I love the lyrics to the carol “Mary did you know?” I particularly love this version by Pentatonix. The Carol sets up an imaginary conversation with Mary asking her questions in order to highlight the contrast between the seemingly ordinariness of a little, fully human baby and the wonder of his divinity and his role… Continue reading Mary did you know?
Category: Bible Study
Born to be king
The thing about the Christmas story is that because a lot of the detail lends colour to the narrative, it is in fact matter of fact and to some extent incidental. We have focused so much over the years on mangers, inns and stables that they have become central. Yet the one crucial detail in… Continue reading Born to be king
Nobody puts the baby in a corner
Luke 2:1-7 tells us of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. We meet up with Joseph and Mary again following her visit to see Elizabeth and the focus in chapter 1 turning to the birth of John. Now they must go to Bethlehem and register for tax purposes. Whilst there, Mary gives birth, the baby is… Continue reading Nobody puts the baby in a corner
A shepherd king for the whole world
In yesterday’s article, we saw how one of the Advent promises is that Jesus is the shepherd king from Bethlehem fulfilling Micah 5:1-5. One of the aims in Advent is not just to look forward to Christmas Day remembering Christ’s first coming (advent) but also to look forward to his Second Coming or Advent. How… Continue reading A shepherd king for the whole world
The Shepherd of God’s People (Micah 5:2)
When the wise men arrived in Jerusalem asking to see the new king, Herod’s spiritual advisors consulted Scripture and identified that the messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The basis for this was these words in Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,from you shall come… Continue reading The Shepherd of God’s People (Micah 5:2)
Finding favour with God
In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel addresses Mary as a “favoured woman” in case she (and we) don’t get then point, he again tells her “you have found favour with God”[1] What does it mean for Mary to have found favour? Roman Catholic tradition seems to put the focus on her and her life. Mary… Continue reading Finding favour with God
The Promised Word (2) God
Here’s the next in our Advent look at John 1. Don’t forget you can also subscribe directly to the YouTube channel.
Choose Life (Deuteronomy 30)
There’s a young man, he has travelled far from home. He has had a great time but now he has spent up and is bankrupt. A famine hits. He gets a job but it still isn’t paying the bills and so he goes hungry. There’s a sheep out on the hillside. It had been wandering… Continue reading Choose Life (Deuteronomy 30)
Responding in faith
Luke 1 sets two angelical visions against each other. In the first vision, Gabriel appears to an old priest named Zechariah to tell him that he is going to have a son. Six months later, the same angel appears to a young girl called Mary who is betrothed to be married.[1] She too will have… Continue reading Responding in faith
Blessing Bringer (Genesis 12:1-3)
This week, we looked at the second part of our series “The Promise”. The following short reading is massive for our understanding of Scripture and God’s purposes “The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into… Continue reading Blessing Bringer (Genesis 12:1-3)
Faithroots 