Therefore because of you [unfaithful leaders] Zion shall be ploughed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height. Micah 3:12 If you had heard Micah speak the words of this prophecy, you would have felt completely hopeless. But the wonderful thing is that it didn’t actually happen for another 100…

Our broadcast today dives into the challenging message of prioritising faith amidst our busy lives, filled with music, food, pets, travel, and sports. While these are good things, Pastor Colin reminds us to take time to look at the Lord Jesus Christ. Today's discussion starts with a simple question: What does it actually mean to look at Jesus Chris…

Then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil. Micah 3:4 Here we come to another principle that runs throughout the Bible. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (Jas. 5:16). Effective praying depends on right living. “L…

Today, we tackle a fundamental question: Why is unbelief the dominant response to the gospel of Jesus Christ? We'll explore why many people are on the broad road to destruction and so few on the narrow path that leads to life, as Jesus described. We'll uncover what lies behind unbelief and discover what can lead to faith, focusing on three hurdles:…

“Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?—you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones. who eat the flesh of my people. and lay their skin from off them. and break their bones in pieces and chop them up like meat in a pot, lik…

In today's broadcast, we explore a question that many of us have pondered: How can ordinary people like you and me experience peace at all times and in every way? Pastor Colin delves into the Scripture's teachings on this matter, with insightful references to Paul's prayer in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 3:16-18. He highlights that peace isn't about wal…

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Hebrews 13:17 You are accountable for all that you have been given, and the more you have been given, the more accountable you are. That’s why the Bible urges us to pray for our leaders. Children, pray for your parents, becau…

In today's episode, we ask the profound question: Do you have peace with God today? Are you running from Him or feeling afraid? If you find yourself reluctant to pray or despite settling every conflict in your life, you are still missing that ultimate peace, this episode is just for you. Pastor Colin discusses the essential nature of peace with God…

“Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.” Luke 19:17 Jesus told a story about three servants who were trusted with investing money. Two of them did a good job. They were enterprising and showed themselves to be wise managers. In Matthew’s version, when the master returned, …

Today’s episode dives into the deep and often unspoken struggles many believers face in their spiritual journeys. Have you ever felt like God has forgotten you or is hiding His face from you? Join us as Pastor Colin explores Psalm 13, offering guidance on how to pray when you are in an agony of soul. Pastor Colin discuss practical ways to support t…

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required… Luke 12:48 It is worth taking a moment to think about what God has entrusted to you. Here are some areas to reflect on. Relationships. Your relationships are a trust from God. Every wedding reminds us that one person’s happiness is largely entrusted into the hands of another. When a chi…

Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Micah 3:1 The Bible has a great deal to say about leadership. Some positions of leadership are elected. That is, people make a choice through a process of voting, by which they trust the task of leadership to people who are willing to take that responsibility. This is what happens in a dem…

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7 God is speaking. And He says two things that He will do: Some time ago, Professor Don Carson was asked to speak at Cambridge University. When he had finished his presentation on biblical Christianity, one of the faculty got up and asked: “So what you’re saying is… if God is a ta…

In today's broadcast, we delve into the complexities of enduring long-term trials and the profound impact it has on our souls. Pastor Colin emphasises that the hardest trials aren't necessarily those that hurt the deepest but those that last the longest. Drawing wisdom from Psalm 13, Colin explores how this scripture speaks directly to our struggle…

“Do not preach”—thus they preach— “one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us.” Micah 2:6 When Micah spoke the Word of God, there were strong voices in the community that did not want to hear it. The first marker of the false prophet is that he or she brings comfort to people who are still in their sins: “Micah, you talk ab…

In today's episode, we continue our discussion on “What is the Church and Why Does it Matter?” Pastor Colin reminds us that the Church is not a man-made institution but a divine gathering initiated by God and meant to honour Christ. We explore the powerful concept that the Church, as mentioned by Jesus, refers to the entire body of believers throug…

Therefore, thus says the LORD… Micah 2:3 “I am devising disaster.” He is explaining the action that He is about to take against those who take advantage of the vulnerable: “against this family I am devising disaster” (2:3). A society that follows the path of exploitation will not survive for long. God says that those who have taken the land will be…

