The Crib and the Cross

I’ve just preached on Hebrews 2 this Sunday.  “He shared in their humanity so that by His death…”  Or again, ”He had to be made like His brothers… in order that He might make atonement.” (v14,17)
.
Or to quote Kim Fabricius’ provocative post: “The crib and the cross are cut from the same wood.”
.
See the crib and [...]

Read Full Post »

In the bleak midwinter – part 2

In my previous post I discussed how appropriate it is to celebrate Christmas at winter.  It is the celebration of Light dawning upon those walking in darkness.
What I find fascinating is the human determination to subvert God’s intentions for the season(s).  Those (in the northern hemisphere) who hold Christmas in the dark determine to fashion [...]

Read Full Post »

In the bleak midwinter

I grew up with Summer Christmases.  Mangoes for breakfast.  Roast Turkey for lunch (never mind that it’s 40 degrees/100F outside).  Backyard cricket.  Swims and BBQs.  And I loved them.  But I’ve been thinking recently.  Theologically, a summer Christmas is a contradiction in terms. 
People walking in darkness have seen a great Light.  On those living in the shadow of [...]

Read Full Post »

Preaching evangelistically

Check this out.  From Steve Holmes.
‘Our task is not to tell people that they must believe in Jesus, but so to tell them of Jesus that they must believe in Him.’
Spot on!
.

Read Full Post »

What if God got His hands on you?

What would happen if God really laid hold of you?  How do you respond to that prospect?
Do you fear the idea - worried about how He will treat you up close and personal? 
Do you long for it – maybe then you’d break free from the ruts you’ve been stuck in?
Well Christmas means that God has already gotten [...]

Read Full Post »

What is ‘applied’ preaching?

State, Explain, Illustrate, Apply.  That’s apparently the blueprint for the young preacher.  Find three points in the text (regardless of the genre of the passage, regardless of how many ‘points’ the Scripture might be making).  For each of the points (it’s best if they all begin with ‘P’): state it, explain it, illustrate it and – [...]

Read Full Post »

Mission, evangelism and social action – part 4

A little detour on Barth…
Last century, Karl Barth was key in re-emphasizing mission as the outflow of the life of God.  At the Brandenburg Missionary Conference in 1932  he said:
“Must not even the most faithful missionary, the most convinced friend of missions, have reason to reflect that the term missio was in the ancient Church [...]

Read Full Post »

2 Samuel 13

I’m preaching on this sobering passage on Sunday.
I’m struck by the sins of the fathers repeated in the children.  Just as 2 Samuel 11 showed lust => deception => illicit taking => death => further chaos so it is here.  In fact, just as Genesis 3 involved lust, deception, illicit taking, death and a spiral [...]

Read Full Post »

You’re always late to prayers!

This is a short introduction I gave to our church prayer meeting held on Wednesday night…
.
Job 16:19-20

19 Even now my Witness is in heaven; my Advocate is on high. 20 My Intercessor is my Friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;

I have to tell you that you were all late for the prayer [...]

Read Full Post »

Poem: “Thorns”

All but cursed, the men of dust,
From garden’d bliss dejected thrust.
Cast down to blood and tangling thorn,
Flat-faced in mud, bereft, forlorn. 
.
Unmoved as ages droned along,
Resigned to sighing pity’s song.
To mouth their sadness with each breath,
In love with self and sin and death. 
.
Then glancing back, a glimmering sight,
Through gnarling weeds, a shaft of light.
The tree [...]

Read Full Post »