Understand the Bible

Join me to read John Owen's classic book “The Mortification of Sin in Believers”. This book is one of the best that have ever been written about how to live a holy life. The fourth chapter covers the benefits of mortification — why it is that we should be concerned about it. Topics covered in this chapter: * Power and peace are closely connected with the mortification of sin; * By contrast, sin will weaken and darken our souls and cause us to lose peace; * Graces will be enriched by the mortification of sin. You can download a copy of the book (for free) from this website.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Many people have noticed that things in the world seem to be getting worse: it seems to me even that the darkness looks like it's winning at the moment. How should we as Christians respond? This passage teaches us that the Lord is a warrior, and that he is able to fight with weapons beyond the reach of human beings. If we want to see victory, we need to seek his will and direction.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Join me to read John Owen's classic book "The Mortification of Sin in Believers". This book is one of the best that have ever been written about how to live a holy life. The third chapter covers how we cannot be mortified by ritualistic / formal religion but only by the power of the Holy Spirit. Topics covered in this chapter: * The Holy Spirit is the sole author of mortification;* Ritualised efforts to mortify sin are useless and not specified by God;* Even the means God has given can be abused;* Everything we receive is from Christ via the Spirit;* Why the Spirit's work doesn't mean we can simply do nothing!You can download a copy of the book (for free) from this website.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever heard people saying, “Christianity isn't a religion — it's a relationship with Jesus?” It might be a cliché, but it does have an element of truth about it: Christianity isn't a religion, it's about walking with God and trusting him. In this passage we see how even those who are most ‘religious' can get things wrong.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Join me to read John Owen's classic book "The Mortification of Sin in Believers". This book is one of the best that have ever been written about how to live a holy life. The second chapter covers why mortification is a duty even of the 'best' / most holy believers. In this chapter we look at: * How sin remains in us once we have come to Christ;* Therefore, we always need to be fighting against it to mortify it.* If we do not, sin will continue to grow and grow and lead us to worse temptations.* Being a Christian gives us the moral strength to oppose sin.* If we do not mortify sin, it will rot our souls.You can download a copy of the book (for free) from this website.Note: this week, I recorded the livestream so I could post it here as well as uploading it to the YouTube channel. I'm planning to do this for each subsequent session!Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Communication is one of the most important things in the world: being able to listen to a message and relay it accurately is vitally important in almost every sphere of life. This is especially the case when it comes to God: God wants people who are prepared to listen to him. What does that mean for us?Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

People sometimes say “family is everything”. But what does the Bible say about how we should see families? In this passage we see both the importance of families, but also how families shouldn't come before God. We are warned not to take our salvation for granted but make sure that we are seeking to live by faith every day.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Parenting is one of the hardest things that you can do in life — and it is also often a thankless task. It seems to be valued less and less by society. Yet, God values it hugely. In this passage we see the contrast between Elkanah and Hannah and Eli in the way they brought up their children, and what difference it made. Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

In Andrew Lloyd-Webber's musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, the message people come away with is: ‘dreams can come true.' It doesn't mention God at all! Perhaps people might read this story of Hannah and Samuel and think that the message here is the same. But here, as with Joseph, the Bible's message is something very different: God has to be central.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

One of the most common questions new Christians have is something like, “What is the difference between all the different kinds of churches?” Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Anglican, United Reformed, Catholic… what's the difference? Why do we need all these different denominations?In this video we take a closer look at denominations. We take a brief look at the history of denominations in the church, then look more deeply at Methodism as an example. We finish by thinking about some ways in which we should and shouldn't think about denominations.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

If you wanted to change the world, how would you go about it? Become an activist or a politician? Try to get rich? The world is full of people trying to do just that — but God's ways are very different to our ways. In fact, they are almost the complete opposite. God chooses to use people who look nothing like what the world would expect.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

