At the time of Jesus’ arrest, the gospel writer Luke reports Jesus saying to his captors: “Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me.But this is your hour – when darkness reigns(22:53).’ Throughout Friday and Saturday that darkness reigns in every sense of the
During the crucifixion ‘at the sixth hour darkness came over whole land until the ninth hour.’ Darkness from midday to 3pm? Something ominous and evil is going on here because the darkness cannot readily be accounted for by natural phenomena. How would it feel to be standing there watching events as they unfold and being enveloped
Legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi famously said: “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” The apostle Paul, describing life metaphorically as a race, says that his aim is to win the ‘race’ and not to lose it (Phil 3:12-14; 1 Cor 9:24-27; 2 Tim 4:6-8). Both these famous authors wanted the exact same thing
We tend to find trials fascinating. They are so full of suspense and drama. Over the past couple of years there have been some sensational trials that have us riveted to the proceedings and waiting for the outcome, the verdict. Gerard Baden-Clay and Oscar Pistorius are a couple that come to mind. The trial of
In the story we have this evening the focus is on Peter, Jesus’ disciple and friend, a man who had left everything to follow Jesus. He was one of the first called to follow. He was one of a very few who witnessed Christ’s transfiguration. He was the disciple who walked on water. He was
“It takes some work for us to reclaim for our imaginations the true picture of the arrest of Jesus. Some of you might see in your mind’s eye the richly painted, perfectly posed scene often depicted in classical art. Others of us are stuck with a cardboard and plastic version of what we’ve seen acted
….when Jesus prayed in the Garden? It is always a temptation for us to minimize the suffering of our Lord. Perhaps that is natural because we were not there to witness it. We tend to view our Saviour as calm, cool, and in control. He had everything planned, didn’t He? Yet, here we read of
“In my dream I was carried away to a great and high mountain where I saw that great city, the goal of all our hopes and desires, the end of our salvation, the Holy City of God, the new Jerusalem. Around the city, as around the earthly Jerusalem, there ran a wall great and high.
Today we begin a sermon series in the book of Romans. Many people consider Romans to be Paul’s most profound, detailed explanation of the Christian faith. This morning we will look at Paul’s introduction in 1:1-7. Opening his letter, Paul talks about his credibility, his message, and his mission. All of this is intertwined in
Read More +In these verses Paul finishes exposing our great problem as humans and the various ways it shows up. In chapter one we saw people in open rebellion, at the beginning of chapter 2 Paul exposed the self righteous, this week he looks at people who appear to be following God, but are still living in
Read More +This morning Israel will bring us a message from Genesis 3. Chapter 3 tells the story of that paradise lost; the result of the first willful human sin. The consequences: immediate shame and lifelong separation from their home with God. Come listen to Israel as he deals with the question ‘Where Are You?’
Read More +Over the last two weeks we have seen the mystery, as we examined the Trinity, and the majesty of God as creator. In doing that, one can be left with the impression that God is distant and unapproachable. So different from us that any real relationship is impossible. That is not what we find in
Read More +In Romans last week we were reminded that the gospel is God’s power to bring salvation to all people. As we speak it to other, God will transform lives. Not only will people change their destination (hell to heaven), but God will change the way they live. The question is, why is that such good
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