Turn Your Eyes on Jesus September 08, 2018 As I prepare for communion tomorrow, I have been reminded, by the late Ed Clowney, of the importance of Christ-centered preaching that keeps eyes focused on Jesus. God's sheep need sights and sounds
Four Tears For Ireland August 25, 2018 I am sitting at my desk on a late-summer Saturday morning in Belfast, north of the Irish border. Perhaps, as I type, the Papal entourage will have already rolled in for its weekend
Great Guilt, Greater Grace! July 21, 2018 Introduction Most of react strongly when accused of doing wrong. 'Stop trying to make me feel guilty!' is what street-wise adolescents say to parents. 'I hate when you do that - you
A Prayer for the Day of Preparation July 07, 2018 Life during the week can be full of stress and strain. It is great to pause to break and imbibe God's Sabbath rest. With that in mind, a famous request of Moses came
The Nano-Church Movement - Heartbeat or Heresy? June 23, 2018 A recent visit to a fellow minister friend, minutes before the closing night of our Synod this week, confirmed my growing suspicion: the new wave of reformed church life has already spread far
Face-to-Face June 09, 2018 Just a few thoughts on Peniel and the need to wrestle with God. There can't be many folk who don't want to be blessed. Yet there would be a wide range of opinions
A Classical Case of Non-Imputation - Shimei son of Gera May 26, 2018 What life, peace and joy the truth of Justification by Grace through Faith in Christ alone brings to the hearts of the people of God. This past year as I have preached through
Hospitality A Kindness Repaid May 22, 2018 In my last post I wrote of David's kindness to Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan: the King's best friend's boy feasted at the palace table for the duration of his days. He
Brotherly Love Will you remember to be kind? May 12, 2018 From a human point of view it would have been understandable if David had felt that there were more pressing matters to attend to - he had to run a kingdom and propagate
ministry Handling Sinners the Gospel Way - Part I May 05, 2018 When Christians stray or lapse the response of fellow-believers may vary from merciless gossip to public humiliation. The press and the world will come down on them like a ton of bricks. False
Christian living Deliverance is Near! April 21, 2018 Introduction Have you woken up this morning in fear, alarmed or anxious? Have dire straits hemmed you in or do you wonder if you're safe? Are the pressures so enormous that you struggle
Noah What would Jesus think of the Rainbow? April 07, 2018 First, His eye would admire the radiant beauty and glory of the refracted spectral colors of light made by the Creator. Second, His face would redden with righteous indignation at seeing the way
Christian living Is there more going on than you think? March 24, 2018 Just a quick blog today to cheer up and encourage a few dear, tired brothers and friends. Perhaps you're approaching the Sabbath and wondering what's the point of worship, instruction or teaching. You've
Christian living The Better Offer March 16, 2018 I've been forced in recent days to reflect on the false theology that undergirds the act of taking up the better offer when we have made a prior commitment. I was always brought
Practice Makes Perfect March 10, 2018 I've been privileged in my youth to be surrounded by mature Christians - people who, to my knowledge, I would never have called 'sinless' but, as far as I could tell, never took
How bad is bad? Reflections on Pervasive Depravity! February 23, 2018 Just a quick blog on Genesis 6.5 – part of the passage I’m hoping to preach on tomorrow. The text will be a familiar one to most. It describes the state of
Surely God is in this place February 10, 2018 Parked automobiles lined the road in all directions! Around five hundred people packed into the Meeting House and adjoining buildings! They had assembled with love and kindness to express their sympathy and care.
From Geneva to Amsterdam in Five Minutes! January 27, 2018 Alpine Climes! I've just arrived back from 3 days on the slopes with Andy Jr skiing. We stayed in a beautiful little village in the Chablais region of the Northern French Alps called
Wanting to Silence those who Show us up? January 06, 2018 Introduction I'm planning to preach tomorrow on the murder by Cain of Abel. Time is pressing on so I'll try to be fairly brief. Text John brings out Cain's main motive for his
And the Word became Flesh... December 23, 2017 The Word of God ...the Pre-Incarnate Logos ...the Eternal Son ...the outward expression of the inward purpose of God ...the One who always was God and was always with God ...the appointed Mediator
Confessing Non-Conformity December 20, 2017 "He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' And Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ.'" (Mark 8.29 E.S.V.) "Before
Calvin on Christmas December 19, 2017 "Yet when we seek our Lord Jesus Christ to find in Him alleviation of all our miseries and a sure and infallible protection we must begin at His birth. Not only is
Refuge in the Redeemer December 16, 2017 Storm Shelters It's stormy in the mountains! A tornado's headed this way! The town is under siege! Life hangs in the balance! Danger is all around! In such situations, we all need a
What is Whiter than Snow? December 08, 2017 Walking in a Winter Wonderland! Just arrived back from a walk with our dog. It has been unseasonably cold in Belfast this week. We woke this morning to a blanket of snow. So
Appointments in Airports December 02, 2017 I was flying home from a conference with two of the army 'scripture readers.' The older man opposite was grimacing in some pain. O.K., so we shouldn't have been sitting in
