A Bible Reading: Isaiah 43. 16 - 21
This is what the Lord says — “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.”
A Thought I always find it challenging to consider that the God, who is the same, yesterday, today and forever, is also the God who is always doing something new.
As we look back over the centuries, there are several new inventions which had a profound effect on how the Christian message was communicated.
The invention of musical notation dates back to the 10th century. Once music could be written down, it could become more complex but it could also become more accessible. It could be learnt and performed by different groups of musicians and singers. Musical compositions were shared more widely to enhance the worship of the monasteries and the big Medieval cathedrals. People heard the gospel through beautiful and inspiring music.
Around 1440, the invention of the printing press by German inventor, Johannes Gutenburg, had a profound effect on the Reformation and the spread of the gospel. With the first translations of the Bible into the vernacular languages of ordinary people, the ability to print multiple copies more cheaply began to make the scriptures readily available. Gradually more and more people had access to a bible and a prayer book.
Over the past eighteen months, we have seen our own lives transformed by the use of Zoom and other online platforms for church services and church meetings. Our Autumn Alpha course will be partly face to face and partly online. Like printing, online media platforms are here to stay and they too will contribute to the spread of the Gospel in our own generation.
Covid may have caused a major world crisis, but not even Covid can stop the spread of the gospel. God is still doing new things and online technology is the new innovation furthering the growth of God’s kingdom in creative ways.
A Prayer Unchanging God, gives us eyes to see the new things you are doing
to bring life in the wilderness places of this world,
so that we may give thanks and proclaim your praise. Amen.