Galatians 3:1-14. In Galatians Paul challenges the thoughts that had crept into the church about the need to maintain Old Testament ceremonial practices. Instead, his theology is firmly fixed on the truth that it is by faith alone that we are made right with God, and that faith is lived out in the freedom of […]
2 Peter 1: 16 – 21 ; 2 Peter 3: 15 – 16. We can know that our faith is founded on sure foundations when we turn to the eye-witness accounts in scripture and the Holy Spirit inspired communication through the Prophets (representing the Old Testament) and Peter and Paul (representing the New Testament). Reading […]
Hebrews 12:1-3; Colossians 4:2-6. When Jesus called his first disciples, he invited them to “Follow me”. Peter was invited by his brother, Andrew, to come and meet Jesus. There will always be someone who God is prompting us to talk to about Jesus – it’s reckoned that 70% of regular church goers will know immediately […]
1 Thessalonians 5 v16-18. That constancy of prayer not only involves a consistent fellowship with God but also an outworking of that relationship in the way we live our lives – daily, moment by moment, not just in the ‘big’ decisions of life. It means living out God’s love in the world which He created, […]
Acts 1:1 – 11. As Jesus spoke to his disciples in person for the last time on earth, he declared that the power and authority for them to keep being his disciples and disciple-makers would be given to them through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:7-8). Yet, as they looked into the sky […]
Hebrews 6:13 to 7:28. If by this point the recipients of the letter to the Hebrews still needed further convincing, the writer turns once again to the Old Testament. The focus this time is on the fulfilment of God’s covenant promise to Abraham, another of the Hebrews’ much revered ancestors. They too are “heirs of […]
Phil 2: 1-11, Matthew 2: 1-12. Has your journey through this Christmas season happened with the right motivation, expectation and response? Herod sent the Magi in search of Jesus with them believing that their purpose was to enable Herod to find the way to the new-born King so that he could bow down to worship […]
Isaiah 42:1-17. Pause and be still for long enough to notice that during our Advent studies the word “expectation” has come up each week, and each time we have asked ourselves a question: “Are we expecting to meet with Jesus and be transformed by Him this Christmas time?”. “Are we ready and willing to live […]
Luke 1:57-80, 1 Peter 3:15-16. When Elizabeth first stated that her child would be called John, it wasn’t expected because it broke with the traditions and customs of the time. Those who had gathered at the naming ceremony turned to John who had been unable to speak since the angel of the Lord had met with […]
Luke 1:1-25, 1 Peter 1:10-12. We often start thinking about our Advent journey with the angel appearing to Mary, but there is so much that happened before that! In 1 Peter 1:10 we noticed the comments about “the prophets who spoke of the grace that was to come”. Peter did that to enable his readers to […]