Jeremiah 22:13-19 — King Jehoiakim was a man driven by greed and in this short text we see what his greed led to. He exploited and oppressed his own people. He perpetrated violence and murder and as a consequence God ensured he died a shameful death. Jehoiakim’s life stands as a warning about the deadly dangers…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
Luke 7:18-23 — “Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” These were John the Baptist’s questions for Jesus and it seems strange that such a man of faith and courage should ask them. Why did he ask them? Had he become so overwhelmed by his imprisonment that he’d lost his faith? Or…
Colossians 3:16 — In Ephesians chapter five, all Christians are commanded to be “filled with the Spirit.” What does this mean? How does it happen? What are the results? These are the questions we consider in this lesson and we’re greatly helped in answering them by what Paul wrote to the Colossians. Understanding the filling of…