Day Conference on the Atonement

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Swansea are running another theology day – this time on the atonement. Paul Blackham will speak on The Atonement through the Former Prophets then The Atonement in the Gospels. Paul Mallard will address ‘The Atonement and the Church.’ Martin Downes is speaking on ‘The Atonement in Church History.’ Looks like [...]

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The Problem of Freedom [repost]

Freedom An evocative word. What does it mean to us? Usually it means a freedom from some kind of power so that we can realize our true potential.  ‘I’m free to do what I want any old time.’  That kind of thing. The question of ‘Who is this “I” who can do these things?’ is [...]

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End on a song?

A short evangelistic talk given during the interval of a church concert. This is our final lunchtime concert of the season.  And in the best show biz tradition we’re going to end on a song. But why?  Why is singing such a fitting ending?  Why do our great stories finish with weddings, feasting and singing?  [...]

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Exodus 7-10 – Plagues Bible Study

Exodus 7-10 – The Plagues Recap: We saw last time that the LORD is a God of Promise.  Read Exodus 6:6-8 to remind yourself of His seven-fold “I will” to the people.

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Harvest Song for Kids

I recorded the song (along with these) a couple of years ago on a handheld voice recorder.  Since then my ancient Yamaha keyboard broke, so there’s no re-recording the music I’m afraid.  Here it is, warts n all! .

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The Lordship of Christ and evangelism

What does the phrase “Jesus is Lord” mean? I’ve heard people go on about the Lordship of Jesus at great length, but in every statement in which the phrase appears I could have easily swapped “Jesus is Lord” for “God is big” and there’d have been no material change in the meaning. So go and [...]

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Three Thoughts on Money from Doug Wilson

Just three little tidbits that struck me from this sermon. 1) Romans is a fundraising letter! If our fundraising letters don’t look like Romans (and they don’t) it’s a sign that we don’t think about money or the gospel the way Paul does. . 2) Galatians 6:6-9 is about giving Check the context – v5 [...]

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Happy Friday

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Oh how He loves you and me

That’s what it’s all about .

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The Glory of the Bloodied God

A re-post of a hymn that fits with any common metre tune . The glory of the bloodied God His fruitfulness in shame Stooped lower than all men have trod In torment in the flame The writhing worm, disjointed dry Rejected from His birth Thrust groaning into Satan’s sky Accursed by heaven and earth Hell’s [...]

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Exodus 4-7: Bible Study

Exodus 4-7 Bible Study Recap: In chapters 1-2, how was God at work through the suffering of the Israelites? Every hardship was turned by the LORD into some kind of blessing: 1:1-14 – they multiplied under oppression; 1:15-22 – the midwives were blessed for helping the Israelites; 2:1-10 – Moses was saved by being cast [...]

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Ten Signs You Might Be A Pharisee…

…or at least Pharasaical in your Christianity (taken from this sermon on The Two Sons: Luke 15): . 1)    You’re in church Luke 15:25 – the field is the older brother’s natural habitat.  Not the far country.  Close to the banquet.  But not in it. . 2)    You’re angry v28 – older brothers have volcanic [...]

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Sinners, Slaves or Sons?

Luke 15: Younger Brother sermon here Luke 15: Older Brother sermon audio here The world is naturally divided into sinners and slaves.  Sinners seek freedom.  Slaves seek reputation.  And they hate each other.  Sinners think the world would be so much better without the slaves.  Slaves think the world would be so much better without [...]

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An overview of James – sermon by Paul Blackham

Download here. .

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Answering self-doubt – Exodus 4-7 sermon

Sermon audio “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11) Here is Moses full of self-doubt.  So what does Moses need?  Ask anyone today and they’ll tell you: the solution to self-doubt is self-confidence.  That’s the modern cure-all for whatever ails you.  Have more confidence [...]

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Barth on “Interpretation”

Recently I quoted Dick Lucas on the duty of preachers to be waiters not chefs.  We don’t cook up its material, we serve it up.  Thus… The Bible is not asking us to interpret it. The Bible is an interpretation. Some might wonder at that statement.  Surely we’re always interpreting. Isn’t that what Kant taught [...]

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Motivation for Mission – Mike Reeves

An extraordinary recent talk from Mike on John 20:19-23: Join the sending love of God. And if you missed this one from four years ago, listen now:  Why Go? .

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Happy Friday – marriage special

Marriage is glorious… . …but you have to acknowledge differences between the genders (warning: one swear word) . …differences in how we approach relationships . So men, don’t say any of these things to your wives… . In all the give and take, you’ll have to make priorities… . …and find glory in the ordinary. [...]

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