Q. 98. What is prayer?A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies.Prayer. It’s one of those areas of the Christian life we kind of take for granted. We know what prayer is right? And yet, knowing what prayer is, we so often ignore it. Prayer is very similar to ...  Read More

So God created mankind in his own image,    in the image of God he created them;    male and female he created them.God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”Genesis 1:27-28We are talking ethics and morality in the modern world ...  Read More

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough tr...  Read More

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.James 5:16I want to keep encouraging us to pray (and confess our sins).One way we can grow in our confidence of prayer is by being reminded of what the Scriptures say about prayer.James, the brother of Jesus, wants to encourage God’s people that...  Read More

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.James 5:16Charles Spurgeon says that, “neglect of private prayer is the locust which devours the strength of the church.”By God’s grace He has given us the most incredible gift which is His ear. If we were to pick up our phone and try to call th...  Read More

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Matthew 6:19-21I bumped into a mate the other day at his new house. He’s pretty w...  Read More

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3...  Read More

Q. 96. What is the Lord’s Supper?A. The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.Westminster Shorter Ca...  Read More

Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor    amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.Proverbs 28:8Nearly 50% of Aussies invest in the stock market. If you include superannuation funds - it would be approximately 95%.How about you? Do you invest in stocks? Or would you?On the one hand, Christians might say that investing is wise and a good way for people to ge...  Read More

16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret...  Read More

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3We saw this yesterday. That a strong faith comes from craving the pure spiritual milk of the Scriptures. How do we turn from eating spiritual junk food that makes us feel full but gives us no nourishment? We memorise a passage like this one.M...  Read More

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.Proverbs 27:17I consider myself a pretty self-sufficient person. I like to solve my own problems. I spend time reflecting on my life, my weaknesses and my strengths. I think about ways to grow and to follow Jesus more faithfully.Do you see yourself as pretty self-sufficient?One thing the last twenty-five years of being in Church has convinced m...  Read More