Category Archives: Preaching
Preach so truthfully that people will call us terrorists
Dave K linked me this article by Stanley Hauerwas. I don’t agree with every word (and he’s woefully at sea, it seems, on atonement and on Christendom), but there are some really excellent points being made. Highlights below: Christians, therefore, … Continue reading
The Way in a world of choice
That’s my title for a ten-minute gospel talk tomorrow night for Bessacar Evangelical Church. What would you say?
Postmodern temper-tantrums
None of what (see here) I’m saying about application should be taken to mean that – we can always infallibly apply the word of God – we shouldn’t question or examine the faithfulness to scripture of what we hear in … Continue reading
Application of the word of God is the word of God
A little more explanation about application of the word of God carrying the same authority as the word itself (see here). Aside from the fact that this is how we see things working in scripture itself (see here), there are … Continue reading
Jethro and applying the bible
In Exodus 18 Jethro makes what seems to be a pragmatic and somewhat ‘ad hoc’ suggestion for how Moses should organise the judging of Israel. He draws on what is presumably his experience, and some observations of what the needs … Continue reading
Coincidence?
Exodus 18 majors on Jethro, priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law. In the Masoretic (Hebrew) text 7x he is called by his name ‘Jethro.’ 12x the word for ‘father-in-law’ is used with reference to him, of which 7x he is described … Continue reading
there’s more to the body…
I’m preparing to preach on Luke 12:22-34 for these good people, and I have noticed something interesting. Jesus tells his disciples in v22 “do no be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about the body, what you … Continue reading
free sermons from Tim Keller
Pastor Tim Keller, though I’ve never spoken with him personally, has nevertheless helped me enormously in my discipleship the last few years. In fact, Tim Keller’s ministry was one of my entry-points to the creation-affirming, holistic, civilisation-building theology to which … Continue reading
Gospel and resurrection in Romans 1:1-7
4. The resurrection looms large in Paul’s gospel Paul sees the gospel in Romans 1:1-7 as essentially the announcement that ‘Jesus Christ is Lord.’ Having said that, there is no way this can be separated from those historical events which … Continue reading
Gospel and the Old Testament in Romans 1:1-7
3. Paul’s gospel was rooted in the Old Testament Continuing some reflections on Paul’s summary of the gospel in Romans 1:1-7 following my sermon. In v2 of Romans 1 Paul says that the gospel of God was ‘promised beforehand through … Continue reading
More on Romans 1:1-7
2. Paul’s gospel was inherently political In my sermon on Romans 1:1-7 I put it like this: Which [i.e. Jesus’ resurrection as the ruler of the world] makes the gospel deeply controversial. It certainly was in Paul’s day. The kind … Continue reading
The Gospel in Romans 1:1-7
This is post no. 100 for my blog, and how better to celebrate than to talk about the gospel? More specifically, these thoughts are coming from the way Paul speaks of the gospel in Romans 1:1-7, and follow the sermon … Continue reading
Rules and Relationships
More observations coming off the back of my sermon on Matthew 7:21-29 (see here for the audio), which contains what I think are some of the scariest words in the NT. Matt. 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, … Continue reading
Jesus’ most terrifying words?
Last sunday I preached on Matthew 7:21-29 (see here for the audio), which contains what I think are some of the scariest words in the NT. Matt. 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom … Continue reading
Visible, tangible, edible mercy
Here’s the notes/ script from a meditation I gave at our monthly celebration of the Lord’s Supper, part of a series working through the beatitudes. Matt. 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” We aren’t used to … Continue reading
