Acts 04(32)–05(11)

4:32--35 Today's passage begins with a short summary of how things were going in the early church. Luke gives these summaries from time to time throughout the book of Acts. The first was at the end of chapter 2 where he told us that the early believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to … Continue reading Acts 04(32)–05(11) →

Ezekiel 12

Introduction This evening we've moving into a new section of the book of Ezekiel which runs from chapter 12 to chapter 24. And while it contains more prophecies about Jerusalem and Israel, it also contains prophecies about King Zedekiah and about the false prophets and about the king of Babylon. And then, after chapter 24, … Continue reading Ezekiel 12 →

Ezekiel 10+11

Introduction This is now the seventh Sunday we've spent in the book of Ezekiel. In the first, we spent our time in chapter where Ezekiel recorded for us the vision he received of the glory of the Lord, who was enthroned on this strange chariot-throne with angels around it. And when Ezekiel saw the glory … Continue reading Ezekiel 10+11 →

Acts 04(01–31)

Introduction We left Peter and John in the temple in Jerusalem, where they'd just healed a lame man in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And afterwards, when a crowd had gathered, Peter explained that they, the Jews, had handed the Lord Jesus over to Pilate to be killed, but God raised him from … Continue reading Acts 04(01–31) →

Psalms 127+128

Psalm 127 Once again I'm going to take two short psalms together. And once again they're both songs of ascents. So, they're for God's people as they made their way to Jerusalem either for one of the annual festivals or else when they were returning from exile in Babylon. On one level, Psalm 127 is … Continue reading Psalms 127+128 →

Psalms 125+126

Introduction I'm once again going to take two short psalms together. Both are songs of ascents. In Psalm 125 the psalmist expresses his confidence in the Lord who protect his people who trust in him. And while Psalm 126 refers to laughter and joy, it's nevertheless a kind of lament, because the psalmist prays for … Continue reading Psalms 125+126 →

Ezekiel 08+09

Introduction Once again we're going to take two chapters together, because these two chapters belong together. In the first one, Ezekiel is taken on a kind of magical mystery tour of the temple in Jerusalem where the Lord shows him the idolatry of his people. And he therefore makes clear to Ezekiel and to us … Continue reading Ezekiel 08+09 →

Ezekiel 06+07

Introduction Last week we saw how Ezekiel began his prophetic ministry when the Lord commanded him to perform three mimes or three sign-acts to signify the suffering of God's people when the city of Jerusalem is destroyed. In the first mime, he was to make a model of Jerusalem and place model siege-works around it … Continue reading Ezekiel 06+07 →

Psalms 123+124

Introduction I'm going to take these two psalms together, because they're both short. And, of course, they are both songs of ascents. So, they were perhaps written for the returning exiles who were making their way back from Babylon to Jerusalem. Or perhaps more likely they were written for God's people who were making their … Continue reading Psalms 123+124 →

Acts 03

Introduction Last week we were studying the little summary which Luke gives us at the end of chapter 2 of what the early church was like. He gave us a kind of snapshot of what they did and how they treated one another in those early days of the church. Those, of course, were special … Continue reading Acts 03 →