The scheme for May – June can be found here

1 Sa 12-13; Heb 12-13; Psalm 30

As we have seen, the letter to the Hebrews is most strange to our ears. We rarely if ever hear preaching based on it – and that is our loss. For it is deep and rich scripture. In places terrifying, challenging, but also immensely practical.

Here in Chapter 13 we find immensely rich council for the people of God. ‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers . . .’ How much of our Christian life is lived in direct contradiction to the teaching of Jesus – ‘when you throw a feast, do not invite your friends . . .’ [It is interesting to note that one of the top hits on Luke 14:12-14 is entitled ‘What does it mean?’, when the meaning is as plain as day]

Christian Life is only Christian life as it takes for its sole point of reference the Life of Jesus. The one who loves his enemies and dies for those who hate him. The one who comes into the world as a stranger. How often have we thrown parties for those who cannot pay us back, those we do not know, those we invite not because we know they will charm our table, but because we who have no charm to speak of have been fed at his? Who do we invite to sit and eat at our table??