Author: Alex Singleton
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Ephesians 1: the Holy Spirit marks us with a seal
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians talks about the Holy Spirit acting as a guarantee. He writes (Ephesians 1:8-14, NIV): With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment—to…
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A Californian ruin and the the church that renews
In a music video for the song Lamb Of God, there’s a curious background. It’s a (partly) ruined stone building that looks like it’s from the Old World. At first glance, I guessed it must be from Europe – but is actually from Orange County, California. The building is the Mission San Juan Capistrano, established…
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Exodus 3: God commissions sinners
When God calls Moses to lead the Israelites to freedom, the runaway says: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Moses is, after all a mere shepherd having a quiet life in Midian. He had fled Egypt after commiting murder against a Egyptian slave-driver. But God…
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Psalm 49: the wrong attitude to wealth
Some years ago, I witnessed a wealthy man, who’d inherited a lot of money, walking up the street. A beggar asked for some spare change and he responded with: “Go and get a job!” Now, there’s a very good case for giving via charities, or offering to buy a sandwich rather than offer cash, or…
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Psalm 46: God is our refuge among troubles
A Christian told me last year that in times when life is at its most difficult, she finds herself drawing closer to God. Ideally, we’d always be close to God but we are all imperfect. And the sense of comfort that I think she gets from her relationship with God is also the theme of…
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Psalm 48: God’s presence at Zion
Psalm 48 is a song about God’s presence. It starts with some words (verses 1, NIV) that some Christians will also recognise from a popular song released in the 1980s: Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. The psalm, written by some relatives of…
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Psalm 47: God’s sovereignty and faithfulness
In the 1980s, the derogatory term “happy clappy” was applied to evangelicals. Proper church services ought to be restrained, the thinking went, and there was something not quite British about all this Graham Kendrick Shine Jesus Shine malarkey. So I come to Psalm 47, and it turns out that the Bible itself is in favour…
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1 John 5: ‘the Spirit is the one who testifies’
There’s a guy on the internet who claims to believe a large chunk of the Bible but – oh dear – has come to the conclusion that Jesus is not God. He’s even self-published a book about it. He goes to biblical studies conferences and wrote of his experience talking to a prominent American New…
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1 John 4: fake news from fake prophets
We live in a world where fake news can spread quickly. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there were influencers online claiming that the virus was caused by 5G mobile phone masts. There were people who claimed that Bill Gates had hidden microchips inside Covid vaccines. And one conspiracy theorist on the make started selling toothpaste containing…
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Leviticus 23: leaving some of the harvest for the poor
In Leviticus 23, God gives instructions for the Israelites. He says: When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God. Most…
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1 John 3: God’s love is lavished on us
The disciple John talks about God’s incredible love in 1 John 3 – and its consequences. 1. God’s love is lavished on us We have a creator known for his “unfailing love” (to use the wording of Psalm 143). Or, as the Scripture Union song put it: “Jesus love is very wonderful, It’s so high…
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1 John 2: ‘the world and its desires pass away’
In 1 John 2, we come to a packed chapter with a key section on now being Christian involves not loving “the world”. 1. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world John starts, in verses 1 to 2, with a reminder of the core of Christianity – that Jesus, who was without sin,…