Introductory notes
Reading the prophets – some preliminary comments
I suspect that many of us feel ambivalent about the prophetic books in the Bible. On the one hand, the passages of judgment on God’s people make for dismal reading. As we only get one side of the conversation and…
Introduction to 1 Samuel
The Book of Samuel tells how Israel became a monarchy and the story of its first two kings, Saul and David (1 Samuel ends with Saul’s death and opens the way for David to become king in 2 Samuel). Along…
Whom will you serve? (Introduction to Exodus)
As we start a new year, many set new goals for themselves such as learning a new skill, losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more or spending less. Many of these resolutions fall by the wayside as the weeks turn into…
Introduction to Judges – Beliefs Shape Attitudes
Judges is not a book that is often preached on or read given its violent story line and dubious heroes. Yet, it presents a stark warning for the church about the dangers of losing our moral and religious moorings. Modern…