This is the first talk of five in 1 Peter at Lee Abbey 2026 Listen here: I’ve recently stuck L plates on our car for (hopefully) the last time as I’m teaching our third child to drive. We’ve had a few close shaves, but no prangs yet, and long may that continue. This milestone got me thinking about five phrases Peter uses in his first letter to describe what exiles like us are actually holding onto — a living hope, a locked-in inheritance, lasting joy, long-term perspective, and a living word. Simple enough to write but tough to live out. […]
Tag: Simon Guillebaud Blog
Back to School?
“Simon, I’ve got four kids. I’ve got to choose which two will go to school. How can I possibly choose which two won’t be going this September?” Hi folks, The above is such a common scenario in Burundi. State education is free, but you have to buy your child’s uniform, pen, paper, etc. When you’re struggling to provide even one meal a day, those basic items are unaffordable. And that leads to the most horrendous of dilemmas… I’ve got three kids. I simply can’t imagine having to choose who gets to go to school. Thankfully, you and I have never had […]
Miracle over the Airwaves!
Sophie had lived with pain, fear, and uncertainty for an exhausting 3 years. She had been diagnosed with uterine cancer, suffering from heavy bleeding and long days confined to bed. All the doctors could do was advise her to seek treatment but this was impossible – the huge costs were far beyond her reach. From her bed in Kamenge, she listened to Ivyizigiro Radio every day – that means “Hope Radio”! Fanny and her team at World Outreach Initiatives work tirelessly to keep the show on the road, broadcasting hope over the airwaves. Through the daily encouragement of worship songs […]
Transformed Youth Get Stuck In
I love it when the Gospel takes hold of people in a way that means life cannot stay the same. Charles Nkazamyampi walked 20km to and from school daily as a child, but was soon to write his name in the history books of Burundi. In 1992 he won gold in the 800m at the African Championships in Athletics, clocking 1:46.95. The next year he competed at the 1993 World Indoor Championships in Toronto, where, having just learned his parents had been killed in the conflict, he declared he would run in their honour and took the silver medal! He […]
Total Access
Last week I was preaching at Trinity Cheltenham in their sermon series on Mark’s gospel. My passage was Mark 15:33-41, and the focus was on the torn curtain (v38), and the centurion’s declaration (v39). Take a look here: or listen to the audio version here: The temple had so many barriers to entry: the Court of the Gentiles was as far as most of us could go; ritually purified Jewish woman could go a little further, but had to stop in the Court of Women; Jewish men could go into the Court of Israel; priests entered the Court of Priests; […]
Bonkers in Burundi!
It’s my favourite time of year again, when we embark on our spectacularly fruitful large-scale summer outreach with Harvest Initiatives! I’d love your prayer support, because it really makes a difference. Of all the years we’ve done this, there was only one I didn’t ask for intentional prayer, and that was the year with the most opposition and setbacks. Check out these stories from previous campaigns: Goretti had been paralysed for three years. The team visited and prayed for her. She was healed, and straightaway gave her life to Jesus. Six of her family members and five neighbours also came to Christ […]
From Slaves to Sons
Last week I was invited to preach at All Saints in Worcester on Galatians 3:23-4:7 as part of their series on Galatians, with the title ‘From Slaves to Sons’. You can watch it here: And listen to the audio version here: Here is a transcript if you prefer to read: From Slaves to Sons Slave, or son? That’s the choice sitting inside this passage. Galatians 4:4–7: “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are […]
The Cost Of Non-Discipleship
I was asked to preach last weekend at St George’s, Stamford, on ‘The Cost of Discipleship’ from Matthew 8:18-22. You can watch here: And listen to the audio version here: I often talk about the cost of discipleship, but it is interesting to consider the cost of non-discipleship. Dallas Willard once noted, “a life penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in the light of God’s overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil. In short, nondiscipleship costs you exactly that […]
Guard your First Love!
I was recently preaching at All Saints Peckham, as part of their series on Revelation. My text was Rev 2:1-7 The Letter to the Church at Ephesus. Listen/watch here Verse 7 says: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” You can also listen to the Audio version here:
Connecting to God’s Presence and Power
This is the sermon I gave last Sunday at St Andrew’s Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, looking at Exodus 40:34-38 and closing out their series on the book of Exodus. Their strapline is ‘connecting people to the presence and power of Jesus’, so the passage fitted well, and hence the title. Or you can listen to the Audio version here:
The Mission’s Church
Last Sunday I preached in Cardiff at Highfields Church, and asked the question: Does the church have a mission, or does the mission have a church? Listen here:
Jesus Has Got This! John 6:1-15
Last Sunday, I gave this sermon at my old church, St Andrews Mt Pleasant, just outside Charleston, SC. They were in a sermon series on ‘Encounters with Jesus’, and we were considering the feeding of the 5000 in John 6:1-15. Watch the Video here: Or you can listen to it here: The takeaway: Bring all you’ve got;Leave it all to Him;Jesus has got this! Questions for discussion:
Come and See!
