The Word in Biggleswade

This week’s talk – the latest in our “Truly truly” series – looks at the idea of the grain of wheat that falls to the ground, dies and is buried. Jesus is the grain, proving that God’s love is greater than even the power of death itself. Even the very worst of people can experience forgiveness and grace through the death of Christ if they genuinely accept him. All because of the cross and the seed that falls to the ground, dies and is buried – with new life springing forth. Have you accepted Christ in repentance and faith? John 12:20-26Martin CeaserSunday 1st March Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

With a nod to the work of Charlie Mackesy, this week Cliff unpacks the concept of the Good Shepherd and themes of kindness, trust and vulnerability in relationships. The shepherd would be fully committed to his sheep, laying his life down for them and blocking the one gate to the sheepfold. As with us, his people, he is the one route through which they find freedom and hope and are kept safe too. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep because he understands and appreciates our true nature. Do you really know Jesus or just know of him? Are you ready to follow in obedience rather than being driven by fear?  John 10:1-18Cliff AndrewsSunday 22nd February Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

As we celebrate the new life of one of our youngest church members, we also reflect on the advocate – the Holy Spirit – being sent to us by the Father. When the Spirit comes, he will guide us into all truth. Raising us like a parent raises a child. He only shares what He hears – words of love, forgiveness, grace, peace and joy from God the Father. The guiding, caring words of the Most High. We have all guidance and wisdom that we need and someone bigger and better than us to show us the way to go. How will we respond to our great advocate – as we raise our children, as we take God into the community, as we live out our faith in Him? John 16:7-15Martin CeaserSunday 15th February Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

This week’s sermon focuses on Jesus’ teaching just after one of the great feeding miracles. The people wanted to see him perform but they missed the point of why he was there. Who he was and why it mattered. This seemingly lowly carpenter’s son was claiming God’s approval and pointed the people towards Moses and being fed in the wilderness. The people only focused on short term satisfaction of the physical rather than the deeper spiritual satisfaction that can only be fed by Jesus. What needs do we have and are we looking to Him to satisfy? John 6:25-54Martin CeaserSunday 8th February Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

This week Nick unpacks the story of Jesus healing someone on the sabbath, helping us reflect on both who Jesus is and how he goes about his work. His claims and deeds seem to contradict the commandments, which really stirs up the local religious authorities. But his words are backed up by his actions – in this case a miraculous healing of the sick. Jesus, the Son, does the work of God, he brings life to others and he warns us to be ready for the judgement to come. Are you prepared to believe his shocking claims and what will your response be? John 5:1-30Nick TrebySunday 1st February Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

With a little help from Boney M, Martin explores the story of Jesus and Nicodemus and what it means to be spiritually transformed. If we want to see God’s Kingdom and be part of His family, we need a second spiritual birth. Being born again brings freedom, belonging, meaning and hope. It’s an internal change that leads to external transformation too – with new understanding, standards, values, attitudes and loyalties. Not to mention the very authority of the one who has seen heaven because he came from there in the first place. So, have you been born again?! John 3:1-15Martin CeaserSunday 25th January Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

The story of Philip and Nathanael is our subject for this week as the disciples come to follow Jesus and go on to tell others the great news too. Nathanael is seen by Jesus, even before they had even met. It prompts Nathanael to realise just who is Jesus is and what he came to do. It is a radical, life-changing conversion. Jesus is showing us that God’s presence is no longer just a place but a person. But knowing about Jesus is not enough – we need to meet him, to experience his love and presence, to “come and see”… Are you ready for even greater things? John 1:43-51Martin Ceaser Sunday 18th January Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

This week Martin unpacks John 8:32 – our verse for the year. In these days of subjective truth, Jesus calls us to not just know truth but the truth. Objective truth is not connected to our own narrative, agenda, feelings and desires and objective truth leads to suffering and hurt for others. The one who was the truth – Jesus - lived the truth, spoke the truth and modelled the truth. We need to know the truth or we could actually find ourselves in opposition to Jesus. Do we know we need freedom? Have you cried out for help and found that help from Him? Are you growing in the truth of Jesus? It’s time to discover the truth and the freedom it brings. John 8:31-38Martin Ceaser Sunday 11th January Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

As we begin a new year and start our week of prayer, we’re celebrating new life with our latest baptism service. New Year is a time for resolutions – although these pledges often only address the symptoms rather than the root cause. To truly change we need to make the change in our heart. Only God can do this – and this only takes place when we experience Christ’s love and sacrifice for us. His love takes control of our hearts too, bringing a new spirit and a new reason to live and to hope. Baptism Sunday2 Corinthians 5:11-21Martin Ceaser Sunday 4th January Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

As we come towards the end of another year, Gareth explores the reasons why Jesus came to dwell among us – his purpose on Earth. Jesus came so that we might know the Father. To rescue us from sin. To bring abundant life to all those who would believe. There’s more to life than merely going through the motions – we are precious to Him, we are called to praise Him in good times and bad and walk humbly in His presence. How will shape your priorities to make the most of this abundant life in 2026? John 10:1-10Gareth Godfrey Sunday 28th December Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

