It being the 14th February, I guess I should talk about love. Sorry.
Now it's true that the Bible is choc full of love - although when you read the Old Testament, it's sometimes a little harder to see unless you view the bigger picture.
Much of Joshua concerns the Israelites killing people, but the bigger picture is that of a loving God providing for his people exactly what he promised them. If you get bogged down in the detail of the events, you can miss the significance of what happens in this book - God's work done God's way will be successful (in God's eyes...).
We also see that God gives us guidance - on Sunday we looked at the future, and this fits well with the situation the Israelites will have found themselves in once they started moving into the land - a plan has been provided, but it's sometimes hard to see how it's going to work out.
To know God's will for our lives, we could do little better than reading his word and talking to him.
God speaks to us through his word as we read it, but also in the future as we remember what his word says - how great is it when you remember some Bible verses relevant to a situation you find yourself in without having to pick up a Bible!?
Finally, as we near the end of Joshua we see God cares about all of his people - potentially millions at this point. They have all been provided places to live, a social justice system to ensure the poor and broken are supported and security in their land.
We can trust in God for these things today - think about these particular areas of God's loving character and ask him for the things you need in your life; or maybe thank him for the things he has already given you.
"Father, father help us - need some guidance from above, 'cause people got me questioning - where is the love?"
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Friday, 10 February 2012
OT: Deuteronomy. Same old, shmame old!
Deuteronomy. From the Greek 'second law', or from the bored Englishman 'the law, again?! Skip that.'
Now that's what I've often thought, and still do if I read it soon after reading Exodus, Leviticus & Numbers.
But the title in the original Hebrew is much more intriguing. Its name was the first two words of the book 'elleh haddebarim', meaning 'these are the words'.
The book is believed to be the recorded oral history of Israel & the law, from the mouth of Moses, shortly before his death. Future kings are commanded to make a copy of this law - even though Israel didn't yet have a king, and wouldn't ask for one for a few hundred years...
So this book is prophecy as well as law, and comes to us from a hero of the faith. Much more exciting than a simple rehashing, no?
In a few weeks at youth lifegroup, you'll have the opportunity to meet and talk with some genuine old people and heroes of the faith in 'Meet the Grandparents'. Try to make the most of this opportunity both this month and throughout your life - the wisdom such people offer is awesome - look at what happens to Joshua at the end of the book:
In preparation, why not have another skim through Deuteronomy - it is the third-most cited book in the New Testament (95 references from Jesus and the Apostles, so they obviously thought highly of it)?
Try reading the first & last chapters, then pick out some bits of interest to you.
I had a read of chapter 24 and was amazed at how much spoke to me - there's such a theme of justice in the whole book, I've no doubt it will interest and challenge you if you open your heart to it.
"This is wisdom. A wise man once said: tomorrow does not equal yesterday."
Now that's what I've often thought, and still do if I read it soon after reading Exodus, Leviticus & Numbers.
But the title in the original Hebrew is much more intriguing. Its name was the first two words of the book 'elleh haddebarim', meaning 'these are the words'.
The book is believed to be the recorded oral history of Israel & the law, from the mouth of Moses, shortly before his death. Future kings are commanded to make a copy of this law - even though Israel didn't yet have a king, and wouldn't ask for one for a few hundred years...
So this book is prophecy as well as law, and comes to us from a hero of the faith. Much more exciting than a simple rehashing, no?
In a few weeks at youth lifegroup, you'll have the opportunity to meet and talk with some genuine old people and heroes of the faith in 'Meet the Grandparents'. Try to make the most of this opportunity both this month and throughout your life - the wisdom such people offer is awesome - look at what happens to Joshua at the end of the book:
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. (Deut. 34:9)Sure, sometimes old people can waffle on (Moses managed 34 chapters...), but they will speak more nuggets of gold in 5 minutes than I could in a week. It's worth listening to!
In preparation, why not have another skim through Deuteronomy - it is the third-most cited book in the New Testament (95 references from Jesus and the Apostles, so they obviously thought highly of it)?
Try reading the first & last chapters, then pick out some bits of interest to you.
I had a read of chapter 24 and was amazed at how much spoke to me - there's such a theme of justice in the whole book, I've no doubt it will interest and challenge you if you open your heart to it.
"This is wisdom. A wise man once said: tomorrow does not equal yesterday."
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
NT: Acts. I mean, what's there to lose?
I'm sure you will have at least heard the song:
Peter and John went to pray. They met a lame man on the way. He asked for alms as he held out his palms, and this is what Peter did say...Well, apart from wondering how a man could hold out his palms if he had no arms (sorry, bad joke, but for a long time that is what I thought the words meant), Peter had a decision to make:
- Decision 1: What should my response be?
- Options:
- Walk by with my head down and hope he doesn't notice me.
- Apologise that I have no spare change because I gave it to the last lame bloke I saw.
- Step out in faith and go for the healing
- Risks:
- Not really any, except that he might notice me and then I'd have to have a swift change of plan
- None. Other than the obvious 'Jesus knows the truth'. But grace is great.
- Jesus might not heal him. Then I'd look really stupid, he'd get upset and it might halt the advance of the gospel
- Decision made: Option 3
This was only the first decision Peter had to make in this chapter. Check back here as I get through more of them and draw together a conclusion.
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
NT: John. Carry on Camping...
I think God has a thing for tents. After all, he lived in one whilst the Israelites wandered around in the desert and until Solomon built him a temple. He even used a tent-maker as one of his main evangelistic weapons (that's Paul, by the way-Acts 18:3). Tents are temporary dwellings; Paul likens our earthly bodies to tents because we will only have them this side of eternity and our resurrection bodies. Anyway, I'm sure you are asking by now, 'What do tents have to do with John's gospel; the word doesn't even appear in it?'. Well, let me assure you that it does, it's all in the Greek (obviously) and it's some of the most profound theology you'll come across.
Look up John 1:14, it probably reads something along the lines of "The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us...". I say, mistranslation. The word translated 'dwelt' is the Greek word 'eskenesen', which means 'pitched his tent'. I much prefer a translation along the lines of 'The Word became flesh and tabernacled amongst us.' The tabernacle symbolised God's presence with his people and I believe it is no accident that John chose this word rather than words derived from oikeo which comes from the word for house. If John 1:1 didn't make it clear enough that Jesus, the Word was God, describing his stay on earth as a tent pitching should make it clear. (Also, to hammer the final nail in the coffin, so to speak, are the I AM sayings).
I love that Jesus came to earth to dwell with us, experience what we experience and ultimately sacrifice himself for our salvation. I love that he was prepared to leave heaven's splendour for a camping trip to show us what God is like. Next time you go camping, thank God for his camping trip.
Look up John 1:14, it probably reads something along the lines of "The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us...". I say, mistranslation. The word translated 'dwelt' is the Greek word 'eskenesen', which means 'pitched his tent'. I much prefer a translation along the lines of 'The Word became flesh and tabernacled amongst us.' The tabernacle symbolised God's presence with his people and I believe it is no accident that John chose this word rather than words derived from oikeo which comes from the word for house. If John 1:1 didn't make it clear enough that Jesus, the Word was God, describing his stay on earth as a tent pitching should make it clear. (Also, to hammer the final nail in the coffin, so to speak, are the I AM sayings).
I love that Jesus came to earth to dwell with us, experience what we experience and ultimately sacrifice himself for our salvation. I love that he was prepared to leave heaven's splendour for a camping trip to show us what God is like. Next time you go camping, thank God for his camping trip.
Monday, 30 January 2012
OT: Numbers. Who saves you from God?
Before we answer the intriguing question 'Who saves you from God [when you've made him angry]?' let's read some Bible.
Start with Numbers 3:1-13, where the Levites are chosen as a priests, then have a sneaky-peek into the New Testament at 1 Peter 2:1-10.
When I read accounts of medieval Roman Catholic Christianity and their reaction to Wycliffe, I want to get out my time-travelling giant wet trout and do some serious slapping. Wycliffe was denounced as a heretic, blasphemous, satanic person, because he believed 1) there was no need for special priests to get access to God's grace and 2) the Bible was a good thing to follow in living your life, so everyone should be able to read it in their own language.
Now I've over-simplified this, and you can read more yourself, but that's the gist.
Read 1 Peter 2 again, and tell me Wycliffe was wrong...I dare you!
Key point 1: we are all Go'd chosen priests if we say we are his.
Now trundle on to Numbers 16-17 and have a read - there's a lot of death here, so don't do it on a full stomach. You can find out what Paul thinks about it in 1 Corinthians 10 as well, if you fancy some more background reading.
So this brings us to my question. When God gets angry like in this passage, who can save us from him? And more importantly, does he still get this mad?
The answer to the first question is tough, and can cause people to question God. The answer looks like it should be Jesus - after all, it took Moses and Aaron interceding here to save the people, and we have Jesus as our intercessor, right?
