Teaching for today

Whether we own much or little, what we have is ours to steward and is not to be stolen, so violating the God-given right to private property. Stealing also reveals covetousness, which is idolatry.

The sanctity of human life as made in the image of God is protected by the sixth commandment. To murder a person is to desecrate the image of God and mock God himself. Murder, manslaughter, abortion, euthanasia and suicide are all outlawed by this commandment. How is life valued in today's society? The Lord Jesus Christ taught that this commandment also prohibits unrighteous anger and insulting behaviour.

This commandment teaches that the only context for shared sexual intimacy is within the marriage bond of one man with one woman. What steps should Christians take to ensure they are faithful to this commandment in today's sex-saturated culture?

Today, parents' authority is being undermined by public policy and popular culture. A breakdown in respect for the authority of parents leads to all manner of negative consequences. What does it mean for Christians to keep this commandment today?

What is the place of the Sunday for New Testament Christians? Is 'the day of rest' for the Christian alone or does it have significance for others?

God demands that we should worship and glorify him and him alone. But what are the idols of our day and how can Christians keep these commandments?

In our society people routinely take the LORD's name in vain. Can Christians be guilty of breaking this commandment through careless use of God's name? How are we to react to the blasphemy we hear around us daily?

The Ten Commandments are more neglected in our country today than they have been for centuries. Does the Bible teach that The Ten Commandments are true and lasting - for all people in every society?

Converted as a teenager, Josephine Butler become a leading social reformer. After caring for dying prostitutes in her own home, she went on to lead a national campaign to end licensed prostitution and raise the age of consent from 13 to 16.

Selina Hastings played a significant role in the 18th century Evangelical Awakening, believing all should be dedicated to the service and glory of Jesus. Henry Venn called her "a star of the first magnitude in the firmament of the church".

Charles Oxley was a member of the Christian Brethren who devoted himself to many causes. These included the inerrancy of the Bible as public truth, Christian education, and the fight against sex shops, pornography and blasphemy.

William Tyndale was the first person to translate and print the Bible in English. He was condemned, hunted and eventually murdered for his commitment to giving the laity access to word of God.

J.C. Ryle was one of the most significant churchmen of his time and his writings are still in constant demand today. During a time of confusion and heresy in the church, Ryle constantly emphasised the unique authority of Scripture.

This first lecture looks at the role of rational argument in proclaiming and defending the Christian faith. Whilst the human mind is fallen, it is still possible to appeal to the conscience and use rational argument.

Lesslie Newbigin grew up in Northumberland, became a Christian at University and went on to become a missionary and Bishop in South India. He robustly defended salvation solely through Christ and Christianity as public truth.

This lecture examines the work of one of the foremost Christian thinkers of the twentieth century. Founder of L'Abri, Schaeffer wrote over 20 books on philosophy and theology. He provided a biblical critique of Western culture, teaching that the Bible is true for all of life.

Converted in the 1920s whilst Fellow and Tutor of Magdalen College, Oxford, C.S. Lewis became a powerful Christian apologist capable of speaking simply to people at every level. His best known works include Surprised by Joy, Mere Christianity, and The Narnia Chronicles.

School teacher then lecturer in the Education Department of Newcastle University, Raymond Johnston became the Director of Care Campaigns. He fervently believed that in a collapsing culture Christians must speak out for the truth.

In Christ, we are renewed and equipped for service. Christians, and the whole of creation, long for deliverance from slavery and corruption, eagerly awaiting the freedom promised.

Man is marred by sin and destined for a lost eternity without Christ. The fall has consequences not just for man but also for the created order.

This lecture considers man as both male and female and the complementary nature of the sexes.

Man as steward, entrusted with dominion over all the earth, is the subject of this lecture.

This lecture will explore the essential character of man created in the image of God.

Men and women, made in the image of God, were created to work. We should therefore view our work, whatever type of work it is, as a means by which we can serve and glorify God.

