Disciples Church

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says “I know Him” but does not keep His […] The post 1 John 2 (part 1) – Do you know Christ appeared first on Disciples Church.

Having recently finished studying the book of Ecclesiastes, a challenging book on the topic of our physical lives, we are now going through 1 John, a book that is very challenging on the topic of our spiritual lives. The post 1 John 1 (part 2) – Light and darkness appeared first on Disciples Church.

Today we begin the study of the first epistle of John, and for the next few weeks we will go through this letter verse-by-verse, chapter-by chapter, as is our custom. Today we looked at 1john 1:1-4 and tried to understand what God is speaking to His church and to the world through His faithful servant John. The post 1 John 1 (part 1) – The Word became flesh appeared first on Disciples Church.

Psa 131:1-3 A Song of Ascents. Of David. “O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.” A surrendered child of God: Has been […] The post Childlike surrender appeared first on Disciples Church.

What will the new year bring? Good or bad? No man knows, but we may go boldly into the new year finding our peace in God who knows it all. The post An uncertain future appeared first on Disciples Church.

Philippians 4:8-9 exhorts us to set our minds to whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. But what does this mean in practical terms, and how do we “do” this? The post A renewed mind appeared first on Disciples Church.

‘As you do not know the way the Spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.’ In his search for wisdom under the sun, the preacher teaches us how we are to live in light of the weight of our ignorance. The post Ecclesiastes 11 – You do not know! appeared first on Disciples Church.

A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fools heart to the left. Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. The post Ecclesiastes 10 – Am I a fool? appeared first on Disciples Church.

Solomon considers death and its implications under the sun concluding it to be a great evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event [death] happens to all. The post Ecclesiastes 9 – The finality of death appeared first on Disciples Church.

As he continues his quest for wisdom under the sun, Solomon says that it is wise to keep the kings command ‘because of God’s oath to him.’ He further observes that man does not know what tomorrow will bring and this by Gods deliberate design. His lesson for us is that those who fear God will do well but the wicked shall perish. To them that fear Him, God has revealed the mystery of the God-man, saviour of mankind, King […] The post Ecclesiastes 8 – A mystery revealed appeared first on Disciples Church.

Continuing his contrast of wisdom and folly in the things that are done under the sun, Solomon considers the day of prosperity and the day of adversity teaching us to remember that God has made the one as well as the other. Between righteous deeds and wickedness he finds that the fear of God is wisdom. Join us as we consider these and many more things done under the sun and the wisdom or folly thereof. The post Ecclesiastes 7 (part 2) – The contrast of wisdom and folly appeared first on Disciples Church.

In chapter 7 Solomon turns to the practical contrast between wisdom with folly under the sun. He observes that, ‘the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.’ The post Ecclesiastes 7 (part 1) – The contrast of wisdom and folly appeared first on Disciples Church.

In chapter 6 Solomon observes that ‘all the toil of a man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. This is vanity’. A man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honour, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. The post Ecclesiastes 6 – Vanity of wealth and honour appeared first on Disciples Church.

Solomon considers the fear of God and the vanity of wealth and honour. ‘Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth.’ He conclude, ‘God is […] The post Ecclesiastes 5 – Fear God appeared first on Disciples Church.

As Solomon continues his search for the meaning of life, he considers the tears of the oppressed concluding that laziness, envy, greed and a lack of contentment are in the heart of the oppressor. ‘Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving after the wind.’ Ecclesiastes 4:6 The post Ecclesiastes 4 – Are you content with your life? appeared first on Disciples Church.

We continue our study of the book of Ecclesiastes, today we are in chapter 3 and the title of this message is: God has a perfect time for every matter under the sun “I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.” Ecclesiastes 3:14 The post Ecclesiastes 3 – God has a perfect time for every matter under the sun appeared first on Disciples Church.

We continue our study of the book of Ecclesiastes, today we are in chapter 2 verses 12-26 and the title of this message is: Solomon’s despair. “Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:17 The post Ecclesiastes 2 (part 2) – Solomon’s despair appeared first on Disciples Church.

Solomon asks what is the point of all that is done under the sun? Could it be pleasure? “I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; [a]therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity.” Ecclesiastes 2:1 The post Ecclesiastes 2 (part 1) – Pleasures Are Meaningless appeared first on Disciples Church.

Solomon searches for the meaning of all that is done under the sun. “And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be [e]exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.” Ecclesiastes 1:13-14 The post Ecclesiastes 1 – Vanity under the sun (part 2) appeared first on Disciples Church.

Solomon searches for the meaning of all that is done under the sun “Vanity[a] of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 The post Ecclesiastes 1 – Vanity under the sun (part 1) appeared first on Disciples Church.