Encounter the Truth

Just as God is united in himself, we are to live out the unity we enjoy and have through the Spirit of God. We must make every effort to do this, and so live worthy of our calling.

Just as God is united in himself, we are to live out the unity we enjoy and have through the Spirit of God. We must make every effort to do this, and so live worthy of our calling.

Paul prays that God will strengthen believers by his Spirit so that we will be established in his love and be able to comprehend the full of extent of that love. And he prays that, as God is powerfully at work in us, he will receive glory in his church. We should pray the same for ourselves and one another.

Paul prays that God will strengthen believers by his Spirit so that we will be established in his love and be able to comprehend the full of extent of that love. And he prays that, as God is powerfully at work in us, he will receive glory in his church. We should pray the same for ourselves and one another.

The preaching of the gospel reveals a truth that could hardly have been believed: that Jews and Gentiles together share in the salvation promises of God. God’s intention is that through his church, made up of both Jews and Gentiles, he should demonstrate the wisdom of his salvation plan to all the universe. Paul feels the weight and privilege of proclaiming such a gospel – and we should feel the p...

The preaching of the gospel reveals a truth that could hardly have been believed: that Jews and Gentiles together share in the salvation promises of God. God’s intention is that through his church, made up of both Jews and Gentiles, he should demonstrate the wisdom of his salvation plan to all the universe. Paul feels the weight and privilege of proclaiming such a gospel – and we should feel the p...

We have been brought together and made one people in Christ. Formerly Jews and Gentiles were separated – with Gentiles excluded from the family of God. But now in Christ and through his law-abolishing death, Gentiles have been brought near and peace and reconciliation have been achieved. We are one people, household, and temple in Christ. This moves us to gratitude, and it calls us to live out our...

We have been brought together and made one people in Christ. Formerly Jews and Gentiles were separated – with Gentiles excluded from the family of God. But now in Christ and through his law-abolishing death, Gentiles have been brought near and peace and reconciliation have been achieved. We are one people, household, and temple in Christ. This moves us to gratitude, and it calls us to live out our...

Continuing to unwrap our spiritual biography, Paul tells us that we were dead in our transgressions, doomed to judgment, and following the evil one. Out of love, God saved us by grace and even seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms, with the purpose that we should do good works. A great transfer has occurred – all of grace. This prevents us from boasting, and fills us with gratitude and prai...

Continuing to unwrap our spiritual biography, Paul tells us that we were dead in our transgressions, doomed to judgment, and following the evil one. Out of love, God saved us by grace and even seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms, with the purpose that we should do good works. A great transfer has occurred – all of grace. This prevents us from boasting, and fills us with gratitude and prai...

Paul prays that the Ephesians will be enabled to know better all that God has given them in Christ and all that he has in store for them. In particular, he wants them to know God’s power for them – the very same power that he exerted to raise Christ to the place of supreme authority on high. The right aim for this message is for us to gain a deeper and wider grasp of these things ourselves – to ha...

Paul prays that the Ephesians will be enabled to know better all that God has given them in Christ and all that he has in store for them. In particular, he wants them to know God’s power for them – the very same power that he exerted to raise Christ to the place of supreme authority on high. The right aim for this message is for us to gain a deeper and wider grasp of these things ourselves – to ha...

The spiritual biography of every Christian humbles us and points to God’s glory: we have been chosen in Christ, included in in him through the gospel, and sealed by this Spirit. This story of our salvation comforts and assures us, and it prompts us to glorify God.

The spiritual biography of every Christian humbles us and points to God’s glory: we have been chosen in Christ, included in in him through the gospel, and sealed by this Spirit. This story of our salvation comforts and assures us, and it prompts us to glorify God.

God is worthy of all praise because he has blessed us so richly, and without our merit. He has purposed to include us in Christ—even as he plans to bring all things in the universe under the headship of Christ—all for the praise of his glorious grace.

God is worthy of all praise because he has blessed us so richly, and without our merit. He has purposed to include us in Christ—even as he plans to bring all things in the universe under the headship of Christ—all for the praise of his glorious grace.

It would be nice to imagine that being a Christian would mean we never encountered conflict any more—conflict with one another, conflict within the church. But sadly, the sinful nature within each one of us is such that we fail relationally and need to deal with the fallout. What do we do when others sin against us? Jesus says to pursue reconciliation and extend forgiveness. These are vital lesson...

It would be nice to imagine that being a Christian would mean we never encountered conflict any more—conflict with one another, conflict within the church. But sadly, the sinful nature within each one of us is such that we fail relationally and need to deal with the fallout. What do we do when others sin against us? Jesus says to pursue reconciliation and extend forgiveness. These are vital lesson...

The values of the kingdom of Jesus Christ are upside down and backwards when compared to the values of this world. Against the backdrop of a world where might is right—where we press our cause and make our case—Jesus commends to us the value of childlike humility. He calls each of us to have that childlike humility as we approach him, as we approach the ugly reality of temptation and sin, and as w...

The values of the kingdom of Jesus Christ are upside down and backwards when compared to the values of this world. Against the backdrop of a world where might is right—where we press our cause and make our case—Jesus commends to us the value of childlike humility. He calls each of us to have that childlike humility as we approach him, as we approach the ugly reality of temptation and sin, and as w...

Jesus is the Son of God—the divine prince of heaven. Matthew makes that so clear to us on the Mount of Transfiguration. As we read on in Matthew, what is so very striking is the way in which Jesus exercises his heavenly authority and power. We see him showing mercy to the suffering, submitting himself to the cross as he prepares to go to Jerusalem, and in his interactions, taking care to avoid off...

Jesus is the Son of God—the divine prince of heaven. Matthew makes that so clear to us on the Mount of Transfiguration. As we read on in Matthew, what is so very striking is the way in which Jesus exercises his heavenly authority and power. We see him showing mercy to the suffering, submitting himself to the cross as he prepares to go to Jerusalem, and in his interactions, taking care to avoid off...

It’s always exciting to take a backstage tour in a grand venue—to see where the stars prepare—perhaps to see them behind the scenes and to know them as they really are. On the Mount of Transfiguration, we are given a backstage pass to see a glimpse of Jesus in his heavenly splendour and to hear the voice of the Father above. Seeing Jesus in this light, we learn to listen all the more closely to hi...

It’s always exciting to take a backstage tour in a grand venue—to see where the stars prepare—perhaps to see them behind the scenes and to know them as they really are. On the Mount of Transfiguration, we are given a backstage pass to see a glimpse of Jesus in his heavenly splendour and to hear the voice of the Father above. Seeing Jesus in this light, we learn to listen all the more closely to hi...

We are so naturally worldly in our thinking, both about Jesus and his mission, and about ourselves and our discipleship. While we would like to imagine that being a Christian will lead to worldly glory and comfort, Jesus calls us to see the centrality of the cross to his mission – and to understand the call of discipleship, to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him.