But if God is love, why would we need saving from him? I agree with a point Rob Bell pushes in his book 'Love Wins' - I don't need saving from God, I need saving by God.
It's an important point too, because if we have a picture of God as someone we need saving from, then that's going to mess our relationship with him up big time.
Key point 2: Jesus died for the sins of the whole world - things like this won't happen anymore, because Jesus has ALREADY paid the price.
That was hard work - please ask questions or make comments if you're not sure, because it's something that will probably leave most of us still scratching our heads a little.
Key point 3: it's okay to have questions, ask questions, and not fully understand the miracle of our salvation.
A miracle means something 'highly improbable or extraordinary' according to Google, so I think it's okay to be unsure for now. We'll find out all about in heaven, and that, at least for me, is something to really look forward to!
Start with Numbers 3:1-13, where the Levites are chosen as a priests, then have a sneaky-peek into the New Testament at 1 Peter 2:1-10.
When I read accounts of medieval Roman Catholic Christianity and their reaction to Wycliffe, I want to get out my time-travelling giant wet trout and do some serious slapping. Wycliffe was denounced as a heretic, blasphemous, satanic person, because he believed 1) there was no need for special priests to get access to God's grace and 2) the Bible was a good thing to follow in living your life, so everyone should be able to read it in their own language.
Now I've over-simplified this, and you can read more yourself, but that's the gist.
Read 1 Peter 2 again, and tell me Wycliffe was wrong...I dare you!
Key point 1: we are all Go'd chosen priests if we say we are his.
Now trundle on to Numbers 16-17 and have a read - there's a lot of death here, so don't do it on a full stomach. You can find out what Paul thinks about it in 1 Corinthians 10 as well, if you fancy some more background reading.
So this brings us to my question. When God gets angry like in this passage, who can save us from him? And more importantly, does he still get this mad?
The answer to the first question is tough, and can cause people to question God. The answer looks like it should be Jesus - after all, it took Moses and Aaron interceding here to save the people, and we have Jesus as our intercessor, right?
But if God is love, why would we need saving from him? I agree with a point Rob Bell pushes in his book 'Love Wins' - I don't need saving from God, I need saving by God.
It's an important point too, because if we have a picture of God as someone we need saving from, then that's going to mess our relationship with him up big time.
Key point 2: Jesus died for the sins of the whole world - things like this won't happen anymore, because Jesus has ALREADY paid the price.
That was hard work - please ask questions or make comments if you're not sure, because it's something that will probably leave most of us still scratching our heads a little.
Key point 3: it's okay to have questions, ask questions, and not fully understand the miracle of our salvation.
A miracle means something 'highly improbable or extraordinary' according to Google, so I think it's okay to be unsure for now. We'll find out all about in heaven, and that, at least for me, is something to really look forward to!
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
NT: Luke. Free is freedom
What would you be prepared to do for free? The washing-up? Mow the lawn? Maybe spend a week of the holidays helping at an old people's home? Let's alter the question slightly: What would you be prepared to do for free but at cost to you? Jesus tells us in Luke 14:12-14 that the motivation for our actions should not be to get something in return, be that money, status, power or a bargaining chip to use with our parents; Jesus is clear that we should await a reward at the resurrection of the righteous. It brings us back to Matthew and the topsy-turvy teaching of the Sermon on the Mount - store up treasure in heaven (Mt 6:20) - and the parable of the sheep and goats - whatever you did for the least of these... (Mt 25:31-46).
I don't think Jesus wants us to stop doing nice things for our friends and family, but we should do it without ulterior motives and wanting something in return. In fact, great friendships should have this as a clear principle. But also, we cannot get away from the fact that Jesus told us to invite those who can't repay. Have a read on. Jesus tells a parable about a banquet which those with status shunned for better offers. If this banquet is the Kingdom of Heaven and you and I are part of it, we are the poor, crippled, lame and blind. Making time and sacrificing our resources (hey, they're God's anyway) for those less fortunate than ourselves shows that we have understood what Jesus has achieved for us. Have you got it?
I don't think Jesus wants us to stop doing nice things for our friends and family, but we should do it without ulterior motives and wanting something in return. In fact, great friendships should have this as a clear principle. But also, we cannot get away from the fact that Jesus told us to invite those who can't repay. Have a read on. Jesus tells a parable about a banquet which those with status shunned for better offers. If this banquet is the Kingdom of Heaven and you and I are part of it, we are the poor, crippled, lame and blind. Making time and sacrificing our resources (hey, they're God's anyway) for those less fortunate than ourselves shows that we have understood what Jesus has achieved for us. Have you got it?
Monday, 23 January 2012
OT: Leviticus. On sin & Balotelli
My absolute favourite person on the planet right now is Manchester City's Mario Balotelli. Not only is he an entertaining footballer, but he's a pretty entertaining person, who doesn't seem to care what people think about him.
But more importantly, and here's why I think he's a good guy, he knows right from wrong, and what he can do about it. There's the incident where he took a truant into school and told the lads bullying him to lay off or he'd come back and sort them out. There's driving around in a santa suit giving out cash.
Best of all in my book is setting his bathroom on fire with fireworks.
Who on earth lights fireworks in their bathroom?
What happened next is a little bizarre - within days Balotelli was fronting a government firework safety campaign. Knowing what he had done wasn't clever and that people looked up to him, he admitted his mistakes and set about putting them right, and that's a quality to greatly admire in anyone - international footballer or a mate at school.
Now, here's how this links to Leviticus - you might think it's full of random laws about mildew, and that you can comfortably skip over it without a second thought - turn to Leviticus 5 and you'll find some laws about human stupidity. Yup, God even thought of that.
Skim through the rest of Leviticus and you'll find plenty of neat little gems relevant to everyday life.
We will always muck up, but there's no-one worse than the person who thinks they can never be wrong. I sometimes slip towards that, and have to frequently remind myself that whilst I'm pretty good, I'm not perfect!
God says in v4 "Or suppose you make a foolish vow of any kind, whether its purpose is for good or for bad. When you realise its foolishness, you must admit your guilt." In other words - when you say something stupid, admit it.
Don't be afraid to say sorry for something you've said that might have hurt someone, belittled them or just made them think less of themselves (and maybe even you).
This week, if you can't stop your tongue, be sure to make amends for it - don't let a foolish word go uncorrected.
But more importantly, and here's why I think he's a good guy, he knows right from wrong, and what he can do about it. There's the incident where he took a truant into school and told the lads bullying him to lay off or he'd come back and sort them out. There's driving around in a santa suit giving out cash.
Best of all in my book is setting his bathroom on fire with fireworks.
Who on earth lights fireworks in their bathroom?
What happened next is a little bizarre - within days Balotelli was fronting a government firework safety campaign. Knowing what he had done wasn't clever and that people looked up to him, he admitted his mistakes and set about putting them right, and that's a quality to greatly admire in anyone - international footballer or a mate at school.
Now, here's how this links to Leviticus - you might think it's full of random laws about mildew, and that you can comfortably skip over it without a second thought - turn to Leviticus 5 and you'll find some laws about human stupidity. Yup, God even thought of that.
Skim through the rest of Leviticus and you'll find plenty of neat little gems relevant to everyday life.
We will always muck up, but there's no-one worse than the person who thinks they can never be wrong. I sometimes slip towards that, and have to frequently remind myself that whilst I'm pretty good, I'm not perfect!
God says in v4 "Or suppose you make a foolish vow of any kind, whether its purpose is for good or for bad. When you realise its foolishness, you must admit your guilt." In other words - when you say something stupid, admit it.
Don't be afraid to say sorry for something you've said that might have hurt someone, belittled them or just made them think less of themselves (and maybe even you).
This week, if you can't stop your tongue, be sure to make amends for it - don't let a foolish word go uncorrected.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
OT: Exodus. A Call For Justice
Exodus often gets a bad rap.
Everyone knows the story of the Exodus, don't they? Jews certainly do, hearing it every Passover. Christians probably think they know it - I mean, what's to know? 10 plagues, 40 years wandering in the desert, Promised Land. Boom - Exodus in a sentence, you can go back to Facebook now.
As for the rest - well there's some laws in there, mostly irrelevant to us now, oh, and that 10 Commandments bit.
But those who write Exodus off as laws for people long dead, or for Jews only, ignore God's heart and Christ's teaching.
Have a look at Chapter 23 - in my Bible it's called 'A Call for Justice', and if you read the first 13 verses and aren't challenged by them in how you behave at work, school, church etc., I'll come round and slap you with a rainbow trout.
Nothing speaks clearer of God's desire that the poor get justice, and that we as individuals have a responsibility to act in a Godly manner. No hiding in the crowd, as many Israelites did at the time - this is all about YOU.
Now, as the old hymn says - stand up, stand up for Jesus.
Stand up and be counted.
Everyone knows the story of the Exodus, don't they? Jews certainly do, hearing it every Passover. Christians probably think they know it - I mean, what's to know? 10 plagues, 40 years wandering in the desert, Promised Land. Boom - Exodus in a sentence, you can go back to Facebook now.
