A New CBR Journal for 2022

Here at Redeemer we believe that the Bible is the word of God, and that reading it daily equips us as Christians to honour and follow God in everything that we do. We also believe that however long you have been following Jesus, be it 5 minutes or 50 years, there are always new things that we can learn from every passage of scripture.

That is why we encourage everyone to not just read the bible daily, but to share with others at Redeemer how the word of God has impacted, challenged and encouraged us each day. We do this with the help of the Community Bible Reading (CBR) Journal, which leads us to a chapter of the Old & New Testament each day, and encourages us to write down our thoughts on the passages, and share them with others.

In order to better equip people to read the bible daily, and benefit from the incredible wisdom it holds, there are some changes happening with the CBR Journal, which will be seen in the new journals published for the beginning of 2022. We’ll have these journals available soon at Redeemer!

You can hear all about these changes from the founder - Ted Sinn - below.

If you would like more information on how we use the CBR Journal at Redeemer please email hello@redeemerlondon.org.

We are also running a meetup this term for men who would like to follow the CBR reading plan together! Sign up to that group, or any of our others below!

Freedom Day - A Biblical Response

Monday the 19th of July was announced as Freedom Day, when covid-19 restrictions were lifted, and life was allegedly returned to ‘normal’ - whatever that looks like now. However, this freedom day provoked very different reactions for different people. As Christians we are called to respond to any changes in society around us by acting in line with the unchanging word of God. In todays blog we look at how we might respond to ‘Freedom Day’ in a biblical way.

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Freedom Day - A Biblical Response

In a world full of polarizing topics, ranging from politics to football matches, we have been once again faced with a situation, which conjures up a wide range of emotions in people, even within our church communities. While some people have eagerly awaited “Freedom Day”, others have been anxious about another rise in Covid-19 cases as a result of it. As Christians - disciples of Jesus - we are called to love others as Jesus loved us (John 13:34). As a church - the body of Christ - we are called to encourage and build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). With restrictions being lifted and many of us having differing opinions about and feelings towards this, it is important that we remain eager to maintain unity and peace within the church (Ephesians 4:3). In this blog post, I want to attempt to lay out a few biblical ways to respond to restrictions being lifted as believers in and followers of Jesus.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

In this passage, we can find a beautiful description of the way in which God loves us. If we are called to love people in the way Christ loves us (John 13:34), we must first have a firm understanding of what this love is. Out of this knowledge and by the Holy Spirit at work within us, there will naturally flow patterns of behaviour towards other people. 

Be Patient

Whether we are those who are excited to be able to walk through a shopping center without a mask on or those in whom the idea of this raises anxiety, we need to remember to be patient with ourselves and with others in this time. Ephesians 4:2 tells us to bear with one another in love, being completely humble, gentle, and patient. We do not know what someone has gone through - people may have health anxiety or may have even lost loved ones to Covid-19. Instead of being annoyed with a brother or sister who experiences this time differently to us, we must practice self-control and be slow to anger (Proverbs 16:32). Paul writes in Romans 15 that we must have the same attitude toward each other that Christ had for us, encouraging and enduring with one another. Galatians 6 calls on us as disciples to carry each other’s burdens and in this way fulfill the law of Christ. We are to be those who help others (Acts 20:35) and to give freely (Luke 6:38). The Bible goes on to say that we should not become weary of doing good (Galatians 6:9). If you are one who is excited about “Freedom Day” and the lifting of restrictions, bear patiently with those who do not share this same feeling.

Those of us who are experiencing anxiety surrounding this topic can also practice patience  through prayer and leaning on God at this time. Philippians 4:6 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Moreover, Romans 12:12 tells us to “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” We can trust in God that He is sovereign in every area of our life and will provide all we need. We can stand firm in Him as we draw near to Him in prayer. Matthew 6 is a beautiful reminder of the fact that we do not need to be anxious because our heavenly Father feeds the birds and makes the lilies grow - and we are worth much more to him than these. This chapter also reminds us that worrying does not add any benefit to our life. We will be happier and feel less heavy if we cast our burdens onto Him (Psalm 55:22). Be encouraged that the Lord is close to and rescues those whose spirits are crushed (Psalm 34:18). If you want to continue wearing your mask or do not wish to go to big social events yet, you are completely within your right to do what makes you comfortable. But do remember that the Lord answers you and delivers you from your fears (Psalm 34:4) and that when you are anxious, God’s consolation brings joy (Psalm 94:19).

