We are going slowly through the Book of Mark, looking at what it means when people become disciples of Jesus Christ. We come into the kingdom of God; we turn from our sin and he reigns over his lives. He calls us to obedience and service, submitting to Him as King. Jesus says he will make us […]
We come with nothing; it is counter cultural. As we listen to Jesus we start to hear how to put right what is wrong, to get right with God. Jesus’ character shows us true meekness: “Meekness and majesty” (as one modern song writer puts it) Gentle and great Submissive to authority and authoritative Assertive but […]
Our local government politicians represent us to the Government and they also represent the Government to us. In a similar way, Jesus is a key figure in the annals of history, he represents us to his Father and represents the Father to us. In this passage, Jesus is: heralded in or announced by a messenger […]
This week we start a new series in Mark. There is harmony between the four gospels and we learn: More about the good news of Jesus and what he did for us How we can become more and more like Him (we live with a different world view and are called to suffer) How to tell […]
The story of Ruth seems to come to an end in this chapter … or does it? Boaz meets with one of Elimelech’s relatives who could become Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer to continue Elimelech’s line. The man is interested in the land but when Boaz tells him the terms and conditions include marrying Ruth, he changes his […]
This old testament story is a love story unlike modern love stories. It forms part of God’s bigger love story in bringing about a people for Himself. Ruth’s story points us to Jesus and God’s plan of redemption: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal […]
Mourning is associated with darkness, death and loss. People can experience the loss of a loved person or the loss of health and they cannot be comforted. Struggles and battles will follow. So what does this verse mean? Where sin is involved, it leads to death. When we sin, we take God out of His rightful […]
We saw in Chapter 1 that Ruth chose to stay with her mother-in-law rather than return to her own people. In Chapter 2, we see Ruth and Naomi in Bethlehem in a place of desperate hardship. But they discover that God gives grace – gifts we do not deserve – and that he has mercy […]
Today we begin a series in the book of Ruth. The story begins with Naomi returning from Moab to her own hometown, Bethlehem, after her husband and sons die. Ruth, her daughter-in-law, a Moabitess, returns with her. Naomi asks to be called ‘Mara’ because God has caused her life to be very bitter. But we see God’s hand […]
Our study in the Book of Acts draws to a close this week. Our pastor, Jeremy, guides us through the last two chapters and looks back at what we have learned from studying this book of the Bible. Paul is at the end of a long, difficult journey, from the ascension of Jesus in Jerusalem to Rome 20 years […]