4 Sleeps to go…
51 youth – 14 leaders
please pray for us
Jul 062010
Simon Allery
Jul 012010
Isaiah 27:1-29:24
This morning’s reading sounds like a scene from the Rod and Reel (the pub at Woodburn). God isn’t happy with his people.
13 The Lord says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is made up only of rules taught by men. Isaiah 29:13
But in all the talk of Judgement there is hope.
22 Therefore this is what the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, says to the house of Jacob:
“No longer will Jacob be ashamed;
no longer will their faces grow pale.
23 When they see among them their children,
the work of my hands,
they will keep my name holy;
they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob,
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding;
those who complain will accept instruction.”
In the Bible there always seems to be hope in Judgment. We see this most clearly in Jesus. Through the judgement poured on him and through his resurrection we have forgiveness and new life. We are new creations.
Jun 242010
Isaiah 1:1-4:1
I haven’t had much to do with the book of Isaiah before. From the outset the picture is pretty grim. It appears as though the LORD has had enough of his rebellious people. He has had enough of Israel and Judah.
Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth!
For the LORD has spoken:
“I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me. Isaiah 1:2
Judgement is coming for his people but in all of it there seems to be some hope.
“Come now, let us reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
I guess we will have to keep reading to find out the full story but the fact that the name Isaiah means ‘The LORD saves’, gives a pretty good indication of where this story might end up.
Jun 202010
This week’s Bible Talk took us to 1 Sam 21-27 where we saw that in many ways David is a great example of trust in God, but at other times it’s clear that he fails just like us. We need a better king than David.
If you’d like to join the conversation, just add your comment below.
Click on the following link to listen or to download.
Jun 102010
2 Kings 13:1-14:29
Happy Birthday to the office salve – Happy 18th Joe K.
Two things struck in this mornings reading.
1) the first thing is that God is merciful, patient and faithful to his promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see 13:23). It really is a amazing that God doesn’t just wipeout both Israel and Judah. It is great to know that this it is the same God who promises eternal life through Jesus.
2) the second is more just an interesting observation. But how about Elisha? He is one weird dude, even when he is dead. The fact that the dead guy comes to life when he touches Elisha’s bones is weird (see 13:21).
Anyway keeping trusting in Jesus – the answer to all God’s promises and enjoy the cooler weather.
Jun 062010
This week’s Bible Talk took us to 1 Sam 17 where we saw that David is victorious because he sees reality as it really is – that Goliath is big but God is so much bigger.
Click on the following link to listen or to download.
SCPC Podcast: Talk 7, The God who Always Wins
If you’d like to join the conversation, just add your comment below.
Jun 032010
2 Chronicles 20:1-21:1 and 2 Kings 1:1-2:25
I hope you are enjoying the cold, wet weather.
As a side note 2 King 2:23- 25 is one of my favourite verses to share with youth. I will let you decide why.
23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!” 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.
As for the Kings mentioned in these chapters they don’t really paint a positive picture do they? Jehoshaphat seems like he was an alright bloke but checkout the following verses.
32He walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. 33 The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
As for Ahaziah he is consulting foreign God’s and receives death as his judgement.
The Kings aren’t leading the people as they should. And the question that I find myself asking, is how long will the LORD put up with this rejection?
This question make me think ahead to our context and marvel at God’s patience and mercy.
8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
May 272010
1 Kings 12:1 – 33
2 Chronicles 10:1 – 12:16
Good morning. I hope you are all bathing in the glory of the mighty maroons.
Anyway enough gloating. This mornings reading is sign of things ahead. After David and Solomon things start to go really pear shaped. The kingdom has now split into Israel (northern kingdom) and Judah (southern kingdom). Most of Israel are now worshipping idols and Judah ends up abandoning the law of the Lord. Egypt invade and well honestly things look bad. God’s people are in his land but they are not living under his rule. Stay tuned to find out just how bad the situation gets but also how faithful the LORD is to his promises. Especially his promise of a King who will reign on David’s throne foever.
2 Chronicles 12:14 summaries Rehoboam’s failure in one neat verse.
He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the LORD.
Have you set your heart on seeking King Jesus and him alone?
Apr 292010
Psalm 112:1 – 119:33
The Psalm that I got into the most this morning was Psalm 118.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:1
When everything turns pear shaped I reckon it is really hard to honestly think that God is good and that his love endures forever.
In today’s Psalm we are not told who the psalmist is. But as you read the Psalm you get the impression that things weren’t going so well for the psalmist but the LORD rescued him.
I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:13-14
Well the question for us this morning might be, so what has the LORD done for us? How I can I know that the LORD is good and his loves endured forever? Checkout the following verses.
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:22-23
What’s all this about? Checkout some more verses
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is ” ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:8-12
Israel rejected Jesus but now he has become the capstone – he is only way to be saved.
We might know this already – but do we really know it? Because if we did really know it I reckon we could honestly say ”Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever”, in all things.
How does Jesus’ death and resurrection help you in the tough times?
Apr 222010