The Old Testament word "shalom" is so much richer than the English translation "peace". Jesus is the great peacemaker but in a surprising way...
The Christian idea of joy is counterintuitive as in James 1: 2 "Count it all joy brothers and sisters when you face trials". This sermon explains how joy is rooted in the very character of God and his wonderful purposes for us.
The final 4 chapters of Samuel explore the relationship between God's sovereign rule over history and the responsibility of human rulers to administer justice. They also touch on the cost of reconciliation between warring parties.
'At the cross God shows his determination to love sinners without sacrificing in the least his commitment to justice and to the victims of injustice.
God shapes human hearts for his own purposes, giving us confidence to live boldly in a world often perceived as being without meaning.
2 Samuel 13 is one of the most distressing chapters in the Bible as it tells the story of David's son Amnon raping his half sister Tamar. Her brother Absalom tells her to be silent, but her story is recorded in God's Word, to give voice to all who like her have been silenced, and so that we not turn a blind eye to sexual assault, but work to build safe communities. This sermon comes with a content warning.
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Comforter. We explore how God comforts us by the personal presence of Holy Spirit with us.
2 Samuel 12 and Psalm 51 give us a picture of how to repent when we sin. We also get a window into David's grief at the death of his son.
In this famous episode David falls spectacularly, committing adultery with Bathsheba and then trying to cover up what he has done by orchestrating her husband Uriah's murder. It's what men so often do, use their power for sexual conquest. But as we read 2 Samuel 11, we're also invited to consider the dynamics of temptation and transgression in our own lives.
David's care of Mephibosheth embodies God's character of loving-kindness. He gives a model for care and inclusion of those with disabilities. We catch a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God looks like.