Last week, we read Psalm 84 in our Bible reading plan as a church. This psalm is a cry of longing to be in God's presence. In Old Testament times, God's presence was localised in the Temple at Jerusalem. Some Israelites only made a pilgrimage there once a year. You can imagine the joy and … Continue reading God’s Exchange
The Parable of the Sheep and Goats
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matt.25:31-46) occurs at the end of a lengthy teaching that Jesus gave in a private conversation with his disciples during the final week before his crucifixion. In response to their questions about the end of the age (Matt.24:1-3), Jesus outlined the signs of his coming (Matt.4:4-41) then … Continue reading The Parable of the Sheep and Goats
Psalm 16
One of my favourite psalms is Psalm 16. It was given to Nicole and I on our wedding day by my brother-in-law, Frank Damazio. Psalm 16 - A Psalm of David Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good … Continue reading Psalm 16
Reflections on Psalm 46 (by Nicole Conner)
Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the … Continue reading Reflections on Psalm 46 (by Nicole Conner)
Jeremiah: Prototype for Prophets, Preachers and Pastors
Jeremiah is one of my favourite people in the Bible. He was called by God at a young age and was given a tough assignment. He lacked natural confidence but God continually encouraged him. Not everyone liked Jeremiah and he had to endure some extremely difficult circumstances. Yet he remained faithful in bringing God's word … Continue reading Jeremiah: Prototype for Prophets, Preachers and Pastors
The Parable of the Vineyard Workers
The parable of the vineyard workers (Matt.20:1-16) is unique to Matthew, although Jesus’ teaching about the first and last is not (see Mark 9:35. Luke 13:30 and also Mt.23:12). In this story, we have a vineyard owner visiting the marketplace looking for an influx of day workers to help with the grape harvest. A vineyard … Continue reading The Parable of the Vineyard Workers
The Parable of the Wheat and Weeds
The parable of the wheat and the weeds (Mt.13:24-30) is unique to Matthew and is one of the few parables for which Jesus provides a detailed interpretation (Mt.13:36-43). The farmer represents Jesus as the Son of Man. The field is the world and the good seed are the children of the kingdom who are in … Continue reading The Parable of the Wheat and Weeds
The Most Important Book Ever Written: The Bible
The Bible is the most important book ever written, yet often it remains unopened and unread. The Bible is totally unique. It is different from all other books, having no like or equal. 1. In its composition. It was written over a period of 1,600 years by 40 different authors and in three different languages yet … Continue reading The Most Important Book Ever Written: The Bible
The Jesus Story
The Jesus Story Matthew’s begins his story about Jesus with a family tree that any first century Jew would have been pretty impressed with. It includes heroes such as Abraham and David, but also some surprise inclusions such as Boaz (son of Rahab the prostitute) and Solomon (born out of the adulterous relationship of David … Continue reading The Jesus Story
Kingdom Stories
Kingdom Stories Jesus parables are among the best-known and most influential stories in the world. Even if people know nothing about Jesus, they either know about his stories or have encountered their impact in expressions like “prodigal” or “Good Samaritan.” The importance of the parables of Jesus cannot be over-estimated. Jesus was the master creator … Continue reading Kingdom Stories
God’s Blessings – the Beatitudes
The Gospel of Matthew records five main teaching discourses from Jesus. Matthew 5-7 is Jesus' call to righteousness, which is about doing the will of God. Jesus is teaching his disciples and the multitudes from the mountain. Jesus begins with what is commonly called The Beatitudes which are the blessings of God (Matt.5:1-12). The Latin word for … Continue reading God’s Blessings – the Beatitudes
Jesus in all the Books of the Bible
Luke tells us a story of two disciples who were sad and discouraged by the recent events they had experienced in the city of Jerusalem (Luke 24:13-35).They had hoped that this man called Jesus would have been the Messiah - the one who would deliver Israel.There were so many expectations raised by the birth of … Continue reading Jesus in all the Books of the Bible
Tom Wright for Everyone
Tom Wright (also known as N.T. Wright) has achieved global recognition as a biblical theologian through his academic and popular publications. He is a leading New testament scholar and former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England. His most academic work is his Christian Origins and the Questions of God series, of which three … Continue reading Tom Wright for Everyone
Reflections on the Parable of the Talents
Jesus came to earth as the long-awaited Messiah to die on the cross for our salvation and for the redemption of humanity. He also came to establish the kingdom of God on the earth, which he saw as beginning small and somewhat unimpressive, like a mustard seed, but eventually blossoming to cover the entire earth. … Continue reading Reflections on the Parable of the Talents
A Prayer of David
Despite his imperfections and failures, King David will always be remembered as the man after God's own heart. What was it about him that God so loved? Here is a prayer that David prayed after collecting a generous offering for the Temple which his son, Solomon would build: David praised the LORD in the presence … Continue reading A Prayer of David