II Corinthians 5:10 — The wonderful message of the Gospel is that Jesus bore the penalty of sin when He died on the cross. The person who places their faith in Jesus as Saviour is completely forgiven. The penalty of sin is forever removed but that does not mean there is no accountability. The New…
Luke 5:27-32 — Levi was a tax collector and that meant he was despised. Tax collectors grew rich by collaborating with the Jewish people’s enemies. Often they were mentioned in the same breath as the “sinners,” that is, they were grouped with men and women who were notorious for their wicked lifestyles. So in this text…
Colossians 2:20-22 — Under the influence of false teachers, the Colossians had brought elements of the pagan worldview into their Christian lives. Paul addressed this by reminding them of their union with Christ and challenging them about their submission to man-made rules. We too can adopt pagan ways of thinking in our approach to the Christian…
Proverbs 3:13-18 — Wisdom can buy what money can’t. That’s what the Holy Spirit through Solomon’s pen teaches us in this text. It’s only when we live by God’s wisdom that life works. But far more importantly, God’s wisdom is that which leads to everlasting life. We can enjoy a wonderful life now, but what about eternity?
Luke 5:17-26 — This text tells the much loved story of the paralysed man who was let down through the roof by his friends. They were confident that Jesus could heal their sick friend and that’s exactly what He did! There are many wonderful lessons that might be drawn from this story, but the real…
Ezra 5:1-2, Haggai 1 — The captives who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon set to work on rebuilding the Temple, but as a result of opposition the work ceased. As the years progressed the Temple remained unfinished and the people turned their attention elsewhere. Their priorities changed and God was not pleased, so He sent…
Proverbs 3:13-18 — What is true happiness and how do we find it? These are some of life’s most important questions and the world doesn’t really have an answer. We live in communities filled with people who, though outwardly cheerful, are deeply unhappy. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit through Solomon’s pen tells us plainly in this…
I Peter 1:22-25 — This lesson begins with a detailed overview of the theology and worship of the Orthodox Church with particular emphasis on the role that icons play. The sad reality is that by its use of icons and other external forms, the Orthodox Church has diminished the role of Scripture. In considering all…
Various texts — As we continue our study of the events associated with the Second Coming of Christ, we turn our attention to the Great Tribulation. This is a period of seven years where God’s judgement is poured out upon the earth. Beginning with a passage in Daniel and then moving to the Book of…
Various texts — Have you ever prayed and not received an answer? This can be a frustrating experience, but Divine silence should not surprise us. The Scriptures spell out clearly particular practices that can hinder our prayers being answered.