Bible reading notes
Truly hearing what God is saying (Judg 13:1-7)
Judg 13:1-7 Once I was sitting in a café with a friend and telling her something that happened to me, when the story was interrupted by the arrival of two other friends. After the initial greetings and orders placed for…
Finding the way to spiritual health (Psalm 32)
Ps 32:1-11 A former work colleague was in a high-pressure job and would tell anyone who cared to listen that she could only cope because she had a strategy of ‘wellness’, a term used nowadays to express the state of…
Losing the ability to understand the Bible (Neh 13:23-31)
Neh 13:23-31 A couple I know from England immigrated to Argentina. The husband was English and the wife Argentinian, their children were born there, went to school there, and outside of the home spoke only Spanish. Even at home, where…
How best to deal with temptation (Neh 13:15-22)
Neh 13:15-22 Over two years ago, we used to get a neighbouring cat come over to visit. Although I am more of a dog person, it was hard to resist her cute little face and ingratiating ways. I drew the…
What threatens our commitment to God? (Neh 12:44-13:14)
Neh 12:44-47; 13:1-14 Many churches these days hire out their buildings to secular groups during the week as a way of earning some extra money, but to what extent should the church scrutinise what is going on in their premises?…
What gives us hope for the future? (Neh 12:1-43)
Neh 12:1-43 As a young Christian reading the gospels, I sometimes wondered about the emphasis in them on healing sick people and raising the dead, when I thought the point was that Jesus came to deal with sin and make…
Who do you belong to? (Neh 11)
Neh 11:1-36 A friend of mine was part of a growing church with wonderful relationships and a sense of belonging. However, given its growth, the leadership eventually decided to split the group and start a new church-plant with some key…
The mark of true repentance (Neh 10)
Neh 9:38; 10:1-39 A month or so after a Billy Graham crusade, someone in my youth group who ‘went forward’ was expressing her disappointment. The initial glow from her decision had faded and she wondered where God was. She felt…
The consequences of a compromised life (Neh 9:26-37)
Neh 9:26-37 A generation or two ago, the Church was at pains to emphasise the great truth re-discovered by the Reformation that we are not saved by works and can add nothing to the finished work of Christ that redeemed…
Why God perseveres with us (Neh 9:16-25)
Neh 9:16-25 When I taught Old Testament, my students often started out with grave reservations about this part of the Bible. God seemed harsh and unrelenting to them, even vindictive. Yet, by the end of their studies, their perspective often…