Years ago, I was chatting with a friend about praying, and he said something like: “it’s been so long since I prayed that if I was to pray now, God would probably respond ‘who is that?’” He was trying to be humorous but I think his response betrays something many of us feel when we…
Imagine being a crew member on a ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and being told the captain has decided to ignore the satellite navigation system because he or she knows better. You would probably be nervous with good reason because the satellite mapping the course for the ship has a far superior…
You’ve probably heard the term gospel used in Christian circles. It’s often used to describe something we should believe. It’s sometimes described as good news, but what exactly is the gospel and why should anyone care? I am a logical person, often to a fault as my wife tells me. So, I struggle to believe…
I was reflecting on the parable of the sower recently and it occurred to me that I subconsciously assumed I was among the fruit-bearing seeds. Reflecting further, I had to ask myself: “how much does the evidence support that assumption?” In this parable, Jesus describes a farmer who went out to sow seeds. Some of…
The lockdown has led to many churches and preachers conducting online services. I’ve watched more YouTube and Facebook sermons during the lockdown than I usually do, and I’m not the only one. Many news outlets have reported a rise in Bible sales during the lockdown and online viewership seems to be higher than normal in-church…
Firstly, don’t be put off Jesus by Christians. Many of us are so woeful at imitating Jesus that we’ve soiled His reputation. Jesus has nothing to do with what so many do in His name, and one day, we’ll all answer to Him. We’ve all rebelled against the God who made us and the rest…
I often hear people say “I’m sold out to Jesus” or “I have given my life to Christ”. I understand what they mean but I confess, I struggle to say those words just as I struggle to sing “All to Jesus I surrender” or any variants of this powerful hymn of consecration and commitment. My…
The recent focus on racism has prompted many church leaders to release statements advocating social justice and equality. I believe that is the right thing to do. As ever, the Bible is timelessly relevant and practical in the affairs of mankind. John, in Revelation, gives us a glimpse of worship in heaven as he writes:…
Like so many, I battle with the images that have inundated our screens in recent days and weeks. Anyone who doesn’t believe in evil should watch images of one man kneeling on another’s neck as he pleads for breath and cries for his mother, while his life slowly ebbs away. Or watch images of corpses…
Last week, I wrote about prioritising the Great Commission in our lives. It’s worth noting that Jesus didn’t ask His disciples to fulfil this commission on their own. On the contrary, He told His disciples to wait until they received the promised Holy Spirit who would empower them to be His witnesses throughout the world…