Author Archives: Andy Acreman

(If the text in your email is too small, click on the blue date above to read this directly from the website.) MATTHEW 6 It is the curse of short-termism!  It’s a sign of immaturity…  The need to ‘have it all NOW’!  We see it every day: the credit card that ‘takes the waiting outContinue reading “Friday 7th January 2022”

MATTHEW 5 Moses climbed up the mountainside and sat while God dictated the Ten Commandments and the law to him, for the benefit of his people.  Here in Matthew, the author is portraying Jesus as the Great King, giving his own teaching to those listening on the mountainside of Galilee.  “The Sermon on the Mount”Continue reading “Wednesday 5th January 2022”

MATTHEW 4 These days, after a baptism, everyone usually sits down to a relaxing celebratory meal with friends and family.  Not so for Jesus!  The very next thing was that the Spirit of God ‘drove him’ into the Judean wilderness to be TESTED or TEMPTED by the devil.  ‘Devil’ (from the Greek) or ‘Satan’ (fromContinue reading “Tuesday 4th January 2022”

MATTHEW 3 John the Baptist represents the ‘tipping point’ between Old and New Covenants. He was the final Old Covenant prophet, whose job was to ‘close’ that covenant and open the new one, by introducing the Messiah. In a sense, his whole ministry was an outworking of Jeremiah Chapter 31. For further explanation about John’sContinue reading “Monday 3rd January 2022”

MATTHEW 2 He was the Saddam Hussein of Judea, ruling by appointment of the Roman Senate from 37 – 4 BC.  He wasn’t even a Jew!  King Herod was a byword for ruthlessness, warming up for his slaughter of the Bethlehem Under-Two’s by murdering his wife, three sons, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle and quite a fewContinue reading “Sunday 2nd January 2022”

MATTHEW 1 We begin with the first gospel of the New Testament.  Matthew is many people’s favourite gospel.  It is wonderfully poetic and beautifully structured.  It quotes the Old Testament more than any other gospel.  Its job is to prove to Jews that Jesus really is their long-awaited Messiah.  It has five great teaching sectionsContinue reading “Saturday 1st January 2022”