Romans 5:3-4 — Sometimes it seems as though all we have to rejoice in as Christians are those things that await us in the future. We feel like we have to grit our teeth and somehow make it through this life while trying to keep our eyes fixed on the glory that is to come. Is…
Colossians 3:20 — As we continue our study of the Household Code we come to the command addressed to children. In this short lesson we consider Paul’s instruction in light of God’s Law and the example of God’s Son. Jesus “learned obedience” and it was difficult, just as it is for children today!
Colossians 3:19 — “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” This was a very unusual command in the Greco-Roman world of the First Century. Pederasty and prostitution flourished in these ancient societies. It was not uncommon for a man to have a wife but also to engage in these sexual practices. So…
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…