Soundings
The term ‘God’ must never be abandoned by Christians
PART 2 OF THE SERIES OF MEDITATION ON ‘FAITH TO LIVE BY’ 2. ‘ … in God’ THE meaning of the word “God” has become more than a little ambiguous in the modern world. Ours is a religiously pluralistic world in which some religions claim to have exclusive rights to the word, while others appear […]
Soundings
A tale of two builders
CONCLUDING THE SERIES OF REFLECTIONS ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT Building on sand and building on rock: These metaphors may also refer to calamities experienced in life that would test authenticity of one’s faith Matthew 7:24-29 WE COME to the final passage in the Sermon on the Mount. Here Jesus describes two builders who […]
Soundings
A tree and its fruit
PART 27 OF THE SERIES OF REFLECTIONS ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT ‘Good tree’ = disciples of Christ, ‘Bad tree’ = false prophets Special discernment needed to identify false prophets in ‘sheep’s clothing’ Matthew 7:15-23 IN THIS passage Jesus used the metaphors of trees and fruits to help His disciples to discern genuine discipleship. […]
Soundings
The narrow gate of salvation
PART 26 OF THE SERIES OF REFLECTIONS ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT ‘The way to the Kingdom is difficult and unattractive, but those who take it will receive eternal life’ Matthew 7:13-14 THE Sermon on the Mount ends with four warnings, each presented by a pair of contrasts. Jesus’ audience, who included His disciples, […]
Soundings
Ask, seek and knock
God assures us that He will answer our prayers according to His will Matthew 7: 7-12 IN THIS passage in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus assures His disciples that their prayers will be heard and answered according to God’s love and faithfulness. Some scholars have tried to demonstrate the connection between this passage and […]
Soundings
Will Harry Potter bewitch young minds?
MOST readers are aware of the success of J. K. Rowling’s creation, Harry Potter. Walk into any respectable bookshop, and you will soon be greeted with giant stacks of the Harry Potter books, especially the recently published “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”, the fourth of seven volumes projected by the author. The success […]