Be Kind

Jesus commands us in John 13:34 to love one another as He loves us. A simple way to show kindness in this climate is to show compassion and consideration for those around us. Proverbs 12:25 says “Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” We can easily brighten someone’s day by showing kindness in our words, or even through a smile. When I walk to church on Sunday mornings, I try to make it my mission to smile and say “good morning” to as many people as possible. Some people do not react, but most people happily smile back. If you have joy, why not share and spread it? Proverbs goes on to say in chapter 17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

We are called to love at all times, meaning even when we are anxious or annoyed, when restrictions are present and when they are lifted. Through showing kindness and grace during this time, we can show others the love of Christ practically. In His sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:16, Jesus says “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Let us be those who glorify God in the way we generously and gladly show kindness and love.

Do Not Judge

While this should be very straightforward and simple, these polarizing times can make it all too easy to be tempted to judge those who do not share our disposition. The Bible is very clear that this is not acceptable. Romans 2:1 states that we have no excuse if we pass judgement on others. In Matthew 7, Jesus Himself tells us that in the same way we judge others, we will ourselves be judged. Jesus goes on to ask why we look at the speck of sawdust in our brother’s eye without paying attention to the plank in our own. Before we judge others based on what they do or don’t do, we need to remember that all of us struggle with sin in certain areas and are no better than each other - we are all in need of Jesus’ saving grace.

Who then are we to withhold grace from others? In 2 Corinthians 12:10, Paul writes “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” God loves us in our weakness, so we should do the same for those around us. At the same time, 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that we are never tempted beyond our ability and that God always provides a way to be able to endure when we are faced with temptation. This is a crucial truth to remember when we feel overwhelmed with feelings - God provides a way for us to deal with these without falling into the temptation of judging others. 

Do Not Fear

Finally, as restrictions ease we need to remember the Lord we serve and find comfort in Him. The Bible - God’s Word - is full of verses about how we can trust, and have confidence and security in Him. God sees you (Genesis 16:13). God hears you (Jonah 2:2). God is with you always (Psalm 46:1). 

I am fully aware that many will have deep and real fears at this time and I do not wish to be insensitive, and yet it is actually a commandment in the Bible not to fear. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, there were many uncertainties and difficulties ahead of them. And yet Joshua, their leader, is told in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua certainly had reasons to worry, and yet he was told not to fear, but be strong and courageous because God was with him. In John 14:27, Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Again, Jesus does not promise that there will not be any reason for people’s hearts to be troubled and for them to be afraid. Yet He does promise He will give us peace and commands us not to fear. 

Finally, we do not have to fear because God never leaves us and His love never fails. Psalm 23 says “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” In Isaiah 41:10, God says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Meanwhile, Paul writes in Romans 8, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” It is His love that enables us to be conquerors and never separated from Him. This is what should abe the driving force behind our courage and confidence in Jesus - the fact that “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18). We can find hope and peace in God’s Word when we feel anxious or worried. 

God works all things for good!

I want to end by saying this - I do not know what your last year has looked like and I do not know your feelings towards restrictions being lifted. What I do know is that God works all things together for the good of those who trust in Him (Romans 8:28). I know that our God is a good Father, who offers us peace, consolation, and protection. I know that you can do all things through Him who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13). And I know there is no greater joy than to serve and put our trust in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

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Esther-Maria is one of our Redeemer students, a core member of our kids ministry, and is passionate about the word of God. In 2021, she’ll be sharing her thoughts on how scripture should change the way we live our lives! Check back here regularly for more, as well as our other blogs!

