Archive for June 2019
Philippians 1:21-30: Life and Death
2 Kings 6-7; Psalm 119:121-128; Luke 5:12-16; Philippians 1:21-30 Philippians 1:21-30: Who a person truly is and what they stand for are often revealed in extremity. How are we to live when we are faced with real difficulty or are under real pressure? What are the principles by which we should guard our lives and orientate our journey…
Read MorePhilippians 1:12-20: Selfish Ambition
2 Kings 4-5, Psalm 119:113-120, Luke 5:1-11, Philippians 1:12-20 Philippians 1:12-20: What do you do when people say nasty things about you, attack you, or criticize you? What do you do when someone takes the work that you have been doing and behind your back undermines it and attempts to take that work away from you? In such…
Read MorePhilippians 1:1-11: Thanksgiving and Prayer
2 Kings 1-3, Psalm 119:105-112, Luke 4:38-44, Philippians 1:1-11 Philippians 1:1-11: Paul writes with great joy concerning the people at Philippi. This joy of Paul’s overflows into thanksgiving, and then into prayer. What is it that Paul is so joyful about? He gives thanks with joy because of their partnership in the gospel. They had believed…
Read MoreEphesians 6:10-24: Armor of God
1 Kings 21-22, Psalm 119:97-104, Luke 4:31-37, Ephesians 6:10-24 Ephesians 6:10-24: This is a much loved part of the Bible, and for good reason. It shows us how it is that we are to fight the spiritual battle. What is the right method? First of all, it is not our power or our might but…
Read MoreEphesians 6:1-9: Monday to Saturday
1 Kings 19-20, Psalm 119:89-96, Luke 4:13-30, Ephesians 6:1-9 Ephesians 6:1-9: How are we who want to follow Jesus meant to do so at home and at work? These two critically important areas of the Christian’s life are often neglected, meaning that people either do not know how or are not motivated as to why they need…
Read MoreEphesians 5:22-33: The Mystery of Marriage
1 Kings 17-18; Psalm 119:81-88; Luke 4:1-12; Ephesians 5:22-33 Ephesians 5:22-33: This is one of those passages that has often been misinterpreted, and perhaps more often completely ignored. What is it that Paul is saying? The key is to understand, first of all, the wider parameter and picture that Paul has in mind throughout. So he says, “This…
Read MoreReading the Bible
In my prized possession is a letter from John Stott. He was replying to say that he supported me, as the new president of the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, in my desire to revitalize the daily Bible reading and prayer life of the Union. Hardly radical stuff. Or is it? Then, and again now, I…
Read MoreEphesians 5:1-21: Six Practical Steps to Follow Jesus Today
1 Kings 15-16, Psalm 119:73-80, Luke 3:21-38, Ephesians 5:1-21 Ephesians 5:1-21: What does God require of us? Here Paul outlines in 6 practical steps what it means to follow Jesus today. First of all, we are to “follow God’s example.” But note, we do so as “dearly loved children.” That is the way to root…
Read MoreEphesians 4:25-32: Six Practices of Holiness
1 Kings 13-14, Psalm 119:65-72, Luke 3:1-20, Ephesians 4:25-32 Ephesians 4:25-32: We saw that the model of holiness that Paul here is teaching involves “putting off” the old way of living, and “putting on” the characteristics of Christlikeness. This is not possible to do unless we have the power of Christ within us. That is,…
Read MoreEphesians 4:17-24: Three Steps to Become Holy
1 Kings 12, Psalm 119:57-64, Luke 2:41-52, Ephesians 4:17-24 Ephesians 4:17-24: How do you become holy? What is God’s method for your sanctification? First, let me define terms. By “holy,” I mean becoming more like Christ. Holiness has the sense of “set apart.” It is something special. So when you hear the word “holy” don’t…
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