Luke 7:31-35 — “To what shall I liken the men of this generation? They are like children…” This was Jesus’ assessment of the people of His day when it came to their responses to the ministry of John the Baptist and to His own ministry. Popular opinion was fickle. People were inconsistent – condemning a man…
Psalm 130:3-4 — “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?…” What if God noted down our sins and never remitted them? What if they continued to pile up over the years? How could any of us stand before Him on the Day of Judgment? This is a fearful thought and it does us…
Luke 7:24-30 — In this passage Jesus said that John the Baptist was the greatest of all the prophets and yet He also said that, “he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John.” At first glance this is baffling! How could anyone be greater the John! In this sermon we consider…
Colossians 3:18 — “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands…” This is not a very popular command in our world today. It is seen by many as demeaning and oppressive to women. This is due, in part, to a misunderstanding of this text and even its abuse. This Biblical principle is not a licence for male chauvinism.…
Philippians 4:21-23 — The closing section of Paul’s letters often contain personal references and concerns that seem to have little relevance to us, but as we look a little closer, we discover some wonderful truths that encourage our hearts. So it is with the closing to Paul’s letter to the Philippians. As we consider the final…
Jeremiah 35 — In this chapter the prophet was instructed to do a very strange thing. He was to bring a group of men into the Temple and offer them wine. These men were Rechabites and when they were served the wine they refused to drink it. This was out of respect for their ancestor Jonadab…
Colossians 3:18-4:1 — The household code that Paul gives in this section of his epistle raises a number of significant issues for the 21st Century reader. Many are uncomfortable with the idea of submission within marriage, and what do we do with instructions given to slaves? How do we understand this teaching in light of…
Romans 12:9a — “Let love be without dissimulation.” “Fake news” is a term that we’re all getting used to. It describes a real phenomenon that’s swirling around the world of social media and it’s also a term that certain politicians use to dismiss unflattering news stories. More than ever we need a healthy level of scepticism…
Philippians 4:14-20 — Unfortunately giving has become a controversial subject in church life. This is because there have been church leaders who have abused their standing and enriched themselves and their ministries at the expense of their congregation. If we go further back into history we see practices like the sale of indulgences and church…
Colossians 3:17 — Ethical questions are those that concern right and wrong. In any given situation what is the “right” thing to do? As Christians, what is the basis for our ethics? How do we determine what is right and what is wrong? How do our ethics relate to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? These…