In Romans 12 the apostle Paul talks about the importance of renewing our minds. Christians must seek to understand what the Bible teaches not just about 'religious matters' but about all aspects of life.

God in His grace has provided the means to restrain evil and to enable human life to flourish. This 'common grace' is necessary for both Christian and non-Christians alike. Our society rejects God's common grace at its peril.

If we are to be bold in standing for Christian truth, especially under pressure, it is vital that we are convinced that the Bible is true and without error in all that it affirms. This includes the Bible's teaching on science, history and morality as well as theology.

Suffering is surely something that no Christian can escape, yet there is much confusion on this subject. The idea of a sovereign God allowing tragedies to occur is one that all Christians struggle with, but we know that it is often through suffering that our relationship with God is deepened.<strong>12 December 1997</strong>

The Human race is destined to progress. This idea has come to dominate modern thought. Man will be his own salvation through science and democracy. Belief in God is not only seen as irrelevant, it is positively harmful. Enlightenment thinking which began 300 years ago has come to dominate the Western World. Its ideas were formally codified in the 1933 Humanist Manifesto.

If Enlightenment thinking (see Optimistic Humanism) leads to the death of God, Nihilism, according to Nietzsche saw 'the death of his murderer'. Nihilism rejects absolutes and objective meaning.

The twentieth Century has highly prized human freedom. Totalitarian state control in the former Communist countries has been seen to collapse. Is there now a moral danger from the political right where some advocate freedom unfettered by morality?

"Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel." (Psalm 22:3)"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." (Psalm 150:6)

"I will also appoint him my first-born, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. I will maintain my love to him for ever, and my covenant with him will never fail." (Psalm 89:27-28)"He will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two." (Zechariah 6:13)

"With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please." (Jeremiah 27:5)"His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No-one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you done?'" (Daniel 4:34-35)

"I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you." (Genesis 17:7)"Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant." (Hebrews 7:22)

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Hebrews 11:3)

Ranald Macaulay introduces this mini-series by looking at the biblical foundations of the family. He also asks how Christians should seek to share their view of the family with others.

Hermeneutics is concerned with how we read and understand the Bible. In the last lecture of the series, Professor Mackay challenges us to be objective in our interpretation of scripture.

How similar is the text we read in our Bibles to that of the original documents? Which of the many available 'texts' should Bibles be translated from, and how should they be translated? John Mackay carefully answers these important questions.

Professor Mackay talks about how and why the 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament are in our Bible today. Including why certain books, such as those in the Apocrypha, should not be regarded as the Word of God.

William Carey as the "Father of Modern Missions" started the movement, under God, which was to make Christianity a truly global faith. His wide concept of mission embraced preaching, social, educational and translation work.

William Wilberforce is chiefly remembered as the reformer who campaigned for the abolition of the slave trade. He was at the heart of British politics for over forty years during the inflammatory times of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.

Lord Shaftesbury had a profound contribution to social reform. He spearheaded countless campaigns to care for the mentally ill, to reduce working hours in factories and to stop children being sent down mines.

As a minister of Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, for 54 years Charles Simeon influenced a whole generation of Christian leaders. It has been said that his influence on the nation and the Church of England is incalculable.

The Wesleys were both tireless preachers of the gospel, mightily used in the Eighteenth Century revival. Charles is best known for his remarkable work as a Christian hymn writer. In his estimated 250,000 miles on horseback John was to establish a national network of methodist societies to follow-up new converts to Christianity.

As a conclusion to the series, John Mackay assesses the application of biblical law to politics today. At the end of the lecture Prof. Mackay answers of questions about the series as a whole.

How does the coming of Christ and the completion of His work effect the relevance and function of the Law in the New Testament? This lecture, among other things, looks at how Jesus himself and the Apostle Paul regarded the Law.

As an introduction to this much neglected subject, John Mackay looks at what the Law in the Old Testament entails and how it should be as valued now. "The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold." (Psalm 119:72).