The Heart of Christ Christ's Refreshing Heart July 15, 2019 IntroductionYesterday was a treat - particularly worship last night. I attended a local service at which a friend I trained with was preaching.An Experience of RefreshmentHonestly, I was blown away: perhaps I
Church The Big Plus July 13, 2019 Just finished family worship with Hazel and the boys - tonight we read, with comment, Ephesians chapter 1.Quite breathtaking really, when you think about the glories of the great and gracious redemptive
Psalm 11 Well Let's Just See... July 13, 2019 Psalm 11Crumbling Foundations2019 has been a distressing year in the West. New York State passed legislation sanctioning pregnancy termination at any point in gestation. A Northern Ireland court, just last week, handed out
Christ the Creator Each according to its kind... July 06, 2019 Just back from a morning stroll around the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London, with wife Hazel and daughter Rebekah.There were many wonderful highlights to survey in its sprawling acres - the
Psalm 19 What A Wonderful Word - Psalm 19 June 17, 2019 IntroductionThere are few psalms in the Psalter that muse so loudly on the Bible (not forgetting Psalm 1 and 119) - yet there are parts of this hymn which are quite hard to
Day of the LORD Preaching the Day of the LORD June 15, 2019 Chastening ExperienceSome time ago I preached a short, summertime series of sermons on the book of Zephaniah. I had studied it in college for an 'Advanced Hebrew' module. I thought it would be
Humiliation of Christ Total Humiliation May 25, 2019 I'm preaching tomorrow on the third prediction in Mark of the 'total humiliation' of Christ.The question I want to ask is why must the Son of Man suffer the most cruel, excruciating,
Conscience Clearing Your Conscience - Acts 24:16 May 18, 2019 It is vital for every Christian to keep the conscience clear. There are many things of which the world, flesh and devil may accuse us, which may be true or false. To serve
Book Review Must-Read for Many! May 13, 2019 On strong recent recommendation, a few days ago, I picked up a book that my wife Hazel kindly purchased for me, and began to leaf through its pages.It is utterly contemporary, thoroughly
prayer A Call To Arms - Weapon Up! May 11, 2019 Just a few brief thoughts on prayer came to mind recently about the importance of prayer as I was meditating on Ephesians 6.18:Prayer an Offensive WeaponThe aim is to fight off
Psalm 146 Psalm 146 - Messiah or Prince? May 06, 2019 We are stirred by this Psalm to make God our trust - the structure is simple and its message is clear.Unbridled Praise - Verses 1-2The psalmist rouses his soul to present himself
thanksgiving Cultivating Thankfulness April 27, 2019 We are commanded in the Scriptures to be grateful in all circumstances...I've just returned from a walk, after a fairly chilled-out day, after a prolonged, exhausting period, that made me start to
Climate Change Climate Carnage! April 22, 2019 After a week of 'extinction rebel' protests, in which citizens glued themselves to trains, even the media outlets realize the London 'lunacy' went too far.Actress Emma Thompson, the most vocal 'Queen-of-Protesters,'
God Save the King - Psalm 20 April 15, 2019 IntroductionFamous battle-songs have led warriors into war. While Southerners sang 'Dixie', the North sang 'John Brown's Body'. It was Robert. E. Lee who wrote: "I don't believe we can have an army without
psalm 104 Praise to Almighty, the King of Creation -Psalm 104:1-4 April 08, 2019 A while back our monarch came to Stormont House in Belfast, the Northern Ireland Parliament. Crowds lined the route & I got a look. The Queen seemed to shine in her horse-drawn carriage.
Psalm 115 To God be the Glory - Psalm 115 April 06, 2019 IntroductionIt rankles with Christians when false religions capture culture. Eyes sob with tears if pastor-failure hits the news. Zeal for divine glory loathes to learn of Gospel scandal.And Yet...Glory-theft is subtle!
Wedding Banquet Feasting or Faking? April 01, 2019 IntroductionJust a brief outline today on the Matthean account of the Wedding Banquet parable in 22:1-14.ContextIt seems to be the parable that lit the tinderbox of Jewish antagonism that would conclude
Psalm 87 Glad, Grateful, Guards of God's Gracious, Glorious Gates - Psalm 87 March 27, 2019 Here humble hearts explode into exuberant ecstatic praise - astonished, soaring, sons of Korah bless their amazingly good God.OutlineThe structure of the Psalm is easy enough to discern: it can be summarized
Psalm 63 Day and Night - Psalm 63 March 23, 2019 This is a childhood favorite that we sang at morning worship - yet don't let church tradition rob you of its evening worth.Timings of references help us unearth three divisions: these provide
Psalm 40 From Pits to Praise - Psalm 40 March 18, 2019 Another favorite from childhood - I always loved this Psalm which we used to sing to Spohr: later it enthralled, during messianic studies, when I noticed it in Hebrews.ContextIt helps to remember,
Psalm 67 Joy To The World - Psalm 67 (or God's Ultimate Purpose) March 16, 2019 There are few hymns in the Psalms that can match this song for joy - it foresees, and fore-sings, the happy outcome of God's wonderful saving plan.ContextEmployed in temple worship, this anthem
Reconciliation The Sheer Difficulty of Reconciliation March 11, 2019 I preached on Joseph several years ago now. This afternoon some thoughts came to crystallize in my brain.They basically deal with the potentially-massive problem of reconciling former friends who, for various reasons,
Psalter Thank God Always - Psalm 34 March 02, 2019 This has to be one of my very favorite songs. Yet it is only really this morning that I have put it all together.To me it reads like the Psalter's equivalent for
Baptism The Case for Kids February 26, 2019 I sometimes think that the Church of Jesus Christ has complicated the whole matter of candidature for baptism.No doubt there is a place for minuscule debate, but surely it is sad if
Psalm 6 The Long Night of Sorrow - Psalm 6 February 23, 2019 In this first 'Penitential' psalm, through David's cry, we hear Christ's Spirit sigh. We could aptly name his lament: 'The Long Night of Sorrow'. Is God's face eclipsed? Are you passing through a
