Bible Studies

Passage: Genesis 2.4-25
Theme: Before the Fall was a time of peace and harmony between humanity and the earth, between human beings, and between people and God. What can we do to be better helpers, for God and each other?
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Passage: Luke 15.11-32
Theme: The famous parable of the Lost Son follows the ones about the lost sheep and the lost coin. All three parables reveal God's heart for the lost. Are there particular lessons here for you personally or for the Church?
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Passage: Mark 10.17-31
Theme: When Peter and the others wonder what reward they will receive, Jesus looks forward to the Church. How well do you think the Church lives up to Jesus' description of a community rich in blessings and relationships?
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Passage: Matthew 6.25-34
Theme: In this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks about anxiety, specifically in relation to material things like food and clothing. How can we help each other and our neighbours avoid anxiety about material needs?
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Passage: Ephesians
Theme: In Paul's letters, those who name Jesus as their Lord are called saints, or "hagioi" in Greek. It implies association with the Holy Spirit. Let's look briefly at the 9 occasions that "hagioi" crops up in Ephesians and see what we can learn.
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Passage: Matthew 5.1-12
Theme: What does it mean “blessed are the peacemakers” and how can we demonstrate this and other beatitudes in our lives?
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Passage: 1 Samuel 8, Psalm 72, John 18.33-19.16
Theme: What positive and negative images does the word King conjure up for you? What kind of King is Jesus? How does this relate to the way Christians are to live in the world today?
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Passage: Mark 13.1-13
Theme: How do we deal with our desire to be in control of future events? How can we develop the qualities of patience, endurance and love?
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Passage: Jeremiah 33.10-16
Theme: Jeremiah is known as the prophet of doom and gloom. Yet late in Jeremiah's life, God gave him a new message of hope, forgiveness and restoration to come after a period of exile. Chapters 31 to 33 of Jeremiah contain some of the most encouraging passages in the whole of the Old Testament.
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Passage: Malachi 3.1-4, Luke 3.2-20
Theme: Two uncompromising prophets who lived 400 to 500 years apart help us prepare for the coming of the Lord. Both addressed people who appeared religious and said they wanted God. But what kind of preparations do we need to make and how does the Lord's coming relate to the biblical ideas of judgement and justice?
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Passage: Luke 3.15-22
Theme: What happened when Jesus was baptized by John and what can his baptism teach us about our own baptism and confirmation?
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Passage: John 2.1-11
Theme: Jesus changes water into wine at a wedding feast. What implications does this have for Christians and their mission today?
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Passage: Acts 4.1-end
Theme: How the early Church responded to the arrest of two key leaders.
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Passage: Luke 8.22-25
Theme: Disciples learn and grow through the storms of life.
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Passage: Luke 9.28-36
Theme: What did the transfiguration mean to Jesus and his followers? What does it mean to us?
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Passage: Luke 13.31-35
Theme: How do the themes and conflicts of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem relate to the cross and to us?
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Passage: John 12.1-8
Theme: What was going on when Mary anointed the feet of Jesus at Bethany? What relevance does this story have to our lives and the Passion narrative?
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Passage: Acts 10.1-48
Theme: The growth of the Church beyond its Jewish origins is enabled by God's belief in Peter and Peter's ability to change and to follow. How does this relate to our task today?
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Passage: Acts 2.1-21
Theme: What happened at Pentecost and why? Is the Holy Spirit a "missing person" for us? How can we open ourselves to the Spirit's transforming power?
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Passage: Revelation 7.9-17
Theme: God reveals the masterpiece he is working on, so that we can work for the same goals and priorities here and now.
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Passage: Galatians 1.11-end
Theme: Why did Paul write such a fiery letter to the churches of Galatia? What was the big issue and how does it relate to our gospel task?
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Passage: 2 Samuel 11 and 12
Theme: What can we learn about temptation, sin, repentance and consequences from this famous story about King David?
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Passage: Galatians 3.23-29
Theme: Paul expresses his determination that Christianity should not become a rules-based religion and voices a revolutionary vision of equality, freedom and oneness.
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Passage: Philemon
Theme: St Paul handles a delicate situation with tact and tenderness, as well as strength.
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Passage: Luke 15.1-10
Theme: In this study we look at the growing conflict behind Jesus's telling of the parables of the lost sheep and coin. We also try to hear God speaking to us through these powerful examples.
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Passage: Luke 16.19-31
Theme: Is the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus about this life or the afterlife? How different are we from the Pharisees? How are we using our wealth and our beliefs?
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Passage: Luke 19.1-10
Theme: A famous meeting which has so much to teach us. Who are today's Zacchaeuses? How likely are they to encounter God's grace, and what can we do to improve the odds?
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Passage: Romans 13.8-14
Theme: Beginning with a surprising metaphor linking the expression of Christian love to payment of a tax or debt, Paul calls for an urgent response from Christians in the first century Roman Church and beyond.
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Passage: Nehemiah 1-6
Theme: Building for God. What is the role of prayer? What kind of opposition can be expected and how should it be faced?
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Passage: John 10
Theme: First of two studies prepared for the Gibraltar Archdeaconry Synod 2011. We use some of the biblical material about sheep and shepherds, especially John 10, to help think through our relationship with God and with other people.
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Passage: 1 Peter 5
Theme: In this second study prepared for the Gibraltar Archdeaconry Synod 2011, we continue to reflect on biblical material about sheep and shepherds, thinking especially about mission and leadership issues.
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Passage: Matthew 17.1-9
Theme: What can we learn from the transfiguration of Jesus as recorded in Matthew?
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Passage: John 3.1-17
Theme: What was the background to the strange conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus? What was at stake and how does it relate to the task of Christian living today?
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Passage: John 4.1-42
Theme: The conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well reveals God's heart for all who are thirsting for love, acceptance and safety.
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Passage: John 9.1-41
Theme: Is disability some kind of punishment from God? What causes spiritual blindness and how can we escape it?
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Passage: John 11.1-53
Theme: What is the importance of this chapter as part of the gospel story? Why did Jesus delay his visit and to what extent was his own journey to death in view?
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Passage: Acts 2.42-47
Theme: In what ways does the ideal Christian society described in this passage affirm or challenge our contemporary values and lifestyles?
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Passage: Luke 24.36-end, Ephesians 4.1-16, Acts 1.1-11
Theme: Why did the ascension need to happen? How does it fit into God's plan and mission?
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Passage: Matthew 14.13-21
Theme: The Feeding of the 5000.
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Passage: Matthew 18.21-35
Theme: Why did Jesus tell the parable of the unforgiving servant and what does it teach us?
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Passage: Matthew 20.1-16
Theme: This study explores the parable of the workers in the vineyard, also known as the parable of the compassionate employer. What does Jesus teach about God and about us?
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Passage: Luke 12.13-21
Theme: The Parable of the Rich Fool. What encouragements and warnings can we glean from this well-known parable?
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Passage: Matthew 22.15-22
Theme: An unexpected alliance of enemies tried to trap Jesus over the question of payment of tax. What can we learn from this incident and what deeper issues are at stake?
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Passage: John 1.29-51
Theme: A study of the calling of the first five disciples of Jesus. We compare our own stories and think about the barriers to faith in our society.
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Passage: John 2.1-11
Theme: The first sign to reveal Jesus's glory? Why did it happen at a wedding feast, and how does it relate to the dry areas of our lives?
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Passage: Mark 1.29-39
Theme: The power and priorities of Jesus' early ministry.
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