TEXT: ‘I decided to write it all out for you, most honourable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught’ (Luke 1:4 MSG) Theophilus had been taught the gospel and believed it. Yet doubts had arisen making him ask, “Was I told the truth?” To settle these doubts, Luke was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write two letters to Theophilus, that he might know the certainty of the things he had been taught. The Book of Acts starts with, ‘Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles’ (Acts 1:1 MSG). The first letter was about how Jesus evangelised and taught. The second showed how His disciples continued evangelising through the power of the Holy Spirit. By silencing Theophilus’ doubts, God has done the same for countless millions, right down to the present day. Today’s Teaching focusses on what hinders and helps faith. 1. The carnal mind is prone to doubt and fear It’s programmed to work on understanding and reason. Christianity works by faith. The carnal mind fights faith and can never be brought under control. Scripture...
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TEXT: ‘God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!’ (Ephesians 3:20 MSG) Our text says, ‘God can do anything’ and He can! This truth needs to be our starting point for the New Year. My goal is to see God do more through me in 2026, not just for me. When I read the life-stories of the great men and women of God, I realise I am barely scratching the surface of what’s possible through faith in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, lest I sink into self-condemnation, I need to rejoice over all the good things I saw and experienced in 2025. The goal of this teaching is to lift our faith expectations for the coming year. 1. We can face the same type of problem repeatedly When we do, it’s easy to think, “What have I done wrong?” I said those very words when the church I was pastoring faced another financial challenge. “Lord, didn’t we learn the lesson from last time?” I prayed. What I didn’t realise was we had correctly overcome that previous difficulty, but a new challenge faced us. God showed me from His word how David ended up fighting and killing five giants, all...
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TEXT: ‘For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you’ (2 Corinthians 9:10 NLT). Our garden is usually full of colour, except in the winter. All we can see now is the odd primrose and our amazing Daphne shrub. Thank God it’s not going to stay that way, as hidden bulbs begin to push up through the cold, wet soil during the last days of Winter. Within a few weeks our garden will be transformed as daffodils, tulips, grape hyacinths and the Camelia bushes burst forth into colour, letting us know that Spring has truly come! This teaching is aimed to create hope for 2026, through God’s Word being planted and bearing fruit in our lives. Our text says, God will provide seed for planting and bread for eating. Bread represents the efforts of yesterday’s harvest, whereas seed speaks of a future one. With God’s Word being likened to seed, Today’s Teaching focusses on the effect it can have in our lives. 1. Is what you are reading, feeding you? You may be a prolific reader, but is it doing you...
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TEXT: ‘I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see’ (Revelation 3:18). Some Bible commentators think that the seven churches in Asia Jesus wrote to in the Book of Revelation, represent different Church ages, while others feel it describes a cross-section of the state of the Church in any generation. While it is true some denominations in the UK are in decline, that is not true for all. Those that are thriving are the ones who promote active evangelism, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the return of Christ. The Laodicean Church is an accurate description of many churches in the West. Those that enjoy an affluence and a form of godliness, but there is no power present in the services, neither preaching about nor praising of Jesus Christ. Jesus, having exposed the Laodicean Church’s failings, encouraged them to do three things to restore authentic Christianity, and these form the basis of Today’s Teaching. 1. That you may be rich – ‘I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may...
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