In today’s broadcast, we tackle the important topic: What is the Church and Why Does It Matter? Pastor Colin explores the significance of the church through the eyes of Jesus, reminding us how Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. We will dive into Matthew 16 and 18 to uncover what Jesus meant by 'church' and why it holds such immense v…

Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! Micah 2:1 These people are intentionally pursuing the wrong path. Their plan is to make money by taking advantage of vulnerable people: 'They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance” (2:2). In farming comm…

Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. All this month we're showcasing the most requested and downloaded messages from the past year in a series called Listener Favourites. Today's message is from our Christmas Stories series, where we explore the Christmas narrative through the eyes of key participants like Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, …

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:11-12 “Revelation” is the word that we use to describe how the invisible, incomprehensible God has made Himself known. You c…

Today's broadcast explores how our faith is tested when we don't feel the presence of Jesus, just like when the disciples faced a storm on the Sea of Galilee. Join us as Pastor Colin delves into Matthew 14, reminding us that the presence of fear doesn't mean the absence of faith, and that Jesus rules not only the day but also the night and the stor…

I declared them to you from of old, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say, “My idol did them, my carved image and my metal image commanded them.” Isaiah 48:5 A large part of the world’s religion is precisely this: speculation about the nature of God. Men (and women) have thought, talked, meditated, and written about …

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Psalm 34:8 How can we come to know the sovereign God of the Bible? We can’t see Him, hear Him, taste Him, touch Him, or smell Him. God is invisible. More than that, He is incomprehensible. This really is about the most fundamental question a human being can ever ask: How can I know God? How could we, a small…

Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair, for the children of your delight; make yourselves as bald as the eagle, for they shall go from you into exile. Micah 1:16 Shaving the head was an act of mourning before the Lord. When one sees a disaster happening in the land that he loves, that person will mourn for himself and for his loved ones. Disast…

Today's broadcast centres on how the disciples of Jesus found themselves suddenly plunged into a challenging situation that tested their faith in new ways. What does it look like to exercise faith in an unexpected storm? Join us as we explore this question. Pastor Colin helps us understand the storm the disciples faced without Jesus in the boat, dr…

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever. Deuteronomy 29:29 In America, where I have been a pastor for many years now, some people are confident that they know why God sends disasters. Some would say it is because of abortion. Some would say it is because of America’s po…

Today, Pastor Colin delves into one of life's profound truths: "sorrow is often God's back door to joy". Through a heartfelt message, he challenges the belief that joy is unattainable after experiencing great sorrow. Drawing from the book of Isaiah, he addresses those who feel trapped in their grief and shows them the path to restoring joy through …

“Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:10 Job was the righteous man who suffered incredible loss in a terrorist attack and a natural disaster on the same day. We know Satan’s hand was behind what Job suffered, but the Bible does not allow us to think for a moment that Satan …

In today's broadcast, Colin delves into Isaiah 54, highlighting that joy in Jesus Christ can lift us up even when we are in the depths of sorrow. If you’ve faced challenges, be they personal crises, relationship heartaches, or societal disruptions, this message shows how joy rooted in Christ transcends your circumstances. Listen in as Colin explain…

Disaster has come down from the LORD. Micah 1:12 We must affirm that God is in control not only of good things but also bad. This isn't easy. In fact, it is so difficult that some Christians have felt that it would be better to keep God at a distance from disasters altogether. Back in the eighteenth century there was a movement called deism. Deists…

Will you spend the rest of your life blaming others and end up under the wrath of God, or will you embrace what God offers you in Jesus Christ? Today we'll be delving into Deuteronomy 1 to explore this crucial decision. We all know people who blame others for their problems, and sometimes we do it ourselves. But as Colin mentions, we can move forwa…

For this I will lament and wail... Micah 1:8 Notice Micah’s response to his own message! Here is a man with the Word of God, who also shares the heart of God. Micah says that the wound in the Northern Kingdom is “incurable” (1:9), and that Samaria’s resistance to God has essentially reached the point of no return. Micah cannot change the course of …

