All articles by Rev Dr David Instone-Brewer
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Regular ColumnistsWas the Old Testament always preaching the Gospel?
Read through the lens of a three-act story—rules, repentance and relationship—the Old Testament reveals the same message as the New: a God who calls His people back, forgives their sin, and restores them to Himself, says Dr David Instone-Brewer
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Regular ColumnistsWhy these 4 foundations of the early Church still matter today
What needs to change when a person decides to follow Christ? David Instone-Brewer looks at four ways the first Christians answered the question and the implications for us today
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Regular ColumnistsDid the founder of modern Judaism meet Jesus?
After Jerusalem was destroyed in AD70, Judaism could have vanished…but Yohanan ben Zakkai, a rabbi and near contemporary of Jesus, preserved and reshaped Jewish teaching for millennia to follow. David Instone-Brewer explores how his message echoed Jesus’ – but missed the crucial truth at its heart
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Regular ColumnistsBelief, faith or trust - which one do we need?
Bible translators are increasingly favouring the word ‘trust’ to describe our relationship with God. David Instone-Brewer explains why
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Regular ColumnistsWhat did Jesus mean by 'turn the other cheek'?
Jesus’ most radical teaching can seem impossible to obey. Does he really expect us to welcome and invite more suffering? In digging deeper, David Instone-Brewer uncovers an explanation that will make you want to follow Jesus’ instructions
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Regular ColumnistsThe first sound: How science confirms the Bible’s account of creation
Genesis says that God spoke order into chaos. Scientific findings about the universe’s first sound resonate with scripture, says David Instone-Brewer
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Regular ColumnistsGod doesn’t expect us to forgive people who haven’t repented
Letting go of bitterness is not the same as forgiving someone, says Dr David Instone-Brewer
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Regular ColumnistsWhy the Bible is sometimes obscure
When we divide over the irrelevant, we forget the most important message of all, says David Instone-Brewer
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Regular ColumnistsPalestinian brothers
Palestinians are not Arabs by descent. Could their true identity provide a path towards peace in the Middle East today?
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Regular ColumnistsJailbreak: A new way of illustrating the good news
Sin has imprisoned us in a fallen world, says David Instone-Brewer. But one day, Jesus will return to set the captives free
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Regular ColumnistsWhat would Jesus vote?
Was Jesus a communist or capitalist? David Instone-Brewer explores what the Bible tells us about how to vote
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Regular ColumnistsDid God give the land of Israel to the Jews?
God makes promises to both Jews and Arabs when it comes to land in the Middle East, observes David Instone Brewer
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Regular ColumnistsWarrior women: What does the Bible say?
David Instone-Brewer explores what scripture teaches about women in wartime
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Regular ColumnistsWho did Cain marry?
The identity of Cain’s wife has long troubled Christians. David Instone-Brewer proposes a new way of thinking about the problem
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Regular ColumnistsMore than just friends - early Church community was radical
Being part of a community of believers wasn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’ for the first Christians. Fellowship was vital for a family’s wellbeing, explains David Instone-Brewer
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Regular ColumnistsIs the Prince of Persia causing chaos in Gaza?
Christians around the world are praying fervently for peace in the Middle East, yet the fighting continues. Are our prayers being hindered? A peculiar story from the Old Testament may help us understand what’s going on, says David Instone-Brewer
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Regular ColumnistsWhat does it mean to "live by the Spirit"? These scientific insights might help
Neuroscience might provide some unexpected answers to two complex theological questions, says David Instone-Brewer
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Regular ColumnistsValuable trash: Why the first Christians were known as the scum of the earth
Throughout Christian history, those at the bottom of society have been most receptive to the good news, explains David Instone-Brewer
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Regular ColumnistsCommunion then and now
Traditions may have changed over the centuries, but wherever and whenever we eat the bread and drink the wine, we share fellowship together as one family – and with Jesus – says David Instone-Brewer
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Regular ColumnistsJesus hasn't returned yet. Why not?
In the first century, something or someone stopped Jesus’ second coming. David Instone-Brewer explores what happened and asks: What is it that is holding him back today?
