Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.Romans 13:1-2We are a week or so away from a state election and I don’t ...  Read More

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.1 Corinthians 13:1-2Lots of people have heard 1 Corinthians 13. It’s the classic wedding passage. But few know that Paul...  Read More

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.1 Corinthians 10:14Short. Simple. But utterly confronting.To flee is to run with all our strength as we would from a dangerous animal. But what exactly is idolatry?Biblically speaking. Idolatry is to make anything other than God, god. It’s to put something or someone at the centre of your life where they were never meant to be. This is both sinful - b...  Read More

What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”1 Corinthians 1:12You know, one of the saddest things that can happen to a Church is division. Conflict or fractures can occur for a number of reasons. Doctrine/theology, moral failures, poor pastoral care just to name a few.But one of the saddest things ...  Read More

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.1 Corinthians 14:1On Tuesdays and Saturdays we are wrestling with what the Bible has to say about “Spiritual gifts.” Paul, in response to a question about Spiritual Gifts, tells the Church to eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.We should take special note of what came before. Eagerly desiring spi...  Read More

You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this… “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to ...  Read More

What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written:“There is no one righteous, not even one;    there is no one who understands;    there is no one who seeks God.All have turned away,    they have together become worthless;there is no one who does good,    not even one....  Read More

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”Acts 10:1-3If you have spent any time defending the Ch...  Read More

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.1 Corinthians 12:4-6I grew up at the height of the televangelist age. Chuck on the TV early in the morning and you would see guys called Kenneth Copeland or Benny Hinn. ...  Read More

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.1 Timothy 4:8I really hate exercise. I’d rather not do it. I like being fit and feeling fit. But not the process. But I do some form of exercise four or five times a week. I get through it by reminding myself of the benefits.Fleeing, turning from sin and pu...  Read More

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.1 Timothy 4:7-8We are a community obsessed with physical training. Going for a run, to the gym, surfing or sport, we think exercise is the key to thriving under ...  Read More

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.1 Corinthians 13:8-10On Tuesdays and Saturdays are talking about ‘spiritual gifts.’ In fact, we are talking about a subset of spiritual gift...  Read More