Tag Archives: knowledge

mmmm philippians 2 mmmm

Leave a reply

Mmmm Spanner Crab Tagliolini with Chilli Mmmm

In Australia, we have amazing, fresh seafood!

But that’s not the only food that is mouth-watering.

At Bible College this semester, I’m eating the delicious New Testament.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
    taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    and became obedient to death –
        even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

Remember there was this craze several years ago for “WWJD” bracelets.

“WWJD” stands for What Would Jesus Do?

Teenagers would wear these bracelets to remind them to make godly decisions in life.

Last week my lecturer rightly pointed out “WWJD” should be “WDJD”.

What Did Jesus Do?

The Bible passage above shows exactly what Jesus did for us 2,000 years ago.

Jesus is God and enjoyed the perfect relationship with his Father.

He gave up this relationship to be born into our world as a Man.

Compared to his relationship with his Father, he became “nothing”.

He was not born in a luxurious palace, instead he was born in a farm shed.

He took on human form with all its sickness, hunger, pain and disappointment.

He was a King in Heaven and became a Servant on Earth.

Instead of being served as a King on Earth, he came to serve us humans.

He humbly obeyed his Father and died a humiliating death on a cross.

Crucifixion was the lowest form of punishment reserved for the worst criminals.

Jesus died in our place taking the punishment that we deserved.

Because of his obedience, God raised Jesus back to life again.

Jesus has conquered death once and for all.

God made Jesus King of the Universe again.

Jesus will come again and judge all human beings.

At that time everyone will acknowledge that he is indeed the Lord of everything.

Jesus offers eternal life with him for all his followers.

But those who reject him will face eternal death.

Do you have a real relationship with Jesus?

Do you have the eternal life that Jesus offers?

Can those around you see your actions reflecting that Jesus is LORD of your life?

mmmm Bible mmmm

I do not endorse the advertisement you may see below my blog:

Advertisement

mmmm 1 corinthians 15 mmmm

Leave a reply

Mmmm King Prawn Bee Hoon Chinese Noodles Mmmm

In Australia, we have amazing, authentic Asian food!

But that’s not the only food that is mouth-watering.

At Bible College this semester, I’m eating the delicious New Testament.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
 5 and that he appeared to Peter,and then to the Twelve.
6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time,
most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead,
how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God,
for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.
But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
 21 For since death came through a man,
the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:3-6; 12-17 & 20-22

Christians know that Jesus died on a cross – we still celebrate this on Good Friday in Australia.

We also celebrate his resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday.

2000 years ago some Corinthians denied the resurrection of Jesus.

Apparently they were too sophisticated and smart to believe in such foolishness.

They could not accept the fact that anyone could come back to life after dying.

But the resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

Why is the resurrection so important?

The resurrection of Jesus proves conclusively that there is life after death.

Today as my non-Christian barber cut my hair, I asked whether she celebrated Easter.

She hesitated and unconvincingly claimed that there was no life after death.

I asked, “How can you be so sure?”

Can atheists prove to me that there is NO life after death?

What evidence can they show me that our souls DO NOT live on beyond the grave?

Jesus IS the proof that God has conquered death once and for all.

Our hope rests on the eyewitness accounts of 500+ followers who saw Jesus alive and well.

1 or 2 sightings could be dismissed, but how can you dispute 500 sightings?

So what is the hope that Christians have?

We celebrate God raising Jesus to life as King of the Universe.

After we die, we will also be raised into new bodies and seated in heaven with Jesus.

Death is not the end – death is the gateway to new life.

Earth is our temporary home before we join our King forever.

Are you afraid of dying in this world that is beyond your control?

Death is a certainty – so what will happen to you after you die?

Do you know the King of the Universe now and in the future?

mmmm Bible mmmm

I do not endorse the advertisement you may see below my blog:

mmmm 1 corinthians 13 mmmm

Leave a reply

Mmmm Vietnamese Beef Pho with fresh chilli & mint Mmmm

In Australia, we have amazing, authentic Asian food!

But that’s not the only food that is mouth-watering.

At Bible College this semester, I’m eating the delicious New Testament.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails…

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a

This famous passage about love is often quoted at Christian weddings.

I’ve even seen this plagiarised by marriage celebrants in secular weddings!

But the original context of this passage is quite different to modern day romance.

The author Paul was addressing a serious problem with his Corinthian church audience.

Church members were fighting over the spiritual gifts of tongues and prophecy.

This dispute was causing disunity and division in this young church.

Paul encouraged the Corinthians to exercise their gifts in a loving way.

Fast forward 2000 years to today.

This passage is still extremely relevant to churches and Christians everywhere.

We are not perfect and sometimes we have disagreements within our Christian family.

We are strongly encouraged to resolve our differences with love and forgiveness.

We are not to be like non-Christians who hold grudges, fight and even kill each other.

It’s OK to use this passage at weddings but it can be applied more widely in our community.

As Christians, we are known by the world for our brotherly love and care.

It is dishonouring to God if we fight and bring shame to his name.

Ultimately this passage points towards Jesus’ death on the cross for the sin of the world.

  • Jesus is patient and kind.
  • Jesus did not envy or boast or treat people rudely.
  • Jesus sacrificed himself and if we trust in Him – he won’t keep a record of our sins.
  • Jesus is sinless and is THE truth:  He is the only way to heaven.
  • Jesus persevered through immense suffering on the cross to show love for his enemies.
  • Jesus never fails.

