The AI Generated Sermon

Recently someone made a confession: I strongly suspect it is a spoof/satirical comment, intended as satire but it could easily be genuine.  After all, I’ve recently been writing about whether ro not we should borrow sermons andis  illustrations from others. The person concerned would only be going one step further in making use of AI.… Continue reading The AI Generated Sermon

New Dawn

A big theme in Isaiah is “light in the darkness.”  The situation described earlier in the book is of darkness falling on the land causing people to become lost, stumbling about. It’s the darkness of night because night and sleep are associated with sadness, despair and death.  So, here in the later chapters, we are… Continue reading New Dawn

The key difference between the volunteer and the staff worker

I saw this helpful thread from Tim Wilson, the other day about how to volunteer in church life without burning out.  One useful observation he made was that church members shouldn’t compare what they are able to commit to with what a paid member of staff such as the pastor or youth worker can do. … Continue reading The key difference between the volunteer and the staff worker

Isaiah in a week – breaking the book down

Some of you have been working through Isaiah, a day at a time through Lent. Other’s wont have had time to do this but perhaps you’d like a different or additional challenge, to read through the book in the week leading up to Easter. Here’s a possible outline to help you do this. Even if… Continue reading Isaiah in a week – breaking the book down

Who were the legalists? 1 Corinthians 7 and ascetism

In response to my little series of articles on 1 Corinthians 7 and sexual ethics, I’ve been asked about why I suggest that the Corinthians may have been attempting to take an ascetic route of self denial and abstention which Paul might have had to correct.  Surely, the problem in Corinth was the opposite. The… Continue reading Who were the legalists? 1 Corinthians 7 and ascetism

God’s chosen fast

Sometimes people make the mistake of thinking that the Old Testament is all about law and judgement whilst the New Testament is about grace, love and mercy.  We rightly respond by showing that the Old is full of references to God’s love and compassion whilst Jesus and the apostles all talk about what it means… Continue reading God’s chosen fast