In this episode, Pastor Colin delves into Deuteronomy Chapter One, highlighting six impulses that naturally occur within us all. These include rebellion against God, treating God's grace with contempt, blaming others, resisting truth, refusing to believe, and ultimately, being under God's wrath. The sermon raises an urgent question: How can we ente…

For behold, the LORD is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. Micah 1:3 Micah begins with a terrifying scene: God rises up from His dwelling place and comes down to the earth. And He is coming to make His case against the peoples of the earth (1:2). We are given a description of the terror of what …

The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah… Micah 1:1 Who is Micah? What education does he have? What does he understand about the complexity of city life, or business, or international politics? What does he know about the psychological roots of dysfunction in the family? What doe…

The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah… Micah 1:1 In Old Testament times, Micah was a common name, rather like Smith today. We are told that Micah was from Moresheth, a tiny little farming village about 20 miles from Jerusalem. It was about as obscure a town as you could imagin…

Today we're continuing our series with a message entitled "A New Beginning". We're diving into the Book of Ezra, and Colin will shed light on how God's people, exiled in Babylon, felt a stirring in their hearts to return to Jerusalemand how this relates to us today. God's people faced immense hardship and displacement, but Ezra chapter 1 reveals a …

He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 2 King 18:5 Some people have been blessed with a wonderful upbringing. Your father loved you, spent time with you, and was a role model for you. But others have had a very different experience. Perh…

In today's episode, we explore the ebb and flow of spiritual life through the lens of the book of Ezra. Pastor Colin draws a parallel between the tides of the ocean and the spiritual highs and lows that Christians often experience. Just as the tide goes in and out, there are seasons of spiritual vibrancy and times of decline. However, the message o…

The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth… Micah 1:1 If you had lived at the time of King Ahaz, you would probably have felt everything was lost. But God did a new thing through King Hezekiah. You can apply this to any great crisis in your family, your business, or your nation: God can bring a great revival from the worst disaster. A res…

Today's topic is one many of us find difficult: waiting. Colin Smith delves into Psalm 130 to explore what it truly means to wait on the Lord, especially during life's darkest moments. In a culture where everything is rushed, this lesson teaches us the importance of patience and trust in God's timing. Colin discusses how waiting is not about having…

The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Micah 1:1 Micah’s ministry spanned a period of about 50 years (750-700 BC). He lived and preached at the same time as the prophet Isaiah. During this time, Israel was divided in two—the North…

In today's episode, "Trusting in the Darkness," Pastor Colin addresses the challenging seasons known as the "dark night of the soul." As Christians, many of us have felt immense inner pain even when our bodies are healthy. This episode highlights how Scripture doesn't encourage us to put on a brave face during these tough times but rather to acknow…

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. Job 1:1 Job was the most righteous man of his time. Yet he suffered a terrorist attack and a natural disaster on the same day. The Sabeans came and murdered his servants and animals, and then a hurricane came a…

In today's show, we'll be diving deeper into our series, "Give Yourself a Break – How to Enjoy God's Gift of Rest". It's a fascinating topic that resonates with so many of us seeking balance in our busy lives. As we explore Matthew Chapter 11, Colin Smith helps us understand the seemingly paradoxical concept of finding rest in taking on the yoke of…

“The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. Isaiah 65:25 The great promise of the Bible is not just that God will restore His people, but that He will restore creation. There will be a new heaven and a…

“They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be.” Isaiah 65:21-22 The important point here is that people will settle down in heaven. In this world, many people find a …

“No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.” Isaiah 65:20 Taking the last part of this verse first. Isaiah is telling us that death will be no more. He is using the analogy of wha…

Ever wondered how you can end your life with a sense of fulfilled purpose and accomplishment, entering into God's eternal rest? Join us on "Open the Bible" with Pastor Colin Smith as we explore this question. Discover why only Jesus Christ could declare, "It is finished," and how His completed work on the cross enables us to find peace and joy. In …