The Women's Bible Commentary - Wives as the Symbol of Kingship
The Women's Bible Commentary - Wives as the Symbol of Kingship
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Wives a as Symbol of Kingship Whatever justification Absalom might have claimed for killing Amnon, such as Amnon’s rape of Tamar, Absalom’s own royal ambitions are not hurt by having Amnon out of the way…
Mark The People's Commentary - Food in the wilderness
Mark The People's Commentary - Food in the wilderness
by BRF - Dick France
An Abortive “Retreat” This is the only time in Mark’s Gospel that the Twelve are called ‘apostles’. The word means ‘those sent out’, and it describes well the experience they have just shared as Jesus’ emissaries. But having been ‘sent out’, they now return and report back to the…
Mark The People's Commentary - More Healings
Mark The People's Commentary - More Healings
by BRF - Dick France
More Healings Once again Mark allows us a brief respite from the breathless series of amazing events. This more general summary of what Jesus was doing in Galilee at this period, like that in 3:7–12, shows us that the relatively few specific miracles which he has included in his …
Lectio Divina - God's word and scripture
Lectio Divina - God's word and scripture
by SPCK - Enzo Bianchi
God’s Word and Scripture In the first two chapters of this book I offered some reflections in answer to the question, ‘Why spiritual exegesis?’ In the chapters to come, we will ask who should do lectio divina and look at how and where it is done. Before we turn to this topic, we …
Lectio Divina - Challenges during lectio divina
Lectio Divina - Challenges during lectio divina
by SPCK - Enzo Bianchi
Challenges during lectio divina There is no doubt that this primacy of holiness and prayer is inconceivable without a renewed listening to the word of God . . . It is especially necessary that listening to the word of God should become a life-giving encounter, in the ancient and …
Lectio Divina - How the bible has been read
Lectio Divina - How the bible has been read
by SPCK - Enzo Bianchi
How the Bible has been read As we continue to describe an approach to Scripture that can lead us to an encounter with Christ, God’s definitive Word to humanity, it will help to look very briefly at the different ways people have read the Bible over the course of its history…
Lectio Divina - Listening
Lectio Divina - Listening
by SPCK - Enzo Bianchi
Listening If we want our time spent with the Bible to be productive, we need to listen intensely, with a listening heart (lev shomea, 1 Kings 3.9). The entire Bible is predicated on the fact that God speaks and people listen. People in the Bible walk by faith and not by sight, be…
Lectio Divina - Lectio divina: foundations and practice
Lectio Divina - Lectio divina: foundations and practice
by SPCK - Enzo Bianchi
Lectio divina: foundations and practice We have given a brief overview of what lectio divina is and what makes it possible. We are now ready to look at the ways in which this prayerful, ecclesial method of reading the Bible is both traditional and contemporary…
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Peace | Fruit of the Spirit
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Peace | Fruit of the Spirit
by BRF - Rona Orme
Peace is much more than the absence of noise or activity. Jesus spoke eloquently of the peace he gives (John 14:27) that would help people not to worry or be afraid. This session focuses on Jesus saying, 'Peace, be still' to the storm. Session aim To experience something of the p…
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Persistence
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Persistence
by BRF - Rona Orme
It is easy to become discouraged from praying regularly, but Jesus emphasised the importance of being persistent. It is important to encourage everyone to find different ways to maintain interest and different reminders to help them persist. To know that Jesus told everyone to ke…
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Sorry
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Sorry
by BRF - Rona Orme
Learning to say 'sorry' to God, or confessing sin, is a significant step along the path of discipleship. It helps people to get a more accurate view of themselves, accept responsibility for their thoughts and actions, and open themselves to receive God's forgiveness. The response…
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Listening prayer
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Listening prayer
by BRF - Rona Orme
Children are often taught to reflect quietly at school, so it may not be difficult to share a time of silent listening to God. This session also underlines that prayer involves two-way communication with God. Everyone needs to learn to move beyond just talking to God and presenti…
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Joy | Fruit of the Spirit
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Joy | Fruit of the Spirit
by BRF - Rona Orme
What is the difference between 'joy' and 'happiness'? Happiness can come from temporary things, such as eating an ice cream or watching a film. It may involve an element of selfishness: if one football team beats another, their supporters will be happy at the expense of the other…
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Praise
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Praise
by BRF - Rona Orme
It is easy to praise God when life goes well, but it is more of a challenge when we are feeling sad or worried. Matt Redman's song 'Blessed be your name' emphasises the importance of praising God in 'the desert place' as well as in the land that is plentiful. It captures the impo…
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Love | Fruit of the Spirit
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Love | Fruit of the Spirit
by BRF - Rona Orme
This session introduces the theme of the nine fruit of the Spirit. Nearly everyone has some understanding of what love is, so the Bible character featured is Herod, who did not show love. Session aim To understand that the Holy Spirit can give love to bless family, friends and th…
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - Praying for others