The Self-giving Life
Mark Howard
As God’s children, how should we respond when people treat us badly? In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus teaches us to meet hostility with grace – something he has done supremely for us when he died to save us.
The Faithful Life
Mark Howard
One aspect of life in which we experience our fallenness most acutely is in the realm of love, sex and marriage. In Matthew 5:27-32, Jesus spells out God’s purpose for us in this area. By His Spirit, Jesus helps us to be faithful and reflect the faithful love he has shown us as his disciples.
The God-Approved Workman
Mark Howard
As we celebrate the ordination and installation of our assistant pastor, we consider Paul’s God-breathed instructions to Timothy about what it means to seek God’s approval rather than the approval of other people.
The Peaceful Life
Mark Howard
“Thou shalt not murder” – it’s a commandment that receives almost universal recognition. But what does it imply? Is God content so long as we don’t kill one another? In Matthew 5:21-26, Jesus shows that the implications of this commandment are far deeper and wider than we expect. God isn’t just concerned murder but about […]
The Lawful Life
Mark Howard
Having spelled out the Christian’s character and calling, Jesus begins to address our conduct – helping us grasp the relationship between Law and Grace and how what he has come to do relates to the Old Testament.
The Upside-Down Life
Mark Howard
In the beatitudes, Jesus reveals the kind of character God looks on with favor. It’s a very different profile from the one we usually value.
Life and How To Live It
Mark Howard
As we start out our fall series in Matthew 5 we consider how we should approach the sermon on the mount. Is it general moral guidance? Does it just expose our moral failure? What do the context, content and connections with the Old Testament show us?
When Grace Revives
Mark Howard
Having rescued Jonah, God now gives him a second chance. The outcome of that mission is that Nineveh are also given a second chance. All of this reminds us that we serve the God of second chances. His grace to Jonah, to Nineveh, and to us is truly amazing!
When Grace Rescues
Mark Howard
After being thrown overboard, Jonah is about to drown. In Jonah 2 we see God come to the rescue! Jonah has a glorious experience of God’s saving grace. The question is: does he really appreciate it for what it is?
When Grace Pursues
Mark Howard
People often speak of humanity’s ‘quest for God’. In Jonah 1 we learn that all of us by nature run away from Him. The good news is – whether we are religious hypocrites or lawless pagans – God pursues us in His amazing grace!
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