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Johan SlabbertHold back those Staggering towards Slaughter. Genesis 25:23–24; Psalm 139:13–16; Proverbs 24:10–12; Matthew 1:18–20 Since 1 February 1997, abortion on demand has been legal in South Africa. While exact statistics are difficult to verify, conservative estimates suggest that well over two million unb…
Johan SlabbertLet Us Run! Hebrews 11:32–12:3 We landed in Shanghai late, with less than 60 minutes to find our connecting flight to Osaka. Shanghai's Pudong Airport is enormous, handling over 76 million passengers a year. This airport is the busiest international gateway in China. They advise you to arrive at le…
Johan SlabbertEthnicity, Culture, and Kingdom: A Biblical Response to Race Obsession Acts 17:22–31; Romans 9:1–8 Walk into almost any public space today—be it a news broadcast, classroom, or online forum—and you’ll find one of the topics dominating the discourse: race. Terms like “racial justice,” “critical race…
Johan SlabbertReflections from Mark 12:1–13 In one of the most sobering parables Jesus ever told, we find a vineyard—beautifully planted, well-protected, and entrusted to tenants. But behind the idyllic imagery lies a tale of spiritual corruption and abuse of power. Mark 12:1–13 is not just a story—it’s a warnin…
Johan SlabbertReflections on 1 Kings 21:1-24 What happens when those in power decide they want what belongs to someone else? What if they can manipulate the law, bend the truth, and silence opposition? The chilling story of Naboth’s vineyard in 1 Kings 21 is a powerful account of injustice, abuse of authority, a…
Johan SlabbertScripture Focus: Exodus 20:6 | Ezekiel 18:5-20 There is a haunting proverb that was frequently quoted by the people of Israel during their exile in Babylon: “The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” It reflected their belief that they were suffering because of the sin…
Johan SlabbertScripture Focus: Exodus 20:3–6 | Ezekiel 18:1–4 A Nation in Exile: Then and Now In the year 593 BC, the prophet Ezekiel found himself far from home, exiled in Babylon alongside his fellow Jews, a painful consequence of generations of rebellion against God. His homeland lay in ruin, the temple desec…
Johan SlabbertPhoto: Marcus Woodbridge The recognition of the person and mission of Christ serves to inform and inspire the three great parts of the church’s mission: The Foundation The first part forms the foundation of the church. A confession: Christ is the Son of the living God. A revelation: The church is b…
Johan SlabbertPhoto: Marcus Woodbridge Matthew 17:6-9 "When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, 'Rise, and have no fear.' And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesu…
Johan SlabbertPhoto: Marcus Woodbridge Matthew 17:1-5 "And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appear…