As for the rest - well there's some laws in there, mostly irrelevant to us now, oh, and that 10 Commandments bit.
But those who write Exodus off as laws for people long dead, or for Jews only, ignore God's heart and Christ's teaching.
Have a look at Chapter 23 - in my Bible it's called 'A Call for Justice', and if you read the first 13 verses and aren't challenged by them in how you behave at work, school, church etc., I'll come round and slap you with a rainbow trout.
Nothing speaks clearer of God's desire that the poor get justice, and that we as individuals have a responsibility to act in a Godly manner. No hiding in the crowd, as many Israelites did at the time - this is all about YOU.
Now, as the old hymn says - stand up, stand up for Jesus.
Stand up and be counted.
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
NT: Mark. Is it ever right to disobey Jesus?
Is it ever right to disobey Jesus? What an interesting and controversial question! It was sparked by my reading of Mark 1:40-45 where Jesus heals a leprous man. Remember, leprosy excluded people from the whole of society and community life, so the healing went way beyond making the man look better. Jesus charged the man to do one thing in two parts: go to the temple to offer the sacrifices for his cleansing as required in Lev 14, but, more importantly, stay schtum and act as if it went away by itself i.e. don't say 'Jesus healed me'. So, of course, the man to the temple and then breezed back into his house, "Honey, I'm home for good, my leprosy just went away all by itself." No, of course he didn't, he went and told everyone he knew (and probably a lot of people he didn't...).
First, I think Jesus had his reasons for telling the man to keep quiet; Jesus' mission was dangerous, but he was working to a timescale - he couldn't give up his life until he'd discipled an unruly band of young men enough to take over from him and ministered to people to fulfil his messianic mission of holistic healing and negative publicity before the priests etc. would have scuppered that one. Verse 45 tells us the man's actions forced Jesus into hiding, proving Jesus was not without his reasons. But I find it very hard to believe that the previous-leprous man sinned (unless his motivations were wrong, but there is nothing to suggest that), especially if he glorified God in his retelling of the events.
But really, I want to ask another question. Would our encounters with Jesus lead us to tell others even if Jesus forbade it? In Acts, the disciples tell the authorities that they could not stop speaking of all that they had seen and heard. Are you telling your family and friends the amazing things that Jesus is doing in your life? Well done if you are. If not, why not because the last time I checked Jesus didn't tell you to keep your mouth shut...
First, I think Jesus had his reasons for telling the man to keep quiet; Jesus' mission was dangerous, but he was working to a timescale - he couldn't give up his life until he'd discipled an unruly band of young men enough to take over from him and ministered to people to fulfil his messianic mission of holistic healing and negative publicity before the priests etc. would have scuppered that one. Verse 45 tells us the man's actions forced Jesus into hiding, proving Jesus was not without his reasons. But I find it very hard to believe that the previous-leprous man sinned (unless his motivations were wrong, but there is nothing to suggest that), especially if he glorified God in his retelling of the events.
But really, I want to ask another question. Would our encounters with Jesus lead us to tell others even if Jesus forbade it? In Acts, the disciples tell the authorities that they could not stop speaking of all that they had seen and heard. Are you telling your family and friends the amazing things that Jesus is doing in your life? Well done if you are. If not, why not because the last time I checked Jesus didn't tell you to keep your mouth shut...
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
NT: Matthew - What if...?
What would life be like if, at the end of chapter 4 of Matthew's gospel, Jesus had said "That's the end of today's healing service. There's no coffee, I'm afraid, because my disciples forgot it and the feeding of the 5000 isn't until chapter 14" and then skulked off to a quiet place to pray? The keen beans amongst you will have worked out that the answer I am going for is 'there would have been no Sermon on the Mount', but really, my question goes deeper and the answer deeper still. What would the implications for life be if Jesus had never preached that sermon?
My answer is: Just think how easy life would be! I would be able to get angry at whomever and not be guilty of murder (Mt 5:22); I could ignore Jesus' teaching and not be labelled as a foolish builder (7:26) and I certainly wouldn't have to aim for perfection (5:48). In fact, I could continue living life in the world's ideal rather than in this topsy-turvy, completely upside-down world of Jesus' kingdom where the first are last and the meek, merciful and poor receive the blessing. The only problem: Jesus did preach the Sermon on the Mount. And he meant it.
My answer is: Just think how easy life would be! I would be able to get angry at whomever and not be guilty of murder (Mt 5:22); I could ignore Jesus' teaching and not be labelled as a foolish builder (7:26) and I certainly wouldn't have to aim for perfection (5:48). In fact, I could continue living life in the world's ideal rather than in this topsy-turvy, completely upside-down world of Jesus' kingdom where the first are last and the meek, merciful and poor receive the blessing. The only problem: Jesus did preach the Sermon on the Mount. And he meant it.
Monday, 9 January 2012
OT: Genesis. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
This stream's tour starts at the start...shocking I know, but you've got to start somewhere.
Have a read of Genesis 12-14, and then rejoin me. If you're super-keen you could pick up from Gen 11 where Abram first joins the fray through to Gen 25.
So Genesis 12-14 is the first look at this huge character in biblical and global history - the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity & Islam) now account for over 50% (~3.5bn) of the world's population.
My first impressions are varied, but all show to me that Abram is a man after God's own heart, so I want to learn more about how he does it. Here's what I think.
The good: Genesis 13, Abram puts the desires and needs of others first. He lets Lot choose which way he will go when they split up, not to mention chooses a mature response to the dispute threatening to sour the relationship in the first place.
Why does Abram do this? Perhaps he's learnt his lesson from chapter 12; but more important is God's promise - he knows God has his back, and will ensure no harm comes to him.
If only I could always have this faith when making decisions...
The bad: Genesis 12:10-20, Abram (not for the last time in him life - see Gen 20) deceives Pharaoh, forgetting God's promise and pretends his wife is his sister. Of course, these still being the days of semi-incest, she was!
How many times have I forgotten God's promises and tried to do things in my own strength...?
The ugly: Gen 14, Abram stands up for the vulnerable when Lot and his family are caught up in some else's war and taken captive. Not only does he go to their rescue, but he does it for no reward, not seeking his own gain, but instead seeking justice.
Even when I do good and noble things, do I sometimes do them for the wrong reasons? How do I seek the kind of justice God desires?
The answer to that question can be found by reading the Bible...and that's just what I hope you're going to do throughout 2012.
Whether you follow a reading plan, read along with these blogs, or just do your own thing, I pray God will bless you greatly through it, and that you'll grow as you understand more and more of God's big story.
Have a read of Genesis 12-14, and then rejoin me. If you're super-keen you could pick up from Gen 11 where Abram first joins the fray through to Gen 25.
So Genesis 12-14 is the first look at this huge character in biblical and global history - the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity & Islam) now account for over 50% (~3.5bn) of the world's population.
My first impressions are varied, but all show to me that Abram is a man after God's own heart, so I want to learn more about how he does it. Here's what I think.
The good: Genesis 13, Abram puts the desires and needs of others first. He lets Lot choose which way he will go when they split up, not to mention chooses a mature response to the dispute threatening to sour the relationship in the first place.
Why does Abram do this? Perhaps he's learnt his lesson from chapter 12; but more important is God's promise - he knows God has his back, and will ensure no harm comes to him.
If only I could always have this faith when making decisions...
The bad: Genesis 12:10-20, Abram (not for the last time in him life - see Gen 20) deceives Pharaoh, forgetting God's promise and pretends his wife is his sister. Of course, these still being the days of semi-incest, she was!
How many times have I forgotten God's promises and tried to do things in my own strength...?
The ugly: Gen 14, Abram stands up for the vulnerable when Lot and his family are caught up in some else's war and taken captive. Not only does he go to their rescue, but he does it for no reward, not seeking his own gain, but instead seeking justice.
Even when I do good and noble things, do I sometimes do them for the wrong reasons? How do I seek the kind of justice God desires?
The answer to that question can be found by reading the Bible...and that's just what I hope you're going to do throughout 2012.
Whether you follow a reading plan, read along with these blogs, or just do your own thing, I pray God will bless you greatly through it, and that you'll grow as you understand more and more of God's big story.
Thursday, 1 December 2011
What does the future hold?
Some people turn to Revelation for a picture of what the future will look like.
I have to confess, I'm not one of them.
If Revelation were about the future directly, we would've covered it in the Prophetic Literature week - it gets a category all of its own titled 'Apocalyptic'.
In the reading notes we handed out at the start of this 8 week readathon, it was suggested you read the book like a magazine in a waiting room - look at some nice bits, skim past the blah.
For me, this meant reading it all, but paying particular attention to the first few chapters (1-5) and the last one (21), and here's why:
The early chapters explain why John is writing it - a vision from the God, chinese whispers-style, passed from God to Christ to an angel to John to us the church. So to expect it to be literally true is a bit pie-in-the-sky in my book, and it's important to remember this first paragraph, regardless of what you think of the truth in Revelation.
