What do you say to a family watching the impact of dementia on a loved one as they see them robbed of memories, ability to communicate and even their personality? What do you say to Iranian brothers and sisters getting daily news about family who have been murdered by the regime? How about when a… Continue reading Peace with God and how we can face suffering
Category: Bible Study
Marriage for Christ
Here’s a talk from a little while back on Ephesians 5:21-33 and marriage. There are two parts. At the start I run through a brief exposition of the passage and then Sarah and I have a discussion on the practical application.
Is Doug Wilson right to say that women who refuse to marry, bear children and carry out domestic chores are turning after Satan?
The short and simply answer to what might be considered a silly question is “No.” But obviously for us to end up with such a silly question, Doug Wilson has been saying something silly. It’s worth having a look at what he has been saying as it gives us an insight into the kind of… Continue reading Is Doug Wilson right to say that women who refuse to marry, bear children and carry out domestic chores are turning after Satan?
The true and better Sinai
When the people of Israel were at Sinai, God told Moses to set boundaries around the mountain. This was the place where God would meet the people, where they would hear him and receive his word. Yet, for all but Moses, it was to be at a distance. One day, people were bringing their kids… Continue reading The true and better Sinai
Are you washed in the blood?
Imagine if you had been stood amongst the people as Moses spoke and then demonstrated the covenant by sprinkling or showering you with blood from the sacrifices. We tend to be queasy about blood, ancient people were less so. The blood was significant and significant because it was not just something happening in the distance… Continue reading Are you washed in the blood?
Holiness as blessing and challenge
God’s holiness is a great theme in the Sinai passages. We see this in the way that the Law tells his people how to live in his holy presence and in the conditions that are set. There is a delineation between who can approach YHWH and who cannot. Some of the people can come so… Continue reading Holiness as blessing and challenge
Romans 5:6-11
“For yet Christ…” The syntax in Greek frontloads the identity of Christ. He came whilst we were still weak, whilst sin still had a hold and we were helpless. We could not do anything to save ourselves. He died for those who are ungodly, lacking righteousness (v6). This is the surprising factor. Paul observes that… Continue reading Romans 5:6-11
The Law
Sinai It’s two months after the Israelites have left Egypt when the arrive at Sinai. The people camp around the mountain and Moses climbs up to appear before YHWH (Exodus 19:1-3a). God speaks to Moses and gives instructions to the people. The context is that they have seen what God did to the Egyptians, punishing… Continue reading The Law
How can I be made clean?
I recently picked up on the Biblical theme of uncleanness whilst looking at Mark 5. We’ve seen that uncleanness is different from sin though actively becoming unclean may be a sin. We’ve also seen how the concept and category help us to think about people today that may be classed as unclean. I want to… Continue reading How can I be made clean?
The bitterness of Naomi
I found this article by Steve Kneale very thought provoking. Steve picks up on two things which we can miss. First, I think we can so sanitise Bible accounts (it’s true of the life of Abraham and the account of Esther too), in order to make them fit for Sunday School and so we iron… Continue reading The bitterness of Naomi
Faithroots 