The Book of Isaiah

Oct 4, 2026

Today we started looking at the book of Isaiah. Isaiah was an Old Testament prophet, a prophet being a spokesperson for God (see Deut 18:21-22, 1 Sam 3:19). The New Testament speaks of the gift of prophecy today in the church (1 Cor 14:1, 1 Cor 12:1-3). What a prophet says must align with the Bible; studying Isaiah is important because it is part of the Bible, is quoted in the New Testament and because he spoke about Christ.
Isaiah lived between 740 and 680 BC approximately. He lived in turbulent times, when Assyria as a rising world super power intent on ruling the world. Israel had split into two kingdoms, and in Isaiah’s lifetime, the northern kingdom (Israel) was overcome and many people were deported from there. In the south (Judah), many were no longer following God, with many of the kings not following a godly path. Isaiah lived through the reign of several kings and spoke faithfully for many years.
Isaiah prophesied about John the Baptist (Is 40:3) and Jesus Himself (speaking about the virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14, His ministry in Is 61:1, His death in Is 53 and the redemption He brought (Is 1:18). He spoke of the future (Is ii:6-9). There is much in this book to learn and be challenged by!

Keep Singing!

Oct 2, 2026

On Sunday, I preached from 2 Chronicles 20, and whilst the main theme of my message was the Valley of Berakah (living in God’s blessing), this passage always speaks to me about the power of praise. Jehoshaphat, when facing multiple armies against him, sent the priests out in front, declaring God’s praise – a strategy unlikely to be found in any war manual.
In response to a specific word from the prophet Jahaziel that this battle belonged to God and He would fight for His people, Jehoshaphat did what he could do. He praised God. So often, we focus on all the many things we can’t do (and boy! there are lots of those!!) and pretty much throw the towel in at that point. We feel what we can do – sing praise to God, declaring truth about Him – is a cop-out which cannot achieve anything.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Singing your praise to God is a profound act of trust. It’s always the right time to praise God, and if you’re in big trouble, as Jehoshaphat and the people of God most definitely were, that is precisely the time it matters that you raise your voice and sing.
The story shows us the miracle of God’s victory that day. He stepped in so that the enemies killed each other and all God’s people then had to do was collect the plunder they had not earned. I’m convinced their act of worship was significant in this battle, even though it looked so insignificant.
Be encouraged today to sing praise to God, wherever you are and however you feel. Sing your way out of trouble, as Martin Smith puts it (see here) . Raise a hallelujah, as the song says. Sing praise and see what God does. Then you’ll have even more reasons to worship!

The Valley of Berakah (Blessing)

Sep 27, 2026

This afternoon we looked at the Valley of Berakah (2 Chronicles 20.) We are a blessed people, but the story of Jehoshaphat gives us valuable insight about how to deal with a crisis (as well as giving us an answer to a Bible quiz question about the name of the prophet whose word from the Lord turned a trial into a triumph!)

When faced with imminent war, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord and called people to seek God and fast. He involved God in his problem, but he also kept his eyes firmly fixed on God, on who He is and what He has done. This is the secret to standing firm in difficult times. The problems we face are not bigger than the God we serve, but we must wait for God’s word.

Jehoshaphat reminded God of His promise to Solomon that in times of judgement, famine and plague, He would listen and hear His people’s cries of distress. The result of this earnest seeking was God spoke through the prophet Jahaziel, giving clarity, strategy and encouragement to the king. We desperately need God’s ‘now’ word for our situations and must then mix our faith with obedience. God speaks through individuals and we need the prophetic word of God in our lives. God may not reveal His whole plan at once, but we must learn to do what He says.

Reassured by the word that they would not have to fight and that the battle is the Lord’s, Jehoshaphat organised worship as the one thing he could control. It’s always the right time to praise God, and we must learn to do what we can – and leave God to do the rest. God worked a miracle while the people were praising, so that they did not have to fight. Not only that, but they were able to take so much plunder that it took three days to move it (hence the naming of this trial as the Valley of Berakah, the valley of blessing.)

