Today’s thought “Foreboding of what is coming on the world” (March 29) Foreboding is not a word we use much these days, the dictionary says it means – ‘have a premonition of something evil or harmful’. Jesus used it (as translated by the ESV) in our reading today (Luke 21:26) in forecasting, just before he… Read More Today’s thought “Foreboding of what is coming on the world” (March 29)
Today’s thought “Servants” and “citizens” (March 27) In Luke 19 we read that Jesus “proceeded to tell a parable … because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, ‘A nobleman (Jesus) went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return’” (verses 11,12). We… Read More Today’s thought “Servants” and “citizens” (March 27)
It might have looked strange that we brought up so many points when talking about worshipping God. We hopefully could make it clear that to worship the Divine Creator there are some essential points to take into account. Today we come to the concluding article, bringing forwards the most essential part to come to the… Read More How should we worship God? #14 True worship
Today’s thought “Were worse sinners … because they suffered in this way?” (March 22) In reading Luke 13 today we pondered the challenging conversation Jesus had with “some present” about the cause of recent tragedies. Jesus challenged the conclusions some had drawn about the cause of these events? In particular, he asked, when a tower… Read More Today’s thought “Were worse sinners … because they suffered in this way?” (March 22)
Transfiguration There was an event in the life of Jesus when he had climbed a mountain with three of his disciples and there he was transfigured before them. The gospel accounts say that he was completely transformed: “he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as… Read More How should we worship God? #13 Transfiguration
Renewing the Mind The Bible is going to be our guidebook and companion along life’s journey and it will help to mould and shape our thinking and our feelings. It does not merely change our mind about things – as this course might have changed your mind about the things you believe as you have… Read More How should we worship God? #12 Renewing the Mind
New Life in Christ None of this is easy of course and you may be wondering how you could possibly keep it up, even if you started living in this way. It seems an impossible standard to achieve. It is exactly for this reason that the apostle structured his letter in the way he has… Read More How should we worship God? #11 New Life in Christ
Today’s thought “Ask and it will be given you” (March 20) It sounds too good to be true, “ask and it will be given you”! These were the words of Jesus we read today in Luke 11:9. This invitation was given after the Lord taught his disciples how to pray – in the familiar words… Read More Today’s thought “Ask and it will be given you” (March 20)
In Relationships The apostle Peter wrote about partners in a marriage where only one of them was a believer and this is what he advised: “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their… Read More How should we worship God? #10 In Relationships
Today’s thought “Whoever is not with me …” (March 19) Jesus spoke in parables, stories that were not necessarily factual because their purpose was to drive home some principle about the spiritual meaning of life. In Luke 10 we encounter some one word parables and phrases that are so obviously not literal. He did many… Read More Today’s thought “Whoever is not with me …” (March 19)
Christian Behaviour The way we behave – with believers and unbelievers alike – is a very important expression of the change that has taken, or is taking, place inside us. For the things we say and do are outside indicators of our inner state of mind. We have to try to live a transformed life,… Read More How should we worship God? #9 Christian Behaviour
Love one another When Jesus instituted this meal in remembrance of himself, he shared it with his disciples. He began by telling them how important it was that they should love one another and he washed their feet to show that he was among them as somebody who had come to serve. Paul, who has… Read More How should we worship God? #8 Love one another
The Breaking of Bread Jesus commanded that baptized believers should remember the death and resurrection of their Lord by sharing together some bread and wine, just as he and his disciples did at the Last Supper. This act is described in the New Testament as the Breaking of Bread, or sometimes as an act of… Read More How should we worship God? #7 The Breaking of Bread
Preachers and Teachers There is one Scriptural requirement, not observed nowadays in many churches, concerning those who are to teach and preach in a congregation when there are both men and women present. Because of what happened in Eden, the apostle Paul explains that it is men who are now charged with the responsibility of… Read More How should we worship God? #6 Preachers and Teachers
Congregational Worship Paul does not spend time in this letter explaining how worship should be arranged, but he does this in other letters. For example, in his letters to the believers at Corinth he deals with problems they were having in their communal worship. It is something to watch out for as you are reading… Read More How should we worship God? #5 Congregational Worship
Christian Congregations The writer of this course is a Christadelphian. He belongs to a group of people who have from earliest times sought to rediscover exactly what the Bible teaches. This community was established in the 19th century and its founder members all sought to practise what we have been learning to do – to… Read More How should we worship God? #4 Christian Congregations
Spiritual Transformation The two things have to go together. If we want transformed bodies – made like that of the Lord Jesus, being free from sin and death – then our minds must be transformed, and that process starts now! By understanding the Bible and by making it our lifelong guide and companion, we can… Read More How should we worship God? #3 Spiritual Transformation
Spiritual Worship In the final part of his Letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul turns his attention towards the way we should worship God and starts where he had left off at the end of Romans chapter 8. Chapters 9-11 were a digression by the apostle about God’s longstanding purpose with the Jewish people.… Read More How should we worship God? #2 Spiritual Worship
The apostle Paul had been systematically explaining the gospel of salvation when he suddenly paused in wonderment, as though overtaken by the magnificence of God’s grace and mercy towards fallen humanity. He had glimpsed the end of God’s purpose, the salvation of all those who respond to God’s invitation and choose to be saved, when… Read More How should we worship God? #1 Appreciation for God
Governance and objectives of the ecclesia/charity Following a consultation with the church membership around the direction of the ecclesia and charity, the objects were redefined as: To advance Bible-based Christian faith to the glory of God and the honour of Jesus Christ in accordance with the Christadelphian Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith (Section 3) for… Read More To Glorify God and His Son #2 Governance and objectives of the ecclesia/charity
