At the memorial service to Queen Elizabeth II on Friday evening in St Paul’s cathedral, a few traditional hymns were sung that are probably not so well known to many. So, I thought I’d share them with a few reflections. One of them was “O Thou who camest from above” by Charles Wesley. The lyrics… Continue reading O Thou who camest from above
Tag: sanctification
Inside out – lessons from the digestive system (Mark 7:14-23)
Perhaps one of the most helpful illustrations I’ve both seen used and used myself in pastoral conversations is this. You take a glass and you fill it with water up to the brim and then set it on a table. Then you hit it so that water spills out. You ask those observing why the… Continue reading Inside out – lessons from the digestive system (Mark 7:14-23)
You have to choose what to keep hold of
One of the challenges of moving house is the realisation that you’ve accumulated so much stuff. When we began to prepare for moving to Great Barr, we realised two things. First, that there were things we had put straight into cupboards back in 2010 when we moved into our old house and never unpacked or… Continue reading You have to choose what to keep hold of
A magnifying glass on my sin
Back in 2019 I was becoming increasingly irritable and snappy. I found that my patience was in short supply and that I struggled to find joy and delight in things. Perhaps it was no surprise then when towards the end of the year I found myself diagnosed with Mixed Anxiety and Depressive Disorder. Things had… Continue reading A magnifying glass on my sin
How can I be free from sin?
One of the greatest blessings and greatest challenges of a Christian is that our conscience is re-awakened. This means that we are even more keenly alert to our own sinfulness. We become more aware of how ugly and destructive lust, hate, greed, selfishness, pride, anger, gossip and slander are. And yet at the same time… Continue reading How can I be free from sin?
The ugliness of greed
I’m following up on our study of Romans 6:15-23 where we talked about sanctification. There I suggested that in response to sin’s temptation we should ask three questions: In what ways are we tempted to see the sin as attractive and desirable? In what ways is it in fact ugly, dangerous and destructive? In what… Continue reading The ugliness of greed
Walking away from gossip and slander
In a recent study of Romans 6, I talked about sanctification and how we are tempted to see the Gospel in the following terms. I enjoy sin, it brings me pleasure but at a great cost, the penalty of death. Christ pays that price so I am free from hell but in return he expects… Continue reading Walking away from gossip and slander
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
An excuse for sin? (Romans 6:1-14)
You can also watch this back (with discussion exercises) here When I started work after University, my workplace had a clocking in system. Each week we would collect a time card and then put it into a machine to be time stamped when we arrived in the morning, started and finished our lunchbreak and went… Continue reading An excuse for sin? (Romans 6:1-14)
What’s my part?
#TheDailyDose – Exodus 6:6-12 The fireman at your bedside Grace in the OT The Covenant Promise (cf Gen 12:1-3) God’s Presence/Blessing God’s People God’s Land Exodus 6 -12 Redemption (rescue and atonement) Exodus 20 – Law …over to you? What’s the right response to God’s Grace? To desire to know God fully -his name To… Continue reading What’s my part?
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