A Fitting Rebuke at Eastcombe Baptist Church

Eighteen years ago, I preached down at Eastcombe Baptist in Gloucestershire. It’s a large 350-seater building, but like Salem, is situated in a very rural area, and the congregation’s size reflected this. It is located on the delightfully named 'Dr Crouch's Road' within the village. I’m pleased to see it is still active and reaching out. Its website is here: www.eastcombebaptist.com or Eastcombe Baptist Church | Facebook. 

It was a privilege for a young lad like me to preach there and I wonder if my pride got the better of me. At one point, I described some of the medieval heretics that had opposed the Roman Church, such as the lollards and Waldenisans. I’m not sure how this fitted with my text, but I was determined to include it. I felt quite the expert, you see, having just read Malcolm Lambert’s Medieval Heresy.  

One gentleman asked me about this at the end, and I gladly shared with him my extensive knowledge of the subject. “I am glad you enjoyed my book”, said Dr Lambert, when I had finished.

He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. -Proverbs 15:32