Jesus is our Sabbath

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 
Hebrews 4:9-11

For many of us, the Sabbath may seem to be simply a practice from the Old Testament that we no longer have to partake in. Jesus fulfilled the Law and, besides, we are way too busy with jobs, church commitments, and social lives to rest for a whole day. The Hebrew word, “sabat”, from which we get the word “Sabbath”, means to stop working and rest. But we know Jesus healed people on the Sabbath. Why should we consider the Sabbath?

God rested

In the Pentateuch (first five books of the bible), we read about how God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites through the prophet, Moses. Exodus 20:8-11 explains how God’s People were meant to remember and keep holy the Sabbath day, not doing any work on this day. The reason for this commandment is clearly stated: God created the world and all that is in it in six days and rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Sabbath was instituted and followed by God Himself, long before His Law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. In Genesis 2:1-3, we can read about how when the creation of the heavens and earth was completed on the seventh day, God rested from all the work He had done. As we know that our Creator God is omnipotent, this cannot mean that God needed to rest because He felt tired. God had finished His work of creation and thus stopped what He was doing, modelling to us how to rest. When the work is complete, there is no longer anything that needs to be done. And hence God rested.

The Old Testament is full of stories, characters, and practices that point to the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus. We can see this concept in how the institution of the Sabbath acts as a symbol for the coming of our Messiah, Who would provide His followers with an everlasting rest. But what exactly did Jesus provide rest from?

It is finished!

Under the Old Testament Law, God’s people were constantly working in an effort to make themselves acceptable to God through sacrifices and law-keeping. Sacrifices in the Old Testament should always point us towards the ultimate loving sacrifice of Jesus; the only way for us to be justified and made righteous. John 19:28-30 states that Jesus, when He was on the cross and about to breathe His last breath, said, “It is finished!”

In Hebrews 10:12, we read that “when Christ offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God”. Just as God rested in Genesis after completing creation, He rested after His work of atonement was finished. There is nothing more to be added or done; the work is finished.

In Mark 2:27-28, Jesus explains that He is the Lord of the Sabbath and that the Sabbath was made for God’s People, not God’s People for the Sabbath. This means that Jesus is our Sabbath rest, for one, because He is the “Lord of the Sabbath”. But more than this, Jesus shows us with this statement that the Sabbath rest was created to free man from his labors, namely the endless attempts to be saved and attain God’s favor on the basis of own works, which could never achieve the desired effect.

The work that Jesus said was finished on the cross was the work of atonement. We no longer have to labor in vain, trying to achieve salvation through rituals and sacrifices. Instead, we are saved by the grace of Christ, which was displayed on the cross. This means that now we do not any longer have to rest for merely one day, but can forever cease to labor to attain salvation. Jesus is our ultimate Sabbath rest, now and forever. We can rest in Him because He has saved us by His own completed work of salvation.

How do we rest?

When God rested from creation in Genesis, His work had been “finished”. There was no need for development because the work was perfect. Jesus’ work on the cross is finished and perfect. This shows that the true sabbath is not the maintenance of a specific day, but the ending of an effort, which only God could complete. The works we have rest from in Jesus are those that include law-keeping in order to be justified before God. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we can read that “for our sake He made Him to be sin Who knew no sin, that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” We can now stop spiritual labours and rest in Him every day of the week. Though this does not mean that life will never be busy -  at times overwhelmingly so!

Despite potential earthly busyness, Jesus allows us to rest in God. When we think of the word “rest”, our brains may automatically jump to vacations or weekends. But what happens at the end of this time? Normal life resumes, with busy schedules, stress factors, and unforeseeable life circumstances. We may have had rest for a few days, but as soon as the vacation is over the desired rest is once again gone. 

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” God invites us to come to Him with all our baggage. He invites us to give these over to Him, so that we can truly rest in Him.

