The Sydney beachside suburb of Bondi is home to the country’s most iconic beach and at the same time one of the largest Jewish populations Down Under who have lived there in peace and security. On a beautiful sunny late-autumn day that tranquil illusion was shattered. A gunman opened fire on the peaceful crowd killing fifteen and wounding forty. And, seven months later, we are still asking ourselves “Why?”

Tensions existed from the outset between early Christians and the Jewish religious leaders. Though Christianity was a distinctly Jewish movement, the book of Acts reveals persecution soon arose against the new teaching turning violent with the stoning of Stephen and Saul’s zealous imprisonment of believers...

So where would you go in your Bible to find the first antisemite according to Jewish tradition?

If you went to the story of Pharaoh and the Hebrew slaves in Egypt, you would be right… but also wrong!!  You would be right because the first antisemite is mentioned in the context of the Jewish Passover.  But the one mentioned is someone much earlier in history.

When the modern state of Israel was founded, the Menorah was chosen as its emblem.  It speaks of the continuity and eternity of the Jewish people.  But it goes deeper than this, as if that wasn’t enough!   It calls us to the ancient witness of the Word of God... and the worship of God… in an amazing, sacred lampstand. 

The sign of a manger as identifying the birth of a king must have perplexed the shepherds, who would be very familiar with this vessel for feeding animals.  As if to allay such confusion, an additional multitude of angels join the angel of the Lord praising God.  They declare, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:14).  This newborn son brings glory to God and peace to humanity, such is the significance of his arrival.

Have you ever been driving along the highway when, seemingly out of nowhere, you hear the shrill sound of sirens? At first you are startled as the high-pitched sound seems to engulf you from almost every direction.

The most recognisable symbol of the Christian faith today is undoubtedly the Cross. One can travel to almost any part of the world and, be it in the form of jewellery, a print on a tee-shirt, a cross finial sitting atop a church or a cross placed on a grave site, most would instantly recognise its connection to Christianity.

At first glance, you might not think the story of Purim found in the Book of Esther is anything but…

In this issue of The Shofar, we continue our series in the biblical covenants, turning our attention to the New Covenant, having already considered the Abrahamic, Land and Davidic Covenants.  The focus of these covenants is the nation of Israel and this continues with the New Covenant, even though it is applied to the Church in the New Testament.

Bible-believing faith calls us to seek where the Bible introduces the concept of “Kingdom”. Where does the Bible begin its development of this term? What is the context? Who is involved?