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Responding to the Light
John’s Gospel, chapter 1 verses 6 to 18 Responding to the Light Christmas preparations. Three words that strike terror in the heart of any sane person! Christmas is coming. Shopping for presents, food, decorations, and it all starts earlier each year. The witness of the light: John 1:6-9 John the Baptist. John the street sign: not the street, but pointing to where it is. What he is not: not Christ. What he is. “The voice of him who cries in…
He Came Down – Light and Life
Light and life John’s Gospel, chapter 1, verses 1 to 3 Who do you think Jesus is? Here is what one famous man said:- I know men, and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a mere man. Between him and whoever else is in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Cæsar, Charlemagne, and I founded empires. But upon what did we rest the creations of our genius ? Upon force. Jesus Christ alone founded…
He Came Down – Before the Manger
Before the Manger John’s Gospel, chapter 1, verses 1 to 2 John’s unique contribution Mark’s Gospel is silent, Matthew and Luke’s Gospels give us the details of Jesus’ birth, but only John takes us back to the beginning, “before the manger”. In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word To call Jesus “The Word” seems a strange way of speaking, but…
Side by Side
Side by Side Colossians chapter 4 verses 2 to 18 Christians are not to be lone rangers. The church is God’s family, and spiritual diversity is God’s way. Relationships are vitally important to God. Loving Concern verses 7-9 Mutual concern is the mark of the Christian. Barnabas was called the son of encouragement Encouraging Words, verses 10 to 11 They have proved a comfort to me Unswerving Commitment, verses 12 to 18 First to Jesus, then to each other. Faithfulness…
Troublemakers and Team-Members
Troublemakers and Team-Members – Titus chapter 3 verses 9 to 15 Troublemakers verses 9-12 Controversy is not wrong. Jesus Himself was very controversial, but about things that were vital for us humans to be restored to our proper relationship with God. The test: is this issue something important to help us know him better? Is it at the core of the Gospel? If not, it is a foolish controversy. The remedy? Warn someone who persists in foolish controversy. Warn them…
Devoted to Doing Good
Devoted to Doing Good Titus chapter 3, verses 1 to 8 You can trust this saying. These things are important. Treat them that way. Then those who trust in God will be careful to commit themselves to doing good. These things are excellent. They are for the good of everyone. Titus chapter 3, verse 8 We should never think of good works as just a “social gospel”. A Reminder, verses 1 and 2 God, through Paul’s letter to Titus, reminds…
Resting in Righteousness – Psalm 7
Resting in Righteousness Psalm 7 There is an awkwardness in thinking about Judgement. Is God harsh? Or perhaps my own experience of personal injustice bites too deeply? David cries out in a plea for protection from men terrible as lions. He looks in his own heart. “Am I innocent?” He thinks about God the righteous Judge, asking Him to deal with injustice. Evil and trouble bring their own judgment upon themselves. He moves from plea to praise. “I will give…
What Grace Does
What Grace Does Titus chapter 2, verses 11 to 12 “Why do I have to do …?” Kids often say it. Adults too. Because God is concerned for our well-being, eternally. Grace, what is it? Merit is the almost universal answer, except for Biblical Christianity. There we find the way to reconciliation with God is all through what He has done, not the man-in-the-street’s “Just be good”. Grace saves us, verse 11 Grace trains us, verses 12 to 14 Grace…
A Grace Shaped Community
Titus chapter 2, verses 1 to 10, Grace shaping the church into a Grace-Shaped Community. A Christian asked a Hindu what he thought of the church. He replied “Your Christ is beautiful, glorious, but your church is despicable.” SAdly it is often true, and the church little different from the world. Three things:- God’s Word is to be the foundation. Honouring God before the world is to be the motivation. Learning to encourage other is to be the application.
Guarding against what is false
What to do about false teachers: Titus chapter 1, verses 10-16 Little Red Riding Hood teaches us to beware of appearances – a wolf can appear in Grandma’s clothes! Paul’s strategy for Crete – that the Cretan believers be in the Cretan society, but not like it. Salt and light: lives showing the grace of the Gospel. Church leaders are to Silence false teachers by teaching the truth, verses 10-11 Encourage sound teaching and godly living, verses 12-14 Understand how…
Leadership Shaped By Grace
Titus chapter 1, verses 5-9 What should leadership in the church look like in our culture? Leadership – Personal character and conduct. Titus 1:5-8 Leadership – Personal conviction and courage. Titus 1:9
Generosity
Generosity And he, who has, gives to him who has not, without boasting. And when they see a stranger, they take him in to their homes and rejoice over him as a very brother; for they do not call them brethren after the flesh, but brethren after the spirit and in God. And whenever one of their poor passes from the world, each one of them according to his ability gives heed to him and carefully sees to his burial.…