Welcome

Readings: Judges 9; Isaiah 35; 1 Peter 1

In our reading in 1 Peter 1:16 we read, “Be ye holy; for I am holy”. Holiness. What is it?  What does it mean?  Why do we need to be holy?  The word in the Greek has the idea of sacred, physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated.  Peter is quoting from Leviticus 11:45: “For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Reading: Amos 3                                                                         

On 6th February, 2023, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks devastated southeast Turkey and northwest Syria. At the time of writing, the death toll is over 44,000 and continues to rise. There were over 87,000 injuries and 47,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced across a region already affected by turmoil from 12-year conflict in Syria and an ongoing refugee crisis.

Readings: Joshua 14; Isaiah 19; Titus

The letters Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus are known as the pastoral epistles. They give guidance concerning the care of ecclesias and qualifications for elders. The work of Timothy was concerned with the ecclesia in Ephesus whilst that of Titus was the strengthening of ecclesias in Crete.

In Part 1, we said there are interesting resonances between the stories of Jonah and the Apostle Paul. These particularly related to their sea voyages. There are some points of similarity and some points of difference. All are fascinating. First, a clarification – Paul writes: “Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep” (2 Corinthians 11:25). Although Paul says he was shipwrecked three times, only one occasion is described for us. This one then, is of particular significance. Before we look at that, there is another point of interest in the narrative sequence within Acts.

This might not seem an obvious coupling of Bible characters. Paul and Barnabas maybe, Paul and Silas; but Paul and Jonah? Some individuals we encounter in Scripture share similar characteristics because, as types of Christ, they inevitably follow the same pattern and have many things in common. But others are not so obviously linked. With Paul and Jonah there is no expectation of a shared set of characteristics. However, whilst reading of the shipwreck of the Apostle Paul, on one occasion, a number of things resonated with the account of Jonah’s voyage as he tried to flee to Tarshish. There seemed to be significant similarities and contrasts between the two stories.

Readings: Deuteronomy 31; Isaiah 3-4; Colossians 1

As you start reading this exhortation, please pause and take a breath. We want to think about just what we are doing. We are here to remember the Lord Jesus Christ through bread and wine, as he commanded us. He is the pinnacle of God’s creation and the central point of His plan. He never succumbed to sin, he is perfect in every way, and now he sits in immortal glory at the right hand of his Father in heaven. At his ascension, Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). This is our loving saviour, who we remember today.