Unitarian & Free Christian Bible Discussion

Come and join us (all welcome whether you are Unitarian, Unitarian Christian, Christian, from another faith, or have no faith) for our Bible Discussion Group at 6.30 p.m. tomorrow, Monday 27 February.  Zoom link for the meeting [ https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82378042367 ] https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82378042367?fbclid=IwAR2TUo5655H9chvhlER2wma5soC8d6gMydgE4TG7ly5zWKn8Awv-nTTHb18 Meeting ID: 823 7804 2367 Passcode: 460019 "Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life...": from the teaching of Jesus, in 'The Sermon on the Mount', found in Matthew's Gospel (Matt. 6.25-33) Easier said than done, one might think. In fact, bearing in mind the number of people on anti-depressants, the rising cost of living,  not to mention other things like family problems, workplace pressures, and the Inland Revenue, one might be tempted to call it utterly unrealistic advice. OR IS IT? What might Jesus have meant by these words? And quite apart from what he intended his disciples

 The Temptation in the Wilderness: 20th February - discussion led by Rob Oulton This coming week the traditional 40-day period of Lent begins; 40, of course, being the number used in the Bible to convey the archetypal struggle (days or years) of a period of growth, change and transformation. This can be personal, as in Jesus’s case here, or as a community such as the Israelites in the wilderness after the escape from captivity in Egypt. Much is made traditionally in Lent of fasting, self-denial and self-reflection; but perhaps less of the actual content of the ‘temptations’ described here. Does the personification of the ‘tempter’ as Satan or the Devil, makes it easier for us to skip over this narrative?  But if the ‘temptations’ are re-cast as a picture of Jesus’ internal psycho/spiritual struggles, as he wrestles with the implications of his forthcoming ministry, then do we begin to see how his choices define the path of liberation he wishes his contemporaries (and all who come after

 Our discussion on Monday 13th will be led by Indra Sikdar, looking at Matthew 13:12 (NIV) "Whoever has will be given more, and they will have abundance.  Whoever does not have even what they have will be taken from them." Indra writes: * Sounds cruel ? * Is Jesus saying * only * if you follow his path will you have abundance ? Or * Are there universal laws which if broadly followed we will have abundance ? Login link [ https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82378042367](https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82378042367?fbclid=IwAR2TUo5655H9chvhlER2wma5soC8d6gMydgE4TG7ly5zWKn8Awv-nTTHb18 ) Meeting ID: 823 7804 2367 Passcode: 460019 Photo credit and thanks: "472301" on Pixabay

Alex Bradley will lead the discussion this coming Monday, 6th February, under the heading: "Happy Families"!  The phrase 'family values' is often used as a term of high approbation. We all know, (don't we?), that families are wonderful institutions. Er, yes, except when they're not at all wonderful. Some families are anything but heavenly - in fact they can feel much closer to the 'other place'.  There's a lot about families in the Bible and some of the examples are not particularly good role models, especially for sibling love. Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, the 'Prodigal Son' and his elder brother- none of them advertisements for family harmony! What does the Bible have to say about families?  This is a potentially huge topic, so I want to focus on sibling relationships and relationships with fathers and mothers. How many of us have known a parent who favoured one son or daughter over another sibling, or siblings? Perhaps it may even have