What we learn from creation

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Bible commentator Matthew Henry notes that in creation we observe:-

1. Great variety, several sorts of beings vastly differing in their nature and constitution from each other. Lord, how manifold are thy works, and all good!

2. Great beauty. The azure sky and verdant earth are charming to the eye of the curious spectator, much more the ornaments of both. How transcendent then must the beauty of the Creator be!

3. Great exactness and accuracy.…

Adam and the Fall

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Donald MacLeod writes:-

Do not forget that God pronounced man, the apex of his creation ‘very good’ too. Modern theories of sin, in so far as they deal with the origin of sin at all, assume that man must have been sinful from the very beginning. It is, according to such theories, ‘only natural’ to sin. Sin is inevitable; a central and unavoidable part of our nature. But Scripture does not teach this at all.

The Bible’s story of the Fall is, apart from all else, a relief from the problems inherent in such a doctrine.…

The reduced Screwtape

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In ‘The Screwtape Letters’ C. S. Lewis brilliantly conveys important truths about Christian life and experience by imagining what advice a senior ‘devil’ might offer to a junior one.

A while ago, Andy Naselli posted a one-sentence summary of each of these letters (note that the ‘patient’ becomes a Christian between letters 1 and 2:-

  1. Make him preoccupied with ordinary, “real” life—not arguments or science.
  2. Make him disillusioned with the church by highlighting people he self-righteously thinks are strange or hypocritical.
…

When, and where, was Jesus born?

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How does ‘main-stream’ critical scholarship deal with the biblical narratives of the birth of Jesus?

What follows is based on this article by Helen K. Bond, senior lecturer in New Testament at the University of Aberdeen.  I also draw on her book The Historical Jesus: A Guide For the Perplexed (HJ).  A similar line is taken by Rodolfo Galvan Estrada III in this article.

First, Bond notes that only Matthew and Luke record Jesus’ birth, and their stories are quite different.  …

Signs of humility

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From Jeremy Taylor, Works, Vol 5:-

  1. The humble man trusts not so much to his own discretion in important matters, as to that of his friends and spiritual guides
  2. he does not pertinaciously follow his own will, nor murmur against commands, nor is too inquisitive into the reasons of them
  3. he lives in compliance with public customs without affectation
  4. he is meek, and patiently bears injuries
  5. is a lover of good and wise men
  6. is no censurer of others
  7. fears when he is commended
  8. gives no pert answers
  9. refuses the temptations of offices and honors
  10. amends his faults with thankfulness
  11. is ingenuous and open
  12. ready to do good offices, even to his slanderers
  13. contented to be the object of suspicion, provided he be really innocent before God.
…

Satan in Paul’s epistles

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Paul told the Corinthian believers

  • to hand the incestuous person over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh (1 Cor. 5:5)
  • that husbands and wives should not deprive one another sexually lest Satan tempt them because of their lack of self-control (1 Cor. 7:7)
  • that they should reinstate the presumably repentant offender so that Satan might not outwit us (2 Cor. 2:11)
  • that Satan masquerades as angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14)
  • and that the apostle himself was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment him so as to prevent him from becoming conceited (2 Cor.
…

Phil 2:19-30 – Best supporting act – sermon notes

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Text – Philippians 2:19-30

When the BAFTAs and the Oscars are held, there are awards for best film, best director, best screenplay, best music, best costume design, best make-up and hair, best leading actor and actress, best grip, best best boy, and, of course, best supporting act.

As Christians, we are used to speaking in glowing terms of heroes of the faith such as Abraham, Moses, David, Paul, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Billy Graham.  But we’re here tonight to consider two nominations for ‘best supporting act’. …

Messianic secret

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It has long been recognised that in the Synoptic Gospels (Mark especially) Jesus is frequently recorded as commanding people not to speak about certain aspects of his identity and activity.

For example:

  1. Jesus commonly taught the disciples separately from the crowds (Mark 4:13, 34; 7:17; 9:28–29, 30–31; 10:10–11; 13:3).
  2. Jesus asked several people whom He healed and the family of a girl He brought back to life not to speak of it to anyone (Mark 1:43–44; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26).
…

Simplicity

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What does it mean to adopt a simpler lifestyle?  Richard Foster suggests a number of aspects:-

1.  Simplicity means unity of heart and singleness of purpose.  Our one desire is to obey Christ in all things.  Our one purpose is to glorify him in all things.  We have only one use for money – to advance his kingdom.  Jesus taught us to have a ‘single’ eye, Mt 6:22.

2.  Simplicity means joy in God’s good creation. …