Resources

In the Anglican Homilies, we hear the good news of a righteousness outside of us, which God accepts instead of our good works.

Some people love to wallow in misery. And some people think that is what Christianity is all about, with its confession of sin and acknowledgement of original sin. So after this week’s blogposts from the Church of England’s official sermon “On the misery of mankind and of their Condemnation to Death Everlasting, by their own Sin”—some people may have switched off.

The Homilies encourage us not to be ashamed of confessing our deep and radical imperfection.

Lee Gatiss considers official Church of England teaching on the pervasiveness of sin.

The second homily in the Church of England’s official collection of sermons is entitled “HOMILY ON THE MISERY OF MANKIND.” It carries the even less cheery subtitle: “A Sermon of the Misery of all Mankind and of his Condemnation to Death Everlasting, by his own Sin.”

Reading the Bible can be hard for some, and seemingly easy for others. The Church of England’s official “Homilies” acknowledge that it is not always straightforward to hear the voice of God in Scripture. What helps do we need to enjoy this food for the soul and digest it?

Lee Gatiss considers Homily 1 on Holy Scripture and its condemnation of mere tradition.