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, […]

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 […]

“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. […]

What do a widow seeking justice and a mountaineer have in common? Both need determination to reach their goal. Christians too need to be persistent in order to prepare adequately for the return of Christ. The perseverance of mountaineers Fiona wants to hike up to the top of a mountain. It is going to require […]

The valley is extremely dry and hot, the houses there are cheaply built. Then the torrential rains cause a flash flood that picks up speed as it tears through the valley … The chosen ground decides over death and life. This is what Jesus declared 2,000 years ago. Many villages in the Middle East were […]

He was a doubter, a man who seemed to fail because he did not endure to the end. At times history depicts him as an antihero—and yet there were so many things he did manage to get right. Six months before the birth of Jesus, a boy was born. His parents were considered old and […]

It sounds menacing: those who don’t bear any fruit will be cut down. However, the parable of the barren fig tree is not a threatening message, but a message of joy. Anyone who digs deep enough will discover how the Bible interprets itself. Sometimes it’s enough to make you want to pull your hair out. […]