Nothing in my hand I bring

Last week, I suggested that, in his inaugural sermon at the Nazareth synagogue (Lk 4:16-21), and in the Beatitudes which must have been taught very soon after, Jesus echoed the words of Isaiah 61:1-7. I said that Jesus came to change the world, to turn the world upside down, to right wrongs, to pour out compassion, …

The richness of God’s grace

Augustus Toplady (1740-1778), author of the classic hymn, "Rock of Ages." A sermon by Rod Benson Five hundred years ago โ€“ 500 years last Tuesday, to be precise โ€“ the Protestant Reformation began, and the world was changed. Baptists rightly praise the great Reformers, such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli and others, for …