Thought for the Week

Every week an article is published which relates the teaching of the Bible to daily life and current events. These weekly articles are brought to you from the Thought for the Week website

Thought For The Week was written by David Jebson from its beginnings in 1984 until his death in 2009. In March 2010 Peter Milsom took on this ministry. Click here to read more about this ministry.

We invite you to read the articles each week and pray that they will enable you to find real help and encouragement in God’s Word and especially in his Son, Jesus Christ. The articles are also published every week in newspapers throughout the UK.

Saved to serve

The obituaries that are printed in national newspapers provide a brief summary of a person’s life. How did…

Holidays are important

The summer holiday season is in full swing. The number of people in Britain taking holidays is increasing.…

Choose a good reputation

Cliff Richard has won his case against the BBC for seriously infringing his right to privacy. When the…

Remembering Christabel Pankhurst

This year we are celebrating the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 2018 which, for the…

Love and sacrifice

The plight of the 12 boys from a Thai football team and their coach trapped in a cave…

Giving thanks for the NHS

On 5 July 1948 the National Health Service in Britain was launched by Aneurin Bevan, the then minister…

The God of new beginnings

Alice Marie Johnson was enjoying a full and happy life. She was married to her childhood sweetheart and…

Call on me in the day of trouble

When Guatemala’s Volcan de Fuego (Volcano of Fire) erupted on Sunday 3 June it shot a plume of…

The peace of God

A few years ago we were given a red mug with the words “Keep Calm and Carry On”…

My friend David

David was born nearly 60 years ago. Soon after his birth his mother and father were told that…

Sacrificial love in DR Congo

Last week the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo declared an outbreak of Ebola. Two cases have…

Miracle on the River Kwai

Captain Ernest Gordon came from Scotland and served with the 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in World…

Finding God when we fail

In 2011 the Coalition Government in Britain defined what they saw as fundamental British values. Schools are now…

Heaven is real

The recent warm, sunny days have lifted our spirits after the cold days of early Spring. The cloudless…

Remembering Stephen Lawrence

Stephen Lawrence was murdered as he waited for a bus in Eltham, south-east London, on 22 April 1993.…

Martin Luther King’s Dream

On 4 April 1968 Dr Martin Luther King Junior was assassinated. He was just 39 years old. He…

The Lord is risen!

Easter is a joyful time for Christians around the world. On Easter Day they greet one another with…

A costly sacrifice and a living hope

The courage and self-sacrifice of the French gendarme Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrame was remarkable. When an armed man…

The Prince of Peace

We live in a world of conflict. Every day we see vivid pictures of violent conflicts in Syria,…

The Joy of Spring

When does Spring begin? The Met Office regards 1 March as the first day of Spring but the…

Remembering Billy Graham

The evangelist Billy Graham died at his home in North Carolina on 21 February at the age of…

Spiritual heart surgery

Recent major news stories have all been about really bad things that are happening in our world today.…

The water of life

Cape Town, a beautiful coastal city, is running out of water. The second largest city in South Africa,…

Crushing guilt and true forgiveness

The appalling case of Larry Nassar revealed how he used his position as the USA Gymnastics national team…

Treasure on earth or treasure in heaven?

As many of the world’s wealthiest people gathered at Davos recently for the World Economic Forum, Oxfam International…

Teach us to pray

Tearfund, a major Christian relief and development charity, recently commissioned a survey on prayer. Over 2000 adults took…

Remembering Cyrille Regis

Cyrille Regis, who has died at the age of 59, was a great footballer. Those who knew him…

Give us today our daily bread

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught his disciples important principles about daily living. He was preparing…

When we are in debt

Christmas has passed, the decorations have been taken down and life is returning to normal. Yet for many…

New beginnings

A new year has begun and offers the possibility of a new beginning. Looking back on life we…

I was a stranger and you took me in

The birth of Jesus brought great joy to Mary and Joseph, but it also involved significant trauma. The…

The greatest story ever told

The story of Jesus is the greatest story ever told. Joseph and Mary were a young couple living…

O little town of Bethlehem

Some of the best-known hymns are Christmas carols. Familiar words express the wonder of the birth of Jesus…

Immanuel – God with us

The birth of Jesus Christ really is a cause for great celebration! His coming into the world has…

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah

This month rugby fans around Britain have gathered for the Autumn International matches. One of the features of…

Who is my neighbour?

Through the news media and internet we receive amazing insights into events around the world. On-the-spot reports and…

Blessed are the peacemakers

Last weekend was the 30th anniversary of the Enniskillen bomb. At 10.43am on 8 November 1987, as people…

The power of forgiveness

When the Allied forces surrendered Singapore to the Japanese in 1942, Tony Lucas, who died recently, was one…

“I was born again”

Patience Bradley, a former Vogue model, has written a memoir telling the story of her life. She first…

Remembering Martin Luther

On 31 October 1517 Martin Luther, until then a little-known monk, nailed a copy of his 95 Theses…

All good gifts around us

Farmers have safely gathered in the harvest for another year. The early season was very dry and during…

Asking the big questions

In December 2015, Major Tim Peake became the first British European Space Agency astronaut to visit the International…

When we lose everything

What do you do when you lose everything? Pictures of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irma on islands…

A love that changes us

When you read the Gospel accounts of the life of Jesus you are struck by the number of…

Love lifted me

It is interesting to read the obituaries of people who have recently died. Many, who are not well-known,…

The Lord God omnipotent reigns!

