Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming a...  Read More

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.Romans 12:1-2How has the gospel changed you? What do you do differently to the patterns of this world? I’m genuinely in awe of what...  Read More

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”Mark 12:30-31The commands of our world are do whatever makes you happy. There is only one command. The singer Adele famously lived by these commands. She chose her own happiness over ...  Read More

“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors ma...  Read More

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Romans 12:1-2A while ago, my daughter fractured her wrist much to her frustration. We took her to the hand specialist who created a hard plastic mould that would pressure her bones into the desired shape.This is the idea behind Paul’s word ‘pattern’. He is referring to a pattern, a mould of this world. N...  Read More

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.1 Timothy 1:12-14Living f...  Read More

Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience.Westminster Shorter CatechismIt was in the 4th century (382. A.D.) that the scholar Jerome of Stridon w...  Read More

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming a...  Read More

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.Romans 12:1-2One of my favourite movies is Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner) comes back from the crusades to find his family on the wrong side of the King and becomes an outlaw. But in this vers...  Read More

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’Mark 12:30Jesus simplifies things. In salvation and obedience. Well sort of. No longer do we follow the 10 commandments as law but we follow the law of Christ. Love God and love people.But as all of us who pursue this way know, this is often far from simple in practice. But this is ...  Read More

For your ways are in full view of the Lord,    and he examines all your paths.The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;    the cords of their sins hold them fast.For lack of discipline they will die,    led astray by their own great folly.Proverbs 5:21-23I’ll put it straight. There is no more important discipline for the Christian than the regular attendance at the Sunday Gathering. I don’t think...  Read More

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.Romans 12:1-2We have been watching Grand Designs lately (be wary, dangerous for the heart). One recurring theme is building for a...  Read More