I preached on Ephesians 2 in March 2020 – just over a year ago, the week after we were locked down: it was a hectic time. We just made my daughter’s wedding the weekend before. Then we were wondering if the church camp would get up. The speaker had just returned from India and was…
John 1:14 ‘The word became flesh and moved into the neighbourhood’.Before we can consider what it is to support missions somewhere else, we must understand what it is to be committed to being missionaries in our own land, in own communities, in our own families. Colossians 3:17 (NLT) 17 And whatever you do or say,…
John 1:14 ‘The word became flesh and moved into the neighbourhood’.“For Christ’s love compels us” – 2 Corinthians 5:13–15 (NLT) In preparation for this series I was reminded of the story of an Australian couple who went to Bangladesh as missionaries. When Stuart and Margaret arrived in the country they were informed, by the missionaries…
Transition: God wants us back. God is abundant in His mercy and grace, longsuffering, is just in His justice, will not tolerate feigned religious lip service, will be faithful to His word, and to His promises. Romans 15:4 (NLT) 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures…
Romans 15:4 (NLT) 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Bible scholars often call these four chapters ch’s 30-33 “The Book of Consolation.” In them, the Lord unpackages the amazing promise…
Words are important. Like in Germany one of the words that re-emerged in the pandemic (from World War II) was hamsterkauf. Literally “hamster buy,” it referred to “the act of succumbing to our basest animal-brain instincts to hoard more necessities than we would ever actually need” (R Schuman). Like toilet paper. Actually, the Germans have…
Jeremiah 14:21 (NLT) 21 For the sake of your reputation, Lord, do not abandon us. Do not disgrace your own glorious throne. Please remember us, and do not break your covenant with us. Unprecedented National Disaster A Communal Lament The People Cry Out to God Lying Prophets The God who weeps
A Hope and A Future When Sir Ernest Shackleton set out to find a crew for what turned out to be his ill-fated voyage to Antarctica in 1915, he placed an ad in the Times of London which read: “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of…
A Hope and a Future: Today we’re beginning a new series where we will be introduced to a prophet that was way tougher than McLaren. His name is Jeremiah, twenty-year-old priest from Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. Right at the outset we are reminded of two key truths that undergird this prophet and the word he would bring. When we hear…