Encounter with God: April–June 2023

By Annabel Moule, Emmanuel Oladipo, Kar Yong Lim and 5 more

Encounter with God is Scripture Union's daily Bible reading guide designed to lead you to a deeper understanding about what God is saying to you and to his world today. You'll find its thorough and energetic investigation of the whole Bible inspiring and stimulating. And you'll discover that its biblical exposition is complemented by pastoral warmth from a strong field of writers and contributors. As well as daily content, feature articles provide insights into Christian spirituality, tackle contemporary issues, and profile teachers who inspire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scripture Union
• Release date: Jan 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9781785069093

Annabel Moule

Annabel Moule is a Content Assistant at Scripture Union and the content manager for Encounter with God. She studied English Literature at Oxford Brookes University and Theology at the University of Oxford. She lives in Bath and is recently married to Henry.

Book preview

Cover: Encounter With God April to June 2023 by Kar Yong Lim, Emmanuel Oladipo, Sally Nelson, Conrad Gempf, Jamys Carter, Gareth Higgs, Tanya Ferdinandusz, Sally Nelson, David Smith, Annabel Moule

Contents

Editorial: Real-time Gospel

The Writers

SU article: Small can be Significant

Using this Guide

Luke 22–24; Psalm 118 Kar Yong Lim

Leviticus 16–27; Psalms 89,90 Emmanuel Oladipo

Titus; Psalm 91 Jamys Carter

Obadiah; Nahum; Psalm 92 Tanya Ferdinandusz

Bible Unpacked: How to Read the Gospels Conrad Gempf

1 Kings 1–11; Psalms 93,94 Gareth Higgs

Acts 1–12; Psalms 95–98 David Smith

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About Scripture Union

Scripture Union is a Christian charity, inviting children and young people to explore the difference Jesus can make to the challenges and adventures of life.

Through a wide range of activities and initiatives, we provide opportunities for young people to explore the Bible, respond to Jesus and grow in faith. Having been established in England over 150 years ago, Scripture Union is now a global movement active in over 120 countries.

We believe every child should have the chance to discover Jesus. And, with an estimated 95% of children in England and Wales not part of a church, we’re working harder than ever to take the good news of Jesus beyond the church in exciting and culturally relevant ways.

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Printed by Thomson Press, India

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Editorial

Real-time Gospel

When we read or hear stories we often do so as ‘outsiders’, looking in on the action as long-past, historical events. This quarter, can we rather seek an encounter with God, by reading in ‘real time’?

I was in a bookshop recently, planning my holiday reading. I kept noticing titles I had read many years ago: Vanity Fair, Pride and Prejudice, The Good Earth. The memories of these books prompted me to think further back, to my childhood bookshelf. I would read and reread precious volumes multiple times, living another life within the pages. Somehow the stories never lost their power to pull me inside. I could re-enter and re-experience them many times, and I have kept a small number of the books I particularly liked, because they were such a significant part of my life. I will never part with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe!

Conrad Gempf’s article on reading the Gospels suggests that we should try accessing the Bible ‘in real time’. Rather than thinking of the passages as part of a whole narrative, which we know so well, can we enter each smaller story and live within it, allowing it to unfold around us? Can we try not to ‘know’ what happens next, but to let the story take us somewhere with Jesus, and experience it afresh?

We begin this quarter’s readings just before Palm Sunday and so we are soon on the journey to Calvary. Of all times in the church year, Holy Week especially lends itself to this step-by-step unfolding of the Greatest Story, with readings and enactments of the days of Jesus before the cross. We listen to Luke’s accounts and, instead of standing back as observers, we can ask ourselves how we are responding to Peter, Pilate, Barabbas; and above all to a crucified and risen Saviour. And then, let us fall on our knees and worship Jesus our Lord.

Sally Nelson

Editor

Annabel Moule

Content Assistant

ON THE COVER: ‘The Gospels are thoroughly eternal, universal truth, and also composed by time-bound, specific human beings.’

Image credit: iStock.com/kanuman (View to Jerusalem old city, Israel)

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The Writers

KAR YONG LIM teaches New Testament studies at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia, Seremban, Malaysia. He is also an Anglican priest with the Diocese of West Malaysia.

EMMANUEL OLADIPO started as a Schools’ Worker in Nigeria, then went on to serve as the Africa Regional Secretary of SU and then as International Secretary. Emmanuel is now retired and lives in Leicester with his wife, Ruth, with whom he has four grown-up sons. He is currently Africa Co-ordinator of John Stott’s Langham Preaching.

