This week I’m running a mini series of articles -actually (with one exception), they are reruns from a sermon series going back a few years on 1 Corinthians. What do we want our churches to be like? Corinth was both a church that we would want to emulate in terms of its passion and giftedness… Continue reading What kind of church
Category: Bible Study
Honouring the enemy
After honouring Mordecai, Ahasuerus goes on to honour another man, Haman. He is appointed to high office and the people are commanded to bow did to him and pay him homage. Mordecai refuses and this is picked up on by palace officials. They also pick up on the fact that he is Jewish. Why does… Continue reading Honouring the enemy
At just the right time
What was going on in Susa, the capital of Persia? Why had a drunken king taken a step too far with his wife? What had caused her to snap and defy him? More importantly, why had a poor young Jewish girl got caught up in the godless and ungodly response, putting her life and well-being… Continue reading At just the right time
Love conquers fear
Here”s a teaching series on 1 John
Search for a new queen
Ahasuerus has dealt with his embarrassment and shame by removing Vashti as his queen. Some time passes and he begins to think over what has happened (Esther 2:1). His attendants offer their advice. Incidentally, they are described as “lads” and there seems to be a youthfulness to them they are not wise old advisors. This… Continue reading Search for a new queen
The Anti-Christ and The Anti-Church
In Ephesians 5:21-32, Paul paints a picture of the church as the bride of Christ. Jesus is the loving, faithful, self-giving husband who pours his life out for her, he seeks her beauty and her good. She is faithful, honouring and submitting to him and so, the church, the bride he has won is the… Continue reading The Anti-Christ and The Anti-Church
Going Home: death, grieving and life in between
It’s something we all have to face at some point. This last year we were hit with the double whammy of seeing my father in law and then my mum die within a few weeks if each other. But we do not grieve as those without hope. Here is some teaching on John 14 from… Continue reading Going Home: death, grieving and life in between
Vashti’s defiance
The story of Esther starts in the emperor’s palace. Ahasuerus, most closely identified with Xerxes is described in terms of power and wealth. He is described as ruling over an empire from Africa to India (1:1-2). He throws a party to show off his wealth and opulence (1:4-8). This wasn’t just a knees up and… Continue reading Vashti’s defiance
Esther, fact or fiction?
I was chatting with my dad the other day about the book of Esther as he is preparing to lead some Bible studies on the book. We were talking about some of the challenges of studying and teaching through the book. One of the questions that gets raised is about the type of literature that… Continue reading Esther, fact or fiction?
This is Paul signing off
We are coming to the end of Paul’s letter. If he had leapt quite abruptly into the challenging stuff at the beginning without the extended prayers, thanksgiving and commendations we get used to with his other letters, it also finishes fairly abruptly without the personal greetings we find in other letters such as in Romans… Continue reading This is Paul signing off
