When did you last hear a sermon based on a passage from the prophecy of Zephaniah? This is one of the most neglected books in the whole Bible. It was delivered and written after many years of silence from God. The northern kingdom of Israel, or Ephraim, had already been deported by Assyria, never to return. The prophecy of Zephaniah was to be the last given … Read more…
"The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers." So begins the prophecy of Amos! Why does the Lord roar? What had led to such abuses of privilege on the part of the people of Israel in that day? What happens when God's holiness is offended and when his voice is ignored? Michael B… Read more…
Is God responsible for natural disasters? Some would say that he punishes us by sending storms and floods. In Joel's time, Judah was suffering the after-effects of a severe plague of locusts. Joel was in no doubt that God had sent the locusts to chastise the people of Judah for their sinful lifestyles, an indication of the coming 'great and dreadful … Read more…
Exodus is the account of God’s miraculous rescue of his people from Egypt, the institution of Israel’s greatest festival, the Passover, the provision of God’s law and the building of the tabernacle, which was the forerunner of the temple - all looking forward to future fulfilment in Christ.
Michael Bentley takes us on this journey wi… Read more…
The people to whom Peter wrote his first epistle were already undergoing trials of all kinds and were soon to face fierce persecution for their faith at the hands of the cruel Emperor Nero. The apostle writes to encourage and strengthen them in the face of these trials and to remind them of the wonderful blessings and privileges they have in Christ. He has a… Read more…
More than any of the other Gospel writers, Luke shows us the Lord dealing with individual people and how their lives were changed as a result of their personal encounter with him. These people came from all ranks of society: the rugged fisherman, the poor widow, the wealthy tax collector, the ruler of the synagogue, the Roman centurion. As the only New Testa… Read more…