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Mark The People's Bible Commentary - The Fruitless Fig Tree
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - The Fruitless Fig Tree
by BRF - Dick France
The FRUITLESS FIG TREE A pointless display of power? Interwoven with Jesus’ attack on the traders in the temple is the story of his cursing and destruction of a fig tree because it had no fruit. Jesus’ other miracles save life and restore health, but this one seems quite out of c…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - In at the kill
Four Gospels, One Jesus - In at the kill
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
In at the kill The Passion, Mark 14—15 At last we come to the ending – the Markan Passion, a dark scene to which the whole gospel has been leading. Jesus has made his way to Jerusalem, and this geographical concentration has brought the conflict into focus: a lion’s story should …
Four Gospels, One Jesus - From four gospels forward to many Jesuses
Four Gospels, One Jesus - From four gospels forward to many Jesuses
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
From four gospels forward to many Jesuses Many interpretations tend to create the subject’s portrait in the author’s own image. Irenaeus applies the four living creatures not only to the evangelists themselves, but also to their portraits of Jesus: the four symbols are ‘images of…
PAUL AND THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD - The Central Argument
PAUL AND THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD - The Central Argument
by SPCK - N T Wright
Part 1: PAUL AND HIS WORLD Chapter One RETURN OF THE RUNAWAY? 1. A World of Difference (iv) The Central Argument These discussions about the actual situation and the request Paul made have tended, as I said, to make exegetes overlook the point which is just as important in its wa…
Safe in God who always held us
Safe in God who always held us
by Andrew Pratt
Safe in God who always held us from the moment of our birth, still protecting, never resting, till the ending of the earth. God our refuge, loving parent, guiding as our lives proceed; God of providence and comfort seeks to meet our every need. Verse 3 follows Tune: LAUS DEO (Red…
Some voice! it splinters beams of cedar
Some voice! it splinters beams of cedar
by Andrew Pratt
Some voice! it splinters beams of cedar, it flashes out in flames of fire, it thunders over mighty waters, it makes the theme of praise run higher. The shaking earth moves with that thunder, the ground is rattled, rough and raw; this quaking land disturbs the ocean, destructive w…
They met within an upper room
They met within an upper room
by Andrew Pratt
They met within an upper room, they wondered at their friend, disciples who had followed, now anticipate the end. The tension here was palpable for he would be betrayed. and yet he spoke of peace to them, they need not be afraid. Verses 3-4 follow Tune: CLAUDIUS (Fink) AKA: BETHE…
Through the silence at creation
Through the silence at creation
by Andrew Pratt
Through the silence at creation colours wove a brilliant light, shimmering rainbows, shards of lightning broke the darkness of the night. Verses 2-3 foolow Tune: SHIPSTON Metre: 8.7.8.7 Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 21/7/2013 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, www.stainer.…
Where the spirit wafts or blows
Where the spirit wafts or blows
by Andrew Pratt
Where the spirit wafts or blows we will never know, sometimes we will see the signs, let the spirit grow. Yet we never have control, God will make the choice, where to rest, or when to move, give the Word a voice. Verses 3-4 follow Tune: TAKE THIS MOMENT; ST AIDAN (Popple) Metre:…
Who is like a king of glory
Who is like a king of glory
by Andrew Pratt
Who is like a king of glory, wielding justice for each nation, bringing equity and freedom way beyond imagination? Representing God to people, shepherd king, as Israel saw him, ruling them with grace and kindness holding whether losing, winning. Verses 3-4 follow Tune: BABYLON’S …
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Another Moses?
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Another Moses?
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Another Moses? Beginning ministry, Matthew 3—8.1 In the picture of Matthew in the Lindisfarne Gospels, there is another bearded figure peering out from behind the curtain, holding a book. Some scholars and art historians suggest this might be Moses, with the Law. Certainly, Old T…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The ox in the Temple and the stall
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The ox in the Temple and the stall
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
The ox in the Temple and the stall Infancy and beginnings, Luke 1—4.13 Since the ox was the universal beast of burden, it is not surprising that Luke stresses the universal importance of Jesus. We have seen that the opening words of any ancient text were crucial. If Mark is not c…
Rhythms of remembering - Christmas - Friday Morning Prayer
Rhythms of remembering - Christmas - Friday Morning Prayer
by SPCK - Hannah Ward & Jennifer Wild
CHRISTMAS - Friday Morning Prayer RHYTHMS of Remembering Blessed are you, O God: glimpsed in a baby. Joyful is the dark, holy, hidden God, rolling cloud of night beyond all naming, Majesty in darkness, Energy of love, Word-in-Flesh, the mystery proclaiming. Brian Wren...
The Living God - A God who remembers us
The Living God - A God who remembers us
by SPCK - Alister McGrath
A personal God: love and faithfulness 2 A God who remembers us In 2008 I began to research a new biography of C. S. Lewis. This involved reading everything he had written in chronological order, as well as the large amount of literature about him. I came across many early photogr…
The Living God - Can an almighty God do everything?
The Living God - Can an almighty God do everything?
by SPCK - Alister McGrath
An almighty God: power, compassion and suffering 3 Can an almighty God do everything? It’s easy to see why so many people think that believing in an ‘almighty’ God means believing in a God who can do anything and everything – after all, God is God. But when you begin to think abo…
The Living God - An almighty God: power, compassion and suffering
The Living God - An almighty God: power, compassion and suffering
by SPCK - Alister McGrath
An almighty God: power, compassion and suffering 3 It is among my most vivid memories of my early schooldays. One lunchtime, when I was about seven years old, I got into a heated conversation with two classmates over whose father was the most important. Every school playground in…
The Living God - Images as windows into God
The Living God - Images as windows into God
by SPCK - Alister McGrath
Which God Are We Talking About? 1 Images as windows into God A picture is worth a thousand words.’ Being able to show someone a picture of a beautiful scene, a complicated piece of machinery or a pet cat goes a long way towards making up for the limitations of human words. So per…
Poem: Act of God