Teaching for today

Ancient creeds in the modern world

We have available to us the inerrant, authoritative and complete Word of God, so of what benefit to us are church creeds? Many battles against error have been fought down through the ages of church history. These battles have often been resolved by the drawing up of statements of sound doctrine. But how should we approach and value these ancient creeds in the modern world, especially in relation to Scripture?

Common grace

In a fallen world how is it that unbelieving men and women are capable of great acts of kindness, can experience a measure of joy and happiness, and possess wonderful skills and talents? What should Christian believers think about this? How should these things affect the way we relate to our unbelieving neighbours and friends? The doctrine of common grace powerfully explains the world we live in.

The Saviour of the World

Because of the testimony of the woman at the well, a group of Samaritans came to see that Jesus "really is the Saviour of the world" (John 4:42). Christ is able to provide a full salvation and he is able to keep us. What are the implications for evangelism and for Christian assurance?

The Great Redeemer

In the Old Testament the role of the Kinsman Redeemer was to redeem the property or the freedom of a relative who had fallen into debt or slavery. This is a picture of Christ, the Great Redeemer, who redeems his people from the moral poverty and slavery of sin.

The Great High Priest

The book of Hebrews describes Christ as the Great High Priest and develops the doctrine of penal substitution. Christ is the only priest who offered himself as a full and perfect sacrifice. We can come boldly to God through the merits of Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16).

The Suffering Servant

"Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer" (Isaiah 53). The Son of God came to reclaim ruined sinners by taking on the nature of a servant and becoming obedient to death. Are we ready to take up our cross daily and follow him?

The Messianic King

The coming of the Messianic King is clearly promised in the Old Testament. Not least in the book of Isaiah - a Messiah bearing the title "the mighty God", ruling on the throne of David. Does our view of Christ line up with his kingship?

The Christian's calling

1 Corinthians 7:23-24 says: "You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to." Professor Donnelly challenges the Christian's view of God's general and personal call on their life.

Do not lie

Whether we own much or little, what we have is ours to steward and is not to be stolen, so violating the God-given right to private propoerty. Stealing also reveals covetousness, which is idolatry.

Do not steal

Whether we own much or little, what we have is ours to steward and is not to be stolen, so violating the God-given right to private property. Stealing also reveals covetousness, which is idolatry.

Do not Murder

The sanctity of human life as made in the image of God is protected by the sixth commandment. To murder a person is to desecrate the image of God and mock God himself. Murder, manslaughter, abortion, euthanasia and suicide are all outlawed by this commandment. How is life valued in today's society? The Lord Jesus Christ taught that this commandment also prohibits unrighteous anger and insulting behaviour.

Do not commit adultery

This commandment teaches that the only context for shared sexual intimacy is within the marriage bond of one man with one woman. What steps should Christians take to ensure they are faithful to this commandment in today's sex-saturated culture?

Honour your Father and Mother

Today, parents' authority is being undermined by public policy and popular culture. A breakdown in respect for the authority of parents leads to all manner of negative consequences. What does it mean for Christians to keep this commandment today?

Remember the Sabbath day

What is the place of the Sunday for New Testament Christians? Is 'the day of rest' for the Christian alone or does it have significance for others?

I am the LORD your God

God demands that we should worship and glorify him and him alone. But what are the idols of our day and how can Christians keep these commandments?

Do not swear

In our society people routinely take the LORD's name in vain. Can Christians be guilty of breaking this commandment through careless use of God's name? How are we to react to the blasphemy we hear around us daily?

The Ten Commandments in the Old Testament

The Ten Commandments are more neglected in our country today than they have been for centuries. Does the Bible teach that The Ten Commandments are true and lasting - for all people in every society?

Josephine Butler

Converted as a teenager, Josephine Butler become a leading social reformer. After caring for dying prostitutes in her own home, she went on to lead a national campaign to end licensed prostitution and raise the age of consent from 13 to 16.

Countess of Huntingdon

Selina Hastings played a significant role in the 18th century Evangelical Awakening, believing all should be dedicated to the service and glory of Jesus. Henry Venn called her "a star of the first magnitude in the firmament of the church".

Charles Oxley

Charles Oxley was a member of the Christian Brethren who devoted himself to many causes. These included the inerrancy of the Bible as public truth, Christian education, and the fight against sex shops, pornography and blasphemy.

William Tyndale

William Tyndale was the first person to translate and print the Bible in English. He was condemned, hunted and eventually murdered for his commitment to giving the laity access to word of God.

J.C. Ryle

J.C. Ryle was one of the most significant churchmen of his time and his writings are still in constant demand today. During a time of confusion and heresy in the church, Ryle constantly emphasised the unique authority of Scripture.

