Good Reading

The following blogs have been contributed by members of the United Church of God - Australia, and aim to invoke further inspiration and thought on the Word of God.

NOTE: This Blog is temporarily on hold, in lieu of the regular Bible Insight Weekly articles available here.


The intercession of the Holy Spirit

The intercession of the Holy Spirit

All of the knowledge, wisdom, human ability and intelligence, mean little unless we are sustained by God especially in our infirmities. Scripture teaches us much about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and its power of intercession. How does the Holy Spirit assist Jesus Christ's true followers to assist them when they pray to their Father in Heaven.

Read more

Halloween - harmless fun or human folly

Halloween - harmless fun or human folly

Halloween is celebrated on the eve of 31 October. Australians are indeed embracing Halloween in greater numbers and spending more money on this festival. Halloween decorations are more readily available in the shops and online and people are embracing this festivity with greater enthusiasm. Is the celebrating of Halloween just harmeless fun? What does the bible have to say about it?

Read more

Stooping down to pick up nothing

Stooping down to pick up nothing

Have you ever wondered how incredible and enjoyable your life would be if you won the lottery? ‘You’ve got to be in to win it!’ – as they say. Is wealth, though the true source of a happy, satisfying and Godly life? Can we learn some extremely valuable lessons from a man who dedicated his entire life to this very question?

Read more

Then He delivers

Then He delivers

Have you ever wondered where was God during the many years the Children of Israel were in captivity and under the cruelty of Egyptian taskmasters? Have you ever wondered from time to time where is God when you, your family or friends are having difficulties in life? We can learn how God delivers from the story of the exodus.

Read more

A night to be much observed

A night to be much observed

Is there an event or celebration in your life which you particularly remember fondly? The night after the Passover is of special significance and observance to many Christians. What is this night to be much observed?

Read more

Why should I?

Why should I?

Why should I? Why should I help out my neighbour when he never helps me? What if Jesus had thought that way? Jesus Christ didn't just die for our sins, He lived in a world full of sinners, loving and serving them every minute that He had.

Read more

Our annual pilgrimage to Golgotha

Our annual pilgrimage to Golgotha

Do you identify yourself as a Christian? Are you a follower of Jesus Christ - the Passover for all humanity? How will you commemorate His death till He comes?

Read more

A New Year’s Challenge for You

A New Year’s Challenge for You

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions so far this year? Are you up for a New Year’s challenge which will set you on a life changing experience and a journey of discovery?

Read on!!

Read more

Seeing the old year out and the new year in

Seeing the old year out and the new year in

This time of the year is a festive season, with Christmas just passed and preparations for New Years’ eve celebrations next on the minds of many.

1st January 2018 starts a brand new year. The calendar is the time keeper for what we do in life. The calendar determines for us – those who use the Gregorian calendar - when we see the old year out, and the new year in.

But do we ever stop to give consideration as to how time began? For the Christian, whose foundation of belief is the Bible, we believe God created time.

Read more

It is Unmistakably the Season of  Christmas.

It is Unmistakably the Season of Christmas.

Have you been looking forward to the Christmas Season with all the Christmas cheer this time of the year brings – Christmas light displays, Christmas songs in all the stores and shops or maybe the carols by candlelight? Would you be interested to learn more about the true meaning of Christmas? My wife and I some fifty years ago made the decision not to observe Christmas. Does this surprise you? We were raised in Christian families and Christmas had been a part of our religious celebration but we had taken for granted that Jesus Christ – our Lord and Saviour – was actually in Christmas.

Read more

Cleansing and renewal

Cleansing and renewal

The world is in the “bondage of corruption” and this is the environment in which we live.

However God promises salvation. He saves us through a process that takes time – a lifetime. As Christians, genuinely seeking to follow Christ, do we know fully what is this process and how we can participate in and embrace it?

Read more

As human beings we are incomplete

As human beings we are incomplete

Many self-help advisors claim that ‘Everything you need is already within you’. But is this really true? What does the Word of God - the Bible - have to say?

Read more

Trick or treat .... Is It harmless?

Trick or treat .... Is It harmless?

Australians are indeed embracing Halloween in greater numbers and spending more money on this festival. Halloween decorations are more readily available in the shops and online and people are embracing this festivity with greater enthusiasm.

It all looks like so much fun and seems so harmless.

But is Halloween really harmless?

Read more

The Miracles of Jesus – A Foretaste of God’s Coming Kingdom

The Miracles of Jesus – A Foretaste of God’s Coming Kingdom

Even those who are not Christians know of the many wonderful miracles performed by Jesus Christ throughout His human ministry which are recorded in the Bible. However, how many understand that these remarkable good deeds – which were too numerous for all to be recorded – demonstrate the kind of world He will lead as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in the coming Kingdom of God?

Read more

Good enough

Good enough

What if I'm not good enough? Many of us find ourselves asking that question often in some form – maybe even daily – perhaps even moment by moment. We can discover from the Bible that God's measure of success is very different from what we naturally expect of ourselves.

Read more

Events of the end and beyond

Events of the end and beyond

What events are we witnessing now? Are things getting better, or rapidly getting worse? Are we heading for the time of the end and beyond?

Read more

The poor in Christ are truly wealthy

The poor in Christ are truly wealthy

The Smyrna church had something of which Jesus took particular notice. It was not their standing in this world with respect to this world’s wealth or position. They were rich in something else that was so much more esteemed by Jesus Christ. How did He regard them as rich?

Read more

Total change

Total change

Professed belief in the name of Jesus is what most Christians do, but repentance and turning to God through Jesus Christ results in a complete change.

Read more

Tattoos – what does the Bible really say?

Tattoos – what does the Bible really say?

