Category Archives: Bible Study

Peace (Matthew 8:23-33)

“I just wish things could get back to normal.” Have you heard other people saying that? Have you found yourself saying it too?  If I were to take you back to February and March, how did you feel then? Perhaps you were anxious but there was also the adrenalin of being in this together tooContinue reading “Peace (Matthew 8:23-33)”

Fear and Faith in Matthew 8

The big theme in Matthew 8 is “Faith”. There is a leper who comes to Jesus pleading to be clean and to be healed. A centurion comes and begs for his servant, many come to Jesus looking for healing. Finally, two demon possessed men are set free. However, in and among these stories of faithContinue reading “Fear and Faith in Matthew 8”

Health check (Proverbs 16)

Have you been for a health check-up recently?  Eyes, teeth, heart … maybe the full MOT.  How did you get on? Have you ever done one of those life check-ups? How’s your overall well-being? This isn’t just your physical health but how are you doing emotionally, is your life a success, what’s your status -financialContinue reading “Health check (Proverbs 16)”

Belching (Proverbs 15)

Better out than in!  The famous response to a good long and loud burp. Of course burps and other wind related emissions tend to be signs of a badly troubled digestive system!  So I think we can easily get the point when the NLT colourfully renders Proverbs 15:2 as The tongue of the wise makesContinue reading “Belching (Proverbs 15)”

Work Matters

I’ve been writing about the importance of rest over the past week or two but we cannot talk about rest without talking about work. It is that point which influenced my last article on the matter.  In that article, I responded to a question about why we do not give enough attention to the partContinue reading “Work Matters”

What is peace? (Ephesians 2:1-14 and Matthew 8:23-27)

A few years back I was thinking about the nature of church life. I came up with a brilliant phrase to describe it “Messy Church.” “Brilliant,” I thought, “I’ve even got a potential best-selling book title there!” There was just one problem -someone had already coined the phrase to describe midweek children’s and families outreach. Continue reading “What is peace? (Ephesians 2:1-14 and Matthew 8:23-27)”

Home (Proverbs 14)

One of my favourite places to visit is Blenheim Palace. It’s an impressive tourist attraction, an elegantly designed building set in acres of beautiful parkland.  As well as being a tourist attraction, it’s actually the home of the Marlborough family. However, a number of commentators have observed that it wasn’t so much designed to beContinue reading “Home (Proverbs 14)”

Exploring Forgiveness and Repentance

I’ve been writing a little recently about forgiveness. It arises out of our recent studies from the Sermon on the Mount. It also relates to some other things I have written recently about our pastoral responsibilities to victims of abuse and to those accused. So, I was interested to see the other day that myContinue reading “Exploring Forgiveness and Repentance”

Grace Culture – the importance of swift repentance and forgiveness

I believe that a grace culture is one where we are quick to seek forgiveness, express sorrow and repentance, to offer forgiveness and to seek reconciliation.  This reflects the teaching in the Sermon on the Mount which is all about what it means to be saturated in God’s love and grace so that we enjoyContinue reading “Grace Culture – the importance of swift repentance and forgiveness”