Lumin

We conclude our journey through the letter to the Romans

I spend too long praying defensive prayers, time to get on the attack

Matthew lists all those names, and names have meanings in Hebrew.This is something of a repeat from earlier but not exactly... there is a lot here.The names in order are Father of manylaughtersupplanter (may God protect)Worshipbreach and shining/brilliancepalm treeenclosedlofty/exaltednobleserpent/oraclemantlein him is strength // broad and spacious servant of God // companion or friend gift of God, the Lord existsbeloved unclepeaceful, complete// God is light. NB Bathsheba means daughter of oath people are enlarged/widemy father is YahwehhealerYahweh has judgedYahweh is exaltedYahweh is my strengthYahweh is perfect/uprightHe grasps/possessesYahweh strengthensHe makes forgetTrustworthy faithful master craftsman Yahweh has healedYahweh has establishedI have asked God for this childoffspring of BabylonFather of praise/renown/ my father is majesty God raiseshelperrighteous, just, fairestablished by Godpraise God/ God is greatGod is helper (El - Azor)Gift of Godsupplanter (may God protect)Yahweh shall increase or addBitter (Heb)/ Beloved (Egyp)

Our need to love each other and be in unity are Paul's theme in this chapter

We see Jesus as God most clearly in Revelation chapter 1_______“What’s Going On?” prayed Daniel as he and his compatriots were taken into exile by the Babylonian Empire, and Jerusalem was left abandoned. “How can this be happening, Lord?”. The answer God gave him forms the book of Daniel. The Babylonian Empire had risen up to rule God’s people, but yet God’s plan was not lost. There would be three further empires to come as well, and there was more to hear but, for now, Daniel was to seal it up. The Messiah was coming, that was enough to focus on for now.“What’s Going On?” prayed the early disciples, among them John, as they watched the Romans destroy Jerusalem and its Temple and all the people fled or were removed from the land of Israel. The answer God gives John forms the book of Revelation. The Roman Empire was part of the Babylonian pattern, and now God reveals that all these Empires are ruled by the ancient Serpent from Eden. Yet God’s plan is not lost, and John learns of the triumphs of God’s Kingdom in the centuries to follow.“What’s Going On?” I have been asked year after year in the school Christian group that I led, as young believers wanted to understand the book of Revelation. I have always told them that in order to understand it they should get to know the rest of the Bible first, as much of the imagery and references in Revelation come from there. “You don’t do your A Levels until you have done your SATS and GCSEs” I would say. Yet still they asked.So I have set myself the task of seeing whether it is possible to teach the message of the whole Bible using the Book of Revelation as the lens to look through. As each image is introduced, to see where it comes from and what the message behind it is, and to see the structure of Revelation through an understanding of the scriptures rather than through the latest news bulletins.Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whats-Going-Using-Revelation-message/dp/B0D87RC6HH?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Two talks on a Christmas theme

Can we eat Pork? Is Sunday special? What about infant baptism?Paul gives us a way of dealing with such questions

John the Baptist appears in all four Gospels. Luke starts with a whole chapter almost exclusively about him. Why?_______We are delighted to learn that this podcast has been selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 50 London Christian Podcasts on the web.https://podcast.feedspot.com/london_christian_podcasts/See others at  Top 50 London Christian Podcasts---------The image is from Unsplash: Photo by Emily Studer on Unsplash

We are taught to love and have no debtsWe are taught to live in the light and not in darkness

The aquarium gets messed up, what happens next is amazing.

Submit to Authorities. Really Paul, do you know what you are asking?!

We look at that long list of names in Matthew. Yes, they give credit to the authenticity of Jesus as a real historical person, but is there more to them?

The second application of this teaching is to Love others

New series, looking at how the 5 books explicitly about Jesus introduce Him in their first chapters

Paul now gets to the applications of his teaching

Paul laments for the salvation of Israel (as does the Holy Spirit, the Author of the Bible). As he does so he recounts the salvation of the Gentiles and longs for the same for all of Israel.

Sermon at St Leonard's Church Grendon Underwood in September 2024Four words found in the Bible that we don't translate

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Paul's heart echoes God's heart as he laments for Israel. To hear the Good News and reject it is a woeful state to be in,

Confess Jesus is Lord and Believe His Word and you shall be saved.