Cast your cares on him

In 1 Peter 5:6-7 we can read, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the might hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” True rest requires us to give our daily battles, our emotions and thoughts over to God. While it is wise to have clear priorities, have regular quiet times, and manage time well, these things are not what Sabbath rest in Jesus is about. Sabbath rest is primarily about knowing Who Jesus is, and who we are in Him. 

Yet this knowledge and our daily lives do impact one another. When we realise that we are saved by the grace of God alone, we no longer have to labor at work in order to achieve a sense of self-worth, we no longer have to pursue an unsustainable social life in order to feel loved or accepted. When we know that God has everything under control, we are able to benefit even more from times of physical rest, surrendering our own control and trusting him.

Let us be those that surrender daily to Jesus. Let us be those that share our struggles, be they big or small, with Him. Let us be those who do not treat Jesus or prayer as their last resort, but find themselves daily at the foot of the cross. Let us be those that can live freely, knowing that Jesus has already finished the work of atonement and we can now find rest for our souls in Him.

Esther-Maria is one of our Redeemer students, a core member of our kids ministry, and is passionate about the word of God. In 2021, she’ll be sharing her thoughts on how scripture should change the way we live our lives! Check back here regularly for more, as well as our other blogs!

Eternal Life Starts Now

We only need to look out of our windows to see that this world is a wonderful place. As I am writing this, I can hear the sounds of laughter as children make snowmen on a Sunday afternoon in January and I am reminded that God has placed us in a world, in which beauty and joy abound. However, at other times we become painfully aware of how turbulent life on this side of heaven can be. This past year has undoubtedly acted as a reminder for many of us that financial difficulties, loss, loneliness, and many other kinds of hardships, can come quickly and without warning. In such situations we can find comfort in Bible passages, such as in Revelation. 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:3-4

The vivid and hopeful picture of heaven Revelation paints can make it easy to look forward to the time when we will be taken home by our loving Father. He will be our God and dwell with us. He will wipe every tear away. There will be only rejoicing. The difficulties of life on earth, and resulting feelings of insecurity and hopelessness, can tempt us to look forward to heaven, at the expense of knowing our eternal life has already begun. The truth is that we are not insecure and hopeless, even now. 

The death of loved ones, financial hardships, persecution, and emotional weakness are nothing new to humankind. Jesus’ disciples themselves experienced such times of trouble. The same John who went on to write the Gospel of John, as well as other books in the New Testament, witnessed his brother, James, be martyred for Christ (Acts 12:2). Paul describes how he was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and more (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). And even Jesus wept over the death of His friend (John 11:35), showing that even our Lord and Saviour is a compassionate God, well acquainted with sorrow and grief. 

A Godly Response

In all of these stories, we see a response of rejoicing and hoping in the most dire situations. This joy and hope is a result of nothing less than the faith and trust in a relationship with Jesus Christ, our God, which does not start when we get to the wonderful heaven that is described in Revelation, but which begins right now when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. This relationship should transform our response to difficult situations life can bring our way.  It has been my mistake in the past to say in difficult times, “If only I were in heaven, where I can live eternally and happily with Jesus”. Of course, heaven will take away weeping from life, but when we begin our eternal life with Jesus, it should change our entire outlook on life right then and now. 

The Bible tells us we can praise God always, finding hope, joy, and strength in Him in the darkest of times. In the Old Testament, Nehemiah beautifully states that the joy of the Lord is the strength of God’s people. This should set a pattern for us, to respond by finding strength and joy in God when we are tempted to despair. 

We can praise God in difficult times, because the Bible is clear to tell us that such situations and experiences will grow and mature us. Suffering allows us to learn endurance, develop our character, and grow in hope, as we see God working and helping us through (Romans 3:3-5). James gives an encouraging description of the outcomes of suffering for believers if we stand firm in God’s grace and truth. 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

The trials we face in life may hurt us deeply, but they are also producing in us characteristics of a mature Christian. And while Paul assures us that the troubles we face on earth are nothing in comparison to the eternal glory awaiting us in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:27), we can already rejoice in hope now and cling to God in times of trouble, knowing that He is working all things for good (Romans 8:28). We must only trust and obey God, echoing Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 26, that His will be done. But how do we do this when everything around us seems overwhelmingly negative? 