Once you get into the letters to the seven churches, you're looking at a section with great similarities to some of Paul's letters like Ephesians & Philippians, or perhaps 2 & 3 John which we looked at on Sunday gone - offering a mixture of encouragement and challenge.
Chapter 21 is just cool - I like to imagine the scale of the New Jerusalem, and Rob Wallace has done something about this in church recently - basically it's the size of northern Europe! Not to mention very bling.
So take what you will from Revelation. Mind you, if you get all wacko-Christian on us, I might just slap you with a fish. And that's not an allegory for anything nice.
I have to confess, I'm not one of them.
If Revelation were about the future directly, we would've covered it in the Prophetic Literature week - it gets a category all of its own titled 'Apocalyptic'.
In the reading notes we handed out at the start of this 8 week readathon, it was suggested you read the book like a magazine in a waiting room - look at some nice bits, skim past the blah.
For me, this meant reading it all, but paying particular attention to the first few chapters (1-5) and the last one (21), and here's why:
The early chapters explain why John is writing it - a vision from the God, chinese whispers-style, passed from God to Christ to an angel to John to us the church. So to expect it to be literally true is a bit pie-in-the-sky in my book, and it's important to remember this first paragraph, regardless of what you think of the truth in Revelation.
Once you get into the letters to the seven churches, you're looking at a section with great similarities to some of Paul's letters like Ephesians & Philippians, or perhaps 2 & 3 John which we looked at on Sunday gone - offering a mixture of encouragement and challenge.
Chapter 21 is just cool - I like to imagine the scale of the New Jerusalem, and Rob Wallace has done something about this in church recently - basically it's the size of northern Europe! Not to mention very bling.
So take what you will from Revelation. Mind you, if you get all wacko-Christian on us, I might just slap you with a fish. And that's not an allegory for anything nice.
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Breakfast with Galatians
So, I was off work on Monday, waiting for the electricity meter man (he does have a name and Jesus knows how many hairs are on his head, but I didn't find out either) and decided to embark on this adventure through the apostolic literature by reading Galatians whilst eating breakfast.
Galatians is possibly the shortest epic ever written, containing the most one-liners and guaranteeing that you will definitely feel better by the end of it than you did when you started. My favourite one-liner used to be 3:1:
So, what for us? My first point is that although Paul calls the Galatians foolish, if they had got grace based salvation first time, Paul would never had had to write this, and we would be much worse off for it. So, thank you foolish Galatians. Secondly, I think it is very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we can earn our salvation. Deep down we know that we are only saved by Jesus, but it is very tempting to think that God will love us a bit more if we do lots for him and before long we start to rely on what we do for Jesus and find our identity in that. Well, I have news for you: You have been crucified with Christ and it is now no longer you who lives, but Christ who lives in you (Gal 2:20, Ben Taylor). There is nothing you can do to make God love you more. Nothing. I'm not dissing good works, they are important; James tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17), but works without faith is a road to nowhere.
The choice the Galatians had to make was a bit like choosing between being given a house free of charge, or getting the same house, but buying it with a mortgage and indebting yourself to a bank for 25 years. A no-brainer, don't you think. I'd take the free house every time. So why should salvation be any different? It may seem too good to be true, but God, the awesome creator of the universe, perfect and holy one, is the author of this salvation.
Why not have breakfast with Galatians on Saturday? Have it with a bacon sandwich.
Galatians is possibly the shortest epic ever written, containing the most one-liners and guaranteeing that you will definitely feel better by the end of it than you did when you started. My favourite one-liner used to be 3:1:
"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?"The gist of the letter, you see, is that the church in Galatia had replaced a grace-only approach to salvation with a Jesus and... salvation. All of sudden, someone, or something, had bewitched them and seemingly convinced them that Jesus alone was not enough to guarantee salvation. How could God accept someone who doesn't 'do good'? Surely there needs to be some amount of good works? God seemed all for a works-based salvation in the Old Testament. Wasn't that what the law was? To understand the letter to the Galatians we must first consider its context. The early church was dogged by a debate about whether Gentile (non-Jewish) converts to Christianity had to first become Jews and sign up to the law (through circumcision for the blokes) and adhere to all the food laws etc. The Circumcision Party, as they were called, were the louder group and it took quite a lot of persuasion for them to realise that salvation by faith in Jesus didn't require adherence to the law. Peter even fell into their trap, and although he had had his food revelation and visited Cornelius the Roman Gentile, he still 'pretended' to be a good little Jewish boy in front of the scary big-wigs of the Jewish church. Paul had no hesitation in pulling him up on that one (Gal 2:14).
So, what for us? My first point is that although Paul calls the Galatians foolish, if they had got grace based salvation first time, Paul would never had had to write this, and we would be much worse off for it. So, thank you foolish Galatians. Secondly, I think it is very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we can earn our salvation. Deep down we know that we are only saved by Jesus, but it is very tempting to think that God will love us a bit more if we do lots for him and before long we start to rely on what we do for Jesus and find our identity in that. Well, I have news for you: You have been crucified with Christ and it is now no longer you who lives, but Christ who lives in you (Gal 2:20, Ben Taylor). There is nothing you can do to make God love you more. Nothing. I'm not dissing good works, they are important; James tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17), but works without faith is a road to nowhere.
The choice the Galatians had to make was a bit like choosing between being given a house free of charge, or getting the same house, but buying it with a mortgage and indebting yourself to a bank for 25 years. A no-brainer, don't you think. I'd take the free house every time. So why should salvation be any different? It may seem too good to be true, but God, the awesome creator of the universe, perfect and holy one, is the author of this salvation.
Why not have breakfast with Galatians on Saturday? Have it with a bacon sandwich.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Chosen, cleansed, protected, so...
1 Peter was the natural for me to start in the Apostolic literature - the letters covering the rest of the Bible from John to Revelation - we're studying it in lifegroup on Tuesdays, and it's a chuffing good book!
The first chapter starts with the great blessings we receive from God I've included in the title, and continues to challenge us to holy living, backed some immense promises!
Is it always easy to be truly glad, as it says in v6? It acknowledges the many trials we will face, which doesn't sound like something to be truly glad for, so how on earth to we remain glad?
Firstly, there's the priceless inheritance to look forward to - how many of you have been offered a reward for doing something, and have used it to spur you on? Think of sponsored events, or exams - I'm sure we all have experienced that, and it's a truly great encouragement along the way.
Secondly, there's the prophets - what they say about Jesus and the Kingdom. You can't beat an encouraging story to help you on your way. This weekend we heard some amazing things at the Youthwork Conference about the massive steps being made towards eradicating extreme poverty in the developing world. For instance, did you know that the 21,000 children a day we talk about dying from preventable causes used to be 40,000 children not 50 years ago? That's massive progress - because of development work, 19,000 lives are being saved a day! That's about 7 million a year!
And thirdly, there's the power of the Holy Spirit. Sent from heaven as Jesus promised, He helps and guides us, if we only accept and use His power. Boom.
So...a big word with few letters.
Most important is this call to Holy living. Just as you no longer return to your previous ways when you grow up from a baby to a child and young person, no longer pooing yourself at random, needing to be burped or dribbling incessantly, as a Christian you must show you are a different person.
This looks like love, as Jesus affirmed in Luke 10 - 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
This week (and hopefully for the rest of your life), think about how you can show that love to God and to those around you - thinking positively in this way is surely the easiest approach, because yes, we all screw up, so let's do something to show God we love Him.
My group challenged each other at youth lifegroup two weeks ago to show we love God in the most extravagant way - what can you think of to achieve this?
I bought gifts for some people at work from my trip to Eastbourne - not my closest friends there, but people I know, and gifts they would really appreciate and enjoy. The sense of surprise at an unexpected gift gave me an opportunity to talk about why I had gone, what I got up to whilst there, and an opportunity to share my passion for Jesus through the things I do in my spare time. I hadn't thought of that outcome -it's amazing how God can bless the little things we do.
The first chapter starts with the great blessings we receive from God I've included in the title, and continues to challenge us to holy living, backed some immense promises!
Is it always easy to be truly glad, as it says in v6? It acknowledges the many trials we will face, which doesn't sound like something to be truly glad for, so how on earth to we remain glad?
Firstly, there's the priceless inheritance to look forward to - how many of you have been offered a reward for doing something, and have used it to spur you on? Think of sponsored events, or exams - I'm sure we all have experienced that, and it's a truly great encouragement along the way.
Secondly, there's the prophets - what they say about Jesus and the Kingdom. You can't beat an encouraging story to help you on your way. This weekend we heard some amazing things at the Youthwork Conference about the massive steps being made towards eradicating extreme poverty in the developing world. For instance, did you know that the 21,000 children a day we talk about dying from preventable causes used to be 40,000 children not 50 years ago? That's massive progress - because of development work, 19,000 lives are being saved a day! That's about 7 million a year!
