The first part of Hebrews 4 is a reflection on the Sabbath in the context of remaining faithful to the gospel. 'Rest' is a reward or consequence of faithfulness. In verse 12, though, the writer seems to take a sharp turn, perhaps suggested ...

The opening words of this chapter are very striking. Writing in a time of persecution, the author is keen to stress the need to hold fast to the truth. He even says it's impossible for those who abandon the faith after receiving the Holy Spirit ...

As we read this chapter, it might help to remind ourselves of the title of the book – it's the letter to the Hebrews. In other words, it's aimed at Jewish Christians deeply immersed in what we call the Old Testament. They were looking for...

The author continues his reflection on Jesus' fulfilling of the covenant God made with Israel. The work of priests, he says, is 'really only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven'. Jesus, though, is a priest in heaven: 'He serv...

In Hebrews 9, the author continues to reflect on how Christ fulfils the Old Testament sacrificial system. Under the law of Moses, many sacrifices were made; Christ was sacrificed just once. The priests entered the Most Holy Place in the sacred tent o...

In 1999, film director Baz Lurhmann topped the charts with 'Everybody’s free to wear sunscreen': a spoken word performance, setting Mary Schmich’s article to music. The article, a mock graduation speech, is addressed to the ...

We're in another wisdom psalm today, and this time the lesson is about how you relate to God. In short, the wisdom is: with gratitude!

This psalm is well known, largely for its link with the story of David and Bathsheba (see 2 Samuel 11–12) and more recently for the gentle online parodies around hand–washing guidelines for coronavirus.

The performance directions introduce the setting for this psalm as, 'When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him, "David has gone to the house of Ahimelech"'. You can read the story for yourself in 1 Samuel 21–22, but...

Ever feel despair at the state of the world and feel that, if only people knew God, things would be better? The psalmist makes a similar lament.

While a prayer for protection from 'enemies' might seem an unfamiliar part of our songbook, it's probably not an uncommon experience for many people around the world today, especially in places where people are persecuted.

While yesterday's psalm about enemies might have felt further from our day-to-day experience, perhaps today's psalm has more resonances. The 'enemy' mentioned at the start is revealed in verse 14 as a former friend. 

We go to the Psalms to find words for how we feel – sometimes in times of rejoicing, and sometimes in times of sorrow. Psalms also has words for times of national calamity.

In Psalm 63, the psalmist writes movingly about his longing for God. 'My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you', he says (verse 1).

The great theme of this opening chapter of 1 Peter is the new beginning that God has brought to those who trust in Jesus. 'Because of his great mercy he gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death,' the author says (verse 3).

Pink Floyd's most famous song is a challenge to the kind of system that forces people into pre-determined roles whatever their individual gifts and talents: 'All in all you're just another brick in the wall'. It's a call to l...

Peter is very specific about how we should respond when we are misjudged and attacked. These attacks could come from outside the fellowship of believers, but he starts this section by urging Christians to 'love one another as brothers and sister...

Peter compares what the lives of believers ought to be with what he sees around him of the lives of 'pagans' – those who aren't Jews, but who worship the old gods and goddesses of Greece and Rome or the Eastern divinities.

Peter's letter was written in the context of persecution and trials. But he always has in mind a wider context: that this world doesn't have the last word, and that the sufferings and sacrifices we make now will be crowned with glory in God...

The first chapter of 2 Peter is about what being a Christian means for the believer's conduct and character. God has given us 'very great and precious gifts' by which we can 'come to share the divine nature' (verse 4), and t...