As I started reading 1 Thessalonians this week, I had to stop and meditate already after the 3rd verse of the letter. Paul thanks God for his audience, specifically for their faith, love, and hope. The placement of these comments so early in the letter suggests these are essential marks
Continue readingRomans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Society has moved on even since I was a lad and so has a mother’s role to some degree, but the pity of this is society somehow can now take a dim view of mothers
Continue readingDear Members and friends of IBCZ, Looking back to Abraham’s life in the sermons of the last months, many points are still relevant today, more than 3000 years ago. Abraham is known for having faith, but even being one of the great figures in the bible it was quite amazing
Continue readingMost of you have heard the disturbing news of the bombings in Sri Lanka. Many of the more than 300 victims are Christians. Whilst Sri Lanka is not generally known to be a country where Christians are persecuted, Open Door (a charity helping the persecuted church) nevertheless lists it on
Continue readingAt the very heart of the Gospel is the Christian’s reality of what the reformer Martin Luther coined – Simul Justus et Peccator. Simul – where we get the word simultaneous; at the same time. Justus – just; righteous. Et – and. Peccator – sinner. This Latin phrase captures two realities, two truths about the believer’s very essence –
Continue readingThis past Sunday we learned that while people usually expect satisfaction in life to result from the successful achievement of some goals they have set for themselves, the real and sustainable satisfaction comes from accomplishing God’s will for one’s life. Even when we are aware of this and focus on
Continue readingDear Members and friends of IBCZ, These last few weeks we heard in the sermons how Abraham came to Canaan. In the beginning of his walk with God he had ups and downs trusting God. We may experience the same feelings he had those days also now, thousands of years
Continue readingA terse definition from a popular dictionary is: “Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others”. A more modern dictionary indicates: “Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to help the physical, mental, or emotional pains of another”. There is a well know
Continue readingNot long ago, we had an interesting discussion at the dinner table, namely to what extent does it matter if I pray? After all, God knows what I want to say, he knows what I need and He has already made up his mind on this or that issue? In
Continue readingLast Sunday we considered the fascinating account in Gen. 18 of Abraham inquiring of God if God would spare the evil town of Sodom if a certain number of righteous people could be found there. Abraham asked God, “What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you
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