And thirdly, there's the power of the Holy Spirit. Sent from heaven as Jesus promised, He helps and guides us, if we only accept and use His power. Boom.
So...a big word with few letters.
Most important is this call to Holy living. Just as you no longer return to your previous ways when you grow up from a baby to a child and young person, no longer pooing yourself at random, needing to be burped or dribbling incessantly, as a Christian you must show you are a different person.
This looks like love, as Jesus affirmed in Luke 10 - 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
This week (and hopefully for the rest of your life), think about how you can show that love to God and to those around you - thinking positively in this way is surely the easiest approach, because yes, we all screw up, so let's do something to show God we love Him.
My group challenged each other at youth lifegroup two weeks ago to show we love God in the most extravagant way - what can you think of to achieve this?
I bought gifts for some people at work from my trip to Eastbourne - not my closest friends there, but people I know, and gifts they would really appreciate and enjoy. The sense of surprise at an unexpected gift gave me an opportunity to talk about why I had gone, what I got up to whilst there, and an opportunity to share my passion for Jesus through the things I do in my spare time. I hadn't thought of that outcome -it's amazing how God can bless the little things we do.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Word up!
Everyone knows how John's gospel kicks off: 'In the beginning...'
If you've got one of those cool chronological bibles, this is (obviously) where it starts. Perhaps that's weird - I had to do a mental double-take when I first thought of the first verse chronologically.
And the rest of John follows that theme for me - plenty of mental double-takes along the way, because John, as hopefully you know, isn't written like the rest of the Gospels. It's written in a more analytical style, looking to prove the divinity of Jesus Christ, using facts from his life as crucial evidence.
Most of John is unique to his Gospel, in contrast to Mark, which is nearly all covered in the other three.
What's best and most unique for me about John is his Jesus-focus. I know all four Gospels are about the life of Jesus, but I really feel like I'm being drawn an intimate portrait here - Jesus' actions and responses are the focal point of each and every section.
Looking back to last week, John is also where we see many prophesies fulfilled - Jesus himself says this in Jn 5:45-47, saying Moses spoke of him (Gen 3, Deut 18), and that really excites and challenges me. If people writing hundreds or thousands of years before Christ got it, why don't we sometimes!?! Do we always see Jesus, especially when we look at the poor and weak in this world?
This weekend a few of us have been at the Youthwork Conference - don't worry, we'll be hitting you with some things from there soon. A link between that and John's Gospel is in the word passion.
There's some things I'm now even more passionate about - a weekend of focussing on God will do that to you - and having read through John's Gospel on the train back, I've spent a few hours really focussing on Jesus.
The result? I'm more passionate about Jesus and the claims he made - and I dare you to read through John if you haven't already this week, preferably in one sitting, and not feel different about the world by the end of it.
If you don't, please consult the medics in our church, and instruct them to check your pulse.
If you've got one of those cool chronological bibles, this is (obviously) where it starts. Perhaps that's weird - I had to do a mental double-take when I first thought of the first verse chronologically.
And the rest of John follows that theme for me - plenty of mental double-takes along the way, because John, as hopefully you know, isn't written like the rest of the Gospels. It's written in a more analytical style, looking to prove the divinity of Jesus Christ, using facts from his life as crucial evidence.
Most of John is unique to his Gospel, in contrast to Mark, which is nearly all covered in the other three.
What's best and most unique for me about John is his Jesus-focus. I know all four Gospels are about the life of Jesus, but I really feel like I'm being drawn an intimate portrait here - Jesus' actions and responses are the focal point of each and every section.
Looking back to last week, John is also where we see many prophesies fulfilled - Jesus himself says this in Jn 5:45-47, saying Moses spoke of him (Gen 3, Deut 18), and that really excites and challenges me. If people writing hundreds or thousands of years before Christ got it, why don't we sometimes!?! Do we always see Jesus, especially when we look at the poor and weak in this world?
This weekend a few of us have been at the Youthwork Conference - don't worry, we'll be hitting you with some things from there soon. A link between that and John's Gospel is in the word passion.
There's some things I'm now even more passionate about - a weekend of focussing on God will do that to you - and having read through John's Gospel on the train back, I've spent a few hours really focussing on Jesus.
The result? I'm more passionate about Jesus and the claims he made - and I dare you to read through John if you haven't already this week, preferably in one sitting, and not feel different about the world by the end of it.
If you don't, please consult the medics in our church, and instruct them to check your pulse.
Thursday, 17 November 2011
The Personal Letter Read by Billions
Read the first four verses of Luke's gospel, and you'll probably wonder why you don't remember it. It's not exactly core theology for the church:
There are many other unique features to Luke, which make this book rather special:
- Luke is the only book of the Bible known to be written by a Gentile.
- Luke was a Greek doctor.
- Luke cared about detail, but also about people. Much of the middle part of Luke (chs. 9-18) isn't found anywhere else in the Bible.
Luke is often the Gospel I go to if I want detail, and that is what he presents. Remember Mark, how he was also several miracles in by the end of chapter 1, and Matthew, sweeping through thousands of years of history as a short introduction.
By contrast, Luke is slow and steady, setting the scene with the promise and birth of John the Baptist in a story that mirrors the birth of Isaac rather well.
Also returning from last week's reading in Daniel (although now 500 years have passed) is the Angel Gabriel, bringing an important message from God.
Luke's epic first chapter takes up 80 verses, and leaves us teetering on the brink of the census being announced. By 80 verses of Mark, Jesus is about to pick the 12 disciples!
Luke is a book you'll hear a lot of at Christmas, because of Luke's telling of the Christmas story. If you don't have time to read it all, perhaps you could read the first two chapters and really meditate on that story - revel in the length and detail Luke gives us about those amazing events over 2000 years ago.
Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honourable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.What we find there, and must remember throughout the book, is that it was written by Luke, to a friend, to help him in his young faith.
There are many other unique features to Luke, which make this book rather special:
- Luke is the only book of the Bible known to be written by a Gentile.
- Luke was a Greek doctor.
- Luke cared about detail, but also about people. Much of the middle part of Luke (chs. 9-18) isn't found anywhere else in the Bible.
Luke is often the Gospel I go to if I want detail, and that is what he presents. Remember Mark, how he was also several miracles in by the end of chapter 1, and Matthew, sweeping through thousands of years of history as a short introduction.
By contrast, Luke is slow and steady, setting the scene with the promise and birth of John the Baptist in a story that mirrors the birth of Isaac rather well.
Also returning from last week's reading in Daniel (although now 500 years have passed) is the Angel Gabriel, bringing an important message from God.
Luke's epic first chapter takes up 80 verses, and leaves us teetering on the brink of the census being announced. By 80 verses of Mark, Jesus is about to pick the 12 disciples!
Luke is a book you'll hear a lot of at Christmas, because of Luke's telling of the Christmas story. If you don't have time to read it all, perhaps you could read the first two chapters and really meditate on that story - revel in the length and detail Luke gives us about those amazing events over 2000 years ago.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Names & Promises
Compare the first chapter of Matthew with that of Mark, and you'll notice a huge difference.
Whilst Mark goes straight into the action, Matthew steps back, and gives what everyone hopes they'll never had to read in church - a massive list of names.
Before you skip over this to get to the 'action' however, consider the history there. Look to the left of where you are in your bible - all those pages, and Matthew sticks the genealogy down in one page.
There's so much exciting significance in Matthew's list of names, not least in the fulfilment of promises by God. Promises made to Abraham and David, in the books of Genesis, 2 Samuel and Psalms that from them would come the Messiah - God's plan to redeem the world.
For those of a mathematical bent, there's something fun going on with the numbers too - 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 from David to the Exile, and 14 from the Exile to Jesus.
And for those of you who remember stuff, there's some juicy characters in there. If the media got a whiff of this, there'd be scandal! World's oldest father, attempted child-killer, human trafficker, prostitute, bigamist, foreigner, paedophile...yikes!
So all that, before the story even gets going - looks like Matthew will be a good read too. Whoever said a long list of names was boring?
Whilst Mark goes straight into the action, Matthew steps back, and gives what everyone hopes they'll never had to read in church - a massive list of names.
Before you skip over this to get to the 'action' however, consider the history there. Look to the left of where you are in your bible - all those pages, and Matthew sticks the genealogy down in one page.
There's so much exciting significance in Matthew's list of names, not least in the fulfilment of promises by God. Promises made to Abraham and David, in the books of Genesis, 2 Samuel and Psalms that from them would come the Messiah - God's plan to redeem the world.
For those of a mathematical bent, there's something fun going on with the numbers too - 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 from David to the Exile, and 14 from the Exile to Jesus.
And for those of you who remember stuff, there's some juicy characters in there. If the media got a whiff of this, there'd be scandal! World's oldest father, attempted child-killer, human trafficker, prostitute, bigamist, foreigner, paedophile...yikes!
So all that, before the story even gets going - looks like Matthew will be a good read too. Whoever said a long list of names was boring?
