(An excerpt from Beginning at Jerusalem, by Brother John M. Hellawell, page 317) “Paul now asks the key question which was the difficulty with which Festus struggled during the earlier hearing, when Paul affirmed that the Jesus of Nazareth whom the authorities had executed was alive again (25:19). “Why should any of you consider it… Read More Today’s thought: Paul’s defence before Agrippa (November 10)
In Mark 14 we read a moving account of events in the Garden of Gethsemane. That evening the disciples had been together in the upper room where the last supper took place. As the bread and the cup were passed around (verses 22-25) the disciples could not appreciate what it was all about. Imagine the… Read More Today’s Thought (August 19): “Watch and pray”
Today’s thought “Explain the parable to us” (July 14) But it did not seem like a parable! All Jesus had said when he “called the people to him” was, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what goes out of the mouth; this defiles a person”… Read More Today’s thought “Explain the parable to us” (July 14)
“Have you also been deceived” “The Pharisees therefore answered them, Are ye also led astray?” (Joh 7:47 ASV) This was the question asked by the Pharisees of the officers sent to arrest Jesus when they returned without him. They reply, “No one ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46,47). John, the disciple most intimately associated… Read More Today’s thought “Have you also been deceived” (April 15)
A look at the golden rule.… Read More Today’s thought “The most important is …” (February 16)
In today’s reading of Mark 8 Jesus called his disciples together to tell them that the crowd wss breaking his heart. “1 In those days, when there was again a great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, 2 I have compassion on the multitude,… Read More Today’s thought Mark 8 Which sings from Christ do you want to see (August 13)
“That is why it depends on faith” (July 29) How important it is to get into our minds a balanced picture of the reasoning Paul develops in his letter to the Romans. With his background training and practice from when he was a Pharisee he was more conscious than anyone else that, having a real… Read More That is why it depends on faith (July 29)
Today’s thought “Is it lawful to divorce … for any cause” (July 18) Our reading in Matthew’s Gospel tells us how the Pharisees came up to Jesus “and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” The religious groups were at odds between themselves in their efforts to impose… Read More Today’s thought “Is it lawful to divorce … for any cause” (July 18)
Today’s thought “… in vain do they worship me” (July 14) The religious leaders in Israel in the time of Jesus were zealous in their rituals of worship: the same can be said of the main forms of Christianity down through the centuries. Today in Matthew 15 we see how Jesus confronted the “Pharisees and… Read More Today’s thought “… in vain do they worship me” (July 14)
Today’s thought “That the nations might tremble” (July 8) First we read 1 Samuel 20, an account of Saul’s increasing jealousy of David – and his developing desire to kill him: such is human nature and its self-centredness. We constantly see this around us – it is more evident than ever at election times! Then… Read More Today’s thought “That the nations might tremble” (July 8)
Today’s thought “All night he continued in prayer” (March 15) Can we imagine continuing all night in prayer? This is what Jesus did – as we read today in Luke 6. Why did he, as the Son of God, find this necessary? And what was the result of his prayer? We read, “In these days… Read More Today’s thought “All night he continued in prayer” (March 15)
Today’s thought “Who gave you this authority?” (February 15) Mark 11 It is necessary for the orderly functioning of life for there to be those in authority to approve and oversee what is to be done. This is essential for the proper functioning of life, but is it so in every case? In particular, is… Read More Today’s thought “Who gave you this authority?” (February 15)
Today Matthew’s record of the life of our Lord reveals how events were building up to a climax. Jesus was becoming more challenging in his contact with the Pharisees and Sadducees; he bluntly tells the Sadducees they “are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God” (22:29) in refusing to believe… Read More Today’s thought “Which is the great commandment …?” (January 20)
From the days of Jeshua (Christ Jesus) there were people who wanted to follow that master teacher, whilst others were interested in some points but did not like other points and as such preferred to keep to other teachings and traditions also. Jeshua had asked those who he had chosen to become his disciples, what… Read More Different wineskins
True Sign of Every True Disciple of Jesus Christ Regularly we are attacked and questioned about our Christian faith. At the time of Jesus and his first followers the master teacher and his disciples were often questioned and tested. Sadducees and Pharisees most often were against each other, but they joined hands in the battle… Read More When questioned about your faith
In our previous studies we looked at the use of the phrase “living stones” in scripture. We considered various examples of stones either being treated as though they were alive, or being described as though they were. In Old Testament times we read of stones being set up as a witness to what the Lord… Read More Living stones 5 Abraham’s seed and gentiles
A day given to man From sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday the Jewish community kept a day for God. The ‘day’ began when darkness fell. The reason for this is found in Genesis 1:5: Genesis 1:5 The Scriptures 1998+ (5) And Elohim called the light ‘day’ and the darkness He called ‘night.’ And… Read More Why we do not keep to a Sabbath or a Sunday or Lord’s Day #4 Jesus and the Sabbath day
Belgian Ecclesia Brussel - Leuven 