The book of Acts records the various ways in which the gospel message was preached and received around the world. Acts 14:8–18 records one such episode. Some people missed the message that Paul was preaching, focusing more on the miracle and the messengers. And today, when God speaks through his word, we are at risk of missing the message because of our cultural, religious, and historical baggage that we bring with us, or because we focus on the messenger more than the message. But we ought rather to be like the cripple whom Paul healed: All he came with was faith to be made well. We consider this text under three headings: 1. The Miracle (vv. 8–10) 2. The Misunderstanding (vv. 11–13) 3. The Message (vv. 14–18)

There is one God and one Mediator—Jesus Christ, our Prophet who speaks, our Priest who saves, and our King who reigns. The idea that Jesus finished his work when he died is false. He finished his atoning work, but his mediatorial work continues, and it is largely ignored by the church.

Until this point in our studies of Luke’s nativity narrative, we have been exposed to the announcement of John the Baptist’s conception (1:5–25) and his birth (1:57-80). We have also been exposed to the angelic announcement and actual virgin conception of the promised Saviour, Jesus (1:26–56). In this study, we conclude these advent studies with the birth of the God-Man: Jesus (v. 21), the Saviour who is Christ the Lord (v. 11). This is historically certain and certainly historic. We consider three truths from this text: 1. The Incarnation is Certainly Historical (vv. 1–7) 2. The Incarnation is Certainly Historic (8–14) 3. The Incarnation Requires a Certain Response (vv. 15–21)

The incarnation—God becoming man—certainly happened; it is grounded in historical fact. One of those facts is that, in accordance with God’s prophetic promise, he would send “a messenger” who would “prepare the way” for Messiah (Malachi 3:1). The faithful remnant in Israel was expecting this messenger. In this passage, that messenger—the one who would become known as John the Baptiser—arrives. And with his arrival also arrives a certain expectation of God doing a wonderful work of redemption. All of this is at the heart of the passage before us. We will study this under the following headings: 1. Promised Fruit (vv. 57–58) 2. Professed Faith (vv. 59–64) 3. Perplexed Fear (vv. 65–66) 4. Prophetic Fulfilment (vv. 67–80)

Jesus tells a parable about a persistent widow. As we consider the passage, we must recognise a crucial truth: Prayer is for the weak, the needy, and the dependent. Just as a child persistently calls out until heard, we are called to approach our Father with childlike faith, shedding our self-reliance. We will see who needs to pray, how we must pray with persistence, and the powerful reasons we have for praying, encouraged that our righteous God is infinitely better than the unjust judge. 1. Who Needs Prayer? (vv. 1–3a) 2. How We Pray (vv. 3b–6) 3. Reasons to Pray (vv. 7–8)

Luke was certain about the incarnation; he was certain that God performed the ultimate miracle: God becoming man; God’s Son “begotten, not made.” And this in the womb of a virgin. In 1:26-56 Luke records the historic and historical account of Mary receiving this news. Her faith-filled response is a model for every Christian. We will study this certain incarnation under four headings: 1. A Gracious Revelation (vv. 26–33) 2. A Godly Response (vv. 34–38) 3. A Glad Reassurance (vv. 39–45) 4. A Glorious Rejoicing (vv. 46–56)

Though Paul primarily addresses aspiring church leaders in 1 Timothy 3:4–5, nevertheless every Christian should aim for a biblically blameless household—one that is well-ordered to the glory of God. Christ-motivated cosmos rather than chaos is to characterise our homes.

To paraphrase Charles Dickens, Luke 1 describes both the worst of times and the best of times. In a dark period of Jewish history, the light was preparing to shine. The famine was fading and the silence was about to be shattered. This is the story of Christmas and it begins with God’s remnant. We can be encouraged that it only takes a remnant for great things to happen.

Contemplating God’s gospel restores our hope. This is precisely the message of Amos 9:11–15. Christian, may your hope be restored today. If you are not a Christian, may you become one today and join with those who, by God’s grace, have had hope restored. We consider two things from this text: 1. A Restored People (vv. 11–12) 2. A Restored Paradise (vv. 13–15)

Like many throughout history, many in our day are guilty of self-righteous spiritual presumption. The idea that religious people would be under the wrath of God is ludicrous and highly offensive. Like water off a duck’s back, the self-righteous deflect any idea of God’s threatened condemnation. But like Israel of old, they are headed for a sobering wakeup call. We see this in Amos 9:1–10.

