St Mary’s Attenborough Church

1 Corinthians 1:18–31

Liam O'Boyle looks at 1 Corinthians 1:18–31, exploring how God’s wisdom is revealed through the apparent foolishness of the cross. In a culture like Corinth’s, which was obsessed with status, strength, and intellectual achievement, Paul proclaims a God who deliberately chooses what looks weak and shameful to overturn the world’s values. The cross - a symbol of humiliation - becomes the place where God most fully reveals himself, not through human reason or effort but through self-giving love. Jesus doesn’t merely teach God’s wisdom; he embodies it, seeking us out and calling us into an upside-down way of life marked by generosity, enemy-love, and trust. This pattern runs throughout Scripture, as God repeatedly chooses the overlooked and unexpected to carry his purposes. Liam invites us to ask where we look for wisdom, and to consider whether God may be calling us to a way that seems foolish by the world’s standards, but is in fact the path of true life.

Practising the Way - Service (Kinship)

Our vicar, Toby, concludes our series on Practicing the Way by looking at Luke 16:19-31. Toby challenges the idea that service is just occasional good deeds, presenting it instead as a way of life rooted in relationship and kinship. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is not a simple reward and punishment story, nor does it suggest that poverty is virtuous in itself. Rather, it reveals the values of God’s upside-down kingdom. The rich man’s failure is not simply wealth, but the belief that what he has is his own and his inability to see Lazarus as a brother. Though made by the same God and equally bearing God’s image, Lazarus is treated as invisible - shown less compassion than even the dogs. His name, meaning “God helps,” points to where true hope lies. Even after death, the rich man misunderstands kinship, caring only for his biological family and assuming he has done enough by offering scraps. He also fails to recognise that God’s compassion is already revealed in the Scriptures. In contrast, Jesus does not offer scraps or quick fixes but gives his whole life, entering into human poverty and suffering. Toby challenges us to consider whether we are willing to be inconvenienced and changed in order to live out that same costly compassion.

Practising the Way: Service (Being Available)

Oliver Towlson continues our series on Practicing the Way: Service; looking at Luke 10:25-37, the Good Samaritan. Oliver argues that this parable invites us to see ourselves both as the Samaritan and the wounded man. We are invited to join Jesus on his way to the cross and give ourselves away in self-emptying love, like the Samaritan. But we are also invited to see ourselves as utterly helpless, lost and dying, whose only hope is being rescued by Jesus. Oliver urges us to become people who, just like Jesus, are intentionally available and interruptible, gracious in conversation, able to navigate a morally complex world through reflection on God’s wisdom, who serve others (even people we don’t like) in costly demonstrations of unexpected love, and who are humble enough to receive help.

Matthew 1:18-25 - Accepting Jesus (late upload from 21-12-2)

Liam O'Boyle preaches on Matthew 1:18-25, highlighting how Joseph is often overlooked in the Nativity story, yet without him, God's plan wouldn't come to fruition. Called the "Son of David" by the angel, Joseph's lineage was crucial, requiring him to travel to Bethlehem for the census. Joseph’s response reveals his maturity and compassion. Though his world was turned upside down, he chose mercy over judgment — his humiliation great, but his humility even greater. This humility might be a key reason why God chose both Mary and Joseph. Joseph’s acceptance of God's plan, despite public disgrace, was a radical act of obedience and love. Joseph's story invites us to reflect on our own response to Jesus: Will we open our hearts to Him and embrace the new possibilities He offers? Just as Joseph accepted the unexpected, we are called to accept Jesus into our lives. His willingness to follow God’s plan challenges us to live with faith, humility, and love, knowing that Jesus promises to be with us always.

Practising the Way: Service (Hiddenness)

Chris Doig continues our series Practicing the Way, looking at Luke 13:1–17. He reflects on Jesus’ call to hidden servanthood as Jesus journeys toward Jerusalem for Passover. In a quiet, unseen moment, Jesus takes the lowest role, revealing that true discipleship is found in humble service. We’re challenged to consider how we serve in ordinary, everyday ways - at home, at work, and in church - without complaining, insisting on our own way, or seeking recognition, trusting that God sees every act of service. Chris reminds us that hidden service is not a burden, but an act of worship and a joyful response to God’s deep love for us.

