How’s this for a catchy tract title…

“God’s wrath is as eternal as God’s love!” That was emblazoned on the first page of a tract being offered by some Christians at a literature table in town.  Can you believe it?  That’s the opening gambit! When I pressed them on it, they said, Of course God is love.  But He also hates. “Which [...]

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Happy Friday #84

  Just hilarious!

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Public Displays of Affection [repost]

How do you respond to PDAs? Cringe? Tut-tut? Feel superior? What about PDAs for Jesus? What if someone expresses costly, counter-cultural public affection for Jesus in your workplace, in your family, on the streets or even in church. Do you cringe? In Mark 14:1-11 we see a woman break open a jar of perfume worth [...]

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Nehemiah 3 sermon – what brings unity to God’s people?

Sermon Audio Nehemiah 3 What unites the Lord’s people?  What makes for real, lasting, binding unity among the Family of God?  Where do we find the kind of oneness that Jesus speaks of in John chapter 17.  “May they [the church] be brought to complete unity.” (John 17:23) How can the church ever be the [...]

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Some talks

Mike Reeves on Just Jesus – three talks on the incomparability of Christ.  His self-giving sets Him apart! Rich Owen on Colossians 1:3-14 – “We need Jesus more today than we did yesterday”.  Amen! And I’ve just spotted Rich’s Colossians 1:15-23 sermon.  Haven’t listened to it yet. But very much looking forward to it. UPDATE: [...]

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Outgoing Session 3 – The Surprising God

Outgoing Session 3 – 22 September 2011 Full Text of Session 1 Full Text of Session 2 Powerpoint The Surprising God The Question is always Which God? It’s not about Theism versus Atheism It’s a god eat god world out there and it’s every god for himself! Everyone believes.  Everyone has a god. We proclaim [...]

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The Threefold Word – Seminar part 2

PREVIOUS SESSION AUDIO FULL TEXT Christ must be proclaimed biblically. John 5:37-47 My job is not to speak about the bible. My job is to speak about what the bible speaks about. We don’t minister the word in order to give a “take home point.” We offer a take-home Christ! . Christ must be proclaimed biblically [...]

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Happy Friday – Lame Analogies

I see these in various forms about every six months.  They’re good.  Not as good as Jack Handey, but they’re good. They seem to have originated here.  And ballooned elsewhere (e.g.) He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant and she was the East River. (Brian Broadus, Charlottesville) Shots rang out, as shots [...]

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The Threefold Word – Seminar part 1

AUDIO FULL TEXT HANDOUT PART ONE When I say “The Word of God” what springs instantly to mind? . Genesis 15:1-6 1 Samuel 3:1,7,19-21 Psalm 18:30 Psalm 33:4-6 Jeremiah 1:4-10 John 1:1-3 Acts 6:7; 12:24; 13:49; 19:20 1 Thessalonians 2:8-13 Hebrews 4:12; 13:7 . How do we make sense of the various ways “God’s Word” [...]

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Soldiers or Sons [repost]

Theologically speaking, what’s the more dominant image for the Christian – soldier or son? Are we soliders of Christ who also happen to be children of God? Or are we children of God who also happen to be soldiers of Christ? Here are some clues:  What is God’s fundamental identity if not ‘Father of our [...]

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Outgoing 2B – The God of the Cross

Full Text Session 2B – The God of the Cross Powerpoint Slides – Session 2 The God Revealed at the Cross Philippians 2:5-11 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 . Group Discussion: How do you react to these religious statements? What do they have in common? -          Divine beings created humanity in order for us to mine gold [...]

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Outgoing 2A – Which God?

Audio For Session 2A Powerpoint for Session 2A Full Text of Session 2A OUTGOING – Handout Session 2 – 15 Sept 2011 Which God? Group Discussion: With whom could you spend more fruitful time in evangelism – a theist or an atheist? Colossians 1:15-23 When you picture God, what do you think of? When you [...]

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More hymns should be like this

I’ve got a crazy busy week – seven talks in the next six days.  And on Thursday I’m helping a friend in court against an unscrupulous landlord – please pray for that, we’re way out of our depth! But here’s what’s been going through my head all day… Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands [...]

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“Twixt Jesus and the Chosen Race”

Rich Owen has just drawn my attention to this hymn on our union with Christ: The meter is 88.88, does anyone have a favourite tune for that meter.  There are over 400 to choose from! ‘Twixt Jesus and the Chosen Race Subsists a bond of sov’reign grace, That hell, with its infernal train, Shall ne’er [...]

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Happy Friday

The last three from 22 words        

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Two conversion stories [repost]

Dan Barker of the Freedom from Religion Foundation tells of his past in evangelical Christianity I was a “doer of the word and not a hearer only.” I went to a Christian college, majored in Religion/Philosophy, became ordained and served in a pastoral capacity in three California churches. I personally led many people to Jesus [...]

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Jesus is God’s smile beaming at us out of the depths of eternity

From Ben Myers’ sermon here: When we talk about God, when we write books and attend lectures, and read discussions about this question, “Does God exist”—as Christians when we talk about God we’re not talking about some kind of intellectual hypothesis. We’re not talking about a speculative idea that may or may not have certain [...]

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Outgoing 1B – Peter, a model evangelist?

Previous session (1A) here. Session 1B audio. Session 1 Powerpoint. Session 1B Full Text. Outline below… Peter – A Model Evengelist?    It depends which Peter! Matthew 26:31-34 – Brash and self-assured John 21 – Humbled, assured of Christ’s love and forgiveness.   1 Peter Overview Chapter 1 A feeble minority… Gripped by God… Showered [...]

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