Preparing for Public Worship Praying for Preaching August 08, 2020 Turning Psalm 119:33-40 into prayer is a good way to get ready to preach, prepare, or proceed with reading the Word. These 5th portion petitions humbly cry for help: Lord, please take
worry Rejoice... Always! July 18, 2020 Introduction I'm on vacation in England so I'm going to make this brief - in the few words that follow I hope to stimulate & encourage you by some
Doubting & Believing Capacity to Cope? July 12, 2020 Below are my sermon notes from our first Covid-19 public worship service in Knockbracken, Belfast, today, 12 July 2020. If you are interested in a link to the pre-recorded version of the message,
Judas Iscariot Judas, John & Jesus June 27, 2020 Introduction Of all the characters in Scripture, the most tragic is surely Judas. He is the One described by Jesus as the "son of destruction". Gospel Number 4 explains Judas in
Racism Racism & Redemption June 15, 2020 I believe it would be both fool-hardly and irresponsible for an Irish man to pass comment across continents about the US situation, based on partial, fragmentary, second-hand information. Yet there are some -isms
Psalm 88 - Death Psalm 88 - Deadly Depression June 13, 2020 Reading 1A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out day
Psalms Yahweh Blessings - Psalm 134 May 23, 2020 The following is a link to my recent late-night post on Psalm 134 - I pray it will bless you as much as it blessed me in doing it!
COVID-19 If I Get Covid Am I Covered? May 18, 2020 It is often claimed by Christians that there is healing in the atonement. A standard proof-text is Matthew's use of Isaiah. What does the prophet teach about sickness? A Spiritual Condition
messiah Asa the Ace? May 09, 2020 Introduction There was a lot of excitement in the UK yesterday. Even in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, street parties assembled (with social distancing) throughout Britain. It was fascinating to watch video
Forgiveness in the Old Testament Was David fully forgiven? April 27, 2020 Introduction Yesterday I preached on Psalm 51:1-2: it recounts David's great plea for mercy & pardon in light of his filthy adultery and murder. > To the choirmaster. A Psalm
Coronavirus Pastors in Pandemics April 25, 2020 The current pandemic shutdown has been strange in many ways. Pastors who want to teach have had to catch up with hi-tec (or it is only me who feels like an old dog
Noah What would Jesus think of the Rainbow? April 19, 2020 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
Praying Pain to Praise April 07, 2020 A lot has been made about the general drift of the mood music of the Psalter: a strong case has been made that, as we travel from Psalms 1-150, lament gives way to
Time and Eternity At this Time or In this Day and Age? April 02, 2020 I was struck a couple of days ago, while driving to visit my dying mother, by the tone of the normally-upbeat, smokey-voiced, DJs, as they discussed the Covid-19 crisis. Seriously, solemn, the old
Christ in Scripture Why do we not see Christ in all the Scriptures? March 30, 2020 Introduction There are many reasons why we fail to see Jesus on every page, as David Murray so aptly puts it. Let me just suggest a few pitfalls to avoid to help us
Roots of Redemption - Genesis in a Nutshell March 28, 2020 Introduction How do you read, teach or preach through a book like the first volume of Moses? As a friend explained to me last night, preaching a large book of Scripture is like
Catholicism and Covid-19 Priest or No Priest? That is the Question! March 23, 2020 As I was taking our Bernese Mountain Dog, Lucy, for a stroll at the weekend, it struck me that one of the tragedies of the Covid-19 crisis is that medics have said many
Conferencing in Covid Forsaking the Assembly? March 19, 2020 We live in very strange times - on that most are agreed. Sessions are locked in debate about best ways to run church. I agree with brother Etheridge that we need to go
Psalm 91 Protection from Corona March 15, 2020 I'm hoping to preach on Psalm 91 later - I want to consider, with care, the protection that Christians can expect in the Pandemic of Covid-19. The thing that strikes me
COVID-19 The Church and Corona March 13, 2020 Covid-19 may well mean that mass gatherings like Camps and Conference are banned. There is a realistic prospect sessions, for the sake of our neighbour and conscience, may have to put a temporary
Jonah Was Jonah Born-Again? March 09, 2020 It is a pity that so much ink has been spilt on denying or defending the miraculous, historical, rescue of the recalcitrant prophet Jonah. No doubt it has been the tactic of our
Creation. Origins. Genesis 1-3. Truths for our Times March 07, 2020 It is with sadness I read this morning of an U.S. Anglican Bishop who is being tried by a panel for breach of ecclesiastical code. The crime in question is refusal of
Forget the Past Forgetting what is behind? January 04, 2020 I thought it might be appropriate, as we move on into 2020, to consider, briefly, Paul's zeal for "pressing on" with the Lord. > But whatever gain I had,
Prince of Peace in Isaiah Prince of Peace December 30, 2019 Taken out of context this title seems quite bland. Read through historical eyes Christ's claim is quite remarkable. > For to us a child is born, to us a son is
Immanuel December 23, 2019 I was preaching last night, in Belfast, on the Immanuel 'Sign-Son' in Isaiah Chapter 7. In spite of good commentators who argue to the contrary, I think, for numerous reasons, we
