Archive
13-24 May 2008:
The heart of the matter David Dewey
Referring to the historical sections of the Old Testament, the apostle Paul comments, ‘These things happened … as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come’ (1 Corinthians 10:11, NIV). Violent border sk... 1 Samuel 13-18
7-12 May 2008:
Justice and mercy Jonny Baker
We live in a mediated universe in which we have got used to disasters. With television, mobile phones, and the Internet, when a disaster strikes almost anywhere in the world it is broadcast to us within seconds. This mediated world can be exhausting. How ... Joel
2-6 May 2008:
Words of wisdom Luis Palau
My father died when I was 10 years old. Praise God, he knew the Lord intimately, having received Christ at the age of 23. But it still didn’t make life easy for me. The man I looked up to for strength, support and counsel was gone.
As I think back on m... Proverbs 1-3
19 April - 1 May 2008:
Hope for the world John Grayston
In Romans 1:1 – 3:20 Paul explained that all people are sinners – both as members of a fallen human race and because of their own sinful acts. As a consequence they are cut off from God. In 3:21 – 5:21 he talked about how we can be put right with God thro... Romans 8-11
10-18 April 2008:
Way out Dave Gidney
I’ve called this series ‘Way out’ because that’s what ‘exodus’ means. These chapters are about God rescuing his people from trouble, and bringing them to a special place. God is still doing the same thing today for his people.
The events described in t... Exodus 6-12
1-9 April 2008:
Time Lord Penny Boshoff
The British TV programme Doctor Who has captivated the imagination of successive generations. I watched it as a child and now, 30 years later, my children are gripped too. Doctor Who, a ‘Time Lord’, does what we can only imagine doing. He travels through ... Acts 9,10
26-31 March 2008:
A new era begins Charles Price
The book of Isaiah has interesting parallels with the rest of the Bible. It contains 66 chapters (the Bible contains 66 books) and it’s divided into two main sections. The first 39 chapters focus on Judah’s rebellion against God’s sovereignty (like the 39... Isaiah 40-43
15-25 March 2008:
Dying for you Amy Orr-Ewing
Get ready for a gripping account of Jesus’ trial, death and resurrection as you prepare to read about the events at the heart of the gospel.
Luke is a learned historian who reveals his approach to his writing at the beginning of his Gospel (see Luke 1:... Luke 22-24
7-14 March 2008:
That’s God, this is me! Terry Clutterham
I wonder how you’re feeling today, and what’s going on in your life to make you feel that way. Me? Well, there are good days and bad days, ups and downs; days when I feel like giving up, others when I know for sure I could conquer the world; days when I w... Psalm 24-31
26 February - 6 March 2008:
The art of being saved Alistair Metcalfe
Christians often talk about having been saved. We don’t talk so much about being saved. But we should.
The gospel turns everything upside down: human beings who deserved nothing but wrath have received mercy from God. People who were doomed to be his ete... Romans 5-8
18-25 February 2008:
Who’s in charge? Ken Edgecombe
These chapters of 1 Samuel allow us a view of Saul, the first king of Israel. More than that, they give us an insight into the nation who wanted him appointed, and most significantly, they give a picture of the relationship between that nation and their G... 1 Samuel 6-13
8-17 February 2008:
Jesus for everybody Gavin Reid
Luke was a Gentile doctor, writing with Gentile readers in mind. There were masses of stories that could be told about Christ (see John 21:25), so the Gospel writers selected those which also fitted the needs of their audiences.
Luke wanted to flag up ... Luke 6,7
30 January - 7 February 2008:
It’s your call Anna Caroe
For many of us, we grew up learning about God through the stories of the Old Testament. Maybe you are teaching your children to know God by now sharing the same stories with them. But I wonder if sometimes these stories grow too well-known to us, too much... Exodus 1-6
19-29 January 2008:
Grace for all Mike Frost
Rome was the centre of the known universe during Paul’s time and he was well aware of how strategic it was for the church in the imperial capital to be theologically and relationally healthy. So he produces his most sustained theological defence of the go... Romans 1-4
11-18 January 2008:
Families at war Andrew Graystone
These readings from 1 Samuel focus on two families. On the one hand there is Elkanah’s family: busy and boisterous, with kids everywhere. Imagine getting that lot ready to go out to worship together. No wonder they only made it once a year! They are faith... 1 Samuel 1-5
1-10 January 2008:
Getting to know him Gillian Peall
Christmas is over – the food has been eaten and the decorations are coming down. We have celebrated the birth of Jesus with carols and special services remembering the amazing culmination of Old Testament prophecies from centuries before.
