In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.Ephesians 1:5-6It was the Beatles who articulated the heart of the times when they said, ‘love is all you need’. This was the vibe of the 60’s and the sexual revolution. To experience passionate love,...  Read More

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.Ephesians 1:4Why does Paul want us to know that we are chosen? I know! Paul’s a pot-stirrer. He just loves to throw a grenade and watch the mayhem. Watch Christians fight over this for thousands of years. I don’t think so. Across Ephesians 1, Paul mentions several times that Christians are chosen, predest...  Read More

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.Ephesians 1:4Did you ever have that schoolyard moment when you got picked for a sports team? Maybe you were really good and you expected to get chosen. Maybe you were that kid who was always picked last. Maybe someone chose you and you have no idea why.Why did God choose you? Was it your good looks? Was i...  Read More

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3One of my favourite shows is Aussie Gold Hunters. I’m fascinated by these people who spend their lives looking for gold in the extreme Australian bush. What they rarely reveal in the show (for obvious reasons), is where they store the gold. But o...  Read More

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3Here is a hard question for you. What would you rather hear? ‘You have won the lottery - $100 million’ or ‘Your sins are forgiven and you will be welcomed into eternal life’? Comfort, security & pleasure for a few decades or comfort, security & p...  Read More

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3The #blessed thing is pretty old now. Like as old as people. The search for true happiness/human flourishing is nothing new (that’s what it means to be blessed). Greek philosophers like Aristotle & Plato sought to understand how people could be t...  Read More

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Ephesians 1:1-2What is the best thing anyone has ever said to you? You got the job? Yes (I’ll marry you)? I love you? Mummy? Daddy? There are some words in life that are more powerful than others. Sometimes because ...  Read More

With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.Ezra 3:11What a privilege it is to be loved. I want you to think of someone who loves you. Go on, just picture them for a minute. Hear them say, I love you. See their loving ac...  Read More

24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”Genesis 50:24-25Genesis of course is not the end of the Bible. As...  Read More

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”“Where, O death, is your victory?    Where, O death, is your sting?”The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Corinthians ...  Read More

Q1. What is the chief end of man?A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.Westminster Shorter CatechismOver the coming weeks/months - it’s going to be Theology Thursdays using the Westminster Shorter Catechism as our textbook. This helpful document was put together by some faithful Christians in the 16th century to help God’s people learn what the Bible says about well… every...  Read More

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.Colossians 4:2-5I was around 23 when a new guy visited the church I was att...  Read More