Christmas 2023

24 December 2023

This year’s episode investigates the star that the wise men saw over Bethlehem.

The Book of Esther

We’ve completed our midrashic approach to the Book of Ruth – in which we discovered amazing prophetic pictures within the historical narrative, that proved relevant, not just in much later biblical times, but also in our very day. So, while we’re on a roll, let’s do the same thing with Esther and see what relevance this ancient story has for the present day..

28 January 2024

16 Esther 10:19-10:3. The conclusion to the Book of Esther and instructions regarding the celebration of Purim. Why are these instructions repeated?

 

 

07 January 2024

15 Esther 9:1-18. The solution to Israel’s problem was the king’s second decree permitting the Jews to defend themselves against their adversaries. It’s a prophetic picture of the day of the Lord. But there’s also some interesting numbers in today’s text – if you like Gematria, check it out.

 

 

03 December 2023

14 Esther 8:1-17. Haman has been defeated but there still remains the decree of genocide against the Jewish people. How can Esther get around an irrevocable royal law?

 

 

12 November 2023

13 Esther 7:1-10. See how Esther’s second dinner party is a prediction of events surrounding the Lord’s return.

 

 

22 October 2023

12 Esther 5:9-6:14. Haman plans to have Mordecai executed and visits the king to make his case. Will the king grant his evil petition?

 

 

01 October 2023

11 Esther 4:13-5:8. Mordecai persuades Esther to confront the king over his order of genocide against the Jews. But a written decree from the King of Persia couldn’t be rescinded. What’s a girl to do?

 

 

10 September 2023

10 Esther 3:12-4:12. Haman’s sinister scheme of genocide is set in motion. Mordecai can’t enter the palace and Esther can’t enter the King’s inner court. Whatever will happen next?

 

 

 

 

27 August 2023

09 Esther 2:1-11.  We finally get to meet the bad guy Haman – and what a nasty piece of work he is. His strategy is consistent with all of Satan’s puppets, both past and future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

06 August 2023

08 Esther 2:17-23. It’s Esther’s turn to impress the king – will she win the beauty pageant? If so, will they all live happily ever after? And, while were here, what’s the big deal about having God’s favour?

 

 

 

 

 

09 July 2023

 

07 Esther 2:12-16. Esther and other hopefuls get to strut their stuff before the King. What additional thing will Esther choose to give her an edge over the others?

 

 

25 June 2023

 

06 Esther 2:1-11. King Ahasuerus is looking for a new Mrs King. How will our heroine Esther get an opportunity to apply for the position?

 

 

04 June 2023.

 

05 Esther 1:9-22. While the king was having his great banquet, what was Queen Vashti (our prophetic type of Israel) up to?

 

 

 

 

14 May 2023

 

04 Esther 1:4b-8. After his shindig for the rich and famous, Ahasuerus held another party for seven days. This one was for all and sundry. What’s its significance for us living 2500 years later?

 

 

23 April 2023

 

03 Esther 1:1b-4a. Continuing to look at Gematria – why did King Ahasuerus have 127 provinces? And why did he display his wealth and majesty to the hoi polloi for 180 days?

[Because of a technical glitch – the video was corrupted and is unavailable.]

 

26 March 2023

 

02 Esther 1:1a.  Only one verse, seriously? Yes, well, most of the time is spent introducing folks to Gematria – and that took a little time.

x

 

 

05 March 2023

01 Introduction to the Book of Esther. The usual questions: Who? When? Why? How etc.?

 

 

Random Bible Texts

A collection of biblical texts in no particular order.

 

Dead Baptisms

28 May 2023

• 1 Corinthians 15:29. What does the Apostle Paul mean when he speaks of people in Corinth being baptized for the dead?

 

 

The Lord’s Prayer

 

07 May 2023

• 03 Matthew 6:11. That pesky verse that doesn’t fit my theory. What is the petition for daily bread really about?

[Alas, a persistent software glitch means no video from today’s teaching!]

 

02 April 2023

• 02 Matthew 6:12-13. Continuing the prayer, the last four petitions are also focussed on the return of Messiah in the last days. Despite popular teaching to the contrary, there’s been nothing so far in the Master’s model prayer that is in any way radical.

 

 

12 March 2023

• 01 Matthew 6:9-10. The Lord’s prayer is recited daily by millions of Christians. But is it actually a prayer for our daily needs? Or does it have some other focus?

 

 

Another Excursus: Easter Sunday 2023

 

09 April 2023

• In Matthew 12:40 our Lord prophesied that he would spend three days and nights in the tomb. Perhaps we should review the traditional understanding of ‘Holy Week’ to see how that could possibly work?

 

26 February 2023

 

 

 

 

Ladies and Their Hats

 

12 February 2023

• Ladies and Their Hats – Part Three. The answer to the question about headwear (finally) plus a bonus question: ‘What have the Romans ever done for us?’.

 

 

22 January 2023

 

• 02 Ladies and Their Hats – Part Two. Why the long hair / short hair theory doesn’t work and what kind of a critter is a Sitz im Leben when it’s at home?

 

 

 

 

01 January 2023

 

• 01 – Ladies and Their Hats (1 Corinthians 11:2-16) – Part One. Are ladies still meant to wear head-covering in church? We’ll find out next time but, in this episode, how do we actually go about applying the bible’s commandments and promises today?