John van Rij

We are often rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. This was a problem for Judah in the 620s BC, and it is a problem for many today. A focus on other things, while ignoring God. God makes it clear that we cannot ignore or dismiss him forever, because he is coming. John explains.

We often try to live in an imaginary world where our actions have no consequences. As technology helps us escape from physical reality it can reinforce our disconnection from cause and effect. But just like a warning label on a cigarrette package, Zephaniah presents the consequences for sin in stark terms. He uses strong language […]

Many people think that if we can just control our environment, then people will do what is right. The reality is that the struggles that all humans share come from the inside, not the outside. Jesus makes this clear in Mark 7:14-23, as John explains. (Note that there is a problem with the quality of […]

We would all agree that something has gone wrong with the world. We don’t live in Genesis chapter 1 or 2. The Christian answer is found in Genesis 3: Humans rebelled against a good God, and the effects are still felt today.

How is it that the world is broken? Why is there conflict, pain and sadness? Genesis 3 answers that the first humans sinned against God. When we fail to understand that sin is bad and God is good, this can lead us to follow the same sinful path as Adam and Eve. John explains.

This week we started a new series in Genesis at chapter 1. This chapter sends the context for the rest of the bible, and history. John explains.

When we mess up, sinning against God, there is a temptation to hide our mistakes. Psalm 32 points us away from hiding in the dark towards forgiveness and blessing in acknowledging our failures and receiving grace from God.

In Romans, Paul has made it clear that being made right before God is an external thing that God does for us. The question may arise, does God do anything in us? Or do we remain unchanged. The answer is a resounding ‘yes’ the holy spirit enables gospel living. John explains.

When things in our lives don’t go according to plan, doubts can arise in our hearts. We can question many things, including whether Jesus can be trusted. At the start of this passage the disciples were fearful and confused and by the end they are blessing God. Their doubts were confronted by the resurrection. John […]

Even though we belong to Jesus, we often can feel a burden of condemnation. In Romans 8, Paul makes it clear that for those who are in Christ there is no condemnation. John explains.