None of the G... Luke 4,5
23-31 December 2007:
God with us Simon Jones
As Isaiah sets about his prophet’s task, the world is astir. Judah is surrounded by quarrelsome neighbours; squashed between the empires of Assyria and Egypt it has a grandstand view of world history. Further afield the Upanishads, the founding texts of H... Isaiah 5-12
18-22 December 2007:
When love comes to town Nigel Hopper
I came across a letter recently from someone who had taken exception to an article published by Scripture Union. Interestingly, it began by expressing sincere appreciation for all the inspiration and guidance a particular SU publication had given them and... 2 Thessalonians
10-17 December 2007:
A time for questions David Lawrence
What shall I get for Mum? How much should I spend? Last year she didn’t seem to ‘get’ the Tearfund goat we brought her. How about a Fairtrade organic recycled plastic snakeskin handbag as a compromise this year?
What shall I get Mum? It’s a tough questio... Mark 12,13
3-9 December 2007:
Blessing and obedience Gill Hollis
Reality TV shows are ‘in’. We love to get involved in other people’s lives from the tranquillity of our armchairs! This week we have the opportunity to become involved in the final stages of the Joseph saga. But, unlike the TV shows, this is real reality ... Genesis 47-50
21 November - 2 December 2007:
Under pressure Bruce Dutton
These chapters contain the beginning of the end of Mark’s account of Jesus’ ministry on earth. In chapter 10, Jesus leaves Galilee (the geographic centre of his support and his childhood home) and travels south to Jerusalem, the power base of his bitteres... Mark 10-12
11-20 November 2007:
Facing the music Alison Hull
The Thessalonian church was founded during one of Paul’s first missionary journeys (see Acts 17) and almost immediately persecution drives Paul and his team (which includes Silas and Timothy) out of the city. Concerned for these new Christians in such a h... 1 Thessalonians
3-10 November 2007:
God's big story Steve Brady
Many Christians have heard of the exodus. In these chapters we learn about the eisodus: how Israel ever came to be in Egypt in the first place. The writer takes time to relate the story of Jacob, Joseph and his brothers and their relocation to Egypt from ... Genesis 42-46
26 October - 2 November 2007:
Listen to the spirit Neil Dougall
Recently – having heard about it for years but never done anything more – I signed up with a spiritual director. Thanks to her gentle prodding, I have become more alert for God speaking to me in the ordinary things of life. It’s not been earth-shattering,... Acts 6-8
19-25 October 2007:
Playing your part Robert Harrison
You want to play your part in God’s plan, I know. You wouldn’t be reading Daily Bread if you didn’t. But what does it feel like to be living in God’s plan?
We tend to assume that when life is going smoothly, we are safely in God’s plan; when we feel at p... Genesis 37-41
11-18 October 2007:
Learning to follow Rachel Samways
‘Rags-to-riches’ is a familiar theme which we all love because there is always a happy ending. The disciples desperately wanted a happy ending for Jesus. They were content to travel with him on foot, to have no home and no status – as long as it was all l... Mark 8,9
1-10 October 2007:
In times of trouble Mike Hawthorne
As an English teacher, my favourite lessons often involved doing a poem. To be sure, the emotional intensities involved might unsettle a class, but in terms of opportunities to explore free ideas and dig deeper into real feelings and natures, little can b... Psalm 15-23
25-30 September 2007:
What are you looking at? Joannah Saxton
Jesus was always overturning people’s perceptions and expectations. He challenged people’s view of the world around them. He gave new insight into personal responsibility. He cared where others didn’t; he remembered people others had forgotten. He spoke o... Mark 7,8
17-24 September 2007:
Why do good people suffer? David Tolputt
A wise person once said, ‘For every complex problem in the world, there is a simple solution … that’s usually wrong!’ The story of Job is a testimony to that: here is the complex problem of ‘Why do good people suffer?’
Job, an honest, upright man, is en... Job 19-42
1-16 September 2007:
Walking in the light Robert willoughby
The letters of John can be quite strange to read. They are certainly not much like the letters of Paul. In many ways they resemble the style of John’s Gospel and seem to ramble a bit and repeat what they are saying. Read John 17 and you’ll see what I mean... John 1,2,3 John and Jude
25-31 August 2007:
Happy families? Dave Gidney
‘Ship’s company fall out’ was a familiar command during my Royal Naval service. It was also a relational experience amongst the crew! Living in close proximity ‘below decks’ meant that the line between friendship and friction was narrowly drawn. To functi... Genesis 31-35
16-24 August 2007:
Awkward questions Mike Law
Biblical scholars have debated whether the story of Job is historical or fictional. But the importance of Job’s book lies in what it teaches rather than its historical background