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Advent

Should we want to be ‘left behind’ in Matt 24?

December 2, 2019November 27, 2019 by Ian Paul

With the advent of Advent on Sunday (!) we make the move in the lectionary from Year C to Year A. So, after journeying through Luke all year, this Sunday’s gospel reading comes from Matthew, Matt 24.36-44. This short section of text contains some important ideas and images, but we cannot make sense of them … Continue Reading

Categories Biblical Studies 68 Comments

Is Luke 21.25-36 about the Second Coming?

December 10, 2018November 30, 2018 by Ian Paul

Advent is once more upon us, and with it comes two sets of confusion: the idea that Advent is the anticipation of Christmas (when it is really about looking forward to Jesus’ return and The End); and the notion that the set passages in the lectionary are all about Jesus’ return. As we are about … Continue Reading

Categories Biblical Studies 17 Comments

Should we be offended by Sausage Roll Jesus?

November 23, 2017November 21, 2017 by Ian Paul

The high street baker Greggs released their first Advent Calendar last week and, as you will no doubt be aware, caused controversy by replacing Jesus in the manger with a sausage roll. There was the little flurry of ‘angry Christians protest’ stories, because newspaper columns only look interesting if there is conflict, and the more … Continue Reading

Categories Life & Ministry 14 Comments

What is Matthew 24 all about?

November 14, 2017November 3, 2017 by Ian Paul

Matthew 24 is the reading set for the fourth Sunday before Advent (i.e. in the countdown to Advent at the ordinary season comes to a close) and its parallel Mark 13 is the reading for the first Sunday of Advent. There is much confusion about both these passages (and the parallel in Luke 21), and … Continue Reading

Categories Biblical Studies 19 Comments

Advent: The story is better when you know how it ends…

November 26, 2015November 25, 2015 by Ian Paul

Last week, like many diehard fans, I finally got to see the latest James Bond film Spectre. As the lights went down and I chomped through the popcorn, I felt myself being drawn into the drama as Daniel Craig once again (for the last time?) did battle with the forces of evil—uncovering the cunning schemes … Continue Reading

Categories Life & Ministry 2 Comments

Can we undo the consumer frenzy of Christmas?

October 3, 2015October 2, 2015 by Ian Paul

I am told that there are ‘only’ 83 days, 15 hours, 41 minutes and 46 seconds until Christmas. Although the autumn term has only just started, there is already a sense that Christmas, with its relentless build up to the frenetic worship at the altar of Mammon, is just around the corner. Christmas is the … Continue Reading

Categories Book Reviews, Life & Ministry 4 Comments

Should Lent and Advent swap?

March 24, 2015March 22, 2015 by Ian Paul

Evangelicals have not usually been strong on the liturgical year, possibly because of Paul’s language about ‘observing special days and months and seasons and years’ in Gal 4.10. But, like many evangelical Anglicans, I have come to appreciate the sense of rhythm and shape that calendar gives to the year; after all, even in our … Continue Reading

Categories Biblical Studies, Life & Ministry 9 Comments

From text to (all-age) talk

December 10, 2014December 9, 2014 by Ian Paul

Last Sunday I was speaking at St Ann’s with Emmanuel, an inner-urban church in Nottingham, using the lectionary gospel reading of Mark 1.1–8. I trace here the move from the text itself to the all-age talk and activity, and include details of the PowerPoint presentation I used. Features of the text The most striking thing … Continue Reading

Categories Preaching 14 Comments

Preaching on Advent 1

December 1, 2014November 28, 2014 by Ian Paul

Here are some thoughts on making sense of the lectionary readings for Advent 1: Is 64.1–9; Mark 13.24–37 ‘Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!’ Isaiah’s cry of desperation resonates with the cry of many today. If only God would make everything clear! If only he would remove uncertainty, and bring clarity! … Continue Reading

Categories Biblical Studies, Preaching Leave a comment

Making sense of Matthew 24

December 24, 2013December 24, 2013 by Ian Paul

As it is still Advent, it is still worth reflecting on how we make sense Matt 24 (the reading for the First Sunday of Advent). There appear to be two main ways it is read. 1. Both two main sections, Matt 24.1–35 and Matt 24.36–51 are about Jesus’ second coming at the end of the … Continue Reading

Categories Biblical Studies 4 Comments
Ian Paul

Ian Paul: theologian, author, speaker, academic consultant. Adjunct Professor, Fuller Theological Seminary; Associate Minister, St Nic's, Nottingham; Managing Editor, Grove Books; member of General Synod. Mac user; chocoholic. Tweets at @psephizo

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