When discussing the violence of God in the Old Testament we have to a number of presuppositions. Firstly, itt isn’t really an option to say that God was unfair, unjust or unmerciful! God is holy and we are not! God has every right to judge us but we have no right to judge God. Secondly, […]

I wonder whether I/you am a bit like some of the Christians in Sardis? A bit too confident in ourselves? A Christian in Sardis who thinks that since they are not undergoing persecution that they must be doing something right. They must be blessed! Sadly, they are more dead than alive says Jesus. They have […]

We seem to live in a world today where tolerance is seen as a virtue. The only thing not tolerated is intolerance. This 4th letter, to the church in Thyatira, addresses a church who are commended for their love, faith, service and perseverance. And on top of that their latter works exceed the first, yet […]

Pergamum is a godless place, the throne of Satan, polytheistic and pluralistic. Yet the church there has remained a faithful witness even in the midst of persecution. But some among them hold to false belief and false behaviour. Jesus has harsh rebuke for them. Sin is no trivial matter. We likewise today have no excuse […]

In His 2nd letter, to the church in Smyrna, Jesus addresses a church that face severe persecution. The danger for them and for Christians today is that we might compromise. We possibly do not face death for our faith but must die to ourselves (Luke 9:23). We can grow weary in the temptation of the […]

This series looks at the letters to the 7 Churches in Revelation. In His 1st letter, Jesus writes to the church in Ephesus. A church commended for hard work and patient endurance and yet criticised for having lost their first love. Perhaps love for God or possibly love for others, but it is a failure […]

The old Peter resurfaces in this text and his mouth moves before his brain is engaged. Peter says this, “What about him?” I think we all relate to Peter’s comments. The human condition is such that we spend endless time comparing ourselves with others. We so often feel good or bad in comparison to others. […]