Posts

Cornerstone: From rejected to chosen (1 Peter 2:4-10)

Here’s the outline for my sermon at West Smethwick Congregational Church last Sunday Introduction Our context   Pandemic Increasing hostility to the Gospel local church feeling small and fragile Personal challenges  Big Picture … an Exodus/exile people (1:1)  But chosen and called by God to be different and distinct from the world around them. It was… Continue reading Cornerstone: From rejected to chosen (1 Peter 2:4-10)

More on slaves and the slave trade

Earlier this week in our #TheDailyDose talks I looked at what Paul had to say to Timothy about slaves and masters (1 Timothy 6:1-2).  You can listen back here. As I explain in the talk, the Bible’s handling of ethical questions around keeping and trading slaves has wider implications.  If the Bible permits slavery but… Continue reading More on slaves and the slave trade

When will we sing again?

Churches were looking forward to June 21st because we hoped that the final lifting of COVID restrictions would include removal of the requirements to socially distance, wear face maks and abstain from singing. I was never convinced that we would see all of that happening, I’ve heard people persistently push on social media and in… Continue reading When will we sing again?

Hope in the midst of disappointment

I mentioned in a previous post about how God’s Word acts as the VAR that revises our otlook on what we are seeing and experiencing. This week has not been a good week for hope. We should have been preparing for the final lifting of restrictions this coming Monday. Instead we are likely to be… Continue reading Hope in the midst of disappointment

Sanctification Romans 6:15-22

Available to watch here I frequently say that our relationship with God means that we must allow him to disagree with us through his word.  In what ways has God challenged and disagreed with you through his word?  In my case I remember one specific challenge being that as a pastor, my responsibility is not… Continue reading Sanctification Romans 6:15-22

How not to be a heretic – be teachable

One of the people who has been right at the centre of the EFS controversy has been Wayne Grudem. When the charge of heresy is made it is primarily targeted against Grudem and Bruce Ware. This is understandable because I have to admit that out of the “EFS” proponents, it has been their language that… Continue reading How not to be a heretic – be teachable

Because I say so? -what should I do with my doubts?

In presuppositional apologetics[1] one of the key arguments deployed for why we can trust the Bible is the claims that Scripture makes about itself. The basis for this argument is tht at some point, we have to accept that there is a final authority, an ultimate arbiter on belief. The question is “who” or “hat… Continue reading Because I say so? -what should I do with my doubts?