Q. 27. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.Westminster Shorter CatechismDo you ever wonder what it would be like to lose everything? N...  Read More

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.Who can understand it?Jeremiah 17:9In the days of ‘follow your heart’, here is a sobering reminder. And Jeremiah knows from experience what God is revealing to Him. Israel has deceived themselves into thinking they could rely on their own martial arts or on the faithfulness of another nation (e.g. Egypt). They have followed their heart all th...  Read More

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.1 Chronicles 29:14King David is not far from death as he looks forward to the work his son, Solomon, will do to build the temple. In preparation, David has taken up an offering of sorts, calling on God’s people to give gifts th...  Read More

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.1 Corinthians 15:58It’s about that time of year. If Wednesday is hump-day then is June hump-month? We get tired, it’s cold, it’s wet and well, we get tired. Sometimes it feels like it would be so easy to just ta...  Read More

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.Acts 2:42I grew up around food. My Dad is Italian, he was raised in a small village in the southeast of Italy. My ‘nona’ (we didn’t call her that, it made her feel old), never failed to feed us whenever we went to visit. It was stereotypical, ‘mange, mange’ (eat, eat), all the time. I don’t ...  Read More

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 I...  Read More

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.James 1:23-25Do you ever wonde...  Read More

Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.Westminster Shorter CatechismWhen I hear the word king, Prince Charles comes to mind. It’s a picture of a ceremonial figure. Turning up for photo shoots, smiling and waving. Perfecting the blan...  Read More

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so...  Read More

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the Mediterranean.12 He wi...  Read More

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.Psalm 34:18This passage came up in the sermon a week or two ago. What a wonderful reminder for those who are suffering. It would be a rare person who does not resonate with the Psalmist at some point in their life.But we know that God is with us. He brings comfort. He brings hope. He reminds us that suffering is no...  Read More

 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge...  Read More