Small Christs

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This is a further reflection I had on Luke 21:7-9 and Jesus’ warning that many would come in his name…. It strikes me that whilst we may occasionally hear of people claiming to be Christ himself, these are usually considered mentally ill, deranged in modern society.  Some may be led astray into dangerous and abusive… Continue reading Small Christs

God’s people but not in God’s place

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The book of Exodus begins with the words “These are the names of the sons of Israel who went down to Egypt” (Exodus 1:1).  This opener becomes the basis for Hebrew title of the book “These are the names”.  The book begins with one of those generational lists that punctuate Genesis so demonstrating continuity.  Multiplication… Continue reading God’s people but not in God’s place

Exodus Introduction

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The book of Exodus tells the story of the descendants of Jacob, picking up the story about 400 years after Jacob had gone down to Egypt with his 11 sons.  Jospeh, the twelfth was already there having been sold into slavery but rising through divine intervention to a position of authority overseeing the famine relief.… Continue reading Exodus Introduction

Until he comes (The last days and the last supper)

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Sometimes accidental admin errors can be our best help in seeing what God might have to say to us.  Through a bit of an admin error on my part in terms of planning out teaching I managed to give myself two whole chapters of Luke that I wouldn’t have naturally put together.   Yet here we… Continue reading Until he comes (The last days and the last supper)

The focus of the Gospels -why they were written

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It is now that we have completed a detailed look at one of the Gospels that we give a better answer to what the Gospels are meant to be about.  We know that Luke writes so that his readers will know the certainty of the truth that they have heard and John writes so that… Continue reading The focus of the Gospels -why they were written

He is risen

All of the Gospels conclude with resurrection accounts but there are variations between them.  Some of the variations are straight forward to resolve as they simply demonstrate where the writers go into more depth.  For example,  Mark, perhaps as the earliest account and fitting to a scroll to enable a single hearing cuts off at… Continue reading He is risen

Introduction to Exodus

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One of the resources we try to provide here on Faithroots is guides that introduce potential preachers and teachers to books of the Bible. I’m currently preparing some resources to support our preaching team who will be taking our church through a series on the book of Exodus. Here’s the first one, a Discussion booklet… Continue reading Introduction to Exodus

Literacy and why oral theology can go deep

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I love reading.  I grew up with books starting when my sister came home from school and decided she would teach her younger brother to read. My wife is an English teacher who became passionate about reading when a teacher gave her “To kill a Mocking bird”.  This means we have a vested interest in… Continue reading Literacy and why oral theology can go deep