What would you say is the most revolutionary teaching in the Bible? In this sermon we explore one of the most revolutionary things that Jesus taught — so much so that many churches today still have yet to grasp it. What is the family of God, and what difference does it make to how we are together as the church?Note: the sermon is a couple of days early this week due to holiday — I will be away for the next two weeks. The next sermon is due to be released on 15th August.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Has anyone ever said to you they'd believe in God if God provides them with evidence that he exists? In this passage, the Pharisees asked Jesus to give them a sign — but Jesus' reply showed their request up for what it was. We must avoid their attitude of hard-heartedness towards God and be aware of the root of unbelief.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Is there any sin we can commit which is so bad it can't be forgiven? Jesus says there is only one unforgivable sin — that is, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. But, as we discover, it is a different kind of sin to any other. What does it mean for us and how we live?Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Media appearances, self-promotion, meetings with important people… these are all the things we associate with our political leaders today. Jesus is completely different to this. Jesus doesn't promote himself, he doesn't separate himself from ordinary people — he came with a heart of compassion towards us. This passage shows us that Jesus will not break a “bruised reed” — but what does that mean?Find Richard Sibbes' book “The Bruised Reed” here.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

A lot of Christians give the impression that obeying God is simply about ticking off a long list of rules every day. The Pharisees thought that obeying the rules — like the Sabbath — was the most important thing. However, Jesus says they'd forgotten what obeying God was supposed to be about. Jesus turned their concept of obedience on its head and showed us what it really means to obey God.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

If God chooses people, how do we know whether we are ‘chosen' or not? And what does it mean to be chosen by God anyway? This passage helps us to understand what it means to be chosen by Jesus. In particular, we see that it means not trusting in our own wisdom and strength but God's, and simply bringing our burdens to Jesus.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

In this short passage, Jesus denounces towns which have rejected him. He shows that rejecting Jesus is a spiritual or moral issue, and that this will have consequences. This shows us that we need to pay careful attention to how we respond to Jesus and make sure that we listen to him every day.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

What is the biggest barrier to knowing Jesus? One of the biggest barriers we have is our own expectations. We come to Jesus, expecting him to be a certain way, but if he does not meet our expectations it challenges us: will we let Jesus be Jesus in our lives, or will we ignore him because he didn't meet our expectations?Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

What does Jesus really ask of His disciples? In this sermon on Matthew 10, we explore how much Jesus expects of us.Jesus commissions His disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God, warns them to expect opposition—even from family and authorities—and calls them to fear God above all. This powerful chapter reveals the true cost and reward of discipleship.Key Points:* Freely Give: If we've received God's grace, we should share it with others.* Expect Opposition: We are in a spiritual battle—opposition is normal.* Take Up Your Cross: Following Jesus means putting Him first, even above life itself.

In this sobering sermon on Lamentations 5, we are reminded that God's mercy is not something we deserve—it is a gift extended only to the truly penitent. In a world where entitlement often distorts our view of grace, this message calls us back to a biblical understanding of repentance, humility, and gratitude.Discover the two key truths at the heart of this message:* Our sin is deeply offensive to God. We are, as the hymn Man of Sorrows declares, "guilty, vile, and helpless." True sorrow for sin—not presumption—must mark our approach to Him.* God graciously forgives the penitent. When we come to Him with genuine repentance, we find not condemnation, but forgiveness, joy, and the strength to live lives of grateful obedience.If you're seeking a deeper understanding of God's mercy, the seriousness of sin, and the transforming power of true repentance, this sermon will challenge and encourage you. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Why does it feel like everything is falling apart? In this sermon on Lamentations 4, we explore the deep parallels between the moral and spiritual collapse of ancient Jerusalem and the confusion, injustice, and chaos we see in our world today.Why are those who do good often punished, while those who do evil are celebrated or excused? Why does society seem to reward wickedness and ignore righteousness? This message reveals how turning away from God leads to societal breakdown—and how even the church is not exempt.Join us as we dig into Scripture to understand:* The spiritual decline described in Lamentations 4* How our modern world reflects similar patterns of sin and judgment* Why the rejection of God's ways leads to confusion and injustice* The urgent need for repentance, especially within the church* How we can realign our lives with God's truth and righteousnessUnderstand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Have you ever done something so bad to someone else that you've thought, “there's no way back from this”? Tragically, some relationships do end with people never speaking to one another again. But if that's the case with human relationships, how much more so with a holy God? In this passage from Lamentations we're going to think about the way back called repentance.Thomas Watson's book on repentance can be downloaded here (PDF).Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Most of us by nature don't like to think of God's anger (or ‘wrath'). But sometimes we are forced to confront it, as in this passage from Lamentations. What is God's anger, and why is it important for us to think about in our lives as Christians?Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

