St Helen's Sunday talks podcast St Helen's Bishopsgate

Given the role the church has to speak and live out God’s truth in the world, it is essential that we grow in godliness. However, there are popular ideas about godliness that the Spirit describes as demonic. It is crucial, then, that we listen to God’s word, where we find a godliness of everlasting value: rooted in this world, but looking forward to the next.

What is it to live the good life? In this passage Paul shows us how knowing the living God as Creator and Saviour leads to an enjoyment of his gifts and a striving towards what is of true value.

In these final words of Jesus' teaching about his return we learn about final judgement. Jesus will return to judge and there will be only two outcomes. And, as Jesus explains, the basis for his judgement is assurance for his people and encouragement to press on as faithful disciples. Meanwhile false assumptions about what it means to be ready for judgement are exposed.

Jesus speaks so plainly about the end of the world. But there are two surprises to us which change how we might read Matthew 25 on first glance.

At this high point in Paul’s letter to Timothy, he lays out the remarkable role God has given to his church, and the glorious truth that we have been given to proclaim. That truth is that ‘the mystery of godliness’ has been ‘manifested in the flesh’—and it has the potential to transform the way we see the good news of the gospel.

What is the church? In these verses the apostle Paul shows how a right understanding of who we are as God’s people will transform the way that we live, and how this change plays a vital role in the world coming to know the truth about Jesus.