Category: Bible Study

Justice and Salvation (2 Peter 2:4-10)

Introduction Last time, we saw that we have to be on the look out for false teachers.  However we also saw that despite their sneakiness and arrogance, false teachers cannot avoid God’s judgement. However, how can we be sure that they will receive justice and how can we be certain that in the meantime and… Continue reading Justice and Salvation (2 Peter 2:4-10)

Who is the Holy Spirit?

Whilst working through Mark’s Gospel in early 2015 at Bearwood Chapel, we kept coming  back to some questions that followed a theme: “What stops me?” “What stops me from seeing God for who He is?”                                                                   “What stops me from worshipping?” “What stops me from truly knowing God?” “What stops me from trusting and taking God… Continue reading Who is the Holy Spirit?

In the beginning (Matthew 1:1-17)

Introduction Two things that have been coming up in my Bible reading and in the thoughts we’ve been sharing online over the last few weeks have been The cry of ‘how long oh Lord’  expressed by God’s people in the face of suffering Can we trust God to keep his promises? These questions are deeply… Continue reading In the beginning (Matthew 1:1-17)

Learning the wrong lessons – A vaccine and the mark of the beast

Whilst some people are working hard to find a vaccine for coronavirus, the scare stories are already doing the rounds even before the drugs are available. The vaccine will lead to other illness, will cause autism, etc – the same kinds of worries raised about MMR. At the same time, Christian speakers with a focus… Continue reading Learning the wrong lessons – A vaccine and the mark of the beast

Watch out false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3)

He was popular on the preaching team, able to put things forward clearly and simply in an engaging way.  Then something began to shift. We noticed a change of emphasis. Then he began to speak with individuals and tell them that he wasn’t so sure. He did not come out directly and say that he… Continue reading Watch out false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3)

A strange Easter?

Easter Sunday is going to be weird this year. We are used to celebrating in style. For Bearwood Chapel, Easter means a week long festival including gatherings, a breakfast and communion on Good Friday, children’s clubs and usually some special events such as Arts Days and café nights. Then on Easter Sunday we all gather… Continue reading A strange Easter?

When friends turn – the enemy within

Friendly Fire: a phrase that puts together two words that should not go together.  The phrase came into common parlance during the 1991 Gulf War to liberate Kuwait.  Sadly a lot of soldiers were killed by their own side, the result of the challenges of bringing different armed forces together with different cultures and communication… Continue reading When friends turn – the enemy within

Avoiding False Assurance

This is the next bit of our mini-series “A last Conversation with Jesus. Read John 13:18-30. Judas is present at the Last Supper but Jesus says that his words do not apply to him. Judas may be tempted to find assurance in his active participation in the Lord’s Supper or his role as treasurer but… Continue reading Avoiding False Assurance

Assurance in God’s Word

1 Peter 1:12-21 In the face of false teachers and facing his own imminent death, Peter wants to ensure that the churches are fully prepared for the road ahead.  In so doing, a major priority of his is assurance. So, first of all we see assurance demonstrated by spiritual growth. Now, we also see that… Continue reading Assurance in God’s Word