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Back in the wilderness
The Gospel of Mark starts in a place familiar to those who have read some of the Old Testament - the wilderness.
However this time, the people are coming out to confess their sin and be baptised.
It's easy to skim over this, as Mark 1 swiftly moves on to Jesus' first miracles, but it is a sign of a changed heart among the people of God.
The last time they were in the wilderness as a united people, they were rebelling against God, and it was only the efforts of a select few that kept them alive!
Psalm 106 highlights the futility of it all very well:
Mark 1 instantly reveals the power of Jesus - in this single chapter, he resists the devil (remember Genesis, and how successful people were), casts out an evil sprit, heals 'many', including a leper.
Massive things - and it's reflected that by the end of the chapter Jesus already has huge crowds following him.
So why do we accept or reject God? Whilst we can't live on the mountain-tops all of the time, it's certainly a good idea to heed the words of the psalmist and remember all the good things God has done for us - remember those powerful and amazing experiences when life is getting tough, and when you're trudging on through the wilderness. Don't think God has run out of blessings for you - greater things are yet to come...
However this time, the people are coming out to confess their sin and be baptised.
It's easy to skim over this, as Mark 1 swiftly moves on to Jesus' first miracles, but it is a sign of a changed heart among the people of God.
The last time they were in the wilderness as a united people, they were rebelling against God, and it was only the efforts of a select few that kept them alive!
Psalm 106 highlights the futility of it all very well:
The people made a calf at Mount Sinai; they bowed before an image made of gold.That's right - they traded the God who destroyed the entire Egyptian army for a statue of an animal that eats grass...powerful.
They traded their glorious God
for a statue of a grass-eating bull.
They forgot God, their savior,
who had done such great things in Egypt
Psalm 106:19-21
Mark 1 instantly reveals the power of Jesus - in this single chapter, he resists the devil (remember Genesis, and how successful people were), casts out an evil sprit, heals 'many', including a leper.
Massive things - and it's reflected that by the end of the chapter Jesus already has huge crowds following him.
So why do we accept or reject God? Whilst we can't live on the mountain-tops all of the time, it's certainly a good idea to heed the words of the psalmist and remember all the good things God has done for us - remember those powerful and amazing experiences when life is getting tough, and when you're trudging on through the wilderness. Don't think God has run out of blessings for you - greater things are yet to come...
Friday, 11 November 2011
Who would believe someone like God?
Would you believe God if a prophet told you something he had to say to you?
This is the big questions coming out of the prophets - spanning several hundred years of independently recorded history, we see the predictions, we see them come true, and we see the people repeatedly ignore God!
Now one side is that it's not God they don't trust, it's his prophets. But that sounds like a pretty rubbish excuse to me.
When you see all the warnings Jeremiah gave, and the threats to his life because of it, it's pretty shocking how in denial people really were. And it was a double-edged thing as well - they were ignoring both the reality of their sin (obvious, as they had the Law), and the threat of God's punishment.
Now think back over the last few weeks, to one of the resounding questions people have had - why is it so violent; why is there so much death? And think...would you mess with a God like that when he tells you to clean up your act? I wouldn't!
Well as you get to the later prophets, the response is improved: Haggai warns the people about building plush homes for themselves and ignoring God, and they start to rebuild the Temple.
So the question is - do you need God to have warned, punished and rescued you before you submit to his will in your life, or can you learn lessons from the Bible and be more open to Him?
To me that's the biggest personal challenge coming from the prophets - doing God's will, first time.
This is the big questions coming out of the prophets - spanning several hundred years of independently recorded history, we see the predictions, we see them come true, and we see the people repeatedly ignore God!
Now one side is that it's not God they don't trust, it's his prophets. But that sounds like a pretty rubbish excuse to me.
When you see all the warnings Jeremiah gave, and the threats to his life because of it, it's pretty shocking how in denial people really were. And it was a double-edged thing as well - they were ignoring both the reality of their sin (obvious, as they had the Law), and the threat of God's punishment.
Now think back over the last few weeks, to one of the resounding questions people have had - why is it so violent; why is there so much death? And think...would you mess with a God like that when he tells you to clean up your act? I wouldn't!
Well as you get to the later prophets, the response is improved: Haggai warns the people about building plush homes for themselves and ignoring God, and they start to rebuild the Temple.
So the question is - do you need God to have warned, punished and rescued you before you submit to his will in your life, or can you learn lessons from the Bible and be more open to Him?
To me that's the biggest personal challenge coming from the prophets - doing God's will, first time.
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Manic Street Preachers?
So let's say you're an average chap in ancient Israel, and your pal (Shepherd #2 - you're Shepherd #1 in this cast list) tells you what he heard from some prophet in the city yesterday:
Now I'm not one for wrestling anything off of a hungry lion, especially not its lunch - if this is too difficult to think off, imagine trying to wrestle an onion bhaji off Ben...
I love the graphic imagery in the prophets - I guess they knew how hardened people were to God's voice, so they needed to be shocking to get through...not that the people listened much!
It strikes me that we need to be the same today, but that it also isn't that hard sometimes. We got Agape's latest newsletter through the door this week, and on the front cover is the headline 'Reckless Love for a Reckless Nation'. Reckless love in today's society can be as simple as talking to a lonely person, giving time to someone, or buying the Big Issue - and it marks you out as different.
Different can be a dirty word, especially in the teenage years, but it's also the paradox - something a lot of people strive for, and end up all looking the same anyway (go to Old Eldon Square on a Saturday and you'll see...).
The prophets were people ready to stand for God (some more willingly than others), represent Him in a world hell-bent on ignoring Him and live lives dedicated to Him, free from the ways of the world.
Is that something you could sign up to?
In the same way that a shepherdWell not only would it be weird him quoting word-for-word from the Message version of Amos 3:12, but it would also strike a chord with you as a shepherd.
trying to save a lamb from a lion
Manages to recover
just a pair of legs or the scrap of an ear,
So will little be saved of the Israelites
who live in Samaria—
A couple of old chairs at most,
the broken leg of a table.
Now I'm not one for wrestling anything off of a hungry lion, especially not its lunch - if this is too difficult to think off, imagine trying to wrestle an onion bhaji off Ben...
I love the graphic imagery in the prophets - I guess they knew how hardened people were to God's voice, so they needed to be shocking to get through...not that the people listened much!
It strikes me that we need to be the same today, but that it also isn't that hard sometimes. We got Agape's latest newsletter through the door this week, and on the front cover is the headline 'Reckless Love for a Reckless Nation'. Reckless love in today's society can be as simple as talking to a lonely person, giving time to someone, or buying the Big Issue - and it marks you out as different.
Different can be a dirty word, especially in the teenage years, but it's also the paradox - something a lot of people strive for, and end up all looking the same anyway (go to Old Eldon Square on a Saturday and you'll see...).
The prophets were people ready to stand for God (some more willingly than others), represent Him in a world hell-bent on ignoring Him and live lives dedicated to Him, free from the ways of the world.
Is that something you could sign up to?
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
So that's where it came from!
Interesting what you find when you read the bible eh?
I came across this little gem as I started to read Jeremiah (1:4-5) today:
So why is the first half of the verse banded around, and the second half forgotten about?
I for one dislike verses quoted out of context, but in this instance, we have other backup. We know God is outside of time, that he is actively involved in the creation of all life (Genesis), and so this verse fits with the rest of God's character.
Conversely, the second half of the verse 'appointed you as my prophet to the nations' does not apply to us all because of what we read elsewhere in the Bible - God has appointed some to be prophets, but there's plenty of other jobs we find in Ephesians 4 where this comes from.
So as we read the prophets, and come across many familiar verses, think about the context in which they are found, and decide for yourself whether they apply to Israel at the time, or to all believers, to this day.
Stuck?
Comment here, on facebook or ask a question on Sunday!
I came across this little gem as I started to read Jeremiah (1:4-5) today:
The Lord gave me this message:Now I'm sure you've all heard the 'I know you before I formed you in your mother's womb', but when you see it here, it becomes clear that God is talking very specifically to Jeremiah - that the point is, he was chosen to do a certain task.
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.
Before you were born I set you apart
and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.
So why is the first half of the verse banded around, and the second half forgotten about?
I for one dislike verses quoted out of context, but in this instance, we have other backup. We know God is outside of time, that he is actively involved in the creation of all life (Genesis), and so this verse fits with the rest of God's character.
Conversely, the second half of the verse 'appointed you as my prophet to the nations' does not apply to us all because of what we read elsewhere in the Bible - God has appointed some to be prophets, but there's plenty of other jobs we find in Ephesians 4 where this comes from.
So as we read the prophets, and come across many familiar verses, think about the context in which they are found, and decide for yourself whether they apply to Israel at the time, or to all believers, to this day.
Stuck?
Comment here, on facebook or ask a question on Sunday!
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Prophecy - realm of the wackos?
