Campbell Street Church

Ezekiel is in exile in Babylon … but sees God’s Glory … in Babylon. He is commissioned to preach to God’s people and explain why they are in exile and why Jerusalem will be destroyed. But by the end of the book he also gives them the most incredible hope.

Lamentations is probably one of the darkest books in the whole Bible. The setting is Israel are in exile and the book explains when they have been rejected by God. The only tiny note of hope is found in the middle of chapter (Lam 3:22-23)

Peter speaks to the leaders in the church and how they should operate as leaders. Again we see alien values – not the type of leadership that the world would suggest.

The official persecution of Christians had begun in the Roman Empire about the time Peter wrote this letter. And Peter offers some surprising ideas about hose they should respond to it.

When Peter says "wives submit to your husbands" or that women are the "weaker sex" ... well that doesn't sit well with our society today. But maybe we need to understand what he is actually saying.

God's has created us in his image and we have been created for a relationship with God.

The writer has seem that many of life's pursuits are "meaningless" ... wealth, wisdom, pleasure. But he also sees the injustice and oppression in the world. (Apologies for the poor sound quality)

People often try to find meaning in career or success … to only find out that it doesn't give them what they are looking for.

Ecclesiastes is a book written by a man who has tried all the usual ways of finding meaning and happiness in life … without success. The book opens talking about the meaninglessness of life ... but he continues to find glimmers of hope and meaning.

One of the most important parts of our life will be our relationships … especially the marriage relationship. Proverbs offers some great insights and timeless wisdom.

The desire for a good reputation is as strong today in our society as it has ever been. But as followers of Jesus we should have a different motivation when it comes to reputation.

This follows on directly from the previous chapter. The Christian life is about submitting yourself to the lordship of Jesus and living a life of gratitude & thankfulness for all that Jesus has done for us.

One of the big issues the early church had to face was the place of Old Testament Law in the life of those who've trusted in Jesus. The authority that we are to live under is the authority of Jesus ... living with Jesus as Lord (Col 2:6-7).

The Church in Colossae was started when they heard the Gospel from Epaphras. But now, some false teachers have come in and the church has been unsettled. Paul shows them that they have the truth about Jesus.

The Christians in Colosea have come to genuine faith in Jesus … but false teachers have crept in and have been offering a "counterfeit" Gospel. Paul assures them that what they have is the truth.