Nov 30, 2023 | EXPLORING THE BIBLE, NEWS
Isaiah 64: 1-9, Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19, 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9, Mark 13: 24-37 During this season of ADVENT, we will use the metaphor of growing a garden to prepare our hearts, souls, and minds for the birth of Jesus. Imagine a garden that no-one has looked after for a...
Nov 23, 2023 | EXPLORING THE BIBLE, NEWS
It is obvious that with these words, recorded in Matthew 25, Jesus wants us to be uncomfortable; and he wants us to open our eyes, ears and hearts to the needs of those around us. Because none of us has been as attentive to others’ needs as we could have been,...
Nov 23, 2023 | EXPLORING THE BIBLE, NEWS
This parable is about security and risk. It’s about how we use what God has given us, and it confronts me as I read it. It is about fear and how we let it control our lives – or not. God is a great risk-taker. He gave himself to this world in the form of Jesus...
Nov 9, 2023 | EXPLORING THE BIBLE, NEWS
The story of the ten bridesmaids is a story of anticipation and readiness which encourages us to be awake and prepared for the return of Jesus “because you do not know the day or the hour”. It was addressed to the disciples in private as they sat with him...
Nov 9, 2023 | EXPLORING THE BIBLE, NEWS
We are tempted to gloss over the first words of Jesus in this significant part of Matthew’s Gospel: “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Scriptures. So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but...
Oct 24, 2023 | EXPLORING THE BIBLE, NEWS
This reading is part of a letter sent to the people of Thessalonica by Paul. It gives a number of images about how Paul passed on information about God to the people of Thessalonica. One of these images was about “not to please mortals, but to please God”. I...
