Having explored Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, we now turn to his Second. In his first letter, Paul reminded the Corinthians church that Jesus was crucified and rose again, and that they’d received the Spirit of God. He urged them to live as spiritual people, guided by God’s wisdom.

In his Second Letter, Paul emphasises the importance of not obstructing God’s power and reminds them of the richness of God’s grace bestowed upon them. He shares his own personal struggle, referring to a thorn in the flesh that he’d pleaded with God to remove. However, he recounts God’s response: My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. Paul therefore embraces his weaknesses, seeing them as opportunities for Christ’s power to work through him. He even takes pleasure in hardships, persecutions, and troubles for the sake of Christ, concluding: For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul writes passionately because he’s been hurt by the behaviour of the Corinthian church. When he’s not present, some among them are quick to criticise and slander him. His letter reflects this emotional burden, and he cautions against the ease with which even believers can fall into such negativity, judging, gossiping, and tearing one another down.

Paul recognises that the Christian life isn’t always easy. It can be full of hardship, and the world can often feel cold and hostile. Yet, amid these struggles, he offers assurance that believers can always rely on the unwavering presence and power of God.

To illustrate this truth, Paul uses the image of a fragile jar of clay, our human lives. Though easily broken, these jars contain a great treasure, God’s presence and power. The focus, he says, shouldn’t be on the fragility of the vessel, but on the treasure within.

This treasure transforms lives. Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul highlights the generosity of God and calls on believers to mirror that generosity in their own lives. Giving to those in need should be done with joy, as a natural response to God’s grace. He describes this as the generosity principle, a way of life rooted in the treasure of God within us.

Ultimately, Paul is confident in God’s enduring love and grace. No matter our circumstances, our relationship with God remains firm, a treasure that can never be taken away.

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As we reach the three-quarter point of the Bible, we turn to Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, best known for the famous Love Chapter, which ends: Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Paul places great emphasis on spiritual gifts and how they enrich lives, but only when shared. The Love Chapter is framed by two chapters discussing these gifts, highlighting that love must be the driving force behind them.

He reminds the Corinthian Christians that what they’ve received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God, enabling them to understand the divine generosity bestowed upon them. His core message is straightforward, Jesus was crucified and rose again. Having accepted this truth, they must now live as spiritual people, guided by the Spirit’s wisdom.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Paul asserts that what appears weak or foolish by human standards is, in fact, divine strength and wisdom.

He encourages the believers to let their faith infuse their everyday lives, not merely in words, but in action. Early in the letter, he addresses internal divisions within the church. Too much energy was being wasted on petty arguments. Paul calls them to unity, urging them to prioritise God’s will over personal agendas.

He uses imagery from gardening to describe Christian fellowship, one person plants, another waters, but only God gives growth. Each person has a unique role within the body of Christ, and when everyone plays their part, the community thrives.

In contrast to Corinth’s morally lax culture, where many lived by their own rules, Paul urges the church to remember God’s presence through the Holy Spirit, who continually inspires, empowers, and guides them.

Chapters 12 to 14 focus on the diverse gifts of the Spirit, meant to build up the church. Paul lists these gifts but stresses that, without love, they are meaningless. In Chapter 13, he poetically outlines love’s enduring, selfless nature, revealing it as the essential quality that gives spiritual gifts their true purpose.

Paul closes his letter with a powerful affirmation of Christian hope: But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. His message is clear, gifts, ministry, and even faith itself are hollow without love. It’s love, above all, that reflects God’s presence in a believer’s life.

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Some decisions in life are small and relatively insignificant, while others can be truly life-changing. As we move from the Acts of the Apostles to Paul’s Letter to the Romans, we’re faced with one of the most important choices anyone can make, the choice to follow Jesus.

Romans is one of Paul’s final letters and serves as a powerful summary of the Good News he devoted his life to sharing. In many ways, it’s his spiritual testament: an appeal to people to recognise their need for God, who offers a new life, a new future, and lasting hope.

Paul begins by addressing the root issue: our tendency to resist God’s will and pursue our own desires. This rebellion leads us deeper into sin and separation from him. Yet Paul doesn’t leave us without hope, he points us to Jesus, who breaks the power of sin, forgives, restores, and heals. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are at the very heart of this transformation, opening the way for us to enter a right relationship with God.

Paul speaks of the new identity offered to those who follow Christ:
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. (Romans 8:15–16)

As God’s children, we are clothed in grace, joy, peace, hope, glory, and above all, love. This love isn’t just for us to keep, it’s to be shared both within the church and with the world around us. We’re part of a family that reaches out with open arms.