A short reflection from our Carols by Candlelight evening service, which uses the current crop of festive TV adverts to explore what really makes it Christmas. Hope in difficult situations. Light in a dark world. Peace for anxious and worried hearts and minds. Love to turn away hate. Joy for lives filled with sadness. Certainty into the instability we see all around us. Forgiveness and friendship with God. All this and more makes Jesus the perfect gift for us this Christmas… and always. It’s Jesus that makes Christmas. Carols by CandlelightJohn 3:16Martin Ceaser Sunday 21st December Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

The next part in our ‘Small wonder’ Advent series, explores the context around the prophecy about the birth of Jesus. The sign given could have been seen as insignificant and ordinary. A baby born in poverty might be overlooked as unremarkable. But seen in the context of the bigger picture, this baby is the crucial piece that completes God’s plan. Tiny person. Huge purpose. Without Jesus at the centre, the whole puzzle, the whole picture falls apart… Advent #3Isaiah 7:10-16Martin Ceaser Sunday 14th December Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

Continuing our advent series inspired by The London Institute of Contemporary Christianity’s ‘Small wonder’ material. If you live in darkness, there is hope that something better is coming. Light into darkness is wonderful news. It brings hope, anticipation, joy – no matter how bad things are now, they will improve. Sometimes this wonderful news is easily missed – even when it is time to celebrate it. Do we potentially miss this wonderful news amongst the bustle and busyness of Christmas? Advent #2Isaiah 9Martin Ceaser Sunday 7th December Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

In the build up to Christmas, our advent series explores the wonder wrapped in our preparations – inspired by The London Institute of Contemporary Christianity’s ‘Small wonder’ series. Advent is not just preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus but also preparing for the fulfilment of God’s plan. A plan put into place before the beginning of time! And much like Christmas itself, it’s going to be worth the wait! There’s an invitation, a commission to share and a command to get ready. So are you ready to be part of this wonderful plan? Advent #1Ephesians 1:3-10Martin Ceaser (with Ken Benjamin)Sunday 30th November Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

As we continue our series on the bold statements Jesus made about himself, we arrive at ‘I AM the true vine’. Jesus shared with his closest friends about the most intimate of connections – the vine and the branches. If we remain in him, he will remain in us. It’s not a connection based on behaviour or achievement but rooted in relationship. That relationship will ensure we bear fruit so it’s important we stay connected – by responding to his love, spending time in his word, cultivating our prayer lives and spending time in community with other believers. How connected are you today? John 15:1-17Martin Ceaser Sunday 23rd November Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

Jesus said ‘I AM the Bread of Life’ and today’s sermon explores this claim and what it means for us as believers and for all people everywhere. It’s amazing how we can decide we need something that we previously never knew existed – and when it comes to our genuine needs it's also amazing the lengths we’ll go to get them met. Jesus is the very essence of spiritual nourishment and what everyone needs to achieve eternal life. Without Jesus we are spiritually starving but the Bread of Life will give us satisfaction for all time. John 6:25-40Martin Ceaser Sunday 16th November Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

This week as, as we remember those who have fallen in battle on behalf of others, Mike leads us through a short reflection on the importance of remembering. Inspired by the Energize material we use in our youth and children’s work, he poses the question on whether remembrance matters to those who know someone who has been lost. How can remembering the people and events that have gone before become even more meaning to all of us? Remembrance SundayMike Sladen Sunday 9th November Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

Reflecting on the story of the death of Lazarus this week, Martin unpacks the significance of the resurrected life. Jesus said “I am the resurrection” and promises us new life both in the present and in the eternal life to come. The power that brought Jesus back from the dead is the very same power that we have access to – if we are prepared to receive it and act in it. Are we ready to live like we’re born again and start to see God’s resurrection power at work in our lives, our church and our community? John 11:17-27Martin Ceaser Sunday 2nd November Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

This week Martin reflects on the resurrection of Jesus and how Jesus coming back to life after death marks him out as one who can truly make a difference and change our lives. His words are not empty promises. His actions are not powerless gestures. He is the living God and we can be brought into life with him too. As we celebrate the act of baptism and the symbolising of this resurrection, we know that Christ’s death was enough for all. We know that death has been defeated and we know we have a hope and a future too. Baptism SundayMartin Ceaser Sunday 26th October Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk

This week we explore the challenge for us to spread his light to those around us and to beacon of Christ’s love for others. The church is a light on the hill but we are called to also take that light out to the places we find ourselves throughout the week too. Where the light goes, the darkness of our world is pushed back. In order to keep his light shining brightly we need to check our own lives for the darkness that can creep in. God’s standard is high but that’s what keeps us burning brightly and helps us to come more like Christ. What can we do to take God’s light into our community this week? Matthew 5:13-16Martin Ceaser Sunday 19th October Find out more about our church community at www.bbchurch.org.uk