Bible Resources
Bible Resources
The Cross ... through the eyes of ... Lenten Studies 2010
- Parent Category: Bible Resources
- Category: Studies for Groups and Individuals
The Cross ... through the eyes of ... Lenten Studies 2010
| "The Cross ... through the eyes of ..." is available as a downloadable pdf file, ready to be printed as a small booklet. Click here to view, right click to save to your computer |
These Lenten Studies will help us understand more about the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ by looking at the cross from six different perspectives. We will look at Christ’s death from the point of view of Jesus himself, Isaiah, the writer to the Hebrews, Peter, John, and Paul. The sermons in Lent will follow the same themes and on Good Friday and Easter we will also look at the cross from our perspective, and from the point of view of God the Father.
Our aim is to understand better what the meaning of Christ’s death is, and to see how that applies to us and to our friends who don’t yet believe.
Notes on Luke 18.15-30 October 27
- Parent Category: Bible Resources
- Category: Notes on the Gospel readings from Luke
Notes on Luke 18.15-30 October 27
There are two stories in today’s passage.
18.15-7: This story is connected to the previous story about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Jesus finished that story by saying that whoever humbles himself will be exalted (18.14). This story is about the most humble people – babies.
Jesus finishes this story by saying “.. anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” (18.17).
People (mothers probably) are bringing their babies for Jesus to touch. They want him to bless their children. The disciples don’t like this. Luke does not tell us why the disciples didn’t want the children brought to Jesus. We can imagine some reasons why we would want to keep them away: They interrupt what Jesus is saying to the adults. They are not as important as the adults. They do not understand what Jesus is saying. They have to wait till they grow up to join in with the adult religion. And I suppose we can think of other reasons to keep them away.
Notes on Matthew 3.1-12 Second Sunday in Advent 8 December 2013
- Parent Category: Bible Resources
- Category: Notes on the Gospel readings from Matthew
Notes on Matthew 3.1-12 Second Sunday in Advent 8 December 2013
There are at least three important things in this passage.
1. John’s ministry: John the Baptist says that he is preparing the way for the Lord. He is doing what the famous passage in Isaiah 40 said would happen. He is dressed like Elijah (2 Kings 1.8). This is significant because the Old Testament said that Elijah would come before the great day of the Lord (Malachi 4.5). John is preparing God’s people for the coming of the Lord. He does this by calling them to repentance. This is the same message that Jesus preached (Matthew 4.17).
2. The leaders of Israel are warned: Some of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to listen to John. John is not impressed. He gives them two warnings. They also must repent. And they must show they have repented by behaving differently. The second warning is that they must not rely on the fact that they are descendants of Abraham. They have to behave like descendants of Abraham John gives them a strong warning of coming judgement.
3. He tells about the ministry of Jesus: John is baptising people who repent with water. Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament made two big promises about the Holy Spirit. One set of promises said that God would send a leader who was filled with the Holy Spirit. Another set of promises said that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all God’s people. Jesus comes as the one who is filled with the Spirit. He is also the one who will baptise all of God’s people with the Holy Spirit. Jesus will also bring the fire of judgement. He will clean up God’s people, and get rid of all that is bad.
The meaning for us seems clear: make sure we have repented. That we serve the Lord Jesus with the Holy Spirit he has given us. That we show by our lives that we have repented.
The Coming of Christ the King: Advent Studies 2009
- Parent Category: Bible Resources
- Category: Studies for Groups and Individuals
The Coming of Christ the King
| "The Coming of Christ the King" is available as a downloadable pdf file, ready to be printed as a small booklet. Click here to view, right click to save to your computer |
These Advent studies follow the key ideas in Jesus’ explanation of his life and mission that he gave his disciples after his resurrection (Luke 24). They will help us see how the coming of Christ the King was foretold in the Old Testament and its fulfillment explained in the New Testament.
These studies start the week before Advent so as to include Christ the King Sunday.
Read more: The Coming of Christ the King: Advent Studies 2009
1 Corinthians Reading Guide
- Parent Category: Bible Resources
- Category: Reading Guides to Bible Books
Reading Guide to 1 Corinthians
In preparation for studying the first letter to the Corinthians you may like to use this guide to help you read the letter.
1. Read through the letter in one sitting first.
2. Then read 1 Cor 1.1-9 and 16.5-24. What picture does this give of the church at Corinth
3. Read 1.10 - 4.21. What are the main issues in this section?
4. Read Chapters 5-11. What kind of problems were affecting the church? What picture do these chapters give of the church and its environment?
5. Read chapters 12-14. What are the main issues here? Why is chapter 13 part of this discussion?
6. Read chapter 15. Why does Paul have to explain all this in such detail?
7. Overall: what is this letter about, and why was it written?
MP3 audio files of sermons on 1 Corinthians can be found here.