Paul offers one of the most powerful assurances in all of Scripture:
I’m convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below, indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38–39)

Finally, Paul urges us to respond to God’s mercy:
I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice. Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Romans 12:1–2)

This is the vital choice, to follow Jesus, be transformed by his Spirit, and live with hope, purpose, and love.

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The Acts of the Apostles, or more accurately the Acts of the Holy Spirit, was written by Luke and details the growth of the early Church. A key verse in Acts 1:8 states: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

After Jesus’ Ascension, the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples, transforming them into fearless witnesses. Peter, once ashamed to acknowledge Jesus, preached with boldness, and thousands became believers. The religious and political authorities, believing they had silenced Jesus by crucifying him, now faced a growing movement. They resorted to persecution, even executing Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

However, this persecution only spread the gospel further. As Christians fled, they carried the message to new regions, fulfilling Jesus’ commission. Tertullian later wrote: The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. Matthias was chosen to replace Judas, though little is known about him. However, God’s ultimate choice for this role was Paul, dramatically converted on the Damascus Road.

Much of Acts follows Paul’s missionary journeys. Despite suffering imprisonment and hardship, he relentlessly proclaimed the gospel, taking it beyond Jerusalem to the wider world. Acts concludes with Paul in Rome, symbolising how the message had reached the heart of the empire.

The early Church’s boldness in preaching the gospel remains an inspiration today. May we also declare this message with the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

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Having examined Jesus’ message in the first three Gospels, we now turn to John, which presents an unparalleled love story: For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

All four Gospels tell the Good News of Jesus, but even in the second century, attempts to merge them into one failed. Each Gospel uniquely portrays Jesus, much like a diamond reflecting different facets of light. Each was written for a distinct audience, enriching the overall understanding of Jesus’ message.

In John’s Gospel, it’s the divine side of Jesus that shines most brightly. This Jesus has been with his Father since before Creation, their relationship is so close and special that they are described as being one.

He isn’t only with God, he is God. Through Jesus, we learn who God is and his plan for us. John refers to Jesus as the Word, God’s means of communication with us. By living among ordinary people, Jesus affirmed humankind, offering all the chance to become God’s children.

John’s Gospel has three key sections. The first highlights Jesus’ immense love for us. The second explores his relationship with his disciples. The final section centres on the Cross. Unlike the religious leaders of the time, who believed only the obedient and ‘righteous’ were accepted by God, Jesus preached an inclusive message, God’s love extends to all, regardless of status or background.

Jesus’ radical message led to jealousy among the Jewish leaders, who sought to remove him. Before his arrest, he gathered his followers for a final meal, reassuring them that they would not be left as orphans after his return to the Father. He promised the Holy Spirit, a divine helper who would comfort and guide them.

This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended, drawing people closer to God. This love triumphs over darkness and sin, binding God’s children together and radiating into the world.

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Previously, we explored Jesus’ message in the first three Gospels, his teachings and actions revealing the Good News. Now, we examine the final stage of his life and ministry.

Jesus taught that all people are valuable to God and should treat each other with love, honesty, forgiveness, and service. His life profoundly impacted those he met, inspiring many to follow him in faith. He lived, died, and rose again, and through his Spirit, he calls us to do the same.

As Jesus approached the end of his ministry, opposition to him intensified. In Galilee, people were eager to hear him, but resistance grew as he neared Jerusalem, the heart of Jewish religious authority. The Gospels show him setting his face towards the city, directly challenging religious leaders, knowing this confrontation would lead to his death.

Jesus openly declared what God required, true faith rather than rigid adherence to religious rules. The Old Testament prophet Micah summarised this in Micah 6:8: To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. However, this pure faith had been distorted, replaced with legalistic practices. Jesus’ denunciation of hypocrisy, particularly when he drove the moneychangers from the Temple, sealed his fate in the eyes of the authorities.

The religious leaders saw only one way to stop him, by eliminating him. The familiar story of his crucifixion follows, but their plan did not end his influence. Instead, through his resurrection, Jesus inaugurated the New Covenant, creating a new covenant people of God.

Today, we are invited to be part of this covenant, inheriting eternal life both now and in the future. Jesus’ message continues to offer hope, calling us to faith and a life transformed by love, justice, and humility.

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In our series we’ve now reached the New Testament. We’ve seen how God’s covenant people once again fell under foreign rule, this time under the Romans in 63 BC. But a new King was coming, Jesus of Nazareth, the one foretold throughout the Old Testament. A very different kind of King.

We turn first to Matthew’s Gospel, the first book of the New Testament. Though once thought to be the earliest Gospel, we now know it wasn’t. Similarly, while our calendar is based on Christ’s birth, scholars believe he was actually born in 4 BC.

