There are not many pop songs that were inspired by the Bible. And then an entire poem? ‌This shows the power of these words, which revolve around a timeless theme: time. “Turn! Turn! Turn!” is the name of the song by the Byrds that became an international hit in 1965. It is about transience and constant […]

God protects the church of Christ. One means is the so-called Petrine office. And that has implications both for the Church leadership and the individual member. At the core of it all is Matthew 16: 18: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, […]

The New Testament recognises at least two different types of Apostles, if not more. What does this mean for the Apostle ministry of today? Answers from a panel discussion at the International Youth Convention 2019, part 3.

Sin separates from God, but God does not separate Himself from the sinner. Quite the contrary: God seeks and grants encounters between Himself and humankind—and this can happen in many ways. That is the emphasis of the divine services in the month of September, which happens to have five Sundays. God goes out for a […]

Vocation, authority, a mandate: the Apostle ministry is the only ministry that Jesus Christ Himself instituted. And here the Bible attests of not one, but two missions. Here is part 2 of the panel discussion from the IYC 2019.

“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” This is perhaps the most famous lamentation in world history. It shows us how we can deal with pain and grief, and why it is good to lay our suffering at the Lord’s feet. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” This is one of Jesus’ last words on […]

The name is popular in the New Testament: two biblical figures who carry the name are quite prominent and two are Apostles. So which James is being commemorated on 25 July? In the triumvirate of faith, hope, and love, he has come to symbolise hope. James. No wonder this name is so popular in Judaism. […]

He really did have a preaching style all His own: Jesus Christ. He was able to impart the deepest truths using the simplest, shortest everyday stories. However, most people were missing one key ingredient for understanding the mystery and message behind the parables. Again and again, Christ speaks in parables, which are prominent elements of […]

Believing in the divine promise became increasingly difficult for this woman: its fulfilment was taking far too long and time was running out. The miracle that God gave her was all the greater. It was a disaster. Childlessness in my time was associated with social distress and ostracism. At a time when the only way […]

The kingdom of God starts small and insignificant, but ends up to be magnificent and extensive. The twin parables of the mustard seed and the leaven are a source of encouragement, but they also harbour provocations—at least for Jesus’ contemporaries. Matthew, Mark, and Luke have this parable in their repertoire. It all starts with what […]

The Bible is not a book, there is no original, and the number of books is disputed. Yet, it is the best-preserved writing of antiquity and the most widely used book of all time. Here are ten facts you may or may not have known. Tomorrow, 23 April, is World Book Day. The Bible is […]

She was spirited, strong, and brave. And she was jealous. She was an important figure in the story of Israel’s exodus from Egypt. And God put her in her place. In the end, however, He loved her like a daughter. I led the other Hebrew women in song and dance, and sang the song of […]

From a small church into the heart of the tabernacle via YouTube. There are many ways to explore and discover the Bible. This week we look at how congregations, districts, and Regional Churches, learn about the Bible together. Photo: NAC Southern Africa Photo: NAC Southern Africa Photo: NAC Southern Africa Photo: NAC USA Photo: NAK […]

Unbelieving? You must be kidding! It is precisely the doubter who comes closest to God. The key witness is the often misunderstood Thomas. Here is a somewhat different perspective on the account of Easter. The story actually unfolds in something of a cycle: similar—if not identical—things happen three times in chapter 20 of the gospel […]

She was probably the most influential woman in Christianity: her real name was Miriam. She was a Jew and lived in Palestine at the turn of the first century. Where she came from, where she went, what she witnessed, and what the centuries made of it—here is a description she might have given herself. I […]

Outrageous! How could Jesus socialise with corrupt tax collectors! The Pharisees were far from charmed. Today is International Customs Day. To mark the day, we will look at three officials who changed and made amends for their sins, or even went as far as to follow Jesus. International Customs’ Day has been observed since 1953. […]