READ “And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved” (Acts 28:24) THINK “Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” – Francis Chan Success is such a tricky word. What do I actually mean by success? How do I know if I’ve been successful or not? According to what criteria am I measuring … Continue reading Acts 28: What does success look like?
READ “After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present” (Acts 24:24-25a) THINK The Apostle Paul has been incarcerated for his faith! I know that there … Continue reading ACTS 24: GETTING OURSELVES INTO HOT WATER
I want to encourage you to read the following quote slooooowly and then to reflect upon the implications for when churches gather… “We love God because he has revealed the gospel to us, so it is natural that our expression of love would be framed by the contours of his redemptive work. Worship is our love response to his loving provision, so nothing is more … Continue reading Worship shaped by the contours of God’s redemptive work
Here are some startling words written by J.I. Packer in the forward to a reprint of John Owen’s book Death of Death. Read these words slowly and then gulp when the reality that they were first penned in 1959 (yep 1959!) hits you: There is no doubt that Evangelicalism today is in a state of perplexity and unsettlement. In such matters as the practice of … Continue reading A new (another) gospel and why it really matters
If you’ve not seen this excellent article on the Gospel Coalition website relating C.S. Lewisadvice to people facing the atomic bomb and coronavirus, then can I suggest you take a couple of minutes to read it. It is brilliant. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/cs-lewis-coronavirus/ Continue reading C.S. Lewis and Coronavirus
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV) Here, in these 3 verses, we see the central place of pleasure in spiritually healthy living. Verse … Continue reading Seek pleasure
In The (unadjusted) Gospel, R. Albert Mohler Jr. writes about the danger of anti-supernaturalism to the gospel. He writes: “Rudolf Bultmann wrote, “It is impossible to use electric lights and the wireless, and to avail ourselves of modern medical and surgical discoveries, and at the same time to believe in the New Testament world of demons and spirits.” This is a quintessential statement of … Continue reading The danger of scraping away supernaturalism from the gospel
I want to tell you about one of the most remarkable moments in my life. It was a day where shame met mercy and mercy triumphed. It was a day where total failure met extravagant grace and I learnt that grace eats failure for breakfast! Do you want to hear about this wonderful moment of divine encounter? I’m guessing it would help you if I … Continue reading Hospitality that I will never forget
This is a brilliant quote by J. I. Packer “The traveler through the Bible landscape misses his way as soon as he loses sight of the hill called Calvary.” Continue reading Losing our way in life
“Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.” verses 1-2 The Psalms have an amazing ability to strip away any form of pretence … Continue reading The Mirror & the Cross (Psalm 26)
