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We can make the case that the entire Bible is centred on Christ; it’s all about Him in the long run. But there are specific truths about Jesus the Son of God that need to be looked at carefully and appreciated fully. When we say the name Emmanuel, we often fail to grasp the significance of that name. How do we deal with the God who comes close?

When we say the word sin, usually a list of taboos and unacceptable practices springs to mind. But really the problem of sin runs deeper than the external things we may or may not do. The problem of sin has more to do with an internal attitude: our attitude towards our maker. Do we welcome His grace or resent His intrusion?

How does the Bible portray human beings? What is our place in Creation, what makes us us? Some of the details can be encouraging, while other aspects of our humanity might leave us feeling somewhat challenged. Nevertheless there is a God-given dignity to being human – we have been minted with the image of God. But what does that mean on a daily basis?

Little chubby babies with innocent smiles and tiny fluffy wings, or perhaps fearsome sword-swinging warriors? Whether it be as guardians, guides or gargoyles, our perceptions of angels might seem fuelled more by imagination than information. Perhaps that’s because there’s so little information to be found. But there is enough to tell us something about what the angels are, and also what they are not.

In many ways, this is a trick question. One of the things we think we know about God is that He is unknowable! Nevertheless there are certain attributes and characteristics that He has chosen to reveal to us. How much can we honestly discern concerning the nature of the Father of all things?

When we say the words “Bible Study” really what we usually mean is “God Study.” We want to know what the Bible reveals to us about God. We don’t often stop to ask questions about the Bible itself, we simply rely on it to do its job of telling us the old, old story of Creation and Redemption. But the Scriptures actually have some lessons to teach us about themselves too; lessons that can inspire confidence.

The technical name is Prolegomena, but don’t let that scare you off. This weekend’s message deals with how we approach our topic. What are the ground-rules for trying to study God? Where do we look for information, how do we weigh the evidence, and why do we think we are on the right track?

If there’s one dream that keeps an exile alive, it’s the dream of home. Being away from the land of your fathers is a melancholy existence. But Ezekiel has a message of hope; a vision of home. It’s a beautiful sight and a wonderful promise.

Ezekiel, the prophet to the exiles in Babylon, had seen in a vision the Glory of God leaving the old Temple built by Solomon. In a new vision he sees all things restored – not back to what they had been, but even better than they were before.

You might think that the destruction of Jerusalem would seem like the end of the world for the exiles in Babylon. But when the news breaks, Ezekiel’s message immediately shifts to one of hope. Judgment has been done; and when you’re down, the only way is up.