Ancient words for a modern world.
The world we live in is almost unrecognisable from that of Moses. We carry more computing power in our pockets than NASA used to land on the moon. We can communicate instantly across continents. We can order groceries without leaving the sofa. And yet, for all our technological leaps, some things haven’t changed.
We still wrestle with the same moral challenges humanity has faced for thousands of years: greed, dishonesty, selfishness, broken relationships. The tools may be new, but the temptations are ancient. That’s why the Ten Commandments, given to Moses around 3,500 years ago, remain astonishingly relevant today. They’re more than dusty relics of a bygone era. They form the backbone of many legal systems, including Britain’s, which has in turn influenced laws across the world. These commandments aren’t arbitrary religious rules; they’re timeless principles for living well, treating others with respect, and honouring God.
In our culture, some see moving away from these values as a sign of progress. We’ve now had a whole generation growing up with little or no knowledge of them. But if we look honestly at society today; the mistrust in public life, the corrosion of personal integrity, the breakdown of community, it’s fair to ask: are we really better off without them? Ancient wisdom says “no.” In fact, these laws speak as powerfully into 21st-century Britain as they did to the wandering Israelites in the desert. They call us back to something we’ve lost: a moral compass that points to justice, truth, and love.
This autumn, The Vine Community Church is creating space to explore this together. Starting in October and running for ten Sundays up to Christmas, our Sunday gatherings will become Just 10 – an acclaimed series looking at each of the Ten Commandments in turn and asking: What does this mean for us today? It won’t be a lecture series or a finger-wagging exercise. Instead, imagine a café-style setting, with refreshments before and after, time to chat, moments to reflect, and teaching that connects the ancient to the everyday. Whether you’ve been a Christian for decades, are simply curious, or wouldn’t call yourself religious at all, you’ll be welcome.
Each week stands alone, so you can come to one, two, or all ten. Perhaps you’ll discover new insight. The world has changed, but some truths remain timeless. The Ten Commandments are not obsolete. They are absolute. And they might just be exactly what we need to navigate the complex world we live in. Check back for more information about Just 10 at The Vine Community Church, get in touch, visit the website and see our social media - and join us in discovering how ancient wisdom still speaks today.

Living beyond the clock
At this time of year, I find myself asking, “Where has the time gone?” The months seem to fly past, swept along by school terms, holidays, and endless to-do lists. It’s easy to feel as though we’re racing the clock, constantly trying to catch up.
But here’s a thought worth taking a second to pause for: a clock doesn’t know the time.
It’s a simple phrase, but it invites reflection. A clock can measure time precisely, but it doesn’t understand it. It doesn’t know the joy of a conversation with a friend, the beauty of a summer sunset, or the peace of a quiet moment. Those are the things that give time its meaning. We’re the ones who give time its value, by how we choose to spend it.
From a Christian perspective, this idea opens up something even deeper. In Psalm 90:4, we read, “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by.” God is not bound by hours or calendars. His view of time is expansive, eternal. While we often live in a rush, God sees the whole picture – beginning, middle, and end – all at once.
That can bring comfort. If we feel hurried or behind, perhaps it’s not the schedule that matters most, but how present we are in the moment. Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:34). It’s a call to live more fully in today – not to ignore responsibilities, but to find peace in trusting that we don’t need to hold everything together on our own.
In our fast-paced world, slowing down is countercultural. Yet it’s often in stillness that we hear what really matters. Whether through quiet prayer, a mindful walk, a conversation with someone we care about, or simply putting the phone away, we can begin to reconnect – with ourselves, with others, and with God.
When we slow down, we begin to notice the small things we often overlook – the kindness of a neighbour, the song of a bird, the way light falls through the trees. Time becomes less about pressure and more about presence.
It is so easy to measure success by how much we get done. But what if success was about how present we are, how deeply we listen, and how fully we love?
So as the year marches on, perhaps it’s time to pause. A clock doesn’t know the time. But we do – if we choose to stop, breathe, and be present to the life unfolding right in front of us.
