Happy Friday

Back of the net! .

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Genesis 27 – Rich Owen’s full text sermon

The audio is here.  This is the transcript.  Great sermon from Rich! Genesis 27. The story so far: In the beginning was God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father sent out his Word in the power of the Spirit to bring order out of chaos, light over darkness. The world was made in and [...]

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The Wrath of the Lamb [Thawed out Thursdays]

Here are seven thoughts that occurred to me as I was studying Revelation 6 and the wrath of the Lamb.  This is the sermon I preached.  And here are my seven thoughts: This is not so much the anger of the great king against rebels. This is much much worse. This is the anger of the [...]

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Christ-centred Evangelism

A little while ago I lamented a certain kind of evangelism that is all too common.  It’s basically the call to younger brother types to come to their senses, to wrench themselves away from the far country and to return to the father with a pre-prepared sorry speech.  The evangelist will even feed them a [...]

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We did it all for the glory of love – part 4

We’ve thought a little bit about how glory language is introduced in Exodus.  Of course John’s Gospel makes for a fascinating study in ‘glory’.  But it would be too easy to camp out in John and refuse to engage the other ‘glory’ Scriptures.  So let’s think about three other key texts in the glory debates: [...]

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What is faith? A sermon on John 4:43-54

Audio here What is faith?  Perhaps this is one of the most misunderstood words, not only in the English language, not only in the world at large, but in the church too.  People do not understand what ‘faith’ truly is. And so, probably the most famous example of ‘faith’ in the popular imagination is this:  [...]

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Whomsoever

I love the story Cornelius Van Til tells about  hearing an Arminian preach (sorry, can’t remember where).  The Arminian likened salvation to a bus driver coming into town and preaching in the public square through a megaphone, “I’m off to Fort Knox where there’s gold enough for everyone.  Whomsoever wishes may come aboard my bus [...]

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We did it all for the glory of love – part 3

Just a post to put two and two together. A) God does everything in creation and redemption for love – that was my first post. B) Love in the bible is sacrificial, self-giving, other-centred service. (Think 1 Cor 13) C) The bible also speaks at times of God being motivated by the display of His [...]

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Happy Friday

“You’re lucky I’m Church of England…” ht Jon Sidnell .

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We did it all for the glory of love – part 2

Last time we saw that the triune God does everything for the glory of love. This is different from the love of glory.  180 degrees different. And so – you saw it coming a mile off – I want to argue that John Piper’s popular teaching on this issue is both wrong and damaging.  (I’ve [...]

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God’s Election [Thawed out Thursday]

An old post from my five part series on David and Goliath: Five Smooth Stones.  Through the lens of this story I looked at preaching, grace, faith and reward.  Here I look at the subject of election, trying as always to keep the Anointed King at the centre. Israel did not elect David.  Not even his [...]

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Joy comes in the morning

4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you His saints, and give thanks to His holy name. 5 For His anger is but for a moment, and His favour is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:4-5) What is night time?  Verse 5 tells us: [...]

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We did it all for the glory of love – part 1

Yes I want that song infecting your brain. We’ll live forever, knowing together that we did it all for the glory of love Now there’s a line fit for the triune God!  As I’ll try to show below, it’s a pretty good summary of God’s motives in creation and redemption.  God’s life and work is [...]

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Generous, Joyful and Joint

Some friends preparing for marriage asked for advice on money and giving as a couple.  Looking at the Scriptures together – e.g. Exodus 35-36; 2 Cor 8-9; Ephesians 5 – we came up with three principles.  A couple’s giving should be generous, joyful and joint. All giving should be generous and joyful (God loves a [...]

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Hebrews 7 sermon

Audio here Hebrews 7.  It’s a rump steak of a chapter.  Chewy, rich, dense, meaty.  Melchizedek, my goodness, the choicest of choice cuts, Melchizedek.  But… it’s a shame isn’t it?  Shame you guys aren’t really up to digesting this kind of material are you?  I mean, you’re sweet and I love you, you should know [...]

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How do I preach Genesis? How do I preach election?

Like this. Rich ‘Bugsy’ Owen has outdone himself with this sermon on Genesis 27.  Highly recommended! .

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I’d like to appear on your behalf – gratis

Far and away the best Australian comedy ever made, The Castle is a must-see movie.  Brilliantly observed, funny, heart-warming and if you’re not punching the air at the triumphant ending I fear for the state of your soul. The Kerrigan family are threatened with eviction by a nasty corporation.  But ‘a man’s home is his [...]

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Happy Friday

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