JAMYS CARTER is an Elim minister who now serves as a Focal Minister in St Polycarp’s C of E in Sheffield. His PhD explored ways in which the Bible is interpreted. He continues to write and teach as the occasion arises.

CONRAD GEMPF studied the Bible in the USA at Gordon College and Boston University. He’s known for his scholarly work on the book of Acts and worked as a translation consultant for the TNIV. Conrad currently teaches on the New Testament at London School of Theology.

TANYA FERDINANDUSZ is both a freelance writer and freelance editor, and she has been writing Bible reading notes, articles and devotionals for over 20 years. She is the author of Marriage Matters, a book for Christian couples.

GARETH HIGGS is the superintendent minister of Plymouth Methodist Mission. He is a husband, and dad to three children.

DAVID SMITH engaged in international ministry in Asia and Africa. He continues writing – his most recent book, Stumbling toward Zion, highlights the importance of the biblical tradition of lament.

SALLY NELSON is the Dean of Baptist Formation at St Hild College, Yorkshire, UK, where she also teaches Christian doctrine and pastoral care. She is a Baptist minister and has been the commissioning editor for Encounter with God since 2015.

ANNABEL MOULE is a Content Assistant at Scripture Union and the content manager for Encounter with God. She studied English Literature at Oxford Brookes University and Theology at the University of Oxford.

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SU ARTICLE

SMALL CAN BE SIGNIFICANT

A group of five small rural churches, not a church hall between them, is not the likeliest setting for flourishing outreach. But with your support and much prayer, they are reaching out to young people in their community.

SU Mission Enabler Lisa Jones was sharing our Revealing Jesus mission framework at Rochester Diocese in March 2021. It was there that she met Becky Parnham. Becky is the Children and Families worker for the five churches forming the United Benefice of Coxheath, East Farleigh, Linton, Hunton and West Farleigh, based in the Kentish countryside to the south-east of Maidstone.

Lisa says, ‘Becky told me they had a few children who came to church although not regularly. They also ran a toddler group and an after-school club for Key Stage 2 children. She was excited about the Revealing Jesus framework and wanted SU’s help to do more to connect with children in the wider community. So I arranged to train her and five volunteers from across the churches as Faith Guides, and support them to get things going.’

Finding ways round the challenges

There were some issues to overcome. Lisa says, ‘All of the churches are old buildings. One even has box pews! None of the churches has a hall and only one has wi‑fi. The congregations are all very small and they were between vicars too. It was important that they were realistic about what they could manage to do.

‘On the plus side, Becky and the team realised that they were not making the best of what each church could offer, and all of them were very different. We worked through the challenges, identified what skills and availability each volunteer had, and came up with a manageable plan.’ 5

Holy Trinity: An after-school haven

Holy Trinity church in Coxheath is a former workhouse chapel, very small with narrow pews. But it is right in the centre of a village that has doubled in size over the last ten years. Becky says, ‘We have nearly four thousand residents now, and incoming families in particular really welcome the opportunity to connect with one another and build social links. Holy Trinity, based close to the school, is perfectly placed to be at the heart of that.

‘We developed Crafternoon, offering children craft activities based on a theme. The first one was held in the autumn around Halloween, so our theme was Jesus as light of the world. We offered refreshments and a reflection at the end.

‘I told the mums at our toddler group about it, we posted on social media and we thought perhaps 30 people might turn up. Right before the event, we committed it to God in prayer – we felt that was really important. Then we opened the doors.

‘Families just flooded in, and kept coming, over 90 adults and children in all!

We committed it to God in prayer – we felt that was really important. Then we opened the doors.

Somehow the crafts and refreshments stretched! We chatted with parents and children and there was a real buzz. It was a great way to get our connections with the community going again after the Covid lockdown.’

Afterwards, one of the mums posting on Facebook summed it up as ‘Amazing craft, cake, welcome, atmosphere – just fab! Thank you!’ Another parent said, ‘I can imagine the effort you all went to, it was just brilliant! Lots of engaging and fun activities, I’ve come home with lots to go in the fridge!’

Becky says, ‘We’ve continued to offer Crafternoons because they are so popular. We’re also hoping to start a weekly after-school drop-in for older children, a safe space with games and a tuck shop. We’ll involve the young people in deciding what to include so it meets their needs.’ 6

St Nicholas: Muddy Church

The idyllic village of Linton is a tenth of the size of Coxheath. Set on a hill in a conservation area, it has far-reaching