This week, the staff and interns of St Matthew’s attended the two day workshop “The Trellis and the Vine Workshop” which was organised by the Perth Gospel Partnership. Our workshop leader was Colin Marshall who has written a book by the same title (available through Matthias Media).
Interested in delving deeper into God's word? Now's your chance! Come to the Trinity Open Day to see what's happening this term at the college.
One of my morning readings this week was Peter’s sermon to fellow Jews in Acts 3. Peter says that Jesus is the promised Messiah who is received into heaven and who will restore all things.
Why on earth write about this? Because we can think that sermon listening is even easier than watching television because we don’t even have to master the remote control. But actually, it’s important to carefully review how we listen to God’s Word
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us.... Ephesians 1:7-8
In Paul’s letter to the infant church in Ephesus, he begins by describing the amazing kaleidoscope of ‘spiritual blessings’ that have been poured out on all those who have put their trust in Jesus. In this verse he touches on forgiveness.
I’d like to encourage us to keep on reading the Bible. And I think the best way to do this is to remind ourselves about the nature of the Bible and what impact it has on us when we read it seriously.
Last year was the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible and this year is the 350th birthday of another well-known English text, the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (BCP). It is a book that defines Anglicanism and its rhythms and cadences have influenced English oratory, including the famous ‘sorry’ speech by ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
In the Bible, the concept of repentance includes the idea of remorse or sorrow over sin (Job 42:6; Jeremiah 8:6), but is much broader in its range than this.
But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4 I love this verse because it so full of God’s goodness and power for us – the only things we need to know to have confidence in God.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us
| Look Forward to Eternity | |||
| Faith is confidence in what we hope for. | |||
| Romans 8:28-39 | |||
| Look Back to the Cross | |||