the kingdom not yet read. The video discussion of Romans 8 can be found here, and is linked at the end of this article. The video discussion of Matt 13 can be found here, and is also linked at the end of this commentary on the passage. Having, in previous weeks, pulled out the parables of the sower/soils and of the weeds, together with their interpretations, from the collection of ‘kingdom…
God being for us in Romans 8 video discussion
In Romans 8.26–39 (the reading for Trinity 8 in Year A), Paul offers us a remarkable exposition of life in the Spirit. There is a dense cluster of Trinitarian language…
Helen King’s motion for General Synod: outcome and assessment
Andrew Goddard writes: This article analyses the July 2026 General Synod’s debate on Helen King’s Private Members’ Motion concerning same-sex relationships and Christian discipleship explored in a previous article. It…
The Church of England and Israel/Palestine
On Sunday evening, General Synod debate the Carlisle Diocesan motion (which they had passed in 2021) asking us to ‘receive’ the Kairos II Palestine document, which you can read here….
General Synod’s looming disaster over Kairos II Palestine
General Synod is planning to have a debate about the Kairos II Palestine document on Sunday night. In theory, it is claimed to be a listening to the voice of…
How clergy dress sends a message—but which one, and why?
What we wear sends a particular message. But, ironically, the message that conventional clergy attire (clerical collar, cassock, and so on) sends is actually the opposite of what it was…
The material evidence of early Christian devotion
Dr Tim Murray offers this review of Bruce Longenecker’s latest book, The Materiality of Early Christ Devotion Our historical imagination matters Most of what we know about early Christianity we…
The intermix of good and evil in the Parable of the Weeds in Matthew 13
The lectionary gospel reading for the Trinity 7 in Year A once more splits up a text in order to unite a parable and its interpretation by Jesus, though with…
The conversion practices draft bill: right and helpful or fatally flawed?
Mark Bratton writes: The long-awaited draft Bill on conversion practices (‘the draft’), recently released for pre-legislative parliamentary review, is fundamentally flawed. According to the Preamble, the draft aims, among other…
How does our worldview shape our attitude to sexuality?
Andrew Bunt has just brought out a new book, Getting God’s Perspective: A Short Christian Introduction to Worldviews, Sexuality and Gender, and I had the chance to ask him about…
The paradox of Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 5 in this Year A is another odd selection of verses, Matthew 11.16–19 and 25–30. It is yet one more occasion where we could…
