Ruth 4 – At the gate – sermon notes

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The story of Ruth has been told as a drama in four Acts.  In Act 1 we meet some of the principle characters on the Highway, the road that leads from the country of Moab on the east of the Dead Sea to the town of Bethlehem in Judea.  Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons had fled Bethlehem during a famine, and had settled in Moab.  There the two sons married Moabite women.  But before long Elimelech and the two sons died, leaving Naomi and her two daughters-in-law Orpah and Ruth. …

The Christian revolution – putting the record straight

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I was prompted by this post to get hold of an (audio) copy of David Bentley Hart’s 2009 book Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and Its Fashionable Enemies.

I listened to the whole thing during the course of a short walking trip.  Here are a few random thoughts by way of response.

As some other reviewers have pointed out, the book’s main title (‘Atheist Delusions’) was quite possibly chosen by the publishers, and not by the author, and serves more as an attention-grabber than as an accurate guide to content.  …

Discussion starters, Matt 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25

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(a) From reading Luke’s account, what would lead you to think that this is a true story, based on eyewitness testimony, rather than some kind of fairy tale?

(b) This event leads to two exclamations, as recorded in Luke 8:25.  The first is the exclamation of Jesus: “Where is your faith?”  Why do you think Jesus seemed so surprised at the disciples’ lack of faith?  And in what ways might he be surprised at our own lack of faith? …

Antioch

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Antioch was the third largest city of the Roman Empire. It was non-Jewish, made up of many different races. It soon became the centre of Gentile Christianity.

1. Stephen is martyred and the believers are scattered everywhere. (Ac 8:1-4 )

2. Some travel as far as Antioch. They tell the message to Jews only. (Ac 11:19 )

3. Other believers come from Cyprus and north Africa. They preach to Gentiles in Antioch with dramatic results. (Ac 11:20-21 )

4.…

Growing in grace

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See 2 Pet 3:18

‘The saints are not only compared to stars for their light, but to trees for their growth’ (Watson), Isa 61:3, ‘They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.’ Hos 14:5f. ‘Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.’

Christian growth is organic, and needs therefore to be both nourished and exercised.…

Crooked speech

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What constitutes crooked speech? It is talk that isn’t straight, of course. It is bowed, off-kilter, circuitous, meandering. There are a few examples we could cite.

1. Falsehoods

Telling lies about ourselves or others is breaking covenant. Even if we’re just “stretching” the truth or “bending” the truth, entertaining distortions or investing in stereotypes, we cut a line unfit to build relationships or reputations of integrity with. You can’t be square with God and neighbor if all your lumber’s warped.…

Biblical ethics

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In biblical teaching, religion and morality are intimately connected: the religious person is a moral person, and vice versa, Psa 14:1.

Biblical ethics are

  1. personal – they are grounded in the character or God: we are to be holy because he is holy, Lev 19:2.  They are addressed to persons who must make thoughtful decisions, Lev 26:3; Phil 4:8f.
  2. theistic – they focus on God.  To know God is to practice righteousness and justice, Jer 22:15f.
…

Stealing

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Stealing is big business. Shoplifting in France is described as a national pastime. In our own country, over ten million pounds per day are lost through shoplifting. Marks and Spencer spends twenty million pounds per year on security, but still loses thirty million in stolen goods. One woman boasts that she can make thirteen hundred pounds a day by shoplifting.

The most notorious theft in the history of British crime took place on Thursday, August 8th 1963.…

Jn 16:5-15 – ‘It is for your good that I am going’ – sermon notes

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It is a horrible thought to try to imagine life without someone you dearly love.

The disciples were having to get used to the prospect of life without Jesus.

There they are, sitting around the table sharing one last meal with Jesus. They listen with increasing alarm as he tells them that he must leave them. On top of that, he warns them that they can expect to be treated with terrible hostility after his departure.…

Adultery

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General references to Ex 20:14 Le 20:10 Job 24:15 Mt 5:27 19:9 Rom 7:3 1 Cor 6:9 2 Pet 2:14

Adultery is the name given to a sexual relationship by a married person with someone other than his or her legal spouse.

The most notorious case in the OT is that of David, 2 Sam 11:2-12:25.

Adultery is a sin against both God and other human beings, Gen 20:6 Ex 20:14.

Adultery breaks the great commandment to love one’s neighbour, Rom 13:9.…