I will not have time to cover the “Is The Matrix A Christian Film?” issue at our baptismal service today. I showed the first two or three minutes of the film to illustrate the point that we all face the choice between freedom and slavery. Of whether we live in a “world that has been pulled [...]
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We are getting towards the end our our series from Joshua and on the whole it seems to have been rewarding. Normally I write something which extends what I have preached and publish it on Sunday morning. But this week I want to do a little housekeeping; returning again to a couple of the themes which [...] The phrase "peace for our time" was spoken on 30 September 1938 by British prime minister Neville Chamberlain in his speech concerning the Munich Agreement. It is primarily remembered for its ironic value. The Munich Agreement gave the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Adolf Hitler in an attempt to satisfy his desire for Lebensraum ("living space") [...] 1. The Reason for Spiritual Defeat Self-confidence and neglected prayer? The wrath of God because of sin? 1 Sam 15:23 2. The Threat of God’s Wrath: Ichabod Ichabod (means inglorious in Hebrew) appear in the Books of Samuel as the brother of Ahitub and the son of Phinehas. He was born on the day that the Ark was taken [...] Anyone who has taken the trouble to look dispassionately at the Old Testament quickly comes across some very difficult passages. Amongst the hardest is this one following Joshua’s victory at Jericho: They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed (herem) with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep [...] Relationship Restored (v2-6a) In the desert, Israel had to learn humility. They needed to be dependent on God and not themselves. The only reason they were now able to enter Canaan was that they had indeed become completely dependent on their God. During the forty years of waiting in the wilderness, none of the sons born had [...] Memorials help us remember God’s goodness Joshua 3-4 stresses the need to remember the history of God’s people. We get can even get a dim glimpse of some of Israel’s worship at places like Gilgal. Deuteronomy 16:16 required that all Israelite men met at the temple in Jerusalem three times each year—at the annual Feasts of [...] I’m not preaching this week, but I was reading through Joshua 3 and thinking about the role of the ark. It won’t crop up in the sermon or in the Cell Outline. So these are just some extra thoughts.
I recall years ago someone having a passionate debate with me about where the ark is now. [...] Amazing Grace for an outsider! Rahab – Ruth – Naaman – Nebuchadnezzar Without special relationship they stand condemned (Eph 2:11-13, Josh 23, Hos 1:2-3) but God saves!
Rahab acceptance into Israel is not unique. The common impression is that Israel excluded outsiders from God’s people. But several other “outsiders” figure prominently in Israel’s history.
1. RUTHRuth is [...] We are just starting our series on Joshua. I have posted some background information on the book here.
“This is a time for dreams to be ‘rebirthed’. Dreams you have had for yourselves, for your lives, for your families and for this church. Dreams which have been buried under layers of disappointment and pain in some of [...] |
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