The Christian Observer

01/11/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21559-worship-along-the-way

One of the first-fruits of true faith. A Christian Guidebook: What Is Faith? (4)Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12.28, 29First and forem...

31/10/2024

30 October 2024 Presbyterians Week

30/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21552-struggle-and-work

It's how faith comes to light. A Christian Guidebook: What Is Faith? (3) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.Hebrews 12.3No easy roadThe Christian life is not intended to be a life of ease. It is, rather, a...

28/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21529-looking-to-unseen-things

An essental facet of faith. A Christian Guidebook: What Is Faith? (2) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of....

25/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21527-the-two-facets-of-faith

Inward, outward. A Christian Guidebook: What Is Faith? (1) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11.1 (my translation) A faith to liveIn his classic book, The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer identified a problem affecting post-World War II Christians, o...

24/10/2024

23 October 2024 Presbyterians Week

24/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21521-divine-power

Grace works. A Christian Guidebook: What Is Grace? (7) He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5.24Grace with usThe epistles of Paul begin and end in the same place—grace. 1 Thessalonians is typical of Paul’s other writings: “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the churc...

21/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21514-divine-communication

Lots of it, in fact. A Christian Guidebook: What Is Grace? (6) He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,And vegetation for the service of man,That he may bring forth food from the earth,And wine that makes glad the heart of man,Oil to make his face shine,And bread which strengthens man’s heart. ...

18/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21508-a-divine-disposition

It's how God views us. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His coun...

17/10/2024

16 October 2024 Presbyterians Week

16/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21503-not-a-blank-check-for-forgiveness

Repentance, that's the thing. A Christian Guidebook: What Is Grace? (4) My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours...

14/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21497-not-a-license-to-sin

Grace is more. A Christian Guidebook: What Is Grace? (3) Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crep...

11/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21481-not-merely-good-feeling

Grace is so much more. A Christian Guidebook: What Is Grace? (2) For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind o...

10/10/2024

https://christianobserver.org/9-october-2024/

. . “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” [Ezekiel 33:6] “For we wrestle

09/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21476-it-s-all-grace-right

Right, but... A Christian Guidebook: What Is Grace? (1) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2.8, 9 Words without meaning?During a recent meeting of his leadership team, a pastor friend of...

07/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21460-the-kingdom-of-god-is-in-the-holy-spirit

With and agenda and power. A Christian Guidebook: What Is the Kingdom of God? (7)… for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Romans 14.17, 18Get ready...

04/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21457-the-kingdom-of-god-is-joy

Joy unflappable! A Christian Guidebook: What Is the Kingdom of God? (6)And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must ...

02/10/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21452-the-kingdom-of-god-is-peace

Peace that passes understanding. A Christian Guidebook: What Is the Kingdom of God? (5) … for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace… Romans 14.17Kingdom conditionRighteousness defines the character of the Kingdom of God. Every Kingdom citizen strives to increase...

30/09/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21443-the-kingdom-of-god-is-righteousness

The righteousness of Jesus. A Christian Guidebook: What Is the Kingdom of God? (4)… for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness… Romans 14.17What is righteousness?The Kingdom of God presents a particular character to the world: righteousness. Where the rule of King Jesus...

29/09/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21438-the-kingdom-of-god-is-power

Holy Spirit power. A Christian Guidebook: What Is the Kingdom of God? (3) And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall st...

25/09/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21432-the-kingdom-of-god-is-spiritual

And it requires spiritual means. A Christian Guidebook: What Is the Kingdom of God? (2) Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” John 18.36The ...

23/09/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21424-the-kingdom-of-god-is-real

And growing. A Christian Guidebook: What Is the Kingdom of God? (1)“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6.33 The Kingdom definedThe Gospel of the Kingdom of God is Good News, as we have seen. It’s not just the Gospel of ...

20/09/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21414-the-gospel-is-the-good-news-about-hope

For a generation which is losing it. A Christian Guidebook: What Is the Gospel? (7)Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that....

19/09/2024

18 September 2024 Presbyterians Week

18/09/2024

https://www.ailbe.org/columns/revision/item/21397-the-gospel-is-the-good-news-of-power

Oh, what power! A Christian Guidebook: What Is the Gospel? (6) For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 1 Corinthians 4.20“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of t...