We continued our series in Judges this week by looking at Judges 9. Here we read of the terrible story of Abimelech the son of Jerubaal/Gideon. We wonder if there is any hope for justice, and receive a clear answer. John explains. Judges 9:26-57 (ESV) 26 And Gaal the son of… Continue reading

Every Christian who is committed to pleasing God must be aware of the temptation towards self righteousness. In Luke 7, Jesus gives the law to a self righteous man and gives grace to a sinner. John Explains. Luke 7:36-50 (ESV) 36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him,… Continue reading

There are times in our lives when weariness can set in. We can feel as if life is too much for us. This Sunday, Jason Pickard from Grace in Dunedin explained the comfort and hope that we can have in God, from Psalm 121. Psalm 121 (ESV) I lift up my… Continue reading

The temptation to turn away from Christ in unbelief is a real one. The writer to the hebrews encourages Christians to hold fast to Christ, and he also indicates that this is not done individually, but together as a church. John explains. Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) 24 And let us consider how to… Continue reading

When we read passages like 1 Chronicles 1, we can wonder – why are all these names in the Bible? This week Roger sought to answer that question and encourage us with the truth of Gods concern for individual people. 1 Chronicles 1 (ESV) 1 [a] Adam, Seth, Enosh; 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared; 3 Enoch, Methuselah,… Continue reading

Paul finishes off his letter to the church in Ephesus with Peace and Grace. So often our church is not the place of Grace and Peace that it should be. That makes Paul’s closing prayer for the Ephesians important for us to pay attention to. Ephesians 6:21-24 (ESV) 21 So that… Continue reading

Standing alongside the command to take up the whole armour of God, is a call to pray. As Christians we sometimes pray with some perseverance. In this passage, Paul uses the word “all” 4 times, and this teaches us about the nature of prayer. Ephesians 6:18 (ESV) praying at all times in… Continue reading

We come to the final piece of the Gospel armour- the Sword of the Spirit. Most Christians know that the Bible is the word of God, but so often we don’t actually know how to use the sword. Have you taken up the Sword? Ephesians 6:17 (ESV) and take the helmet… Continue reading

It is so easy for us to look to find peace through good things that were never meant to supply peace. This week we looked at the prophecy in Isaiah 53 how Jesus provides the peace that we need. Isaiah 53:4-6 (ESV) Surely he has borne our griefs    and carried our… Continue reading

This week, John McGimpsey finished off his series “what do you really want?” by looking at the commissioning of Isaiah. Isaiah 6 (ESV) In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train[a] of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood… Continue reading