No Third Way January 06, 2019 This morning I began to teach the little ones God's songs - the theme of Psalm 1, I explained, was 'Two Ways'. The first section, I went on, speaks
Very Telling Words December 29, 2018 How many foolish, hasty, angry, impatient, grumbling, critical, deceptive, unwise things we have said... if we know it instinctively, Jesus warns us of it biblically. Our Lord deals with words which are discredited,
Why Every Christian Needs a Christmas Tree December 22, 2018 Introduction It's not long to go to the big day now! The halls are already decked with mistletoe and holly. Tinsel will be draped over banisters. Presents are rapidly accumulating by
Light A Tract for this Time December 04, 2018 I've been struck this morning by a reading in the Gospels about the start of Jesus' ministry. In Matthew 4:16-25 we see Messiah's first disciples called, His
Sabbath Day Linchpin of Life - Sanctify the Sabbath December 01, 2018 As I pen this post I am about to preach the closing case-law-commandment section from Exodus 23:10-19. I'll be re-stressing to the church how we should properly view these texts:
Dieu et Mon Droit November 17, 2018 Just a quick post from a short break in Kingston-upon-Thames, S.W. London, visiting with my daughter. My wife, Hazel, and I are just back from a morning spent viewing the palatial, historic,
Reflection on Addis November 03, 2018 Just off the plane from Ethiopia and, after 36 hours of sleeplessness, and about 25 hours of lectures, I'm feeling pretty exhausted - mindful of the fact not every city is
Book of Numbers Making Sense of Statistics? October 20, 2018 I've been preparing to give two lectures on Numbers out in Africa next month - I've been delighted at some discoveries I've made in the, I have
Covenanting Delight - Ebal & Gerazim October 06, 2018 I'm just finishing my first day lecturing in the Old Testament at R.T.C. in Belfast - I'd been telling the men about, in salvation's story,
God's Unfolding Purpose September 22, 2018 It has been good to be reminded this weekend of the Vosian view of Biblical Theology - that God's record of self-revelation is progressive, historical, organic and pious. Vos says on
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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