The main story of Jesus begins about thirty years after his birth. Baptised by John the Baptist, he commenced his public ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing. He came to proclaim the Good News of God, and one of the most profound records of this is found in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel.

A central aim of Matthew is to demonstrate that Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declares: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Mark’s Gospel is the shortest and most straightforward of the first three. Luke’s Gospel speaks of God’s care for people who were seen as insignificant in the society of his day. Specifically, this referred to women, children, the poor, and disreputable ‘sinners’.

Jesus taught that every person is valuable to God. He called for love, appreciation, and respect in our dealings with one another, urging honesty, forgiveness, and service. This, he taught, is the path to healing and wholeness.

His life had a profound impact on those he encountered, inspiring many to follow him in faith. We know how he lived, how he died, and how he rose again. Through his Spirit, he continues to touch lives today, calling us to follow him in faith.

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We’ve now completed the Old Testament, but haven’t reached the New Testament. We’re in limbo. We’re in the 400 years of silence between the two sections, a silence that was ultimately broken by the birth of a baby in Bethlehem.

The last historical books of the Old Testament, Ezra and Nehemiah, recount how God’s covenant people returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. So, what happened to them in the four centuries leading up to Jesus’ birth? This period was eventful, and its history is recorded in 1 and 2 Maccabees, books that weren’t included in the final version of the Bible, along with some other books.

At the time of Ezra’s return, Persia was still a dominant empire. However, in 333 BC, Alexander the Great overthrew Persian rule, and the Jewish people came under Greek control, forced to pay taxes and show allegiance to their foreign rulers. Unhappy under Greek dominance, they eventually rebelled. Under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus (nicknamed ‘the hammerer’) the Jewish people launched a resistance movement.

After a prolonged struggle, the Greeks relented, allowing them to reclaim their land and the temple in 164 BC. This victory led to a century of relative peace and independence. However, this period of freedom was short-lived. Internal conflicts and political missteps eventually allowed the Romans to take control in 63 BC, once again subjecting the Jewish people to foreign rule. Under Roman occupation, the covenant people awaited a new king, one unlike any before. Jesus of Nazareth, the one foretold throughout the Old Testament, was about to arrive.

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We conclude the Old Testament with Jonah, Nahum, and Obadiah, books that reaffirm God’s control over history. While we’ve seen his guidance over his covenant people, these prophets show that his influence extends to nations and the wider universe. The Bible consistently reminds us that life is best lived with reference to God, both individually and collectively.

Most people are familiar with Jonah’s story, but its message is profound. God commanded Jonah to warn Nineveh, the Persian capital, of impending judgment. Fearing his enemy’s reaction, Jonah fled, only to learn that one cannot escape God. His journey, marked by emptiness and struggle, illustrates that a life without God is void of purpose. Eventually, he obeyed, and to his surprise, Nineveh repented, even its king. This teaches us that God’s grace extends to all.

Nahum follows with a warning: nations must not grow arrogant and think they can live without God. He reminds them that all power originates from God and must be exercised humbly. Those who ignore him will ultimately realise his strength. Obadiah reinforces this by condemning Israel’s enemies, particularly Edom, stressing that evil doesn’t go unpunished.

As the NLT Study Bible notes, nations and individuals alike must heed what they sow, for the time of harvest comes swiftly. God is just and will bring justice for the oppressed.

With this, we reach the end of our Old Testament journey. Though it offers only a partial revelation of God’s nature, it provides glimpses of his character and foreshadows Jesus. Before moving to the New Testament, we must first explore the period between these two great sections.

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After the Exile, the Israelites had lost everything, their land, temple, and freedom. In their sorrow, they longed for Jerusalem, as expressed in Psalm 137: By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.

Though they eventually returned and rebuilt the temple and walls, their enthusiasm faded, much like New Year’s resolutions that quickly lose momentum. They faced hardships, and prophets like Zechariah and Haggai urged them to stay committed to God, encouraging worship and faithfulness despite difficulties.

Joel, looking ahead, prophesied a time when God would fully dwell with His people. His words, I will pour out my Spirit on all people… Your sons and daughters will prophesy (Joel 2:28-29) point towards Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He called for sincere devotion: Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD, for he is gracious and compassionate. (Joel 2:13)

Malachi, the final prophet of the Old Testament, reassured the people of God’s presence. They felt abandoned, but in reality, they’d turned away from him. Their worship was half-hearted, and they were withholding what rightfully belonged to God. Yet, Malachi’s message reflected a familiar New Testament theme, God stood with open arms, waiting to welcome them back.

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