The Heidelberg Catechism - The Foundations Of Our Faith

During the months ahead you can expect that your courage will be tested. You'll face a wall you don't think you can get over, a battle you don't think you can win, or an obstacle you don't think you can get beyond. You've probably thought about that battle today. It may have robbed you of sleep last night or preoccupied your thoughts in random moments. Your "opponent" may be someone in your community, in your congregation, or among your leadership. It may be a battle with pride, anger, some habit, or perhaps a secret addiction. Whatever the challenge, the battle you face right now looks impossible to overcome. You may be right. You may not ever be able to win this battle because you're fighting the wrong way, using the wrong strategy. We were raised to match strength for strength. If the opponent is strong, we must be stronger. If he is smart, we must be smarter. The only way to win is through intimidation. All of this is true, of...

But wait…. I just told you where not to park.  I need to tell you where to park. 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. 2:8 the death of the cross.9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. We live in a topsy turvy world.  If you seek to be first you will be last in God’s sight. Mk 9:35 If you seek to win you lose, and if you seek to lose you win Mk 10:25 If you seek to serve you will reign. Mk 10:35-45 Wait.. so if I really want to reign I gotta serve right...

Philippians 3 The Enemies Of The Gospel Philippians 3:17-21 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame --- who set their mind on earthly things.20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.   Paul has already warned against those who pervert the gospel of Christ.  He has called them: Beware of: The Dogs, The Evil Workers, The Mutilation.  He now has either another category or a summation the enemies of the gospel.     Paul has struggled with his d...

Counselling as a profession was only really established in the UK in the 1960’s.  By 1970 there were a few hundred.  At the turn of the century, it was around 20,000.  But today it is estimated that there between 80-100,000.  In Australia the number is 40,000 – a doubling in the past 15 years.  It seems that counselling is in vogue.   We are a counsel culture.    One of the reasons for the increase is that the number of issues we can receive counselling for keeps increasing.    We have moved from counselling for the trauma of death, horrific accidents and terrible abuse, to counselling for hurt feelings, ‘harmful’ words and even political results.  When Trump was elected in 2016, some school districts in the US offered professional counselling to their students (it is unlikely they would have done so if Hillary Clinton had been elected). I suspect that if Pauline Hanson spoke at Sydney University, counselling could be ...

Philippians 3:17-21 ESV Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. [18] For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. [19] Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. [20] But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Paul has struggled with his detractors.  Some years ago my daughters gave me a little sign for my office door that I could not put up.   “Do not disturb: I am already disturbed enough!” I was in a struggle with detractors that included: A pedophile network that expressed anger at my refusal to participate in fellowship activities with them.  Denomina...

translation philosophy and the underlying Greek text should be taken seriously. Those are two distinct questions, and they are often conflated in popular discussions. First, while Wilbur Pickering is certainly a respected advocate for the Byzantine or Majority Text tradition, his position remains a minority one within contemporary textual criticism. That does not make him wrong, of course, but neither should his conclusions be presented as though they represent scholarly consensus. There are thoughtful evangelical scholars on both sides of the discussion who share a high view of Scripture yet arrive at different conclusions regarding the transmission of the New Testament text. Second, I would hesitate to frame the debate as one between those who believe God preserved his Word and those who do not. Most evangelical textual critics working with the Nestle-Aland or UBS critical text affirm both the inspiration of Scripture and God’s providential preservation of it. Their disagreem...

Philippians 3 The Other Enemies Of The Gospel Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are  the enemies of the cross of Christ:19 whose end is  destruction, whose god is their  belly, and whose glory is  in their shame --- who set their mind on earthly things.20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.   The Dogs, The Evil Workers The Mutilation The Earthly Minded the enemies of the cross of Christ:19 whose end is  destruction, whose god is their  belly, and whose  glory is  in their shame --- who set their mind on earthly things. The Prosperity ...