Practising the Way: Service (Love)

Our vicar, Toby Artis, starts our series on Practising the Way. He challenges us to reflect on how our goals, resolutions, and plans for the new year align with our growth as disciples of Jesus. He urges us to consider how we are really doing in our faith, and if we can see the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. We often speak eloquently about our faith, but Toby reminds us that it's not just about what we say - it's about the state of our hearts and whether we're living out what we profess. The fruit of the Spirit is often quiet and unnoticed; it's not about saying the right Christian things, but about cultivating a healthy inner life. Toby reminds us that every tree that doesn't bear fruit is ultimately thrown into the fire, urging us to choose wisely between life and death in our spiritual choices. A key sign of spiritual maturity is how we serve others, loving both God and those around us. He challenges us with the thought that discipleship is about giving up our own rights to help others succeed, and urges us to consider if we are becoming more like Jesus, loving others for their flourishing, and doing so without complaining. 

Who is Jesus?

Toby Artis takes us through Matthew 11:1-15 as we continue our advent series. Toby invites us to reconsider the question, “Who is Jesus?” through the experience of John the Baptist, who moves from confidently proclaiming Jesus to doubting him while isolated in prison. Like John, many of us know moments of deep closeness to God as well as seasons of confusion and abandonment, and Advent becomes a space to ask those questions honestly again. Jesus responds to John not with rebuke, but by pointing to the signs of God’s restoring work promised in Isaiah: the sick are healed, the poor are lifted up, and sinners are welcomed. In doing so, Jesus confounds expectations of judgement and instead reveals a kingdom shaped by mercy and grace, challenging us to value all human life equally and to recognise our shared need for God. Jesus affirms John’s faithfulness while redirecting him to see God at work in unexpected places, asking us whether we are looking in the right ways too. Christmas, then, is not just a comforting story but an apocalyptic inbreaking of God’s kingdom - more than a sign, it is an invitation to encounter the Jesus who has come for us and is always at work.

The Coming of Jesus

Oliver Towlson starts the advent season off by looking at Matthew 24:36-44. He puts forward the case to interpret this passage, and the language surrounding "the Son of Man", as one which links the destruction of Jerusalem to Jesus' own suffering and vindication, which will occur within the original audience's lifetime. He emphasizes the need for preparation, while also accepting that some events are beyond our control. Although it is easy to get distracted by daily life, Oliver shows us that Jesus offers hope through the incarnation: his birth, life, death and resurrection; that despite life's worst challenges, we can endure anything as we are united with Jesus, who as God become flesh, has shared our suffering ahead of time and has overcome it with his divine life and love.

Confident in Witness

Our Vicar, Toby, completes our series going through 1 Peter, looking at verses 3: 13-18 and 4:1-6. He discusses how Christian witness involves both how we act and what we say. Toby highlights how suffering is part of following Christ, yet even this suffering is a blessing and nothing compared to the glory Jesus offers. We are called not to house glory ourselves, but to reflect Christ's; living with integrity and devotion to Him as the core of our witness. Faith is often hard and requires disciplined habits that shape our desires. We are invited to share the gospel authentically - not just through intellectual arguments, but by speaking from the heart, explaining the difference Jesus makes in our lives. As we do this with gentleness and respect, we may still face rejection, yet a clear conscience before Christ gives deep peace and enables us to reflect Christ's light to the world. 

Confidence in Relationships and Understanding the Bible

Guest preacher, Ian Paul, leads us through 1 Peter 3:1-12, continuing our series on the theme Confident in Relationships. He discusses how we can approach difficult passages of the Bible, highlighting how God never asks for unthinking obedience. Ian Paul shows us four key principles for engaging with the text: Kind (genre), context, canon, and content, demonstrating how each of these components can help to demystify some of the more challenging parts of the passage.