Following their latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, there is growing concern around the world about North…

God is wonderfully kind

Last week the BBC reluctantly revealed the salaries received by its presenters, actors, pundits and contributors who earn…

I am with you always

Many people in the UK today live on their own. In 2016, there were 7.7 million one person…

A mother’s love

Little Charlie Gard is unaware of the international media attention surrounding him and his parents. Connie and Chris…

The Lord omnipotent is King!

There is a power vacuum in Britain today because the general election gave no political party an overall…

The secret of being content

We are living in unsettled times. Reports in the media portray a spirit of unease and unhappiness in…

O Thou who changest not, abide with me!

The terrible fire at Grenfell Tower has traumatised a nation. The vivid pictures of the inferno that quickly…

Light shines in the darkness

The terrorist attack on London Bridge on Saturday 3 June came without warning and many innocent people were…

Pray for those in authority

This week the people of Britain will elect a new government. They will face some very big challenges,…

When tragedy strikes

The Manchester bombing atrocity has touched the hearts of millions of people around the world. Thousands attended the…

Bear Gryll’s Greatest Adventure

Bear Grylls is well-known as a man who embodies the spirit of adventure and outdoor survival. His love…

I can’t thank them enough, they are all heroes

One Sunday morning Matthew Bryce set out for a morning’s surfing off the Argyll coast of Scotland. When…

He has made everything beautiful in its time

The Spring and early summer is a beautiful time as nature comes alive. This year I have been…

She has saved me

Sergeant Alexander Blackman has been released from prison and has been reunited with his wife, Claire, who tirelessly…

Because I live, you also will live

A poll carried out on Palm Sunday revealed that 23% of people in the UK who regard themselves…

Christ is risen!

The days leading up to Easter this year have seen tragic and horrific events around the world. Terrorist…

The power of reconciliation

We live in a world in which retaliation and retribution are normal. If someone injures us, or damages…

A unique King

On Palm Sunday Christians remember the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, just 5 days before he was…

Everybody’s got a past

The Internet has changed our lives both positively and negatively. One negative factor is the ease with which…

The ministry of angels

Last summer Stephen Parker and his two sons, 17-year-old Mason and 8-year-old J.T., were working on a Toyota…

The best news ever!

Like many people around the world I like to follow the news. Every morning I listen to the…

When bad things happen

What do we do when bad things happen? A dear friend of ours recently had surgery for cancer.…

God is Light

The days are getting longer. It’s good to go to work and school in the light and to…

Remembering Joost van der Westhuizen

Last week Joost van der Westhuizen died at the age of 45. Joost played scrum half for South…

Adriaan Vlok is a changed man

On Friday 2 February 1990 President F.W. de Klerk announced the end of apartheid, that for 41 years…

The King of kings and Lord of lords

We are living in a time of change and political leaders are in the news. In the USA,…

The greatest ever rescue

Last Wednesday afternoon a huge avalanche hit Hotel Rigopiano, in central Italy, at an estimated speed of 60mph.…

Remembering Jill Saward

Jill Saward’s funeral takes place this week at Lichfield Cathedral. Her ashes will be taken to Nefyn in…

Our God is the end of the journey

Last Saturday I stood at the graveside of a good friend I had known for more than 45…

I know who holds the future

Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve clocks in countries using Greenwich Mean Time were adjusted as one…

Let’s go to Bethlehem

Christmas is a special time of the year. The preparations begin weeks before. There is a long list…

The Greatest Story ever told

The story of Jesus has been called “The Greatest Story ever told.” It is more than a story…

A love that forgives and forgets

Last week someone broke into a small valley church in Abersychan in South Wales. They stole £60 in…

Special births

Alfie, Connor and Dylan Bateman, who are just 2 years old, are in the Guinness Book of Records.…

The God of second chances

In our world today the price of failure is high. A political leader whose party loses an election…

Thoughts on being a parent

On a recent visit to Vietnam the Duke of Cambridge was interviewed on a popular English-language talk show.…

Put your trust in God.

One hundred years ago this week the Battle of the Somme ended. The Battle started on 1 July…

Look at the Birds

The nights are dark and we have had the first frosts of winter. We may envy the birds…

The transient beauty of autumn

This year the autumn colours are especially glorious and have lasted longer than usual. In the autumn sun,…

The God who is there

The hard crash-landing of the Europe Space Agency’s experimental Mars probe, Schiaparelli, was a deep disappointment for the…

Remembering Aberfan

On 21 October 1966 I was at work in Cardiff when we heard there had been a disaster…

The testimony of J B Holmes

J B Holmes was a member of the winning USA Team in the recent Ryder Cup, but 5…

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