Biblcal Theology and Isaiah

Biblical Theology helps us to see God’s big story of redemption unfolding on the pages of Scripture.  There are a couple of aspects to this.  First of all, authors such as Graeme Goldsworthy and Christopher Wright have identified three themes running through Scripture.  We can talk about The story that the Bible tells us the… Continue reading Biblcal Theology and Isaiah

Hearing the Holy Spirit

At our Life Group this week, we picked up on the theme of God sending the Holy Spirit from Sunday’s service.  We focused in on these words from Acts 2:17-18 where Peter quotes the prophet Joel:    ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy.    Your young men will see visions,    and… Continue reading Hearing the Holy Spirit

When the Holy Spirit breaks in

In Acts 2, when is seeking to explain what has happened, he quotes from the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says,    ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy.    Your young men will see visions,    and your old men will dream dreams.18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit    even… Continue reading When the Holy Spirit breaks in

What Was The Abomination of Desolation?

In Mark 13:14, Jesus warns his followers that when they see “the abomination of desolation” then they should get far away from Jerusalem.    They were to make a run for it.  What was that “abomination”.  The phrase conveys the idea of something or someone doing something that is so terrible, so appalling that it causes… Continue reading What Was The Abomination of Desolation?

A house of prayer: Foreigners and Eunuchs welcome

Here’s this week’s additional podcast.  As a new term begins, Chris, our lead elder at Church Central spoke on Sunday about the church as citizens of heaven and a house of prayer.  We try to link our life group discussions in with the Sunday talks. So, this week, we went to Isaiah 56, which is… Continue reading A house of prayer: Foreigners and Eunuchs welcome

Press on with the Gospel – Regardless (Acts 21:1-25)

Here are my notes from a sermon preached at Bearwood Chapel, Smethwick. Introduction We recently spent an evening at the Commonwealth Games athletics. One standout moment was the 3k women’s Steeplechase. As the frontrunners competed for medal positions, one poor lonely athlete was well back from everyone else and struggling. I wonder what was going… Continue reading Press on with the Gospel – Regardless (Acts 21:1-25)

Did Paul disobey the Holy Spirit? (Lessons on guidance in Acts 21)

In Acts 21, we are told about Paul’s final journey to Jerusalem.  It’s an illuminating case study on interacting with God’s guidance through the Holy Spirit. Paul travels from Miletus where he has met with the Ephesian elders and given them the commission to provide for and to protect the flock. He has spoken there… Continue reading Did Paul disobey the Holy Spirit? (Lessons on guidance in Acts 21)

Signs of the Times (Mark 13) – Preaching in a crisis

Over the past couple of weeks as we’ve seen Russian tanks and troops role into Ukraine and the awful spectre of nuclear conflict has been threatened against the West, I’ve written a bit about how we handled apocalyptic literature and questions about the end times. I thought it might be helpful to share an example… Continue reading Signs of the Times (Mark 13) – Preaching in a crisis