Understand the Bible

Sometimes we can learn as much by looking at the wrong way of doing things as we can from studying the right way. This is the case with the Corinthians: they had been dealing with sin in the church in completely the wrong way. We saw that last week, but this week we're focussing on a particular case study in how they managed to get things wrong…My piece about safeguarding is 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

Have you ever known anyone expelled from a church because of immoral behaviour? Perhaps that is because most churches simply gloss over Paul's teaching here about how important it is to purify the church. If we don't take this teaching seriously, then God will.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 off-putting things about people is hypocrisy: we hate it when people say they believe one thing, but then do something completely different. This is doubly the case for Christians, where our lives should reflect God. What does that mean for us, and how can we avoid hypocrisy?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

Do we out-grow the gospel? Some Christians or churches give the impression that the gospel is there for the start of our lives but we move beyond it as we grow to maturity. But the truth is, we do not out-grow the gospel message of Christ crucified — in fact, it is how we grow. 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 in the world have started to look for wisdom over the last few years. A lot of people have even turned to the Bible. But how do we really find wisdom? In this passage, Paul explains that there is a difference between godly wisdom and worldly wisdom — and he shows how we can get godly wisdom.The session I mention on the Trinity can be found 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

One of the things I see regularly in the New Year is Christians saying that they're going to try and read the whole Bible in a year. In my opinion, trying to read the Bible in a year is (probably) a bad idea — there's something much more helpful you can do instead.You can find the What is Christianity? (Bible overview) course 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

In this passage, we see that the message of the cross looks different from where we are standing: the world thinks it is foolishness, whereas Christians see it as the power and wisdom of God. This has implications for what we believe about God and how he relates to us, and how we should live in the light of 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

We are living in a more divided time than ever — from the wider political realm to friendships and marriages. That makes this passage from 1 Corinthians 1 especially relevant to us: the message of unity through the gospel is one that we need to hear and take to heart.If you'd like to see the video I made about denominations, it is available 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

The start of a new year is an opportunity to make plans for the coming months. But few people — perhaps even Christians — stop to think: “What does God want my plans to be this year?” In this first sermon on 1 Corinthians, we think about what God wants from us and what that means for how we should live as we face the new year.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

We human beings find it difficult to look below the surface. It's easy to see someone who is attractive, rich, powerful or influential, and think they are successful in God's eyes. But the truth is that God is able to look below the surface, to our hearts. What does God look for in us, and why is this one of the most important things we need to hear today?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. This final chapter is about how we can put all the pieces together in our lives.Topics covered in this chapter:* Everything comes through faith in Christ* How Christ is sufficient* How we can be sure of expecting Christ to act -- his faithfulness and mercy* How we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection* The place of the Holy Spirit in all thisFind out more about my book, Confused by Grace.You can download a copy of John Owen's book (for free) from this website.My new project is The Bible Uncancelled: Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

When it comes to obeying God, we can't pick and choose what we want to obey and what we don't. Obeying God needs to be all or nothing. In this passage, we see what happened when Saul decided not to obey God fully, and what the consequences were.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. This chapter is about how we can avoid a false sense of peace and instead seek the peace which is given by God.Topics covered in this chapter:* How we need God to speak peace to us, it is not something we can get ourselves* Peace comes with a hatred of sin, there is no real peace without it* How to know when we are granting peace to ourselves without God, and how we can rightly seek peaceFind out more about my book, Confused by Grace.You can download a copy of John Owen's book (for free) from this website. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Maybe you've asked questions recently about power and authority. In a world where everything seems to be going wrong, who is in charge? Who holds the power? And what does that look like? In this passage we see that true power and authority doesn't look like what the world thinks it does. In God's world, true power and authority looks very different — which is something we should embody 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

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. This chapter is about how we need to get to know God better so we can have a right understanding of his majesty.Topics covered in this chapter:* How we should consider the excellence and majesty of God* How it is that we do not know God as we should or could* How our knowledge of God should lead us to humilityFind out more about my book, Confused by Grace.You can download a copy of John Owen's book (for free) from this website. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

How much difference is it possible for one person to make? We tend to think that only a few, exceptional, people can really make a difference. But this passage teaches us that anyone can make a difference, even to the point of changing the course of a war. What does it mean for us today?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. This chapter is about how we can use the Law to help us grow in understanding our own guilt and need for God to help us.Topics covered in this chapter:* Why Christians do not outgrow the Law. The Law helps us to understand the depths of our own guilt* How the grace of God should teach us to say ‘no' to sin* The grace of longing for deliverance from the power of sin.Find out more about my book, Confused by Grace.You can download a copy of John Owen's book (for free) from this website. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