Every Christian is blessed by God to be a member of a local church. And with this privilege comes the responsibility to be a responsible member of the church. Being entrusted with the keys of the Kingdom of God each member is to fulfil various responsibilities with reference to the what, the who, and the how of the gospel. We consider the text under the following headings. 1. Jesus’ Confrontation (vv. 13–16) 2. Jesus’ Affirmation (vv. 17–18) 3. Jesus’ Assignment (v. 19)

The covenantal unfaithfulness of Israel, the Northern Kingdom, has doomed them for God’s irrevocable judgement. They are hopeless for deliverance and this is sealed by God’s silence towards them. For this reason chapter 8 is one of the saddest prophecies in scripture. It is also one of the most frightening for there is going to be a famine of hearing the word of the Lord. Among other lessons to be learned is that we dare not treat God with contempt by taking his grace for granted. We consider the text under the following headings: 1. An Ominous Silence (vv. 1-3) 2. Justified Silence (vv. 4-6) 3. The Sound of Silence (vv. 7-10) 4. Heaven’s Silence (vv. 11-14)

The call to be “not quarrelsome” is a call to reflect the peace of Christ in every sphere of life. True peace is not born of temperament but of transformation—a heart ruled by the Prince of Peace rather than by pride or passion. The Spirit of Christ enables believers to listen with grace, speak with restraint, and engage conflict redemptively. In a world driven by argument and anger, the non-quarrelsome life stands as a living testimony that the gospel not only reconciles us to God but also makes us agents of reconciliation in his church and beyond.

The Bible teaches throughout that God’s unshakeable love is everlasting and extends to every tribe and tongue and nation. His love, displayed most clearly in the gospel, is the thing that should drive his people’s desire to praise him, as we see in Psalm 117. We consider this briefest of Psalms under two headings: 1. The God of All Nations (v. 1) 2. The God of Unshakeable Love (v. 2)

Christians often struggle to trust God when it comes to meeting daily needs. As we continue working through the character qualities of a maturing Christian, we come to the matter of not loving money—of learning the discipline of true contentment and trust in the God who provides our needs.

The crowds who followed Jesus were hungry, but they were seeking a handout that would only last a day. Jesus responded with perhaps his most challenging, shocking, and life-giving teaching: He is the Bread of Life. As we consider John 6:47–59, we will consider how this Bread from heaven is a gift which sustains and nourishes those who receive it by faith. We consider three things from this text: 1. The Bread of Life is a Gift From Heaven (vv. 48–51) 2. The Bread of Life Sustains and Nourishes (vv. 57–58) 3. The Bread of Life Must Be Received (vv. 44–47)

Learning about a mature Christian’s character, and that of an elder, is being able to think God’s thoughts about God’s words. Once we understand what these words and characteristics mean to the Lord, then we are in a better place to live them out.

Having faithfully proclaimed God’s revealed words (chapters 1–6) Amos now faithfully proclaims God’s revealed visions (chapters 7–9). God’s people are expected to take these seriously, for their lives, quite literally, depend on it. In this chapter, Amos makes clear that God’s word trumps man’s words. May the Lord help us to recognise and submit to all that God says.

The danger of spiritual complacency presents a clear and present danger which Christians all too often do not see clearly as a danger! So it was with the people of God to whom Amos ministered. Amos addressed their woeful complacency in chapter 6 by confronting it (vv. 1–7) and by condemning it (vv. 8–14). May God rescue us by empowering us to both repent and to resist the sin of complacency.

When Scripture says that an elder must not be a drunkard, it speaks to more than avoiding drunkenness. It calls us to have a mature and godly relationship with the good gifts God gives. This qualification reminds us that spiritual maturity involves self-control, gratitude, and wisdom in how we use God’s blessings. True Christian maturity is not found in abstaining from good things, nor in overindulging, but in enjoying God’s gifts rightly—with thankfulness, restraint, and dependence on him.