How can we find the boldness to persevere, especially when we face disappointments? This is an important question when there is a temptation to look back nostalgically as believers to supposed golden eras or glory days from the past whether that’s a period of revival and renewal or specific preachers, pastors or events. Read Haggai… Continue reading Shaken
Tag: The Temple
Haggai and Nehemiah – background
This autumn our church are going to be looking at two books of the bible which take us into the period of history after the Jews return from exile in Babylon and Persia where they had been dispersed to due to their sin and rebellion against God. A bit of historical background to show how… Continue reading Haggai and Nehemiah – background
Build this house
This week’s #FaithrootsPodcast on 1 Chronicles 17. Arks, Temples, Priests and Kings in a post exile Judah Key dates David’s idea (v1-2) Nathan corrected (v3-15) “David’s house will be everlasting, ultimately secured in God’s love. The future of David’s kingdom would be wholly different from the uncertainty and disaster that befell Sau’s reign.”[1] Key things… Continue reading Build this house
We don’t need “the world’s largest Christian land mark” in Birmingham
“We’re one step closer to building the world’s largest Christian landmark” reports Richard Gamble about the building of an “Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer”. There’s a lot going on in the report in Premier Christianity from the association of a physical place with spiritual presence to odd hubris of declaring this an “eternal wall.” Then… Continue reading We don’t need “the world’s largest Christian land mark” in Birmingham
What Was The Abomination of Desolation?
In Mark 13:14, Jesus warns his followers that when they see “the abomination of desolation” then they should get far away from Jerusalem. They were to make a run for it. What was that “abomination”. The phrase conveys the idea of something or someone doing something that is so terrible, so appalling that it causes… Continue reading What Was The Abomination of Desolation?
Where is your confidence?
Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. At the heart of the festival was the Temple, an impressive building. Whilst the Jews on returning during Ezra and Nehemiah’s day had been disappointed by the 2nd Temple, a poor comparison to the one Solomon had built, Herod the Great had sent lavishly… Continue reading Where is your confidence?
Judgement is coming (Mark 13)
The Temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world. Initially a fairly simply design had replaced Solomon’s temple and Ezra records the disappointment of the people at this. However, by Jesus’ day, the second temple had been remodelled and extended greatly by Herod the Great who hoped to win favour with the Jews. … Continue reading Judgement is coming (Mark 13)
A question of authority
Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem certainly was making waves. There was something strategic about his actions. Arriving on a donkey in line with prophetic promises of God’s anointed king arriving in such a manner, he had then gone into the Temple courtyard and caused disruption, pronouncing judgement. This was a declaration of intent. Jesus was taking… Continue reading A question of authority
A redundant Temple
The Old Testament prophets promised good things for God’s Temple. Whilst Isaiah prophesied destruction, devastation and defilement and Ezekiel and Daniel were set against the backdrop of that desolation already having happened, all the major prophets expressed hope of a coming day when God would bring his people back into the promised land, Jerusalem would… Continue reading A redundant Temple
Signs of the Times (Mark 13) – Preaching in a crisis
Over the past couple of weeks as we’ve seen Russian tanks and troops role into Ukraine and the awful spectre of nuclear conflict has been threatened against the West, I’ve written a bit about how we handled apocalyptic literature and questions about the end times. I thought it might be helpful to share an example… Continue reading Signs of the Times (Mark 13) – Preaching in a crisis
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