Christian Apologetics

This first lecture looks at the role of rational argument in proclaiming and defending the Christian faith. Whilst the human mind is fallen, it is still possible to appeal to the conscience and use rational argument.

Bishop Lesslie Newbigin

Lesslie Newbigin grew up in Northumberland, became a Christian at University and went on to become a missionary and Bishop in South India. He robustly defended salvation solely through Christ and Christianity as public truth.

Francis Schaeffer

This lecture examines the work of one of the foremost Christian thinkers of the twentieth century. Founder of L'Abri, Schaeffer wrote over 20 books on philosophy and theology. He provided a biblical critique of Western culture, teaching that the Bible is true for all of life.

C.S. Lewis

Converted in the 1920s whilst Fellow and Tutor of Magdalen College, Oxford, C.S. Lewis became a powerful Christian apologist capable of speaking simply to people at every level. His best known works include Surprised by Joy, Mere Christianity, and The Narnia Chronicles.

Raymond Johnston

School teacher then lecturer in the Education Department of Newcastle University, Raymond Johnston became the Director of Care Campaigns. He fervently believed that in a collapsing culture Christians must speak out for the truth.

Man: made new in Christ

In Christ, we are renewed and equipped for service. Christians, and the whole of creation, long for deliverance from slavery and corruption, eagerly awaiting the freedom promised.

Man: fallen

Man is marred by sin and destined for a lost eternity without Christ. The fall has consequences not just for man but also for the created order.

Man: male and female

This lecture considers man as both male and female and the complementary nature of the sexes.

Man: the Covenant King

Man as steward, entrusted with dominion over all the earth, is the subject of this lecture.

Man: the image of God

This lecture will explore the essential character of man created in the image of God.

The dignity of work

Men and women, made in the image of God, were created to work. We should therefore view our work, whatever type of work it is, as a means by which we can serve and glorify God.

The Christian mind

In Romans 12 the apostle Paul talks about the importance of renewing our minds. Christians must seek to understand what the Bible teaches not just about 'religious matters' but about all aspects of life.

Common grace

God in His grace has provided the means to restrain evil and to enable human life to flourish. This 'common grace' is necessary for both Christian and non-Christians alike. Our society rejects God's common grace at its peril.

Biblical inerrancy

If we are to be bold in standing for Christian truth, especially under pressure, it is vital that we are convinced that the Bible is true and without error in all that it affirms. This includes the Bible's teaching on science, history and morality as well as theology.

Suffering

Suffering is surely something that no Christian can escape, yet there is much confusion on this subject. The idea of a sovereign God allowing tragedies to occur is one that all Christians struggle with, but we know that it is often through suffering that our relationship with God is deepened.12 December 1997

Optimistic Humanism

The Human race is destined to progress. This idea has come to dominate modern thought. Man will be his own salvation through science and democracy. Belief in God is not only seen as irrelevant, it is positively harmful. Enlightenment thinking which began 300 years ago has come to dominate the Western World. Its ideas were formally codified in the 1933 Humanist Manifesto.

Nihilism

If Enlightenment thinking (see Optimistic Humanism) leads to the death of God, Nihilism, according to Nietzsche saw 'the death of his murderer'. Nihilism rejects absolutes and objective meaning.

Libertarianism

The twentieth Century has highly prized human freedom. Totalitarian state control in the former Communist countries has been seen to collapse. Is there now a moral danger from the political right where some advocate freedom unfettered by morality?

God of Praise

"Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel." (Psalm 22:3)"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." (Psalm 150:6)

God of Promise

"I will also appoint him my first-born, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. I will maintain my love to him for ever, and my covenant with him will never fail." (Psalm 89:27-28)"He will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two." (Zechariah 6:13)

God of History

"With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please." (Jeremiah 27:5)"His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No-one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you done?'" (Daniel 4:34-35)

God of the Covenant

"I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you." (Genesis 17:7)"Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant." (Hebrews 7:22)

God of Creation

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Hebrews 11:3)

The biblical framework for the family

Ranald Macaulay introduces this mini-series by looking at the biblical foundations of the family. He also asks how Christians should seek to share their view of the family with others.

The role of men and women

The responsibilities of parents

Biblical hermeneutics

Hermeneutics is concerned with how we read and understand the Bible. In the last lecture of the series, Professor Mackay challenges us to be objective in our interpretation of scripture.

Bible text & translation

How similar is the text we read in our Bibles to that of the original documents? Which of the many available 'texts' should Bibles be translated from, and how should they be translated? John Mackay carefully answers these important questions.