This week we move on to the prophetic literature, and a big list of 17 books. However, you'll be pleased to learn that most prophets were very brief and stuck to their message, then signed off. Obadiah for instance managed a quite readable 21 verses before signing off...perhaps he started writing on a Friday afternoon?
There's a few bigger ones, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekial, but don't let their length put you off - all three are worth it, and if you can get through one of them, that's a great a achievement.
Just a quick note on modern-day prophecy. Most of what gets in the news, and basically all of what it out there on the internet, is utter rubbish.
The prophets in the bible cover a period of 400 years, and speak specifically to the people of Israel as they go through the experience of exile.
Modern-day 'prophets' of internet fame often spout nonsense about end times, and fit world events into a bible mould or their constructed theory. Be very wary of this sort of thing, and as we have been saying - weigh it up against scripture.
My preferred reaction is to laugh and ignore it.
Now back to the Bible, and the most exciting thing I find with the prophets is finding bit clearly referring to Jesus. Isn't it great to read something written several hundred years before the event, predicting with clarity what Jesus would do?
Well it excites me, anyway!
There's a few bigger ones, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekial, but don't let their length put you off - all three are worth it, and if you can get through one of them, that's a great a achievement.
Just a quick note on modern-day prophecy. Most of what gets in the news, and basically all of what it out there on the internet, is utter rubbish.
The prophets in the bible cover a period of 400 years, and speak specifically to the people of Israel as they go through the experience of exile.
Modern-day 'prophets' of internet fame often spout nonsense about end times, and fit world events into a bible mould or their constructed theory. Be very wary of this sort of thing, and as we have been saying - weigh it up against scripture.
My preferred reaction is to laugh and ignore it.
Now back to the Bible, and the most exciting thing I find with the prophets is finding bit clearly referring to Jesus. Isn't it great to read something written several hundred years before the event, predicting with clarity what Jesus would do?
Well it excites me, anyway!
Friday, 4 November 2011
Wisdom in the Bible
So what is wisdom, can we find it in the bible, and will it do us any good?
In Job, there's a few different ideas banded around:
Eliphaz says wisdom comes from life experience; Bildad says wisdom comes from learning from the past; Zophar says wisdom comes from within (you either are or you aren't); Job says God is the source of wisdom.
I'm backing Job on this one, but I reckon there's a bit of everything in it - surely by reading the wisdom literature we're learning from the past, and in letting older people run the church we're acknowledging wisdom comes from experience?
We are - but those things have a big God element in them too, and that can't be ignored like Eliphaz and Bildad did. All scripture is 'God-breathed' we are told in 2 Timothy; Psalms and Proverbs offer us experience and wisdom rooted in God, not the world.
If you really want to confuse things, have a read of Ecclesiastes!
This is a book written by Solomon, giving a critical analysis of life and highlighting the futility of life apart from God.
If you don't have the time or inclination to read all of Ecclesiastes, just read the last verses, which summarises it very well.
In Job, there's a few different ideas banded around:
Eliphaz says wisdom comes from life experience; Bildad says wisdom comes from learning from the past; Zophar says wisdom comes from within (you either are or you aren't); Job says God is the source of wisdom.
I'm backing Job on this one, but I reckon there's a bit of everything in it - surely by reading the wisdom literature we're learning from the past, and in letting older people run the church we're acknowledging wisdom comes from experience?
We are - but those things have a big God element in them too, and that can't be ignored like Eliphaz and Bildad did. All scripture is 'God-breathed' we are told in 2 Timothy; Psalms and Proverbs offer us experience and wisdom rooted in God, not the world.
If you really want to confuse things, have a read of Ecclesiastes!
This is a book written by Solomon, giving a critical analysis of life and highlighting the futility of life apart from God.
If you don't have the time or inclination to read all of Ecclesiastes, just read the last verses, which summarises it very well.
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. Ecclesiastes 12:13
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
All about breasts...
Have a read of Song of Solomon - I dare you!
In my bible, there's 26 references to 'breasts' (not the singular, which is a different word - I mean boobies, like what women have!), and fully 8 of them appear in the 8 short chapters of Song of Solomon.
Now my point here is that the book is decidedly about sex. There are other books in the bible with more oblique references to sex - especially in the Old Testament, but this is a book like no other.
Chapter 4 is in summary 15 verses of the man saying "you're fit", and 1 verse of the woman saying "aye, now let's have sex".
Now we've cleared that up, read the book as it was written, and think about why on earth it's in the bible?
Here's a few questions for you:
1) Does it fit with the rest of the Bible?
2) Are there any other books that stand out for different reasons - ie. they are fairly unique? I can think of quite a few.
3) What does it teach us about God?
Later this week and on Sunday, expect some discussion on these and any other questions you might have - feel free to comment below or on facebook.
In my bible, there's 26 references to 'breasts' (not the singular, which is a different word - I mean boobies, like what women have!), and fully 8 of them appear in the 8 short chapters of Song of Solomon.
Now my point here is that the book is decidedly about sex. There are other books in the bible with more oblique references to sex - especially in the Old Testament, but this is a book like no other.
Chapter 4 is in summary 15 verses of the man saying "you're fit", and 1 verse of the woman saying "aye, now let's have sex".
Now we've cleared that up, read the book as it was written, and think about why on earth it's in the bible?
Here's a few questions for you:
1) Does it fit with the rest of the Bible?
2) Are there any other books that stand out for different reasons - ie. they are fairly unique? I can think of quite a few.
3) What does it teach us about God?
Later this week and on Sunday, expect some discussion on these and any other questions you might have - feel free to comment below or on facebook.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
I Know What Happens At The End!
You know when you're watching a film and things click...you know what's going to happen, or how it will end. I'm talking in the film itself - not a chick-flick where you know the plot even before they start filming the thing (like Marley & Me...it's obvious the dog dies at the end, and I've never seen the film, I just looked on imdb.com to confirm my hunch!).
So in different films, it happens at different times. Everyone pretends they knew from the start of Sixth Sense...I won't spoil it.
For me, Psalms would be the point in the film 'The Bible' where I would think 'yeah, I can see where this is going, God has a plan, and it's on an epic scale, not some piddly little country on the Med'.
You see it in Psalm 22, where Christ's crucifixion is portrayed, in Psalm 89 where Christ's heritage is confirmed and in Psalm 16 where Christ's resurrection is foretold.
There's plenty of other bits, all the way through the bible, where we see God's plan revealed, and I'm sure you can think of many, from Abraham through to Jesus and beyond, and especially in the prophets like Isaiah. My bible has a table of these, calling them 'Messianic Prophecies and Fulfillments'. Big words, but that essentially means where Jesus is predicted, and where he fulfils these predictions - important stuff for the Jews at the time. Of the 18 it lists, 7 are in Isaiah, 7 in Psalms, 2 in the minor prophets, 2 in the law.
A prize next week for the person who can tell me where it is prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem - and remember there's two ways to find this in your bible.
So keep and eye out for glimpses of Jesus, and God's Big Plan all the way through your readings, no matter what sort of book you might be in.
PS. If all this earlier talk of films has whet your appetite, be sure to come to lifegroup on Wednesday for a film night! From 7pm.
So in different films, it happens at different times. Everyone pretends they knew from the start of Sixth Sense...I won't spoil it.
For me, Psalms would be the point in the film 'The Bible' where I would think 'yeah, I can see where this is going, God has a plan, and it's on an epic scale, not some piddly little country on the Med'.
You see it in Psalm 22, where Christ's crucifixion is portrayed, in Psalm 89 where Christ's heritage is confirmed and in Psalm 16 where Christ's resurrection is foretold.
There's plenty of other bits, all the way through the bible, where we see God's plan revealed, and I'm sure you can think of many, from Abraham through to Jesus and beyond, and especially in the prophets like Isaiah. My bible has a table of these, calling them 'Messianic Prophecies and Fulfillments'. Big words, but that essentially means where Jesus is predicted, and where he fulfils these predictions - important stuff for the Jews at the time. Of the 18 it lists, 7 are in Isaiah, 7 in Psalms, 2 in the minor prophets, 2 in the law.
A prize next week for the person who can tell me where it is prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem - and remember there's two ways to find this in your bible.
So keep and eye out for glimpses of Jesus, and God's Big Plan all the way through your readings, no matter what sort of book you might be in.
PS. If all this earlier talk of films has whet your appetite, be sure to come to lifegroup on Wednesday for a film night! From 7pm.
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Yay - time for church!
"Yay, time for church!"
How many times have you said that, or heard someone in your family say that?
Psalm 122 is all about delighting in the presence of God, in going to Jerusalem and his temple.
So for us now, verse 1 'I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord"', means going to church - as do the other references in the psalm to Jerusalem.
So is it how we feel, and what should it mean to us?
Truth be told, it's often the exact opposite of how we really feel - when you're tired after a long week, or just want to lounge around at home in front of the telly, how tempting is it to skip church? And if you didn't have parents dragging you along, I bet you'd miss plenty of weeks!
