After Jesus spoke the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Matthew’s Gospel then proceeds to display the things Jesus did (Matthew 8-10) interspersed with commands from Jesus to follow Him. Matthew 8:1-17 tells of three separate incidents in which the power of Jesus to heal was on show. What do we learn from these healings? And, what is Matthew telling us about Jesus?
Author: Philip
‘Humility: The Way Up’ (Luke 14:7-11)
‘Abraham: A New Testament perspective’ (Hebrews 11:8-19)
The story of Abraham does not end with his death. The New Testament has much to say about his life and faith – especially in Hebrews 11:8-19. There, we find Abraham and Sarah’s names among the roll call of the faithful and we see the elements of what it means to live a life of faith and persevere to the end and prove to be faithful.
Presbyterian Church of Victoria’s ‘Religion in the Public Square Colloquium’
Every year, the Church and Nation Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria puts together a world-class collection of speakers who address topics at the very heart of current public debate – all with the purpose of equipping God’s people to address our ever changing culture with the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This year’s Colloquium is no exception. You can read about the full line up of speakers and their topics here.
The dates are November 15th and 16th. The venue is the Assembly Hall, 156 Collins Street (next to Scots’ Church, Melbourne) and is easy accessed via public transport in the CBD. Lunch is provided in the purchase of full or part registrations on both days.
Register now to reserve a place!
‘Abraham: Final steps’ (Genesis 23:1-20 and 25:1-11)
The record of Sarah’s death and, then eventually, Abraham’s death, is found in Genesis 23:1-20 and Genesis 25:1-11. The Bible gives great honour to Sarah, recording her age at death and the details concerning her burial. The same honour is given to Abraham, who the grand age of 175 was ‘gathered to his people’. However, the death of Abraham is not the end of the story. His greatest Son, Jesus, whose story ends with an empty grave, brings God’s people a real and living hope.
‘Abraham: Extreme steps’ (Genesis 22:1-19)
The account of Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22:1-19 is surely the climactic point in the development of the faith of Abraham. After all that he had been through in relation to the promises of God that he would have a son, it must have been heart breaking for him to have to do what the Lord entreated him and offer Isaac as a burnt sacrifice. What would he do? Obey God and so prove the genuineness of his faith.
‘Abraham: Worshipping steps’ (Genesis 21:22-34)
The account of Genesis 21:22-34 records the development of an unusual working relationship between Abraham and King Abimelech of Gerar. After Abraham’s last encounter with Abimelech in Genesis 20 which didn’t go so well, this time, their interaction – particularly from Abraham’s point of view – went so much better! The section of text is interesting on another level too, in that it provides us with an understanding of covenants in Old Testament times, leading us to remember the God who makes covenants with His people.
‘Abraham: Faithful steps’ (Genesis 21:1-21)
The text of Genesis 21:1-21 tells us that God’s promises to Abraham and Sarah were eventually fulfilled in the birth of the promised son, Isaac. While the story has been concerned with Abraham’s struggle to believe the Lord’s promises, on the other hand, the story also emphasizes the certainty of God’s faithfulness. He did not fail to accomplish what He promised. Although the birth of Isaac created issues for Sarah, Hagar and Ishmael, God’s mercy and grace were still not out of the picture.
‘Abraham: Forgetful steps’ (Genesis 20:1-18)
After the heights of Abraham’s intercessory prayer before the Lord in chapter 18, the next we read of Abraham is in Genesis 20:1-18 where he fell for the ‘same old story’ of a previous incident recorded in chapter 12. Passing Sarah off as his sister (although she was actually his half-sister) before Abimelech almost resulted in disaster for all concerned. But with this repeat offence, God intervened, and by His grace, not only rescued the situation but also used it for Abraham’s (and our) blessing.
‘Making the unacceptable acceptable’ (Matthew 8:1-4)
In the account of Matthew 8:1-4, Matthew records how Jesus showed great compassion to a leper by touching him to heal him. Although the story contains only a small amount of information, it carries a great amount of significance for those who know they are also ‘unclean’ and therefore unworthy.