David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
140 followers
130 following
85 posts
Wannabe artist, poet and woke bloke, breadmaking grandad, loving ministry in retirement, lifelong LCFC supporter, ex X https://davidherbert.me/
The Honourable David Alexander Reginald Herbert was a British socialite and writer, seen in the 1920s as one of the Bright Young Things.
Source: Wikipedia
Political science
29%
Sociology
22%
Posts
Media
Videos
Starter Packs
Pinned
Reposted by David Herbert
Reposted by David Herbert
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Sep 14
Here, where the lost are found
A reflection for a small church on Luke 15:1-10 and 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Why are we here?We are here to hear Jesus. Our gospel reading introduces us to a gathering to hear Jesus:“The tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear him.”That is the gathering we join,and we do that alongside Paul,who in our first reading names himself the worst of all sinners,
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Sep 2
Match of the Day
a poem marking the 80th anniversary of the ending of World War 2 Match of the Day camerasfocus their lenses onyoung boys and their disappointmentsin the closing minutesin the dashing of hope.The fingers on their handsgo to the boneof the sockets of eyesto prevent their tearsstaining their faces. After the match, so we’ve heard,
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Aug 31
The Flag of St George & the Cross of Christ
“Britain's better than this.” That was the headline on the front page of The Mirror last week, after Nigel Farage promised mass deportations in the name of “protecting British citizens.” When the flag of St George is waved as a weapon of fear, Christians must remember another banner — the cross of Christ, where pride is humbled and strangers are welcomed as honoured guests.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Aug 24
The Healing of the Bent Woman (Luke 13:10–17)
This Sunday’s gospel introduces us to a woman bent low for eighteen years (Luke 13:10-17), unseen by her neighbours but seen by Jesus. Her story is a story about visibility — about who gets noticed, who is ignored, and how Christ restores dignity to those the world overlooks. In a week when asylum seekers have once again been targeted and made invisible, her story feels all the more urgent.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Aug 17
A motley crew of cheerleaders
Sometimes one sermon leads to another. The focus here is Hebrews 11:29-12:2, very much picking up from last week's sermon commending those who never give up and never settle for the way things are, always hoping for justice and love. Here we join the author of Hebrews in looking more closely at who these people are because they really are our cheerleaders.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Aug 10
What Have We Settled For?
The scriptures we read this Sunday are not the comfortable writings of a comfortable people. They are the testimony of the beaten, the displaced, the silenced, and the overlooked. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham — each bears the marks of suffering and hope. They lived by faith in what they could not yet see, refusing to settle for the way things were.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Jul 27
When prayer gets risky: what Abraham and Jesus teach us
There are lessons to be learned about how to pray in both readings appointed for the 6th Sunday after Trinity (Proper 12C). This sermon explores what it means to pray like Abraham and Jesus. The readings are Genesis 18:20-32 and Luke 11:1-13. I want to begin, as I so often do, by saying how much I love preaching that brings the scriptures back to life.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Jul 20
Stressed? Just one thing’s needed
This sermon explores why Luke tell us the story of Martha and Mary. Why did he think it was important for his readers? I always begin my sermon these days by saying how I love preaching that brings scripture back to life, and that I assume those who are listening do too. The gospel for the day is Luke 10:38-42: it's about Martha's resentment (and, maybe, our resentments too).
