Hebrews 12:2 We don’t just look at the Old Testament. These people inspire us and witness to us about the power of faith, but they do something more: they point us to Someone, whose name is Jesus. Jesus is the Saviour, the Redeemer. He doesn’t just inspire us to have faith, but He is the … More Devotional for 20 November 2020 – Hebrews 12v2 – the author and perfecter of faith
Hebrews 12:1 On Tuesday we looked at the first part of this verse: “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,” and I encouraged you to look at the old testament believers to encourage us to press on in our walk with God. The rest of the verse shows us how their example … More Devotional for 19 November 2020 – Hebrews 12v1 part 2 – running the race
Hebrews 12:1 Hebrews 11 is the great chapter on faith and in it we meet many of those old testament saints who lived by faith and, through faith, obeyed God in their generation while they looked for the reward. Hebrews 12 starts: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” These … More Devotional for 17 November 2020 – Hebrews 12v1 – cloud of witnesses
For yesterday’s message, I returned to the book of psalms. Psalm 7 is a cry for justice. I was struck about how in the West, we can easily dismiss these psalms and others (especially the imprecatory psalms) as somehow un-Christian. In many nations, where the rule of law is respected, there are legitimate ways of … More Sunday sermon – Psalms series message 10 – Psalm 7 – Justice (15 November 2020)
Hebrews 11:13-16 Have you ever heard a parent say to a child, “I’m ashamed of you”? The child is doing something really naughty in public, or in front of friends or family, and the parent says these words. Maybe it was said to us when we were children; maybe we have said it ourselves. But … More Devotional for 16 November 2020 – Hebrews 11v13-16 part 4 – unashamed
This is the Bible study that I shared with the church last Tuesday (so published here a few days late). The text underneath the video is the notes that I shared with the church and includes some suggestions for prayer at the bottom (mainly from a UK perspective). Introduction How do we know that we … More Lansdowne midweek Bible Study 10 November 2020 – 2 Peter 1:5-15
Hebrews 11:13-16 Over 30 years ago, I spent four months working in the United States of America. It was a good time, and I enjoyed it and learned a lot, but it was not home (my apologies to any readers from the USA!). The language was the same as home, the people were friendly, but … More Devotional for 14 November 2020 – Hebrews 11v13-16 part 4 – desiring a better country
Hebrews 11:13-16 Yesterday we saw how we have been blessed even more than the great heroes of the Old Testament. They looked forward to the coming of Jesus. Now, Jesus has come. Yet we also wait for the promises to be fully revealed for us in glory. So, how should we live while we wait? … More Devotional for 13 November 2020 – Hebrews 11v13-16 part 2 – strangers and exiles
Hebrews 11:13-16 Hebrews 11 shows us some Old Testament examples of people of faith. Faith gave them true vision. They waited for the earthly promises, but their true sight was upon the eternal. Verse 13 says, “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from … More Devotional for 12 November 2020 – Hebrews 11v13-16 – Looking to the eternal
Hebrews 11:6 part 2 Yesterday, we saw that the Christian pleases God, because the Christian believes that God is, and that He is generous. We please God, not because we deserve His favour, but through faith in Him. But faith also turns everything that we do to serve and worship God into things that please Him. … More Devotional for 10 November 2020 – Hebrew 11v6 part 2 – works of faith