Bible Study – Page 33

Growing an appetite for God’s Word

I believe that two crucial ingredients need to be present in any local church that wants to thrive. These are prayer and Bible study/teaching. Both are important because they are signs of hunger to know God more and more. Having said that, sometimes it can feel like hard work to encourage these things. Why? Well,… Continue reading Growing an appetite for God’s Word

Bad timing

The King is restless and unable to sleep. This is a little bit of a theme in books describing the exile. Think of how Darius is restless whilst Daniel faces his ordeal in the lions’ den. To keep him occupied, and perhaps to read in a rhythm, that will help him drift off, the chronicles… Continue reading Bad timing

Haman oversteps

Haman returns from the palace in high spirits. It seems to him that he has not only won the king’s favour but the Queen’s too (Esther 5:9). However, he notices en-route that Mordecai is still defying him and refusing to bow down (5:10). This fills him with rage but he just about manages to restrain… Continue reading Haman oversteps

What kind of Church? A caring church (1 Corinthians 8)

How does what I do, say, prioritise affect other believers -especially those who are younger/more immature/struggling? The next big question the Corinthians had was about food sacrificed to idols. The issue was that the pagan temples functioned as the slaughter house or butchers, providing meat which was then sold in the market meaning you were… Continue reading What kind of Church? A caring church (1 Corinthians 8)

A still small voice? Learning the wrong lessons from Elijah’s encounter

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah has fled for his life from Ahab and Jezebel. God meets with him, gives him rest and food, then he tells him to go and stand in his presence, to prepare for the covenant Lord, Yahweh to pass by. We are then told: “Then a great and powerful wind tore the… Continue reading A still small voice? Learning the wrong lessons from Elijah’s encounter

Esther and the King

Esther goes to see the king (Esther 5:1). Remember that this was potentially dangerous. It was possible that he would not welcome her and if so, this could lead to punishment by death. It’s funny isn’t it that we tend to report and gloss over these facts in a matter of fact way. Of course,… Continue reading Esther and the King

For this moment

Mordecai has asked Esther to go to the king and intercede for God’s people, the Jews who are threatened by Haman’s planned genoci in NJde. Esther responds by pointing out to Mordecai that this would put her own life at risk. She cannot simply go into the king as she pleases but must wait to… Continue reading For this moment

Deliver us from evil

News reaches Mordecai of Haman’s orders. His response is to go into public mourning, tearing his clothes, putting on sackcloth and covering his head with ash. As news spreads, other Jews do the same. This was a cry to God for mercy and deliverance. It is important not to treat Mordecai as somehow to blame.… Continue reading Deliver us from evil

What Kind of Church? A Pure Church ( 1 Corinthians 6:12-20)

In the 1990’s sitcom “Goodnight sweetheart”, Nicholas Lyndhurst stars as a Gary Sparrow who has found a time portal to the 1940s and ends up living a double life between his wife Yvonne in the late 20th century and Phoebe a barmaid in the blitz. We can so easily live compartmentalised lives separating out church,… Continue reading What Kind of Church? A Pure Church ( 1 Corinthians 6:12-20)

What kind of church? A forgiven Church (1 Corinthians 6:1-11)

Introduction – “See you in court” Imagine two Christians falling out maybe over something petty – and taking it to court. We would be shocked. That’s the sense of what is happening here (v 1). The sense is “How dare you?” The correct response is disgust, disgrace, shame. This is the second time that Paul… Continue reading What kind of church? A forgiven Church (1 Corinthians 6:1-11)