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Jun 22
Crossing the Lines of Division
Every generation lives with conflict. Sometimes it shocks us; other times, it simply exhausts us. We ask, again and again, “Why can’t people just get on?” But our scriptures don’t hide the truth: division runs deep — in history, in systems, in souls. This sermon explores how Paul names those divisions, how Jesus crosses them, and what happens when grace refuses to stay on its side of the line. In a world chained by difference, Christ brings the freedom of unity — not by erasing our stories, but by re-membering us into something new.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Jun 15
A Call to Worship and Defiance
A sermon for Trinity Sunday. I love preaching that brings Scripture to life and that brings Scripture back to life, and I hope you do too. I begin this way as a reminder that when we open scripture together we are not just reading words from the past; we are bringing it back to life. What matters today is what happens to us when we worship God.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Jun 8
The miracle of hearing at Pentecost
This is a sermon prepared for a small congregation in a small Warwickshire village. The reading for the day is Acts 2:1-21. We’ve been watching the ITV drama Code of Silence. It is a vivid demonstration that all of us hear differently.Rose Ayling-Ellis plays the part of a deaf catering worker who has the gift of being able to read lips.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· May 25
Love comes home – picking up Lydia’s purple thread
A reflection for the 6th Sunday of Easter based on the readings for the day, Acts 16:9-15 and John 14:23-29. I love preaching that brings Scripture to life—and that brings Scripture back to life, and I hope you do too. I say this every time as a reminder that when we open scripture together we are bringing it back to life.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· May 11
The Sound of Jesus: hearing his voice, following his call
Using scripture appointed for the 4th Sunday of Easter (YrC), Psalm 23 and John 10.22-30, here's a reflection on what it means to hear the voice of Jesus in a noisy world. I love preaching that brings Scripture to life—and that brings Scripture back to life, and I hope you do too. That’s a reminder that every time we open scripture together we are bringing it back to life.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· May 4
Nostalgia never wins the day: there’s fights to fight and victories still to win
A reflection for VE Day for the 3rd Sunday of Easter. Readings for the day: Acts 9:1-6, Psalm 30 and John 21:1-19 I love preaching that brings Scripture to life—and that brings Scripture back to life, and I hope you do too. That’s a reminder that every time we open scripture together we are bringing it back to life. Our readings today are those appointed for the 3rd Sunday of Easter (year C) - and they’re a perfect fit for this week when we celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday, May 8th.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Apr 27
Seeing the wounds Jesus shows us
A sermon for the 2nd Sunday of Easter - Year C for two small churches. The gospel for the day is John 20:19-end. The Incredulity of St Thomas by Caravaggio - or should it be called Jesus showing Thomas his wounds? I love preaching that brings Scripture to life—and that brings Scripture back to life. That’s a line I’m going to repeat each week to remind us that every time we open Scripture together we are bringing it back to life…
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Apr 21
Using AI in sermon preparation
This is for preachers. For the last few weeks I have been experimenting with my sermon preparation by using the artificial intelligence of ChatGPT.com. I am impressed with the help it has given me and am posting this as an encouragement to not shy away from AI in ministry. I’m curious to see how others are experimenting. Let me know if you’ve used AI in sermon prep.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Apr 20
Do you turn to Christ while it is still dark?
a sermon for Easter Day, picking up on the turn made by Mary Magdalen. The readings for the day are Acts 10:34-43 and John 20:1-18 I love preaching that brings scripture to life. I love preaching that brings scripture back to life - back to the life, the often bitter experiences through which the word of God has been heard.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Apr 13
In the thick of things – a sermon for Palm Sunday
On Palm Sunday we celebrate Jesus' humble entry into the thick of things where we say he is very welcome. This sermon for a small Warwickshire church picks up that theme. The readings appointed for the day are Luke 19:28-40 and Philippians 2:5-11. Entry of Christ into Jerusalem by Pieter Coecke van Aelst Bonnefantenmuseum 1246 I love preaching that brings scripture to life, and we are in the thick of it, aren’t we?
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Apr 10
White Lotus – a parable of vanity and futility
I enjoyed catching up with the last episode of White Lotus - the last episode of the 3rd series. There was much to admire. Also, there was much for the devil to admire from his hideaway above the White Lotus resort in Thailand—a place he’d convinced the wealthy was a paradise they had somehow earned. “Good things happen to good people”.
davidherbert.me
David Herbert
@dherbert.bsky.social
· Mar 30
Mercy’s embrace
a sermon for the 4th Sunday in Lent (C) reflecting on the readings for the day, 2 Corinthians 5:16-end and Luke 15:1-3, 11b-end - the parable of the Prodigal Son (and Merciful Father) Today’s Gospel presents a well-known story about a father and his two sons. (It is ironic that on Mothering Sunday our gospel is about a father and his two sons.
davidherbert.me