To get to a place where we delight in going to church, we have to focus on the why of church - we go to worship God and be in his presence. Now that sounds a whole lot better than sitting through another service, or youth session, and should make us excited on a Sunday morning!
This Sunday, we're sweetening the deal with bacon sarnies, but how about next Sunday, when there's no ID in the morning, you have a think about why you're really dreading it, and why you should be looking forward to it - then talk to God about it!
How many times have you said that, or heard someone in your family say that?
Psalm 122 is all about delighting in the presence of God, in going to Jerusalem and his temple.
So for us now, verse 1 'I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord"', means going to church - as do the other references in the psalm to Jerusalem.
So is it how we feel, and what should it mean to us?
Truth be told, it's often the exact opposite of how we really feel - when you're tired after a long week, or just want to lounge around at home in front of the telly, how tempting is it to skip church? And if you didn't have parents dragging you along, I bet you'd miss plenty of weeks!
To get to a place where we delight in going to church, we have to focus on the why of church - we go to worship God and be in his presence. Now that sounds a whole lot better than sitting through another service, or youth session, and should make us excited on a Sunday morning!
This Sunday, we're sweetening the deal with bacon sarnies, but how about next Sunday, when there's no ID in the morning, you have a think about why you're really dreading it, and why you should be looking forward to it - then talk to God about it!
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Recognising Rebellion, Receiving Renewal
Rrrrrrr...that's the letter of the day!
Psalm 51 is David's response to the story we read in 2 Samuel 12, where his son is killed by an illness sent by God.
It can easy to question why God kills David & Bathsheeba's son, (who has himself done no wrong in the context of the story), instead of killing or punishing David.
However, the important lesson here is that sin has consequences. David's sin in having Uzziah (Bathsheeba's first husband) killed has brought this upon his family, just as our own sin can sometimes lead to the damaging of our relationships with family and friends. Putting yourself first, and becoming greedy, envious, lustful etc., can lead to others distance themselves emotionally, or to fights and arguments. When we do the same to God, we can shut out his grace and forgiveness, allowing bad things to creep in to our lives.
David teaches us what true confession and repentance look like in this psalm, and how acknowledging our sin can lead to forgiveness, and new life: reading on through 2 Samuel, you will find David has another son, Solomon.
What I learn from this psalm is that anything is possible with God - but as they say up here, 'shy bairns get nowt'. David asks God for all these blessings and renewals - he earnestly pursues him - and God comes through. The challenge in our darker and harder times is to look to God as a figure who can have an active and positive role in our circumstance, not as a blame figure - a bit like how we should see a football manager.
Finally, we can look at this through our Jesus spectacles, and see that Jesus gets down and dirty with our sin, making it much easier for us to reach out to God - Isaiah 59 uses some similar language regarding sin and gives the prophecy of someone coming to 'buy us back'...but that's another story!
This week, why not try inviting God into the difficult circumstances in your life, and see what he can do?
Psalm 51 is David's response to the story we read in 2 Samuel 12, where his son is killed by an illness sent by God.
It can easy to question why God kills David & Bathsheeba's son, (who has himself done no wrong in the context of the story), instead of killing or punishing David.
However, the important lesson here is that sin has consequences. David's sin in having Uzziah (Bathsheeba's first husband) killed has brought this upon his family, just as our own sin can sometimes lead to the damaging of our relationships with family and friends. Putting yourself first, and becoming greedy, envious, lustful etc., can lead to others distance themselves emotionally, or to fights and arguments. When we do the same to God, we can shut out his grace and forgiveness, allowing bad things to creep in to our lives.
David teaches us what true confession and repentance look like in this psalm, and how acknowledging our sin can lead to forgiveness, and new life: reading on through 2 Samuel, you will find David has another son, Solomon.
What I learn from this psalm is that anything is possible with God - but as they say up here, 'shy bairns get nowt'. David asks God for all these blessings and renewals - he earnestly pursues him - and God comes through. The challenge in our darker and harder times is to look to God as a figure who can have an active and positive role in our circumstance, not as a blame figure - a bit like how we should see a football manager.
Finally, we can look at this through our Jesus spectacles, and see that Jesus gets down and dirty with our sin, making it much easier for us to reach out to God - Isaiah 59 uses some similar language regarding sin and gives the prophecy of someone coming to 'buy us back'...but that's another story!
This week, why not try inviting God into the difficult circumstances in your life, and see what he can do?
Monday, 17 October 2011
What's in a Psalm?
So, what is in a Psalm?
Words? Yes.
Verses? Yes.
Your mum? No. She's not that old.
Let's throw some e's into the mix:
Emotion
Endeavour
Experience
And now let's have a look at them some more.
When you get to the end of this, why not spend some time reading those psalms I mention, as a way at looking at a quick spectrum of the book?
Emotion - full of it! There's some very happy psalms - packed with joy and praise. But they're the easy ones to understand, as I hope we all associate happy feelings with God. Or at least know what it is to be happy.
There's some very angry ones in there too - Psalms 88 or 109 are prime examples. Anger towards the world is especially common - if you can, take yourself away somewhere and read these Psalms out loud. Then SHOUT THEM OUT! That's the really good way to get the true feeling behind them.
For the more melancholy moments, you've got the laments - most of the fifties come under this. Try whispering these for a good appreciation of their power.
Can you identify with these emotions?
Endeavour - this means to try, to work at something. To me, it doesn't suggest success - it says 'I had a go, messed up a bit, and the only reason it came good is the grace of God'. Try Psalm 32 for a spot of salvation.
The Psalms tell a tale of people having a go and coming up short.
The Psalms tell a tale of people thinking they can achieve things in their own strength, but realising that only through God can they success.
The Psalms tell a tale of people.
Can you identify with this?
Experience - ever been told you can't do something because of a lack of experience? Not tall enough to go on a ride at the fair, or not old enough to do what your older sibling is doing?
More importantly, have you ever completely mucked something up, because you didn't know what you were doing? I feel like that a lot.
Psalms offers us a wealth of experience, and not just of things being hunky-dorey - so much of the Psalms is about dealing with the cruddy times, the mistakes made, the trials and temptations of everyday life.
Psalm 63 (coupled with Psalm 3, written at the same time) was written by David when he was on the run from Absalom (remember that, from 2 Samuel 16-18?) - his own son, and usurper of the throne. Times were desperate, and David had certainly made mistakes in life, most particularly in letting himself drift from God - this Psalm speaks of recognising it and coming back to God.
Could you benefit from some Godly wisdom?
Hopefully you'll see there's something in it for you all.
Don't be afraid to flick around, and to follow links to the Old Testament stories and laws you've read about over the past few weeks - they'll help you ground the Psalms in real life.
Let us know what you've read and what you think...
Words? Yes.
Verses? Yes.
Your mum? No. She's not that old.
Let's throw some e's into the mix:
Emotion
Endeavour
Experience
And now let's have a look at them some more.
When you get to the end of this, why not spend some time reading those psalms I mention, as a way at looking at a quick spectrum of the book?
Emotion - full of it! There's some very happy psalms - packed with joy and praise. But they're the easy ones to understand, as I hope we all associate happy feelings with God. Or at least know what it is to be happy.
There's some very angry ones in there too - Psalms 88 or 109 are prime examples. Anger towards the world is especially common - if you can, take yourself away somewhere and read these Psalms out loud. Then SHOUT THEM OUT! That's the really good way to get the true feeling behind them.
For the more melancholy moments, you've got the laments - most of the fifties come under this. Try whispering these for a good appreciation of their power.
Can you identify with these emotions?
Endeavour - this means to try, to work at something. To me, it doesn't suggest success - it says 'I had a go, messed up a bit, and the only reason it came good is the grace of God'. Try Psalm 32 for a spot of salvation.
The Psalms tell a tale of people having a go and coming up short.
The Psalms tell a tale of people thinking they can achieve things in their own strength, but realising that only through God can they success.
The Psalms tell a tale of people.
Can you identify with this?
Experience - ever been told you can't do something because of a lack of experience? Not tall enough to go on a ride at the fair, or not old enough to do what your older sibling is doing?
More importantly, have you ever completely mucked something up, because you didn't know what you were doing? I feel like that a lot.
Psalms offers us a wealth of experience, and not just of things being hunky-dorey - so much of the Psalms is about dealing with the cruddy times, the mistakes made, the trials and temptations of everyday life.
Psalm 63 (coupled with Psalm 3, written at the same time) was written by David when he was on the run from Absalom (remember that, from 2 Samuel 16-18?) - his own son, and usurper of the throne. Times were desperate, and David had certainly made mistakes in life, most particularly in letting himself drift from God - this Psalm speaks of recognising it and coming back to God.
Could you benefit from some Godly wisdom?
Hopefully you'll see there's something in it for you all.
Don't be afraid to flick around, and to follow links to the Old Testament stories and laws you've read about over the past few weeks - they'll help you ground the Psalms in real life.
Let us know what you've read and what you think...
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