Ephesians in 5 short statements

Whenever I’m involved in a teaching series, I find it helpful to get a sense of the whole shape of the book so I can be clear about its purpose, message to the church and where the bits I will preach fit in.  Our church are just starting a preaching series on Ephesians.  So, I… Continue reading Ephesians in 5 short statements

Handing on the baton

After a summer break for August, the Faithroots Podcast returns this week. We’re rounding up our look at 1 Chronicles. 1 Chronicles 22 -29 David is coming towards the end of his reign.  God has revealed to him that he is not he one to build a house for him.  How does David respond? Practical… Continue reading Handing on the baton

Rethinking the dates of the New Testament

One of the most significant writers of the 20th century was JAT Robinson. This is due to two books he wrote. The first, Honest to God, was significant in promoting liberal theology and religious scepticism. So it is perhaps surprising to know that the second was more likely to find support among conservative Christians. In… Continue reading Rethinking the dates of the New Testament

If the Bible doesn’t speak with one voice -then our “Biblical scholars” are not experts

One of the greatest hypocrisies of liberal theological scholarship is that on the one hand the erstwhile theologians set themselves up as experts on Biblical studies. They then range across Scripture, Old Testament and new, universally recognised letters from Paul and those disputed, history, prophecy and wisdom.  They claim to be able to comment on… Continue reading If the Bible doesn’t speak with one voice -then our “Biblical scholars” are not experts

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

Reaping what you sow

This next section reinforces the point that we’ve seen developed through chapter 5-6, we cannot fix our lives and our relationship to God by making external adjustments to our behaviour through rule keeping and rituals.  Instead, our lives will bear fruit in accordance with the roots. A look at the text (Read Galatians 6:7-10) An… Continue reading Reaping what you sow