Matthew Henry comments on the first two Psalms that Psalm One is moral and shows us our duty, and Psalm Two is evangelical and shows us our Saviour. There is no indication as to the occasion that gave rise to the writing of the Psalm, but it has been almost universally accepted as a Psalm that very clearly points to

For the next three weeks we are going to be looking at the first 18 Psalms using notes written by Dr. Thomas Donachie. We live in days when boredom, depression and other forms of unhappiness seem to be very common indeed and happiness is often thought to be found in things that only bring temporary relief.

What does the book of Philemon teach to those people who have been wronged and offended by others? It teaches you first of all to look to the Gospel. See that enemy, or rival as someone whom Christ has saved. They are members of the same family that you are a member of because of the same

Paul appeals that Philemon would forgive Onesimus because God has transformed Onesimus' life. If the Gospel had not taken root in this man's life, then Paul would have no basis to appeal to Philemon to forgive. But the Gospel has taken root in Onesimus' life, powerfully so. Onesmius is changed, totally transformed. To nail it home, Paul

Onesimus was no longer a lowly slave with few rights. By the result of Paul's mediation he would be accepted into the family of Philemon. He would be treated as a beloved brother; a brother on two counts. First because he was from Philemon's household, and second because he shared in the same faith as Philemon.

Even though Onesimus was a slave of Philemon, he was useless to him. Philemon might not have wanted this useless slave back into his service again. A useless slave is unable to please his master. Is this not true of humans before God? Natural man is useless. He is unable to do good. We read this

Paul in verse 17 pleads with Philemon: receive Onesimus as you would receive me. Accept him as you would accept me. Love him as you would love me. Treat him like family. It is not difficult to see the Gospel picture here. As slaves of unrighteousness, we owe God a debt that we can never pay.

This week we will be looking at the book of Philemon using notes by Rev. Stephen McCollum. This is a short book, written to an individual who is a leader in the church at Colossae. Paul writes three letters from prison and gives them all to a man named Tychicus to deliver. One letter goes to Colossae which we

Paul ends his letter to Titus with a request to meet and spend the winter with him in Nicopolis in Southern Greece. But before Titus travels, he must first settle the church in Crete. Here again we see the importance of church government. Disciples cannot be left alone without elders to oversee and instruct them in the

After explaining the glorious Gospel and the rich blessings we receive in Christ Jesus, Paul states that these are all 'trustworthy' sayings, and we are to 'insist on these things.' The word 'insist' means to speak confidently about something. So what Paul is teaching us here is that our speech and conversation should be full of the glories