Christian living - Gentle Reformation

The Immeasurable Privilege of The Indwelling of the Spirit

December 06, 2024

The most important fact about a believer is that they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. It’s more important that what we do vocationally, how we perform academically or in athletics, it’

Baptism

Does Your Baptism Matter? Challenge Your Faith and Reflect on Its Continued Significance

July 17, 2024

Reflect on the true significance of your baptism. Challenge your faith and discover if your baptism still matters. Engage in deep, thoughtful insights on its lasting impact on your spiritual journey.

God’s sovereignty

Finding Freedom in God’s Providence

May 22, 2024

Discover the freedom in trusting God’s providence. Learn how Scripture guides us in decision-making.

Christian living

Escaping Justice?

April 13, 2024

There was an item on the news this week here in Ireland about a man charged with almost 100 counts of historic sexual offences. He was due to stand trial on Monday, but

Christian living

On twirling spears

February 11, 2023

We read that Saul nearly pinned David, or Jonathan, to a wall with a spear on at least four occasions. He was, to say the least, a man with anger management issues. And

Christian living

The Problem of Distraction

July 03, 2021

We live in what some psychologists have called a state of “Continuous Partial Attention”. We are at our desks writing a report or essay, and consciously and subconsciously we’re monitoring for WhatsApp

Christian living

No U-turns allowed

June 05, 2021

We live in a plastic world—I’m not referring to the avalanche of plastic which fills our bins, or litters our beaches. I’m thinking of the idea that we can be

Temptation

The Devil's Playbook

March 19, 2021

Just imagine the Devil had a playbook – that he had written down all his tactics and strategies for tempting Christians. And imagine you had the chance to get hold of it. Wouldn’t that be very useful?

Grace

The Tyranny of Merit

March 06, 2021

What happens when you build a society on the idea that if you work hard enough you will be successful? I mean it sounds a good idea, doesn’t it? It seems to

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

Christian living

Stepping out of the Shadows

December 07, 2019

It would be easy to bemoan the state of the world in which we live. 2019 was a year of momentous change with the introduction of abortion in Ireland and in Northern Ireland,

Christian living

YouTube Heaven?

October 12, 2019

We live in the world of viral videos—at least those of us connected to the internet. The latest video becomes the topic of conversation—have you seen the one where…? Together, we

Christian living

Distinguishing Marks of an Unteachable Person

August 03, 2019

Kevin DeYoung wrote a great piece on the “Distinguishing marks of a Quarrelsome Person” [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/distinguishing-marks-quarrelsome-person/] . I found it convicting and helpful. It was the sort of piece

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

Christian living

Marriage proportions

March 09, 2019

What proportion is marriage? 50-50 seems like an ideal place to start. A fair input from both parties. Maybe some read this and think “50-50?! That’s a pipe-dream! If you knew my

Christian living

Mis_ _ _ g

January 19, 2019

Something has gone missing from our collective psyche. It used to form an essential part of our understanding of life. It helped us navigate a world where bad things happened and prompted us

Christian witness

Boldness for Jesus

January 12, 2019

Introduction I've just been working through the Gospel of Matthew in my devotions recently, and I came this morning, 15th of December, the Year of our Lord, 2018 (some four weeks

Christian living

Designed for smiling

January 05, 2019

3000 years ago King Solomon wrote: > A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22) A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when

Christian living

Is a long face more Christian?

December 08, 2018

Life is hard. Difficult things happen to us. Serious matters—Heaven, Hell, eternity, sin—weigh on us. Yet in some places I see a long-faced Christianity—the long face worn almost as a

Christian living

On Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

October 25, 2018

DTC genetic testing has been a great boon to ancestry work, but it comes with many potential pitfalls.

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

the church

Disillusioned with Jesus

September 27, 2018

Jesus has a word for you and me when we look at the slow progress of the gospel in the world, the seeming ineffectiveness of the church, or the lack of progress in our own spiritual growth. He says, “And blessed is he who is not offended because of me” (Matthew 11:6, NKJ).

Christian living

Christian Calling Means Mixing Metaphors

May 30, 2018

Only when we meld the Bible’s metaphors—being sojourners and soldiers—can we perform our work rightly in this world, neither idolizing it nor evading it.

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