I do not want to make judgements on whether someone is a Christian or not if they claim to be one. However, John unsettles my tolerant comfort because he writes to the churches to give them ways to discern true … Read more
Category: Bible
1 John 2.7-17. The old is new
To derail trust in God we simply present a new thing to trust in. This sales pitch will be effective because, in our city ‘new’ means more up-to-date, more relevant, faster, more affordable… better. John, in his first letter to … Read more
1 John 1. Certainty
To a people who are uncertain John proclaims the certainty Jesus Christ as the coming of life himself into the world. Like us, the people who John wrote to knew we cannot live without certainty and were aware of different … Read more
1 John (introduction). Joy, Holiness, Confidence
Why think about 1 John?
John gives three reasons for writing his letter to the churches: to complete our joy (1:4), to promote holiness (2:1) and to build up confidence in the truths of Christianity (5:13). He writes against, false … Read more
John 20. Life (Easter Sunday)
Our world is full of controversy, accusation, grief and condemnation… but when we arrive at Easter Sunday, we hear a different word. Life. Twice Jesus says in John’s history that he did not come to either judge or condemn the … Read more
Isaiah 53. Who has believed our message? (Good Friday)
Contrary to what the political classes and newsfeeds wants us to believe are our essential problems, Isaiah tells us our deepest problem is a lack of righteousness. For a man who has been praying that God would tear open the … Read more
Philippians 2.1-12. Leadership (Palm Sunday)
“If the head is rotten, so is the fish” says the Chinese proverb about leadership. The proverb illustrates how the quality and style of leadership filters through to affect the led. Australians will be going to the polls to choose … Read more