It's human nature to want to blame everybody else for our problems. This is doubly true in our society today, where everything is psychologised. However, the Bible says that we need to take sin seriously — we need to take personal responsibility seriously. In the first of this sermon series on Lamentations, we take a look into the darkest moment in Israel's history to see what we can learn.You can find the Bible Project's summary of Lamentations here.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

All through Hebrews we have been hearing about the wonderful truths of the gospel - Christ the mediator of a new covenant, and so on. But the final chapter moves on to focus us on what difference these truths should make to our lives — especially on loving one another and honouring our leaders.The organisations I mentioned were Open Doors and Christian Concern.You can read more about my book, Confused by Grace (including about where to buy it), on the Understand the Bible website.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

People sometimes accuse the church of turning ‘God Almighty' into ‘God all-matey'. Christians often struggle to reconcile the holiness of God with the access we have to him through Christ Jesus. This passage from Hebrews helps us to understand how we should approach God.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Being a Christian is not a walk in the park: in fact, it can feel like a real struggle — whether the opposition is within us or outside of us. This passage helps us to see our struggles in perspective, to help us understand them, and encourage us to carry on the straight and narrow path.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

A lot of people talk about “living by faith” — but what does it really mean? This passage from Hebrews is all about living by faith. It shows us how important it is, what it looks like, and encourages to carry on despite the fact that it's hard.The session I did on science and faith can be found on my website.If you enjoy these videos, subscribe to get them delivered to you. And if you appreciate and benefit from Understand the Bible, please do consider becoming a paid subscriber Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Every preacher knows that they have to answer the question ‘so what' — what relevance do these truths have to do with my life? The author of Hebrews is no exception, and in this passage we turn to how the teaching about Jesus' sacrifice and ministry as high priest should make a difference to us. He focusses on drawing near to God, persevering despite sin and persecution, and the importance of meeting together.You can find a free copy of John Owen's book On the Mortification of Sin here (modernised edition).Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Why did God give the Law, and why did God send Jesus? We can't understand how Jesus fulfils the old covenant unless we understand what God wants from us in the first place. The answer is summed up in one word - holiness. In this sermon we think about holiness and how Jesus is the fulfilment of everything that God promised for us.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.You can find a free eBook of Holiness by J.C. Ryle on Monergism.My book, Confused by Grace, can be found here. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

If you're new to Christian circles, you might wonder why there is a regular reference to blood — especially to the blood of Christ. What is it about his blood in particular which is important? In Hebrews chapter 9, we see why blood was so important to the Old Testament sacrifices, and how Jesus came to fulfil it.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Is the Old Testament obsolete? Some people seem to think so! This passage helps us to understand the purpose of the Old Testament system of sacrifices and priests, and how we should understand it now as Christians. We need to understand that we have something far superior in Jesus to the old covenant.Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