‘Actions have consequences' — words which are often said to children. But it applies to adults as well: things we do wrong will affect us — both in terms of natural consequences, and possible punishment. When it comes to God, both of these things are true. We need to learn to repent and to live by faith in God rather than fear.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. This chapter is about the importance and even need of cultivating a true sense of the guilt of sin.Topics covered in this chapter:* How we can cultivate a right sense of the guilt for sin and how that helps us as Christians;* The dangers of not feeling guilty, including being hardened against God; correction in this life; loss of peace and strength; and eternal destruction.* The evil there is in sin, including grieving the Spirit and taking away our usefulness to God.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

When we are in times of trouble or difficulty, who do we turn to for help? Maybe we trust in friends and family, or money, or the government to save us. This passage helps us to understand that, when it comes to God, we need to get our priorities right. At the end of the day, only he can save us. What does that mean for 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

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. This chapter is all about the symptoms of particular sins and how to deal with them. In my opinion, if there is one message God wants the church to hear right now, it is within this chapter.Topics covered in this chapter:* The problem of specific long-standing sins* When we become comfortable with sins* Grace must be true grace, not the cheap grace we bestow upon ourselves* Why we are enticed by sin* The weakness of the Law to deal with these kind of sinsYou 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

Do the ends justify the means? If something good as achieved, does it matter how it is accomplished? In this passage, we see once again a nuanced and complex picture of Saul: he may have been what the people asked for, and he may have even given the people victory — but was it really a victory? 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. In this chapter we think about how we must take an ‘all or nothing' approach to mortifying sin. Topics covered in this chapter: * We cannot be selective about the sins we choose to mortify. We must recognise that every sin is offensive to God.* Selective mortification is self-focussed.* If God chooses to allow our sins to continue, it may be because God is using the trouble to help us grow and teach us.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 wanted something so badly, then got it, and found out that you didn't want it after all? We need to be careful with what we want — because sometimes it will turn out that it will be bad for us in the end. In this passage we see God giving the Israelites what they want — but perhaps it won't be a good thing…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 constant temptations we face is to do things according to the world's ways, human power and wisdom. In this passage we see why it is so important to do the Lord's work in the Lord's way: ultimately, authority comes from the Lord and real change will only happen when we know and serve him. Godly leaders are totally different to worldly leaders.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. In this chapter we start to think about how sin can be mortified, and we discover that it is something which can only be done by faith in Christ. Topics covered in this chapter: * Non-Christians cannot truly mortify sin* Sin can only be mortified by faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit* There is real danger in attempting to mortify sin apart from faith* How we need to beware of counterfeit attempts to ease our consciences from sin - e.g. ritualism and formalism in religion.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

Do you have trouble ‘fitting in' as a Christian? In this passage we see what it means to be different from the world around us. What does it mean for God to be our king, and how should we as Christians 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

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. In this chapter we consider what mortification actually IS, rather than what it isn't (as in the last chapter). Topics covered in this chapter: * What it means to mortify sin (to put it to death);* The need to habitually weaken sin not just at its source but its root;* How people can experience this differently;* We should be continually fighting and what that looks like;* Success against sin.You can download a copy of the book (for free) from this website. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

One of the most popular Christian songs of recent years has a line about God ‘roaring with power' and ‘fighting our battles'. But does God really fight our battles? If God fought for Israel, why did they lose to the Philistines in 1 Samuel 4? In this passage we see what changed for the Israelites, and what that has to teach us about how God does (and does not) fight our battles.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. In this chapter we look at what mortifying a sin is NOT, before going to look at what it is. This chapter is important to the modern church because many counterfeits of mortification exist which look like the real thing but are substitutes. Topics covered in this chapter: * What mortification of sin is NOT. In particular:* it is not destroying sin in this life;* it is not disguising sin;* it is not improving our natural disposition;* it is not diverting sin elsewhere;* it is not an occasional conquest.You can download a copy of the book (for free) from this website. Get full access to Understand the Bible at utbible.substack.com/subscribe

Ancient churches and cathedrals give a sense of the awesome majesty and splendour and holiness of God. By contrast, modern church buildings are often much more functional and lack that sense of awe. Perhaps this is simply a reflection of the modern church. In this sermon we look at the holiness of God, and see what it means for how we should relate to him.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 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.