Isn’t the Bible really big and hard to understand? Well, yes, the Bible is a big book. I know it can be intimidating, especially if you are someone who doesn’t read much. How can you trust something you cannot really understand? It seems too much, too complicated. But let’s pause and think about this for …
What is the Bible about? Think about how you might answer this question, should someone ask it of you. Take a moment. What is the Bible about? If you only had a sentence or two to answer it. It’s not so easy, is it? It’s a big and complex book! Let me give you some …
What is the Bible? That seems a bit of an odd question, I know. It’s a book, the Christian book, right? The one that Christians read and try to do? Well, yes. But if all it is a book, that’s not a big enough answer. The Bible is the word of God and the word …
Most churches, especially as they get larger, tend to have specialised children, youth and young adult ministries. If a church is large enough, perhaps it will also have a dedicated youth or university student worship service. At the other end of the demographic scale, it is common to see ministries or services aimed at shall …
Our modern Western culture often thinks of everything only in terms of the individual. Many of the questions we ask are to do with our personal situation, like: How does this impact me? What do I get out of this? What do I need to do next? We are self-interested people, of course, and we …
God made each of us for a bigger purpose. We are not satisfied with just going through the motions every day. We need hope. We need to know that there is some bigger picture to life, some purpose beyond the tasks we are working on day by day. Think of the swimmer who trains in …
The promises that God made to Abram in Genesis 12 were very big promises. When did they happen? That is a good question to ask. Like with so many Bible promises, God fulfilled them in stages. I think it is helpful to think of partial fulfilment, ultimate fulfilment in Jesus, and then the final fulfilment …
We are not told of Abram saying anything to God in response to God’s promises and command. He just did it. Such a big move at 75! Genesis outlines who came with him; it included his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. He also took all of his possessions with him. Abram was a wealthy …
Look at the end of Genesis 12:3: “In you [that is, Abram] all the families of the world shall be blessed”. That’s a big claim that needs a little further attention. Remember the context of Genesis 12; it has come just after a long list of nations and people in chapters 10 and 11. The …
Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will …