God is a God who wants to bless His people abundantly. Because the people of God obeyed God and did what they could do, instead of fretting about what they could not do, they did indeed see the deliverance the Lord had promised. This is always God’s way. He promises us victory, but that victory only becomes reality as we do what He has commanded. The people took the plunder back from the Valley of Berakah, and what started as impending doom and a trial beyond their means to survive became a victory song.

God blesses His people as we call on Him in our distress, wait on Him for His word and do what He says.

Called By God

Sep 20, 2026

Today we looked at Romans 1:1-7 and the fact that we are a called people. Paul was called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. Jesus turned his life around on the road to Damascus, changing him from a zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians, thinking that was God’s will to God’s servant (Acts 9.) We may not be apostles like Paul (though Ephesians 4 makes it plain that God still gives apostles, evangelists, prophets pastors and teachers to help equip God’s people for works of service), but we are all called to be witnesses to what God has done for us in Christ Jesus.

We are also called to the obedience that comes from faith (Rom 1:5), a reminder that faith and actions must work together (James 2:22) and that obedience is the practical outworking of faith (see Matt 7:24-26, Rom 14:23). Our obedience is seen as we love, forgive and serve other people. (Col 3:12-14, Gal 5:21-23).

Paul says that w are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. (Rom 1:6) Belonging is one of the greatest gifts God gives us. We are now part of His family, also known as the body of Christ which reminds us all of us are necessary for the body to function correctly. Belonging means we are not lonely or without purpose but are part of God’s church; we are welcomed and accepted by God.

Finally, God calls us to be His holy people. (Rom 1:7) Holiness is not simply an abstract word. It is our desire to be holy as God is holy, and is a work done by His Holy Spirit in us as we cooperate with Him (the process is known as sanctification.) We are loved unconditionally by God (Rom 5:8) and reflect His character as we forgive others and live a life of sacrificial love.

Paul concludes this section by speaking of grace and peace – God’s gift to us all. The good news is that God has stepped into our world in the person of Jesus and is calling us now to live differently, to live in the world where grace, peace, love and acceptance shape our identities. We are being called to live in the obedience that comes from faith, to be set apart for the gospel of God, to grow in holiness, to reflect who God is to a world that does not know Him.

Eternal Life

Sep 11, 2026

Last night at our Bible study we looked at what Jesus had to say about eternity and eternal life. In John’s gospel, Jesus is described as ‘the Word’ in whom there is life and light (John 1:1-5) and He defined eternal life as knowing God and Jesus Christ. (John 17:3) The Bible describes God as eternal (e.g. Deut 33:27, Isaiah 26:4), which means lasting forever; because He is eternal, He longs to give us eternal life. This was His original intention in the beginning, but sin introduced death and separation from God into the world. Jesus is God’s remedy for sin and the giver of life to us. (John 3:16)
John’s gospel focuses on eternal life and how this is bound up in the person of Jesus and in the faith of those who trust Him. (John 3:12-21. John 5:21-27, John 6:26-59). Eternal life is seen as a gift (see also John 10:27-30), not something which can be earned through good works or our own righteousness. It is something which has both present reality and impact and a future application. Jesus tells us ‘whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. ‘ (John 5:24) Our confidence in possessing eternal life does not arise from our self-importance or understanding but from these words of Jesus.
The ‘now’ and ‘not yet’ of the Christian faith are evident in Jesus’s words about our future home with God (John 14:1-7) and in passages found in 2 Cor 4:16-18 and Rom 8:18-25. Eternal life is linked to the sacrificial death which Jesus must bear in order to reconcile humanity to God. (John 6:48-51) Communion with Christ (remaining in Him, as He puts it in John 15) is essential to eternal life: ‘the one who feeds on me will live because of me.’ (John 6:58)
Ultimately, Jesus taught about two ways, two kingdoms and the importance of making wise choices. Mark 9:43-48 uses stark language to emphasise the importance of these choices as to our eternal destiny. The choices we make now affect our lives not only on earth but beyond this lifetime.

Pray for Spain

Sep 6, 2026

Today we had our fellowship meal and this month our focus is on Spain. We learned some facts about Spain, practised our Spanish greetings and enjoyed Spanish food after the service, including Spanish omelette, paella, patatas bravas and lemon yogurt cake.

We also had two birthdays to celebrate today.