“I have seen the Lord” What difference does Easter make? (John 20)

On Friday the tomb was closed and sealed.  We left the disciples deserted, despairing, denying, and doubting. Then came the dawn of that Sunday morning . Some women arrive at the tomb and see angels before heading off to tell the other disciples back at Bethany.  On the way, they meet Jesus. Mary Magdalene seems… Continue reading “I have seen the Lord” What difference does Easter make? (John 20)

What difference does Easter make?

Here’s my story of the difference that Easter/The Resurrection has made in my life. In fact, today marks a double celebration. As well as it being Easter Sunday, it’s also the 45th anniversary of when I put my trust in Jesus. Here are some thoughts on how to preach the difference the resurrection makes

Sunday is coming …but we don’t need to wait in uncertainty

I’ve written before about two things, one is about the tendency to use a meme about Friday being about darkness, tragedy and defeat but “Sunday is coming.”   I’ve highlighted this as an example of how not to preach at Easter in this video. The other thing I’ve picked up on from time to time is… Continue reading Sunday is coming …but we don’t need to wait in uncertainty

Don’t fall into the “Sunday’s Coming” meme trap

An annual reminder! Here’s part two on preaching the resurrection. Some approaches give the impression that Friday was a tragic defeat and so we need to wait for God’s victory with Easter Sunday correcting the damage done. This is to over divide Jesus’ death and resurrection. He won the victory on the Cross. He was… Continue reading Don’t fall into the “Sunday’s Coming” meme trap

Islamisation? It’s not really about them and that

I am coming back to my response to Aaron Edwards’ articles where he talks about Islamisation of Britian.  Previously I wrote about the need to engage properly with the reality of Islam on the ground and that means listening to Christians who regularly engage with Muslims because they live, worship and witness among them.  However,… Continue reading Islamisation? It’s not really about them and that

Ask me in 40 years

I must admit to being rather baffled by an article I’ve just read in Evangelicals Now.  Church historial Michale Haykin describes how he has spent the last 40 years researching and writing about the Particular Baptists of the 1800s.  Her suggests that it has taken him this long to get to properly know his subject… Continue reading Ask me in 40 years

Yes our binmen are on strike but please stop trash talking Birmingham

You probably won’t have been able to ignore it anymore, what started as a local news issue, bin strikes in Birmingham and the second city/largest single local authority bankrupt has moved up the agenda to a national news story with reports of rubbish bags piled high in the streets and rats the size of cats. … Continue reading Yes our binmen are on strike but please stop trash talking Birmingham

We don’t have to celebrate Easter but there is a good reason for those who do

My friend, Steve Kneale has written here about why you don’t need to celebrate Easter.  His crucial point is that there is nothing in the Bible that requires us to celebrate any of the key festivals.  We might add that it would be silly to be legalistic about Christmas and Easter, possibly in some places… Continue reading We don’t have to celebrate Easter but there is a good reason for those who do