24 December: 3:16 – when numbers finally add up! It’s Christmas Eve and we come to the end of this Advent series looking at numbers from the Bible and their meaning. I have had the opportunity to pass on some stories from my own life and...
23 December – Anna: 84 years old She doesn’t appear in too many nativity plays, but probably in any case would prefer to stay in the background. We are told that her father’s name was Phanuel, which signifies “the face of God” no less. I wonder...
22 December – Jesus was 12 when he was brought to the Passover (Luke 2: 41-52, Hebrews 4:14-16) What lines in Christmas carols speak to you? My answer to that question can vary from year to year and even service to service. I can remember being profoundly...
21 December – The wise men bring 3 gifts (Matthew 2:1-11) It was our first Christmas together both as husband and wife and in our new congregation where God had called us to serve. Several members suggested to me that it would be a good idea to...
20 December – The angelic host (Matthew 1: 18-25, Luke 2:8-20) What would you like to be when you grow up? My parents tell the story that when I was asked that question by my home minister, I responded by saying Prime Minister. He commended me for...
19 December – Mary visited by the angel in the sixth month (Luke 1:26-56) It’s good to know, according to the brilliant advertising slogan of a leading supermarket giant, that there is no naughty list this Christmas. In the wake of the pandemic and so much other...
18 December – 14 generations (Galatians 4:1-7; Hebrews 13:1-8) When it comes to reading genealogies, it generally requires a short, sharp intake of breath and to sound confident when it comes to the most obscure sounding, polysyllabic tongue twisters. I can remember preaching through Nehemiah a number...
17 December – 120, 9 and 3000: Numbers about Pentecost (Acts 1-2) In the opening chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, several numbers come together to make 3000. Initially, twelve names are specifically mentioned, but there are several others as well, who gather together in what...
16 December: 77 times – the number of forgiveness Matthews 18:21-25 and 1 John 1:1-10 A multimillionaire businessman living in our neighbourhood was fast approaching bankruptcy and in a measure of desperation wrote a pleading letter to the bank. To his absolute astonishment, an immediate reply wiped...
15 December – 153: The Number of Fish (John 21) They had been fishing all night, but their nets were empty. As dawn broke, they must have felt weary and frustrated. These disciples had been alongside Jesus, but had deserted him when he needed him the most...