1 John 3(11–24)

Introduction In last week's passage, John was writing about the children of God and the children of the devil. The children of God are believers; and the children of the devil are unbelievers. And both of them display a family likeness. Both of them resemble their spiritual parent. So, the devil has been sinning from … Continue reading 1 John 3(11–24) →

Job 08–10

Introduction We come today to the first speech by Bildad and Job's response to it. Bildad was one of Job's three friends who came to sympathise with him and to comfort him in his suffering after he lost his family and his possessions and his health. For seven days and nights they sat with Job … Continue reading Job 08–10 →

Psalm 055

Introduction Today's psalm is a psalm of lament in which the psalmist cries to the Lord because he's in trouble. And he's in trouble because of the wicked and the wicked things they're doing. But he's also in trouble, because a friend has betrayed him. Verses 1 to 3 In verses 1 to 3 the … Continue reading Psalm 055 →

Psalm 054

Introduction Today's psalm begins with the psalmist crying to God to save him, because ruthless strangers are attacking the psalmist. Then, in the middle of the psalm, the psalmist expresses his confidence in the Lord. And at the end, the psalmist makes a vow to give thanks to the Lord for delivering him from his … Continue reading Psalm 054 →

Psalm 053

Introduction This psalm may be familiar to us because it's almost identical to Psalm 14 which we studied together last November; and Paul the Apostle quotes lines from these two psalms in Romans 3 to make the point that Jews and Gentiles alike are sinners in the sight of God. And while it's true that … Continue reading Psalm 053 →

Psalm 052

Introduction The title to today's psalm refers to that time in David's life when he had to flee for his life because Saul wanted to kill him. And we read in 1 Samuel 21 that Samuel went to a place called Nob, where he asked the priest for food. The priest replied that the only … Continue reading Psalm 052 →

Matthew 15(01–20)

Verses 1 to 9 Today's passage begins with Matthew telling us that Pharisees and teachers of the law came from Jerusalem. The Pharisees were the 'separated ones'. They were Jews who tried to separate themselves from everything which was unclean and which might defile them. And that meant staying away from 'sinners' and performing ceremonial … Continue reading Matthew 15(01–20) →

Matthew 13(53)–14(36)

Introduction We've been working our way through Matthew's gospel since January with a break over the summer. In the opening two chapters we had the story of the Saviour's birth and all the events surrounding it including the flight to Egypt to escape from Herod; and the return from Egypt after Herod's death. And then, … Continue reading Matthew 13(53)–14(36) →

WSC 039 Our duty

Introduction In previous weeks I've used one particular image or illustration to help us as we've been working our way through the church's Shorter Catechism. I've suggested that we can think of the Catechism as a house. You go into a house and immediately you come into the hallway where there's a choice to make. … Continue reading WSC 039 Our duty →

WSC Conclusion

Introduction We've spent 56 weeks studying our church's Shorter Catechism together. 56 weeks and 107 questions and answers. And today we'll spend our time summarising what we're learned. Now, you might recall that I've often used the image of a house to help us as we've worked our way through the Catechism. Think about a … Continue reading WSC Conclusion →