Category: Bible Study

Noah’s type

One of the ways in which we see those echoes reverberating through Scripture is through something called Typology.  This is about seeing how people, places, objects and events point forwards from themselves to people, places, objects and events in the future.  We use the term particularly to speak about Old Testament things that point forward… Continue reading Noah’s type

Echoes …(an introduction to typology)

One of the exciting things you spot as you read through Scripture especially if you’ve ever done that thing where you read from beginning to end in a year, or if you spend a bit of time reading through big sections is that you begin to spot patterns and echoes.  For example, here are three… Continue reading Echoes …(an introduction to typology)

Step by Step

Even at the point when Noah and his family enter the ark, they are still stepping out in faith.  What if the flood doesn’t come and they go onto the boat a week but nothing happens so that they have to re-emerge looking rather silly?  What if the ark doesn’t hold up against the flood… Continue reading Step by Step

What should (and shouldn’t) the gathered church be like?

Last week I wrote about Sundays and gathered worship. I argued that the whole of life is worship and that means that yes, Sundays are part of our worship, not because the church gathers to worship in a way cut off from our daily lives but exactly because the whole of life is worship and… Continue reading What should (and shouldn’t) the gathered church be like?

Patient obedience

Waiting is hard, even when we are waiting for God’s word to be fulfilled. Perhaps you are waiting for the fulfilment of a personal promise or to commence a ministry calling.  You can’t wait to get on with it but wonder whether it will ever happen.  We are all waiting for Christ’s return and the… Continue reading Patient obedience

Obedient hope

There used to be a saying that someone was too heavenly minded to be of any earthly use. I’m increasingly sure that the assessment is the wrong way round. It is as we become more aware of the hope of heaven that we become more useful here. It’s because we are looking forward to that… Continue reading Obedient hope

In a world where no-one is allowed to say no, this is an uncomfortable parable

You know the parable about the wedding feast don’t you? That’s right, it’s the one where the people are invited come up with lots of excuses for why they cannot attend on the day. Do you know how it ends?  You might assume that it ends with all the people brought in from the highways… Continue reading In a world where no-one is allowed to say no, this is an uncomfortable parable

Are all age services any use?

The All Age Family service is sometimes treated with a bit of suspicion, tolerated at best.  I’ve heard two objections to them. The first is that All Age worship excludes single people and those without children.  The second is that they prevent you engaging deeply with God’s Word.  Now, both of those things can be… Continue reading Are all age services any use?