Do you have the perfect loving relationship with your husband/wife/family?

Do you know anyone prepared to die in your place to show you love?

Who can forgive your sins and give you eternal life?

mmmm Bible mmmm

I do not endorse the advertisement you may see below my blog:

mmmm 1 corinthians 1 mmmm

Leave a reply

Mmmm Fresh Chinese Tofu at Yumcha Mmmm

In Australia, we have amazing, authentic Asian food!

But that’s not the only food that is mouth-watering.

At Bible College this semester, I’m eating the delicious New Testament.

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles…

1 Corinthians 1:18-23

We have started learning about the 1st letter to the Corinthians in class.

Corinth was an important trading centre in Ancient Greece.

Greek culture was focussed on philosophy, education and knowledge.

Paul wrote to the newly established church about the gospel of Jesus.

Jesus died on a cross so that his followers could be saved from eternal death.

Christians cannot save themselves but rely solely on Jesus.

No one can earn their way to heaven by being good – it’s impossible.

Instead Jesus is the only way to heaven and eternal life.

This concept seemed crazy to Greeks in Corinth.

They preferred human wisdom and human philosophy.

But all their accumulated knowledge did not prevent them from dying.

Fast forward 2000 years to the modern age we live in now.

There have been incredible advances in science and technology.

Our educated society admires highly intelligent professors and doctors.

But they still haven’t found a cure for death.

Humans think they are so smart that they don’t need God in their lives.

In reality we are not in control of our lives and cannot predict when we will die.

The message of the cross and faith in Jesus seems foolish to modern scientists.

But even modern scientists are powerless in the face of death.

Christians rely on the power of God to save – this is true wisdom.

God’s wisdom gives hope and comfort in an unpredictable world.

Christians aren’t afraid of death because it is the doorway to eternal life.

Are you afraid of dying?

Will all your knowledge and education prevent death?

What will happen to you after you die?

mmmm Bible mmmm

I do not endorse the advertisement you may see below my blog:

mmmm job 28 mmmm

Leave a reply

Come for a delicious journey through God’s Word with a hungry Sydney Bible College student!

Do you crave something more filling than yumcha?

If so, read on ….

Job 28:20-28 (NIV 1984)

“Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds of the air.
Destruction and Death say,
‘Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.’
God understands the way to it
and he alone knows where it dwells,
for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
When he established the force of the wind
and measured out the waters,
when he made a decree for the rain
and a path for the thunderstorm,
then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
he confirmed it and tested it.
And he said to man,
‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.’”

The book of Job in the Old Testament is about a Man and his relationship with God.

Job experiences unexplained suffering and cries out in pain.
His friends try to offer comforting words of wisdom but are tactless and foolish.
Job wonders where true wisdom can be found.

Only God is the source of true wisdom.

Man can find wisdom in right relationship with God.
We do this by humbly approaching Him and recognising that He is the Creator (and we are not!)

He creates thunderstorms like Super Storm Sandy that devastated NE USA recently.
I love New York in the Spring – one of the great cities of the world alongside Sydney.
So to see the recent devastation is heart-breaking and humbling.

When suffering happens to us, we cry out in pain.
But instead of asking, “Why did you do this, God?”

We should ask, “How can I trust God to get me through this suffering?”

God is more important than our treasured homes that can be washed away in a storm.

God is more reliable than politicians who promise but fail to deliver.

God wants us to trust Him when everything collapses around us.

He sent Jesus to give us eternal hope so that we can weather the most powerful storm.

Who do you trust when you lose everything?

mmmm Bible mmmm

mmmm colossians 1 mmmm

Leave a reply

Come for a delicious journey through God’s Word with a hungry Sydney Bible College student!

Do you crave something more filling than yumcha?

If so, read on ….

Colossians 1:15-16 (NIV 1984)

He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

What is the meaning of life?

Philosophers, comedians and theologians have pondered this question since time began.

Some answers include:

  • Love, Family relationships and friendships
  • Knowledge, learning and education
  • Career success and job satisfaction
  • Good food and wine
  • Money, possessions, a comfortable home in a good suburb and a fast car
  • Good health, the body beautiful, fitness and sport
  • Art, architecture, music and entertainment
  • Travel and the environment
  • Recreation and leisure
  • Humour and happiness

Colossians tells us something different and often we miss the last 2 words in verse 16.

Jesus created the universe for himself. This includes all humans – Christian and non-Christian.

We belong to Jesus. He is our “meaning”.

So what does this look like?

Jesus desires to enjoy us in close relationship to him – closer than our family or best friends.

We often look for meaning in the wrong places:

  • Family and friends come and go – we mourn when we lose them
  • Even with all the knowledge in the world, we can still be lonely
  • Redundancy can stunt our career plans and threaten our homes
  • Cancer and Diabetes can spoil our appetite for good food and wine
  • Money and possessions can be stolen or destroyed in fire
  • We are so busy in life and no longer have time for rest and hobbies
  • Worries and Depression can make our fun and laughter disappear

Jesus is eternal – he is still there when our world collapses around us

He is our food that satisfies the greatest hunger when we need it most

Enjoy him today!

mmmm Bible mmmm