This video is from the UK, but the issues are the same in Australia.
Month: August 2022
JP Sears on Defeating Evil
It’s not quite the gospel but it’s not bad.
Quote for the Day
The social imaginary of the West is no longer that of the American founders, for whom religious freedom was regarded as a good that actually helped social cohesion; it is now regarded as something that poses a potentially lethal threat to that cohesion. Carl Trueman
Reflection on Hebrews 1:5-9
Scripture
But to the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a sceptre of justice.”
Observation
“Jesus is superior to the angels. God never said to any angel, “You are my Son.” He also said, concerning Jesus, ” I will be his father, and he will be my Son.”
When Jesus came into the world God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.” The angels are servants of God, but Jesus is the Son, the one who reigns forever with a sceptre of Justice.
Application
Over the last few decades, we have seen in parts of the New Age Movement, a resurgence of the worship of angels.
The author of Hebrews points out that Jesus is greater than the angels; they are servants, but Jesus is the one who sits on the throne of God .
His throne endures forever; it is eternal. The Queen will one day pass away. There is speculation that one day in the future, the UK will abolish the monarchy altogether. Then the throne will pass away also.
But the reign of Jesus, His throne so to speak, it will last forever. Having died on the cross and defeated sin then rising from the dead, his rule is never ending.
We don’t worship created beings such as angels. We do not give our primary allegiance to any human ruler. No, we worship the King of Kings, the holy Son of God.
Prayer
Hallelujah! What a saviour! You alone, Lord Jesus, are worthy of my prayers. you reign for ever and ever. Amen
Today’s Bike Ride With Guest Echidna
That’s something you don’t see every day!
That’s something you don’t see every day!
Quote for the Day
That is the question that the church needs to ask about sexual identity: Are the categories that society now prioritizes actually ones that are appropriate? If the post-Freud taxonomy represented by the acronym LGBTQ+ rests on a basic category mistake (that sex is identity), should Christians not engage in a thoroughgoing critique of such and refuse to define themselves within its framework? Indeed, there is evidence to suggest that conceding the categories leads to unfortunate confusion. Carl Trueman
Reflection on Hebrews 1:1-4
Scripture
The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his commands. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
Observation
In the past, God spoke in many times and in many ways through the prophets. Now, He has given us the ultimate revelation through His Son.
The Son created the universe, and He radiates the glory of God. He expresses God’s character, and He sustains all things. After dying to cleanse us from sin, He ascended to sit in the place of honour beside the Father. The Son is greater than the angels.
Application
Jesus is the expression of the glory and the character of God. When we see Jesus, we see the Father. When we read of the miracles and understand the teaching of Jesus, then we see the heart of God.
The character and glory of God are seen above all in the death of Jesus on the cross. God could not bear to see us lost in our sin, so He took the punishment for us. Jesus, God in the flesh, absorbed all the wrath of God against human rebellion.
Now Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. Having descended to the place of suffering, God raised him to the highest place of glory.
How can we do anything other than worship our Saviour? How can we do anything other than to surrender our redeemed lives back to him?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I thank you for dying for me. Thank you for destroying the power of the Devil. Amen
Quote for the Day
The long-term implications of this revolution are significant, for no culture or society that has had to justify itself by itself has ever maintained itself for any length of time. Such always involves cultural entropy, a degeneration of the culture, because, of course, there really is nothing worth communicating from one generation to the next. Carl Trueman
Cell Ministry
In biology, a cell is the smallest unit of life. Your body is made up of millions of cells, all of which carry your DNA and all of which contribute to the functioning of your body.
In church life, a cell is a small group, usually numbering 5 to 14 people, which meets regularly to worship, read the Bible, to pray for one another and to pray for people who do not know Jesus.
These simple activities lead to growth in the quality of our walk with Jesus. We can encourage one another and prompt one another to do better in the Lord. Because we meet together often, we form deep friendships which can help us to keep moving forward with God, especially in times of crisis.
A typical cell group meeting runs for about 90 minutes and follows a four fold agenda:
1. Welcome. An ice breaker may be used to stimulate discussion and to break down barriers between people.
2. Worship. In worship, we turn our eyes upwards to God. He is the reason we are here. He is the reason we live. He needs to be the focus of our lives
3. Word. We read the Bible together as it is the revelation from God above all others. It teaches us about who God is and how we should live as we try to follow the way of Jesus.
4. Witness. Every cell group is charged with the responsibility to make disciples. We pray for people who are not saved. We look for ways to include our friends in the group. We plan special events specifically for the purpose of including people who are not yet members of the group.
Sometimes a particular need of one of the members comes out in the discussion. At those times, we divert from the set agenda and we take time to minister to that need in whatever way we can.
Cell groups are awesome expressions of the love of God made real in the lives of individuals. If you are not part of a cell group, join one today. You can find details at our web-site http://www.new-life.org.au
Reflection on Judges 21:1-25
Scripture
In those day,s Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
Observation
The Israelites are caught up in their own vows about Benjamin. They had vowed that they would not give their daughters in marriage to any man from the tribe of Benjamin. They now see that the tribe of Benjamin is likely to disappear forever unless they provide wives for the 600 men remaining from Benjamin.
They discover that no one from Jabesh-gilead had attended their assembly. They had vowed that anyone who did not attend would be put to death. so they send 12000 Warriors to Jabesh-gilead to kill all the men, boys, and married women, but to spare the virgins who are to be given to the men of Benjamin.
Application
The author of Judges looks to the new era of a kingdom in Israel to restore order and godliness to the nation. But looking back through history, this hope was not to be fulfilled.
The problem with the era of the judges was not a lack of leadership, but that the leaders themselves were often such poor role models. There were very few people in the nation who understood or valued what it meant to live by the law of God. This would continue through the period of the kings, although with a few exceptions.
Perhaps it is true in the church also. We are often influenced by the society around us more than by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We have the King of Kings to lead us, but we must learn to trust Him and obey Him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are my King. Please help me to live your way and not to do whatever seems right in my own eyes. Amen
New Life Narrabri 