Look to the Son

John states that God has given us eternal life, that this life in His Son, and that we get eternal life when we believe in the name of the Son of God (1 John 5:11-13). It is the relationship with Jesus that should lead us in hope, strength, love, and faith as we go through life, with its ups and downs. We are not alone even now; God has already dwelled with us in human form and, after giving us Jesus, has already given us His Holy Spirit, pouring His love out over us to be with us forever. Whereas in the Old Testament, God dwelled with His people in the tabernacle, He now dwells with us in our bodies. And this is not something that can be taken away from us. Where humans may have left and hurt us, God will never leave nor forsake us. We have complete security in His love and this relationship with Him. The Gospel of John records what Jesus Himself said regarding this. 

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:28-30

Jobs may have been snatched from us throughout the past year. People may have passed away, or we may have simply not been able to see them when we would have liked to. But really this only shows what has always been true: that the things of this world are fleeting, and that the only thing which truly satisfies and lasts is our relationship with Jesus. 

The Bible is abundantly clear that there is hope for all of us at the end of our walks with Jesus, if we endure and choose to follow Him all the days of our lives. Peter reminds us that while life may be hard in the meantime, Jesus will establish us and restore all things when He comes again (1 Peter 5:10). More than that, James tells us that if we love God and remain steadfast in faith during trials and tests, we will receive the crown of life (James 1:12). There is so much to look forward to!

But we are not there yet and my hope is to encourage you to look to Jesus today and the beauty of a relationship with Him even now, which will transform your outlook on these trials and tests in this world. Psalm 34:18 says that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. He is here for you and close to you, readily available for an intimate and life-giving relationship beginning today. When we humble ourselves before Him and cast our anxieties on Him, He is ready to lift us up and care for us (1 Peter 5:6-7). When we feel weary and burdened, He is ready to give us rest, with his beautifully gentle and humble heart (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus may have placed you in this world, but He did not leave you alone or hopeless. He is the Light of the World and Prince of Peace. All you need to do is commit your sorrows into His hands, and allow Him to be at work in you. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27

Esther-Maria is one of our Redeemer students, a core member of our kids ministry, and is passionate about the word of God. In 2021, she’ll be sharing her thoughts on how scripture should change the way we live our lives! Check back here every month for more.

And when you read....

Last Sunday we heard from Ted Sinn, the driving force behind the CBR Journal, about the value and the importance of reading scripture. This was as part of our current preaching series - ‘Follow Me’ which looks at how we live our lives as disciples of Jesus.

Our resident poet, Steve Page, wrote a poem back in 2018 which focuses on the same subject…

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And when you read
Don't rush -
Theres no need to read
with undue speed.

And when you read
Start with a suckle -
Work up to a nibble -
Until you can gnaw without a dribble.
I encourage you
Get down to the marrow
Like there's no tomorrow.
Savour each word
As food for your soul
And live as a model
As to how to live whole.

And when you read
Apply your mind daily,
Apply each word liberally
(especially to those out of the way
hard to reach places).

And when you read
Study
Sometimes with a buddy
But, study.
This is no hobby,
You can't afford to get sloppy.
It's as crucial for the soul
As five a day for the body
So study.

And when you read
Treat each word
Like a tutor;
It can teach you
How to live shrewder.

And when you read
Sustain it like a seed,
Ensure you pay heed
Cos it will never mislead.

And when you read
Do it to a plan,
Always with intent
And be sure
To finish as you began.

And when you read
Commit to it daily,
Commit it to memory
To avoid thinking lazily.

And when you read
Do it while a commuter
Do it on a computer
Do it with a kindle
Do it with audio
Do it with a paperback
Do it with a hard back
Do it from front to back.
However you develop the knack
Don't let yourself slack;
This Word is no throw back,
It will keep you on track.
So just read.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

2 Timothy 3:16