Today’s talk is the fifth in a series given recently at Lee Abbey. Come to me Weary! Come to me Dirty! Come to me Hungry! Come to me Thirsty! Come and See, then Go and Be! Here are a few juicy bits if you haven’t the time to listen: You won’t have heard of Edward Kimball. This man was becoming increasingly active in church and wanted to make an impact with the youth. His constant refrain was ‘come and see’. There was one lad he saw great potential in but just wasn’t able get through to. In the end, Kimball just decided to […]
Thirsty!
Today’s talk is the fourth in a series given recently at Lee Abbey. Come to me Weary! Come to me Dirty! Come to me Hungry! Come to me Thirsty! Here are a few juicy bits if you haven’t the time to listen: “Lord, please put salt on my lips that I might thirst more after you.” Augustine The revival on Lewis (1949-1952) was steeped in prayer. Seven men and two old ladies had decided to pray and not stop until God visited them in a powerful way. One night, at a prayer meeting held in a barn, one of them said, […]
Hungry!
Today’s talk is the third in a series given recently at Lee Abbey. Come to me Weary! Come to me Dirty! Come to me Hungry! Here are a few juicy bits if you haven’t the time to listen: George Orwell described a wasp that “was sucking jam on my plate and I cut him in half. He paid no attention, merely went on with his meal, while a tiny stream of jam trickled out of his severed oesophagus. Only when he tried to fly away did he grasp the dreadful thing that had happened to him.” The wasp and people without […]
Worthy or Unworthy? Dog or Heir?
Do you feel worthy of God’s love, or unworthy? It’s an important question. Lots of people live under guilt and shame, which is no way to do life. You see, we may be undeserving of God’s grace but we are certainly not unworthy. Because our worth is defined or measured by what Someone is willing to pay for us. And Jesus showed us just how valuable we are on the cross, didn’t he? He settled the matter there. Below is the second in a series of talks given a few weeks ago at Lee Abbey. The first was ‘Come to […]
Choosing Between Your Children
The new school year is big business in the West, with supermarket aisles crammed full of uniforms, pencil cases, notepads, and more. I asked my daughter Grace to film me as I recounted one of the most moving encounters I ever experienced with a mother desperate for her children’s future: Even a hard-working family with a modest income will struggle to shoe, clothe and supply stationery to all their children. Often, they’ll only be able to equip one or two of their children with the bare minimum. I can’t imagine having to choose between which of my kids get to […]
Turning Down the Queen’s Invitation
Back in 2017, I received an invitation from the Queen to join her at Buckingham Palace. I turned her down. Why? Because I’d already heard her on the radio. I’d read her written messages. I’d seen her on TV plenty of times. That was enough for me. Seriously? Of course not! Lizzie and I went there with a great sense of privilege, anticipation and honour, and had a wonderful time. Now, what is on offer today, to all of us, is not a personal invitation from the Sovereign of a nation, rather one from the Sovereign of the Universe, the […]
Who Do You Say I Am?
In a talk for a local church last Sunday, I was asked to look at this passage and the question Jesus asks of His disciples, ‘Who do you say I am?’ If you agree with what Peter answered then the implications are huge. Do take a listen. You can also listen to the sermon or download the audio recording. Some Quotes Oswald Chambers: Is God going to help himself to me, or am I so taken up of my conception of what I want to make of my life? CS Lewis: “Anything which isn’t eternal is eternally out of date” […]
(STOP) Their Education Bleeding Away!
It’s taboo. It’s hidden. It’s devastating. So many girls suffer in silence, in shame, in sadness. We interviewed a few of them in the poignant video below. Now that we have a teenage daughter, this issue resonates even more deeply with us than before. We would do everything in our power for her to thrive and not miss out on her studies. We all are (or have) sisters, daughters, nieces, etc. So this is something we can all relate to and do something about. We can all spare £4/$5 to help one (or 5 or 10 etc) precious teenager in […]