Luke 6:43-45 — What we say reveals the condition our heart. That’s what Jesus taught in these verses as He spoke of trees and fruit. Our speech, like good fruit, is evidence of a good tree, or, like bad fruit it points to a bad tree. Jesus said it plainly at the end of the section,…
Matthew 27:27-31 — After Jesus had been condemned to die, the Governor’s soldiers took Him to their barracks where they violently humiliated Him. They dressed Him up as a king with a purple robe, a crown of thorns and a stick for a sceptre. They bowed the knee and mockingly proclaimed “Hail, King of the…
Colossians 3:14 — “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Love is the fountainhead of authentic Christian virtue. That’s what Paul teaches us in this text as he brings to a close his discussion of the “new man” and his “new clothes.” Without love, our efforts to exercise the Christian…
Luke 6:41-42 — We live in an age of rampant hypocrisy. Politicians and celebrities are often on television or using social media to lecture us on what society is doing wrong and yet their own personal morality leaves a lot to be desired. Furthermore, the widespread use of social media has created limitless opportunities to critique…
Colossians 3:12-13 — With new life in Christ comes a new way of living, but it’s not automatic. There are sins to be put off and virtues to be put on. That’s what Paul instructs his readers to do in this text – to put on new attitudes and new behaviours as they would new clean…
Luke 6:39-40 — “Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” What did Jesus mean when He made this statement midway through His sermon in Luke 6? What was He trying to…
Jeremiah 3:22b-25 – “Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.” All through Jeremiah chapter three God invites His unfaithful people to return. In the last three verses there is a response — a simple, beautiful, heartfelt prayer of repentance. As we study this prayer we learn that genuine repentance is more…
Jeremiah 3 — “Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.” In this chapter the prophet delivers a searing indictment against Judah for breaking her covenant with the LORD. She was guilty of adultery on a massive scale. She had openly rebelled and feigned repentance, yet the LORD desired her…
Luke 6:37-38 — “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged…” This is one of Jesus’ better known commands and perhaps one of His more popular in this age of tolerance and postmodern thought. Most people seem to agree that “judging” is a bad thing, but what exactly did Jesus’ mean? Is it always wrong to…
Colossians 3:11 — Race, religion and class. Three phenomena that have divided human societies for millennia and continue do so. Despite the best efforts of governments and progressive organisations prejudice and discrimination remain. We’re told endlessly that we need “to come together” but we simply can’t and that’s because we are so thoroughly broken by…