Lamentations 1

Introduction We're beginning a new series of sermons today on the book of Lamentations. The traditional view is that it was written by the prophet Jeremiah. However, it doesn't actually say so in the text; and so, some scholars question whether Jeremiah wrote it. In one sense, it makes no difference to our understanding of … Continue reading Lamentations 1 →

Ephesians 05(03–14)

Introduction We're well into the second half of Paul's letter to the Ephesians where he's teaching us how to live as God's people. The first half -- chapters 1 to 3 -- was about what we're to believe about God and about our salvation and our God's great plan for creation which is to unite … Continue reading Ephesians 05(03–14) →

Ephesians 04(17)–05(02)

Introduction In the first three chapters of Ephesians Paul was teaching his readers what to believe about God and about our salvation in Christ and about God's great cosmic plan to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under Christ. And God has begun to bring all things together under Christ in the … Continue reading Ephesians 04(17)–05(02) →

Psalm 107

Introduction Psalm 107 is the first psalm in Book 5 of the psalms and it's a psalm of thanksgiving, where the psalmist calls on God's people to give thanks to the Lord who delivers us from our sin and misery in this world. Some of the commentators suggest that the psalm is the answer to … Continue reading Psalm 107 →

Ephesians 04(01–16)

Verses 1 to 6 There's a lot in today's passage. And so, I'm going to get right to it. So, if you have your Bible open, look with me at the very first verse of today's passage, where Paul says: 'As a prisoner for the Lord, then, [and remember Paul was in prison when he … Continue reading Ephesians 04(01–16) →

Psalm 106

Introduction Psalm 105, which we studied the last time, was about what the Lord had done for his people and how he kept his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to give them and their descendants the Promised Land. And so, the Lord was with them when they were only a small family. And he … Continue reading Psalm 106 →

Nahum 1–3

Introduction We were studying the short book of Jonah last Sunday and the Sunday before that. And I made the case that the book of Jonah is not about mission, which is how it's often interpreted, but it's about God's mercy. It's not about mission, because God didn't send Jonah to Nineveh to preach the … Continue reading Nahum 1–3 →

Jonah 3+4

Introduction We began a short, two-part series on the book of Jonah last week. And that means we'll finish it this evening. It's a two-part series because the book of Jonah can be divided into two parts: chapters 1 and 2; and chapters 3 and 4. Both parts follow the same pattern: they both begin … Continue reading Jonah 3+4 →

Ephesians 03(14–21)

Introduction Last week we noticed that Paul began in verse 1 of chapter 3 to record his prayer for his readers. But then at the end of verse 1 he interrupted himself and began a digression which continued until verse 13. And that means that virtually all of the passage which we studied last week … Continue reading Ephesians 03(14–21) →

Psalm 105

Introduction Psalm 105 begins with a call to worship. That is, the psalmist is summoning the people to give thanks to the Lord and to make known what he has done. And then, in the rest of the psalm, the psalmist recalls what God has done for his people and how he brought them into … Continue reading Psalm 105 →