There's an idea that keeps turning up in the ancient world, across cultures that had no contact with each other, and it goes like this: if you know the true name of a being or a power, you have leverage over it.You can find it in Egyptian magical …
Have you ever sat through a presentation where the speaker just quoted other people the whole way through?'Research shows'.'Experts say'.'A study from Yale University ...'And somewhere in the middle of it you think ... well what do you thi…
The Most Dangerous Thing That Can Happen to a ChurchIt's not persecution. It's not cultural pressure. It's not even false teaching — though all of these are real dangers.The most dangerous thing that can happen to a church is that it los…
There's a moment near the end of Revelation chapter 5 that doesn't get nearly enough attention.John's vision — already astonishing by any measure — pulls back to its widest possible angle.Not just the elders, not just the angels, n…
We all carry it. The feeling that the world has stopped making sense. The weight of pain we can't explain, suffering we can't resolve, prayers that seem to go nowhere. And somewhere underneath all of it, a question we hardly dare ask out loud: i…
What do you think of singing?Oh I LOVE a song!There’s something deeply human about it isn't there?A song can lift the spirits, steady the emotions, or help us carry a burden for a while. Even people who would never describe themse…
Bought?Welcome to this Super Short Thought.What do you think of the idea that you were bought?Now hang on a minute — it’s a metaphor. But it’s a striking one.There’s a line in an ancient song — a song sung in a …
How d'you fancy being a priest?I know.Priests haven't exactly got the greatest image in the media right now.But that's not the kind of priest I'm talking about.Here's the issue: do you realise that most people, at some point in their lives, …
The Vision of the Lamb ...There's a striking image in an ancient vision I keep coming back to. It's in Revelation 5:6.You've got this picture of a lamb standing upright, very much alive, but bearing the marks of having been killed.Both…
April 20th. (Easter Sunday)Readings:Isaiah 35 (The Joy of the Redeemed)Matthew 28 (The Great Commission)Questions:What does Isaiah say about the joy of redemption?Why is Jesus’ resurrection the basis for the Great…
April 19th.Readings:Isaiah 40 (Comfort for God’s People)Revelation 22 (The Invitation to the Water of Life)Questions:What comfort does Isaiah 40 bring?Why does Revelation end with an invitation?How does knowing the …
April 18th.Readings:Deuteronomy 30 (Choose Life)Revelation 21 (The New Heaven and New Earth)Questions:What choice does God put before His people?Why is the New Heaven and New Earth the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan…
April 17th.Readings:Psalm 145 (Great Is the Lord)Revelation 19 (The Rider on the White Horse)Questions:What does this psalm teach about God’s greatness?Why is Jesus’ return depicted as a victorious rider?How d…
April 16th.Readings:Exodus 34 (The Lord’s Compassion)Revelation 7 (The Multitude in White Robes)Questions:What does God reveal about Himself in Exodus 34?Why is the multitude in Revelation dressed in white?How does th…
April 15th.Readings:Isaiah 25 (Death Swallowed Up)Revelation 5 (Worthy is the Lamb)Questions:What is the promise of Isaiah 25?Why is Jesus uniquely worthy to open the scroll?How does this vision of heaven shape my worship?
April 14th.Readings:Zephaniah 3 (God’s Joyful Salvation)Revelation 1 (The Risen and Glorified Christ)Questions:What does Zephaniah reveal about God’s joy in saving us?Why is Jesus’ resurrection central to th…
April 13th.Readings:Habakkuk 3 (Rejoicing in God’s Salvation)1 John 3 (Children of God)Questions:What does Habakkuk teach about trusting God in hardship?Why is it amazing that we are called God’s children?How …
April 12th.Readings:Psalm 2 (The Anointed One)1 Peter 2 (The Chosen People)Questions:What does Psalm 2 say about the rule of God’s Anointed?Why does Peter call believers ‘a royal priesthood’?How does my …
April 11th.Readings:Hosea 6 (He Will Raise Us Up)1 Peter 1 (Living Hope)Questions:What does Hosea promise about restoration?Why does Peter call Jesus our ‘living hope’?How does the resurrection give me hope ev…
April 10thReadings:Psalm 72 (The Righteous King)Hebrews 10 (Confidence in Christ)Questions:What does this psalm say about the ideal King?Why does Jesus’ sacrifice make animal sacrifices obsolete?How does my faith in…
April 9th.Readings:Micah 6 (What God Requires)Hebrews 9 (Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice)Questions:What does God require of us?Why is Jesus’ sacrifice better than the Old Testament sacrifices?How does living under …
April 8th.Readings:Malachi 3 (The Lord’s Coming)Hebrews 4 (Our Great High Priest)Questions:What does Malachi say about God’s refining work?Why is Jesus the perfect High Priest?How does Jesus’ priesthood …
April 7th.Readings:Daniel 7 (The Son of Man’s Eternal Kingdom)2 Corinthians 5 (New Creation in Christ)Questions:What does Daniel’s vision reveal about Jesus?Why does being in Christ make us a new creation?How …
April 6th.Readings:Isaiah 61 (The Year of the Lord’s Favor)Colossians 1 (The Supremacy of Christ)Questions:What does Isaiah mean by ‘the year of the Lord’s favor’?Why is Christ supreme over all things?…