(Gavin Paynter)
The most important question anyone can ask was the one the Philippian jailor
asked Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). How can
I become a Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ?
(Warren Paynter)
And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle
of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing
of abominations (detestable things) will come one who makes desolate (causes
horror), even until a great destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on
the one who makes desolate (causes horror). (NASB)
(Ken Paynter)
We have just gone into a new year. New year resolutions were made (Many have been broken already). Change is needed judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use,
it will be A new year is a good time to implement change.
(Gavin Paynter)
Matt 7:1-5 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you
judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be
measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye
and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your
brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a
plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye,
and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
(Gavin Paynter)
Why did our Saviour have to be born of a virgin? In the OT God had also promised
several people that the Messiah would be one of their descendants. In order to
prove this descent, it was necessary to keep genealogical records. But who was
Joseph's father - Jacob or Heli? What is of particular interest is the 5 women
mentioned in Matthew's genealogy. Normally women were seldom mentioned in these
lists, so the choice of these somewhat disreputable women is intriguing.
(Ken Paynter)
There is a famous story about author Joseph Heller attending a party given by a
billionaire. Another illustrious author, Kurt Vonnegut, informed Heller that the
host, a hedge fund manager, had made more money in a single day than Heller had
ever earned from his wildly popular novel Catch-22. Heller responded: "Yes, but
I have something he will never have: 'enough'."
(Gavin Paynter)
Did Charles Darwin believe Blacks and Aborigines were on the same level as
gorillas? How did the early proponents of the theory of Evolution justify their
blatant racism? How did Hitler and the Nazis use the theory of evolution to
support their belief of the superiority of certain races and ultimately to
justify the genocide of 6 million Jews - besides their euthanasia program which
entailed murdering the aged, retarded and disabled. Is racism defensible
genetically, morally and Biblically? What was the mark of Cain and the curse of
Ham (Canaan) that racists in their ignorance use to support their prejudices?
How should we treat aliens? Is racial inter-marriage a sin? What does the Bible
mean when it says we must love our neighbour? Who is my neighbour? Will heaven
be segregated?
(Gavin Paynter)
Matt 6:22-23 The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole
body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be
full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that
darkness! What does this passage mean? There is disagreement about the meaning of this
saying of Jesus.
(Gavin Paynter)
William Ward said, "Worry is wasting today's time to clutter up tomorrow's
opportunities with yesterday's troubles." Worry not only affects us mentally,
emotionally and physically - it also affects us spiritually. said, "So do not
worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we
wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows
that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of
its own." (Matt 6:31-34)
(Warren Paynter)
John declares that this book is a revelation given by God (the Father) to Jesus
Christ, to show his servants those things which were to take place in the
future. The Greek word apokalupsis translated revelation, is compounded from the
words apo ... from, and kalupto ... to cover or hide, thus the meaning is the
'unveiling' of that which was previously hidden. (The Greek word prototokos
translated firstborn seven times, and first-begotten twice. The Lord Jesus is
the first in the new creation, just as Adam was the first in the Edenic
creation. The new creation begins with him. This headship of the new creation
does not in any way compromise his eternal power and godhead.)