Word on Wednesday with John Mason

In a world where voices in the media and social media criticizing Christianity have morphed from constructive conversation into emotive smearing, our lifestyle and our attitudes will often have greater impact than what we say. Paul's words in Ephesians chapter 5 verses 1 and 2 are key to the life God calls us to: Be imitators of God ... and live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us ...Find out more in this podcast.

In his book Christians: The Urgent Case for Jesus in Our World (2021), Dr Greg Sheridan, an Australian journalist and writer, comments: "In the West ... religious belief has been in serious decline in recent years. The loss of faith is part of a broad movement in the culture. It is also partly ... related to a shocking loss of knowledge. Paul the Apostle, in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4 verse 17 writes: Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live ... darkened in understanding, separated from the love of God ...Find out more in this podcast.

Commenting on how we understand Jesus's parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10 verses 25-37, Rebecca McLaughlin writes: We hear a call to care for strangers in need. But Jesus's first audience heard more. They heard a story of love across racial, religious, and political difference, in which the moral hero was their sworn enemy. (The Secular Creed, 2021: p.11)Yet how many today are even aware of the parable of the Good Samaritan let alone understand its significance for us? Even more importantly, how many today know the Jesus of the historical Gospel accounts?Find out more in this podcast.

Cell phones have given us an extraordinary capacity for connectivity. But does this actually lead to community? Created in the image of God, we are designed for meaningful relationships. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesian church develops God's expectations for this new community of people. Find out more in this podcast.

How can we weather the challenges of our divided and uncertain world? In Ephesians chapter 3, verses 14 through 21, we are given a glimpse of Paul at prayer. 'I kneel before the Father', he begins, 'from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.'Find out more in this week's podcast.

The 250th anniversary of American Independence brings to mind a key statement in the Declaration: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal". This is a very Christian idea. We often forget that the opening chapter of the Bible describes humanity as being created in the image of God. Find out more in today's podcast.

Seven hundred years ago, Dante recognized that the human propensity to lie is our greatest flaw. Two thousand years ago, Paul the Apostle wrote in Ephesians chapter 2 of our flawed human nature.Find out more in this podcast.

AA Milne's Christopher Robin's prayer, "Little boy kneels at the foot of his bed ..." has touched the hearts of millions. The poem is a picture of childhood innocence, a mixture of God language and the distractions of inner thoughts. For adults it raises questions about prayer. Is it something we grow out of? If we do pray, what should we pray? Will we every grow out of the distractions in our prayers? Paul the Apostle provides very helpful answers to these kinds of questions in Ephesians chapter 1.Find out more in this podcast.

Over the northern summer, the Word on Wednesday will offer a series of reflections on The Letter to the Ephesians. The letter plumbs the depths of biblical Christianity, opening up the riches of God that shape the mind and warm the heart. It was written to be read in churches in the region of ancient Asia Minor, modern Türkiye.Find out more in this podcast.

God is love. Yet how often is this glibly said - without giving thought to the implications? For God to love, he must have someone else to love throughout eternity. The Old Testament consistently says there is only one God. Yet there are constant reference to the Spirit of the Lord. In the New Testament the Gospel records speak of Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God.Find out more.

Over the last twenty years or so God's people have been increasingly put on the defensive about their faith. In a climate where people of faith are dismissed as intellectually inept, many are fearful of speaking up about what they believe.This podcast encourages us from Jesus's words in John chapter 20.

Why don't we pray more consistently than we do? And how often when we do pray, do we look to the model prayers we find in the Bible - and not least from the lips of Jesus?Dr J.I. Packer once commented, "I believe that prayer is the measure of God's people, spiritually, in a way that nothing else is, so that how we pray is as important a question as we can ever face".This podcast reflects on the importance of prayer.

The loss of someone deeply loved awakens a profound anguish and grief within us. Even some time after a loved one has gone from us, we can unexpectedly find ourselves tearing up.In the course of his last evening with his close followers, Jesus told them he was going away and that they could not come with him (John 14:3). He knew what his going away would mean for them and likened their state to orphaned children - destitute and alone. However, he didn't offer glib platitudes about his going but promised them a Counselor - literally, a Comforter.Find out more in this podcast.

The decline of Christianity in the US - and in the West generally - in recent decades seems to have slowed, if not leveled off. Indeed there are signs it is slowly growing again, especially amongst 18-24 year olds.How important it is that those of us who are professing Christians are praying for God's mercy and kindness towards all people. It's also important that we are assured in our own faith and are prepared to tell our story of faith as and when the opportunities arise.

Articles over Christmas and the New Year often call for a reawakening of the meaning and application of the true Christmas story. However, driven by the trickle-down effect of writers who say that God is dead, our culture tells us that the Bible is fanciful andfictitious. But this conflicts with the historical evidences for the life of Jesus.Find out more in this podcast for the New Year.

CS Lewis in Screwtape Letters observes that there are two equal and opposite errors that people fall into regarding the dark powers. One mistake is to disbelieve in their existence; the other is to believe in them to excess. In Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10ff, Paul addresses this reality.

As the Anglican form of the Lord's Supper is often misunderstood, this podcast gives a brief introduction of key themes.

Despite advertising and promotion by the atheist society in the UK, people are still disillusioned with life, depressed and alienated. Many are re-assessing their lives and philosophy of life which has resulted in an increased interest in Christianity.

Phillippians 4 - Giving thanks in everything - and the peace of God ...