- Christ Jesus, the Servant King
On Saturday, 6th May 2023, at Westminster Abbey, the world watched on not only as a man was crowned, but as Jesus Christ was declared repeatedly to be “King of … - An Opportunity for Reflection
In early 2016 our family first made the move into the Revesby district as I began study at Christ College. By God’s grace we were able to find a home … - The Irony of the Rainbow Flag
In 2020 there was widespread outrage in the UK when the rainbow flag was adopted as a sign of unity and support for the National Health Service in the midst … - Christ Divides
It is a startling and counter-intuitive thought that Christ Jesus came into the world to usher in hostility and trouble and controversy. Surely we have enough of that already. Yet … - God’s witness to the end of the Earth
On Sunday 3rd February 1788, just one week after the First Fleet anchored in Sydney Cove, Rev. Richard Johnson stood in the open air, under a large tree, to proclaim … - Changing Seasons, Unchanging God
In Ecclesiastes 3 Solomon writes, “For everything there is a season”. This is one of those phrases that we most likely associate with a funeral or memorial service, yet Solomon’s … - Christmas: Who is Jesus?
As a pastor, I always found preaching at Christmas more difficult than I perhaps should have. Most of the preachable material comes from just four chapters: Matthew 1-2 and Luke … - Nearly the Last Word
As the Vandals threatened Hippo in 430, Augustine – who was close to the end of his own life – confessed to his congregation: ‘I am a long-winded old man’. … - Feasting Or Starving
Often we find that works on history manage to incorporate the word ‘crisis’ into their titles. One does not have to read many such books before it seems that all … - Honouring Elders (1 Timothy 5:17-18)
This section is on the tasks of elders and their remuneration. Elders are to teach and rule. 5:17. Calvin sees ruling and teaching elders. But all elders are to … - I Know My Redeemer Lives (Job 19:25-27)
Times of prosperity and of suffering are likely to be spiritually dangerous – Prov.30:8-9. Job feels pursued by both God and man – 19:21-22. There is a hint of … - Laying the Foundation (Acts 17:22-29)
An invitation accepted “What does this all mean?” Context in Athens, yet Paul is alone The Point of Contact Defined Connection in their context “Paul doesn’t commend them but … - Specks and Logs
On the rare occasion one hears the Bible quoted in public today, a likely text is: ‘Judge not, that you be not judged’ (Matt.7:1). In the world, this is often … - Inadequate Answers (Job 4-5)
There are three cycles of speeches by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, with replies by Job. Eliphaz speaks in 4-5, 15, and 22; Job replies in 6-7, 16-17, and 23-24; … - The Ministry and Care of Widows (1 Timothy 5:3-16)
Two things might help us here: (a) The widows are to receive support from the Church, and presumably to minister in some way for the Church. (b) Some of … - Job Loses It (Job 3:1-26)
John Hartley calls Job 3 ‘a curse-lament’. Note the oft-repeated ‘Why?’ (3:11, 12, 16, 20, 23). (a) Job never loses his faith. (b) Job’s words were nevertheless rash – … - Paul Amongst the Philosophers (Acts 17:16-21)
We should see the world through God’s eyes. Pliny claimed there were 73,300 statues in Rhodes with ‘no fewer’ in Athens. Xenophon called it ‘one great altar, one great … - Ministering to Those Who Are Suffering (Job 2:11-13)
Nancy Guthrie’s What Grieving People Wish You Knew, written after two of her children died, is very helpful. – at the end we find that it is rather mixed, … - Preaching in a Pagan Backwater (Acts 14:8-20)
Jews pursuing Paul and Barnabas who flee to Lystra. Roman outpost. Different language and mythical beliefs and practices. Home of Timothy, Lois and Eunice. Miraculous Healing (vv.8-10) Man cannot … - Job is Put Through the Wringer Again (Job 2:1-10)
Job is an extreme book, but suffering can come in waves. Recall again that Job knows nothing of the role of Satan in all this. The closer the suffering, …