Does the bible have anything to say about tattoos and is it relevant for us today?

Read more

The first harvest

The first harvest

The children of Israel were unaware of the greater meaning of these feasts of the Lord. To them the meaning was the representation of the harvests, and it would remind them of the blessings God would bestow on them in the harvest. Are you aware of the First Harvest in God’s plan of salvation for all humanity?

Read more

What joy Isn't

What joy Isn't

What does the word joy bring to your mind? Happiness? Smiling a lot? Fun? Can we completely understand what joy really is? Can we have truly lasting joy?

Read more

And the truth shall make you free

And the truth shall make you free

Last year, I came across a headline on Facebook: "Trump Collapses and Dies of Heart Attack!”. In disbelief, I immediately did a search and came up with nothing. Something so shocking and world-shaking would obviously have been all over the internet! It was fake!!

So how can we know what is truth?

Read more

A feast celebrating sincerity and truth

A feast celebrating sincerity and truth

The Apostle Paul writes: "Therefore let us keep the feast; not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”  Because of, the sacrifice that Jesus made we should go on and keep the feast “with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”  What feast is this?

Read more

No greater love

No greater love

Jesus chose to “taste death for every person.” He experienced suffering of unimaginable magnitude, and He died – not because He sinned, but because we sinned. In this there is no greater love. In this God’s great love for you and for me is manifest.

Read more

Let’s keep the Feast

Let’s keep the Feast by Bill Bradford

Let’s keep the Feast

As it has been my custom for many years, I plan once again to obey God’s command and observe the Feast of Tabernacles with my family.

God commanded the Feast Days for His people because they keep us in touch with the knowledge of His great plan and wonderful purpose for all mankind. We are reminded of God’s great purpose for mankind through the faithful observance of the Feasts of the Lord.

What is man that you are mindful of him?

What is man that you are mindful of him? by Bill Bradford

What is man that you are mindful of him?

Have you ever wondered why the Creator God would have any interest in you or me, or in humanity? David asked the very same question – “What is man that You are mindful of him ... the son of man that You visit him?” The answer to this question has gone generally unknown or misunderstood throughout human history. When we pause, meditate on and embrace the answer, our lives will be forever changed. Dare to read on?

Submission to God: The wrestle to surrender one's agenda

Submission to God: The wrestle to surrender one's agenda by Samantha Thomson

Submission to God: The wrestle to surrender one's agenda

Do you try to live a Christian way of life? Or at least a ‘Christian-looking’ way of life? Have you surrendered your life and will to God, or do you still hold on to ‘underground agendas’ which only serve to give an appearance of empowerment. What does real submission to God look like? Read Samantha’s personal journey on this topic.

In search for extra terrestrial life

In search for extra terrestrial life by Bill Bradford

It is not a new endeavour for humanity to be curious about the possibility of finding and making contact with intelligent life in the universe. Stephen Hawking, teaming up with Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, has renewed interest in this search. However, you may not be aware that there is a group that has already made contact with intelligent life in our universe.

Imitate the Great Giver

Imitate the Great Giver by Bill Bradford

Imitate the Great Giver

In the opening chapters of the Bible it becomes apparent there are two ways of life – the "give" way and the "get" way. This powerful theme is followed through in the rest of the Bible -- in the Words of God, in the words and examples of His servants. 

How do we see these two ways of life in today's world?

The Feast of Firstfruits

The Feast of Firstfruits by Bill Bradford

The Feast of Firstfruits

God is sharing a great message with the world through His Holy Day plan. Keeping the Feast of Firstfruits is one of the most encouraging and inspiring of God's Holy Days. What do you know about the Feast of Firstfruits also known as Pentecost?

Remembering the fallen

Remembering the fallen by Reg Wright

Remembering the fallen

From time to time, I have been asked questions from Christians who sincerely want to understand what the Bible teaches about war and therefore how should Christians think about war and the commemoration of war. They ask: Is it all right for a Christian to attend war memorial services such as those held on ANZAC Day.

Speaking in tongues

Speaking in tongues by Reg Wright

Speaking in tongues

A phenomenon that has grown considerably in modern times within the Christian churches is the ability to speak in tongues. The subject of "speaking in tongues" has caused considerable discussion and controversy within the Christian community. 

What does the Bible tell us about this subject of "speaking in tongues?"

The focus of the Feast

The focus of the Feast by Bill Bradford

The focus of the Feast

The Kingdom of God has always existed. God's annual Feasts described in Leviticus 23 tell of the plan He embarked on before anything was created - to bring others into his family. His family will be of His kind, the God kind, and the object of God creating everything, including the angels, was to bring "many sons to glory".

How does the Feast of Unleavened Bread provide us with a most amazing object lesson, showing our journey into the very family of our Creator and God?

Wonderful lessons from the Passover season

Wonderful lessons from the Passover season by Roger Waite

Wonderful lessons from the Passover season

God's Holy Days have rich meaning reminding us each of the major steps in God's great plan to save all of mankind and bring us into His great Family. As the Passover and Unleavened Bread festivals draw near it is good to reflect on the meaning of the wonderful Passover season.

Near-death experiences

Near-death experiences by Reg Wright

Near-death experiences

Many have used personal near death experiences or stories of near death experiences to confirm their belief that there is life after death -- that when a person dies he or she either goes to heaven or hell. But is this really what the bible teaches? How should we understand these accounts of near death experiences?

Nothing hidden from Him

How well do you know yourself? Nothing hidden from Him by Bill Bradford

Nothing hidden from Him

Is it possible that we sometimes hide from God; that we don't want God to know too much about us? How well do we really know ourselves? Do we realize that God knows us better than we know ourselves?

Bible Insights Weekly

Enrich your spiritual thinking.