Titus 2 Paul wants Titus to teach sound doctrine, the Grace and Glory of Christ, and this leads to transformed people, affecting how we relate to one another.
Titus 1:5–16 Paul wants the church’s in Crete to remain faithful, so instructs Titus to appoint Godly elders, emphasising that good doctrine produces a Godly and gospel focussed church.
Titus 1:1–4 Paul wants the essentials, the foundations, to sink in and be firmed up, which means not departing from his teaching, but instead clinging to the true Gospel, and for this to produce changed lives.
1 Kings 21:1-29 ‘Naboth’s Vineyard’ is not a great chapter heading. But this chapter is not actually about vineyards. It’s about injustice. It’s as up-to-date and relevant as George Floyd and Jeffrey Epstein and Asia Bibi, and the lives of millions in our world today.
1 Kings 20:1-43 What comes to mind when we hear the word ‘God’ really matters. If the God in my mind does not correspond to the God who is actually there, I’m worshipping a false god. It’s worthless idolatry. In this chapter something of what God is like is revealed to us, so that we might know him better.
So far it’s been a pretty crazy year, with so much bad stuff happening – and we’re only just in July! Why does God allow it? If he’s loving and all-powerful, why doesn’t he do something to stop all the suffering? Where is God in a messed-up world?
1 Kings 19:8-21 If you just had 1 Kings 18 you might think the life of faith is to be spent camped out on Mt Carmel waiting for fire to come down from heaven. But these chapters about Elijah are a tale of two mountains. What happens on Mt Horeb, the mount of God, is very different – and very important for us to understand.
1 Kings 19:1-8 Normal Christian life and service can be a rollercoaster. It can go from great highs to sudden lows. If we think it’s going to be one unending mountain-top experience, sooner or later we’re going to have a shock. And the danger then is that we become disillusioned and give up. Elijah’s experience helps us to have right expectations.
1 Kings 18:41-46 ‘I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words: do you pray?’ So begins J.C.Ryle’s book ‘A call to prayer’. Our answer to that question is very revealing of where we stand spiritually. The point of this talk is to encourage us in prayer, with Elijah as our teacher.
1 Kings 18:1-40 There is something very inspiring about Christians who are wholehearted in their commitment – and something very unappealing about Christians who are half-hearted and flaky. How can we make sure we are the former?