Ecclesiastes blog
- Intro
- Ecclesiastes 1 (meaningless)
- Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (satisfaction)
- Ecclesiastes 2:12-16 (wisdom)
- Ecclesiastes 2:17-26 (work)
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (time)
- Ecclesiastes 3:9-22 (legacy)
- Ecclesiastes 4:1-12 (solidarity)
- Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 (political leadership)
- Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (awesome silence)
- Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 (contentment)
- Ecclesiastes 6 (struggle)
- Ecclesiastes 7:1-5 (choices)
- Ecclesiastes 7:6-12 (practical wisdom)
- Ecclesiastes 7:13-18 (a mixed bag)
- Ecclesiastes 7:19-29 (schemes)
- Ecclesiastes 8:1-8 (authority)
- Ecclesiastes 8:9-17 (justice)
- Ecclesiastes 9:1-12 (death)
- Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 (up-side down)
- Ecclesiastes 10:1-4 (stay calm)
- Ecclesiastes 10:5-11 (risk)
- Ecclesiastes 10:12-15 (words)
- Ecclesiastes 10:16-20 (laziness)
- Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 (invest)
- Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 (youth)
- Ecclesiastes 12 (now and forever)
Q&A blogs
HEALTH WARNING: Please don't take my word for anything. I'm trying to get my best thoughts from God's words in the Bible, which is why I point to parts of it in my answers. I strongly recommend studying the Bible to see what God says. Also, I'm learning! The careful reader will notice my views have shifted on some things over the years that this blog has been running. I've left everything in because it shows something of the journey I've been on. That said, I hope my answers will help you on your journey too! :)
If you can't find your question, you can message me.
Also check out these video clips and discussion questions.
Jun 2019 at St Peter's School
Answers from youth leaders on suffering, God, the Bible, sex, doubts, Jesus, becoming a Christian, relationship with God, love, hell, the Holy Spirit.
Jan 2018 Weymouth Family Church
Fine without God, healing, disasters, reading the Bible, evangelism, western church, prayer, discipleship, injustice, purpose, colour, making a difference, other faiths, atheism, trinity.
Jan 2018 Youth Club at Cornerstone
Reasons for believing, creation, LGBTQ, suffering, Jesus, the end of the world
Jan 2018 Mega Club at Cornerstone
Jesus, God, creation, healing, etc.
Jan 2018 Our Citygate Community Group
Healing, hearing God, homelessness, giving, poverty, eldership, Revelation, love, children, animals, baptism, tattoos and piercings, divorce, inequality, God's sovereignty
Nov 2015 Off The Wall at Belmont
Forgiveness, following Jesus, science, eternity, Christians, jokes, the Bible, drinking, divorce, war, God's existence, doubts, intervention, denomonations
2014 Off The Wall at Belmont
Natural disasters, suicide, poverty, punishment, chickens, relationships, sex, homosexuality, assurance, forgiveness, church, heaven.
Feb 2012 Soul Cafe/Jam Club
Favourites, unanswered prayer, love, the Bible, childbirth, sexism, Jaffa Cakes, God, The Big Bang, high school, wars, natural disasters, religion, languages, self.
Nov 2011 ECCU
Guidance, healing, angels, Israel, killing, war, abortion, forgiveness, losing faith, living dangerously, alcohol, suffering, prayer, violent video games, OT adultery, sex, 'good lies', Bible burning, favourite Bible verses, unborn children, sexism, sharing scripture, OT/NT contradictions.
Mar 2011 The Big Question at Kings School, Ottery
Is religion good for society? Should same sex couples be allowed to adopt? Does prison work? Should fertility be left to nature?
Aug 2010 DCYC
Drugs, sex, love, abortion, homosexuality, heaven, the Bible, other religions, TV, politics, prayer, personal vision, partying, temptation, God's gender
Jul 2009 Off The wall at Belmont
Suffering, abortion, unforgivable sin, suicide, self-harm, drinking, going out with a non-Christian, fashion, Jesus, God's plans and our free will, Satan, doubts, romance, finding God, family, church, dreams, creationism and evolution, etc
More
Uncover by UCCF
Lots of videos of qualified experts answering 7 of the biggest questions people have about Jesus.
One Minute Apologist
Another Christian answering questions in short video form.
Reasonable Faith
Christian and Philosopher - William Lane Craig's site. Stodgy articles for the scholarly AND some snappy videos for simpler people like me!
Tutor group blogs
- 58
- Bungee
- Carlsberg
- Christian
- Firework
- Is this it?
- Lecrae
- Make it stop
- Outdoors
- Questions
- Refugee
- Religion
- Story from North America
- Thou shat not
- Transient Global Amnesia
- Broken
- Gospel
- Penn
- Head
- Skater
- Mez
- Anywhere but here
- God
- Sex
- Mind Control Fungus
- Saw
- Jessica
- Porn
- Symmetry
- Moments
- Man cold
- Nail
- Teachers
- Ready to fall
- Friendship
Mark 4:1-20 - What does it take?
Ever wondered why some people just can't bring themselves to believe the good news of Jesus and follow him? Maybe you're not convinced yourself and you wonder why apparently intelligent, reasonable people have given their lives to him.There are so many responses to Jesus and his message and in this passage, Jesus tells a parable to help us understand why and what his followers should do about it.
Mark 4:1-20
I won't try and explain Jesus' parable too much because he does that himself! Basically when God's message goes out, there seems to be at least 4 kinds of response...
- Path - People hear it but it just bounces off and makes no difference.
- Rocky ground - People hear it and follow for a while but it doesn't last because their faith and commitment is not deep enough to withstand the challenges.
- Thorns - People hear it, believe and follow but at the same time because of worries and temptations they allow other priorities to crowd in and they live a compromised life.
- Good soil - People hear it, believe it, receive Jesus, follow him, begin a life-changing journey, they stick with him through challenges, don't get distracted by other priorities and they share him with others too.
Well I think the right understanding of this is to do with what it takes for a person to respond to Jesus. Jesus is explaining why he chooses to use parables rather than speaking plainly. It's about a person having faith so when they hear the message of Jesus, they are able to believe and follow like the person illustrated by the good soil in Jesus' parable. Jesus doesn't patronise people by laying all the answers down at their feet so the truth is undeniable. Don't get me wrong, there's tons of evidence for Jesus and all he said and did - including rising from the dead (see Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus from the Dead) but there will always be unanswered questions and doubts. Jesus is looking for a response that comes from faith - not from having figured it all out. It's not about unplugging our brains and forgetting about reasoning but if God is bigger than us, there has to be some mystery and so it's no surprise that Jesus doesn't explain everything to everyone.
So if we're scattering seed (sharing Jesus with people), let's scatter all over the place and to all sorts of people. We'll get a variety of responses but that's how it goes. Notice that the farmer in Jesus' story didn't carefully aim for the good soil and avoid any seed falling anywhere else. And besides, we're in no position to judge what a person's response will be. Let's also pray that people will have faith from God to accept the good news and follow Jesus as we share with them.
And if you're not yet a Christian, have you heard and understood and explored the good news of Jesus? If so, have you asked God for faith as well as reasoning? Maybe that will be what it takes!
Mark blog
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