There are many things in life we need, and even more things we might think we need! But the truth is that only Christ can truly meet our needs. This passage draws on an obscure Old Testament character named Melchizedek to see how Jesus gives us something superior to anything else the world has to offer.⛪CHURCH WITH UTBThis sermon is part of a weekly service which is accessed online - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Hope is what can keep us going through hard times in life. But what kind of hope do we have as Christians? Is it something only for the future? Are there promises we can look to now? And how do we know God will keep them?⛪CHURCH WITH UTBThis sermon is part of a weekly service which is accessed online - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Some people just assume that Christians will grow, no matter what. But this passage from Hebrews warns us that spiritual growth is not a given, and warns us that it is in fact possible to go in the wrong direction. There is a solemn warning that those who fall away cannot be brought back to repentance. This should be an encouragement to us to keep going, no matter what. Links mentioned in the sermon: J.C. Ryle's short piece about profiting from the scriptures. Resources on the UTB website. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB This sermon is part of a weekly service which is accessed online - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This passage gives us confidence to approach God, because Jesus - our great high priest - can sympathise with our weaknesses. He experienced suffering and temptation, and yet he overcame, so he is able to help us in our time of need. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB This sermon is part of a weekly service which is accessed online - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

What does it mean to live in God's "rest"? How can we enter into it? The passage from today's sermon explores the promise of entering God's rest, how it was not fulfilled in the Israelites, and how that promise still stands open for us today. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB This sermon is part of a weekly service which is accessed online - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Christians today face so many pressures to give up on Jesus. It seems like there is pressure at every point - work, family, friends, society, media. Fortunately, Christians through the ages have faced this same pressure, and we need to listen to what Hebrews has to say to help us. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB This sermon is part of a weekly service which is accessed online - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Something which many people through the years have struggled with is the idea of a God who could die for us. Isn't suffering and dying a bad thing? And why should that be necessary? This passage from Hebrews helps us to understand why Jesus' death was necessary, why he had to be made fully human. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB This sermon is part of a weekly service which is accessed online - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Hebrews was written to encourage Christians who were being persecuted to stick with Jesus no matter what. Its message couldn't be more relevant to the church today. In this passage we see how Jesus is superior to anything or anyone else, and how we should stick with him. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB This sermon is part of a weekly service which is accessed online - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We can see from the first two chapters of Thessalonians that the church was going through a difficult and turbulent time: persecution and false teaching had an effect. In this final chapter, Paul encourages the church to focus on what's most important, how God wants the church to be. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB This sermon is part of a weekly service which is accessed online - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Who is the Antichrist, or the "man of lawlessness"? What will he be like, and how will he come? And what does that mean for how we should live? ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB Because church doesn't need to be complicated - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

According to a recent report, Christians are the most persecuted religion in the world. Does this show that God is unfair and unjust? In this passage we see that the opposite is actually true. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB Because church doesn't need to be complicated - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Evangelism has become a big talking point in the church - there are many books, courses, even conferences about it. And yet I believe the church has made it far too complicated! In this passage we see what Jesus' mission was all about, and what it should be like for us too. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB Because church doesn't need to be complicated - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this passage we see two contrasting pictures - of faith, and of unbelief. What is it that causes people to reject Jesus, and what should it be like for us instead? ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB Because church doesn't need to be complicated - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

What does faith have to do with healing, and - more generally - how we live our lives? In this passage we see two examples of people who demonstrated their faith in Jesus. What lessons can we learn for today? ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB Because church doesn't need to be complicated - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

It can be very easy in the Christian life to get stuck in a rut - to turn up to church and do the same things that we always do, but just 'go through the motions'. In this passage Jesus explains that we need to do things differently with him. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB Because church doesn't need to be complicated - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this passage, we see that Jesus doesn't want people who think they are already good enough. He wants people who are humble enough to recognise they need him. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB Because church doesn't need to be complicated - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Discipleship is all about the identity of Jesus - not in an intellectual sense, but a personal one: what does Jesus mean to you? In this passage we see the kind of faith that God wants us to have. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB Because church doesn't need to be complicated - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this passage, the disciples receive a lesson in what it means to follow Jesus. Following him may be hard, but we need to choose the path of faith over fear. ⛪CHURCH WITH UTB Because church doesn't need to be complicated - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠check it out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.