Fruitfulness is the first of three avenues Jesus says bring glory. He explains how- Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. [John 12:24] What does fruitfulness look like? The fruitfulness Paul lifts … More Glory in fruitfulness
Jesus explains for us the way he sees glory; the glory of heaven – Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. [John 12:23] I notice that this glory differs from the glory he has just received as he entered Jerusalem. He points to three areas that he recognises … More Living for God’s glory
What is glory? How was Jesus glorified? One time was his entry into Jerusalem. The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of … More Glory
I experience a thrill when the Lord opens his word to me. When the messages are few and far between, I wonder if the lack of experience points to failure. Yet – I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are … More When God seems far away
Through the training of life’s trials comes hope, And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts … (Romans 5:5) Shame comes when mistakes are seen. So, I avoid risks. God’s antidote is to pour love into our hearts. His love overcomes shame. Learning to depend … More Experiencing the love of God through training.
The faith of the Centurion asks big questions of us. The way it follows Jesus’ main teaching in Luke added to his amazement at the Centurion indicates it exemplifies that teaching. “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. [Luke 6:20] The centurion, rich enough to build a synagogue, expresses poverty … More Looking for a generous heart
When God doesn’t act as we expect it can shake us and leave us questioning him. In Job’s case, the Lord’s long awaited answer was- “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. [Job 38:2-3] … More How God works
The way of discipleship is a path of following Jesus through the influence of others who are following Jesus. Paul wrote, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1) Some have said, “The Scriptures were incomplete, this as a stop gap measure.” Yet Jesus elevated example- He appointed twelve that … More Power of example
Why do we celebrate Christmas? Is it merely a pointer to Easter or does it have value? At Easter Jesus died on the cross and through his sacrifice reconciled us to God. Clearly this is vital, yet so is Jesus’ life on earth. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have … More Why Christmas?
Many are exiles from God’s presence wanting happiness through the fixing of their brokenness. The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:2-3 We forget our self-centred pursuit of happiness led to our brokenness and our exile. Yes he restores but at … More Happiness?
