Two caterpillars are sitting on a wall when a butterfly goes past. One says to the other “You won’t get me up in one of those things.” Jokes and parables have something in common. They rely on a good punchline. The punchline, not just to the parable of the prodigal son but to all… Continue reading Lost sons and lost brothers
Posts
Three letters that transformed the World
On the face of it, Paul’s letter to Philemon looks like a private, personal appeal and yet, there it appears as a public instruction in Scripture. Given that Paul includes others in his address and particularly the whole church community meeting in a home suggests he intended it as such. What is it about Paul’s… Continue reading Three letters that transformed the World
You didn’t stop: Neighbours, the Good Samaritan and justification
So your child comes home from school and tells you that they learnt about the parable of the Good Samaritan. You get them to tell you the story. They remember it perfectly. “fantastic” You think. So you follow up with the question: “And what was the parable about? What did it mean?” They think for… Continue reading You didn’t stop: Neighbours, the Good Samaritan and justification
Is Scripture the Word of God?
I frequently see arguments that run along the following lines. The Bible isn’t God’s Word, Jesus is. Therefore, we should prioritise the words and actions of Jesus over the rest of the Bible. The bible never claims to be God’s Word or inerrant, so we should not make those claims for it. First of all,… Continue reading Is Scripture the Word of God?
Encouragement for children’s workers in church
A lot of churches give their Sunday kids group leaders and helpers a break over the summer and run with all age gatherings. So, if you are one such leader, I hope you are enjoying a bit of a break and will feel energised for September. I also hope that you are feeling encouraged as… Continue reading Encouragement for children’s workers in church
On lukewarmness: What was the real problem at Laodicea?
We are very familiar with Jesus’ letter to the church at Laodicea. This the church where Jesus says that he is standing at the door, knocking, ready to come in. It’s also the church where Jesus says that they are lukewarm and that he is ready to vomit them up. The reference is to two… Continue reading On lukewarmness: What was the real problem at Laodicea?
Wedding anniversary reflections
Today is our wedding anniversary. So, I wanted to start my post by saying a couple of thank yous. First to my wife, Sarah, it’s a joy to be your husband and I am grateful not just for the 19 years of married life but for the 22 years it has been a privilege to… Continue reading Wedding anniversary reflections
Encouraging faith
Here’s a sermon I preached a little while back on Ephesians 3:14-21
Lost
Here’s a sermon I preached a little while back on Luke 15
Will any dream do? (featured e-book)
If you are looking for some studies to work through over the summer break, why not have a look at this little e-book available on our publications page. The story of Joseph has been popularised, particularly through productions such as Joseph and his technicolour dreamcoat. However, the result has been a mythology that is a… Continue reading Will any dream do? (featured e-book)
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