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Jan 4 – Genesis 9-11; Matthew 4 – JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Today’s readings are from Genesis 9-11 and Matthew 4. Press pause to listen to God’s voice before you hear anything more from me.

Okay, welcome back.

At the end of Matthew 3 Jesus is baptised, with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all present in this beautiful moment marking the beginning of Jesus’ earthy ministry.

Immediately after this Jesus is lead out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil in Matthew 4. Jesus has been fasting for 40 days and it’s at that point – when the hunger was real – that the devil, described in verse 3 as “the tempter” comes to put Jesus to the test.

I suggested two days ago that Matthew’s gospel shows many of the ways that Jesus fulfils God’s promises from the Old Testament. I want you to notice today the clear parallels between Jesus being tempted in the wilderness for 40 days and Israel being tempted in the wilderness for 40 years.

Where Israel failed to be the people of God, Jesus shows himself to be the true and better Israel.

Continue reading “Jan 4 – Genesis 9-11; Matthew 4 – JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS”

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Jan 3 – Genesis 6-8; Matthew 3 – JUDGMENT & SALVATION

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Today’s readings are from Genesis 6-8 and Matthew 3. Press pause if you haven’t yet read/listened to these passages for your self.

The message of the Bible is good news. But before we can understand the good news we need to understand the bad news. A sober understanding of the bad news actually heightens our appreciation that the good news is truly good news!

From the great heights of the two creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2, we plummet quickly in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve rebel against God’s rule and reign. Sin has entered into the world and there is a downward spiral of death and destruction as things go from bad to worse. Then by Genesis 4 we have the first recorded murder.

Genesis 6, part of today’s reading, pulls no punches in its assessment of the world and the bad news of the human condition.

Continue reading “Jan 3 – Genesis 6-8; Matthew 3 – JUDGMENT & SALVATION”

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Jan 2 – Genesis 3-5; Matthew 2 – PROMISE & FULFILMENT

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Today’s readings are from Genesis 3-5 and Matthew 2. Once again, before you listen to my thoughts, make sure you read the Bible first.

Today I want to focus on the reading from Matthew 2.

There are four Gospel accounts of Jesus in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each of them are like biographies of Jesus Christ, written for different audiences.

Matthew was written to a Jewish audience. Matthew wants to show his readers the many different ways that Jesus fulfils God’s promises from the Old Testament.

The Old Testament is full of promises from God, and the New Testament – particularly in the Person and Work of Jesus – is full of fulfilment.

2 Corinthians 1:20 puts it like this,

“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” (ESV)

As you are reading these opening chapters of Matthew, not just today, I want you to notice the number of times that a verse from the Old Testament is quoted and Jesus is shown to be the fulfilment of that promise.

Let me highlight two of them from Matthew chapter 2.

Continue reading “Jan 2 – Genesis 3-5; Matthew 2 – PROMISE & FULFILMENT”

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Jan 1 – Genesis 1-2; Matthew 1 – GOD THE CREATOR

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

All the resources for this new podcast can be found at butfirstbible.com

If you’re new to reading the bible, you might like to underline verses that stand out to you, or if you don’t like marking your bible get hold of a notepad or journal and take a few notes as you read.

Today’s readings are from Genesis 1-2 and Matthew 1. Before you listen to anything I have to say, press pause, and go and read/listen to God’s word first.

Continue reading “Jan 1 – Genesis 1-2; Matthew 1 – GOD THE CREATOR”

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“But first, Bible.” Introducing a New Daily Devotional Podcast

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast.

Have you seen the internet meme “But first, coffee”?

Coffee is powerful. And there are many people who don’t function too well until after they’ve had their morning coffee. “But first, coffee” is a statement of a daily priority.

I’ve recently been thinking about the power of God’s word and, therefore, the priority of God’s word.

God’s word really is powerful. Did you know that?

Continue reading ““But first, Bible.” Introducing a New Daily Devotional Podcast”
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Easter Church Services in Brisbane 2017

“To those who mourn, they will be given a crown of beauty instead of ashes, a planting of the Lord for the display of His beauty.” – Isaiah 61:3

You are invited to join City on a Hill: Brisbane this Easter for “Beautiful Ashes”

A series of services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday to consider and celebrate God’s most profound testament of love and hope.

10:30am on Good Friday 14 April 2017 at Palace Barracks Cinemas (61 Petrie Tce, Brisbane 4000) //  Facebook Event.

10:30am on Easter Sunday 16 April 2017 at Palace Barracks Cinemas (61 Petrie Tce, Brisbane 4000) // Facebook Event.

Includes kids program and hot cross buns. All welcome.

#cityonahillbris #brisbanechurch #brisbaneeaster #brisbaneanyday

Contact City on a Hill: Brisbane here or here.

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Safe In The Arms Of Jesus

Safe In The Arms Of Jesus

Last night was a night of contrasts. Our Gospel Community shared food, laughter and life around the dinner table. Then we visited a local cemetery.

“It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.” (Ecclesiastes 7:2-3 ESV)

We spent time reflecting on Ecclesiastes 7 & 9… and it was a profound time of being confronted with death as we also pondered the inscriptions on tombstones.

Wilhelm Julius Duminski died in 1911 at the age of 8 years and 10 months. My eldest son is 7 years and 10 months. I don’t know the circumstances of Wilhelm’s death, but I can only begin to imagine the grief of losing a son so young, and then losing another son in ‘The Great War’ 6 years later.

But I love the glimmer of hope that the gospel brings in midst of the darkness of death:

“SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS”

In Christ Jesus, we have one who has taken death on on the cross, gone to the grave, and then been raised in victory. Death no longer has the final word. For all those who are in Christ Jesus, we have hope beyond the grave.

Run to Jesus in this life, and when we face our own death, it will not be the end. We too will be safe in his arms.

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57 ESV)