Be Careful How You Listen To Sermons

‘Most of you reading this post will go to church this Sunday. A question for us to ask ourselves is, “What would it look like for me to listen to this sermon if I truly believed that God was going to speak to me today?”’

Love the Church You’re In

‘I’ve been a pastor for 35 years across four churches. Over those years, if you asked how the church was doing, I could have given you two answers, both equally true. First: church is great. God is moving. People are growing. I see his grace everywhere. Or second: we’ve got problems. There’s conflict, finances are tight, and we’re facing challenges without clear answers. Here’s what I’ve learned: both statements have been true in every season of ministry.’

Bavinck: Hypothetical Universalism Leaves Something For Us To Do

This is a very short, pithy quote from Bavinck that makes a big and important theological point.

Is There Room in the Church for Me?

‘“Is there room for me in the church?” This is a question many young men are asking quietly, often to themselves, and rarely out loud. Not because they doubt the truth of the gospel or reject the authority of Scripture, but because they sense that certain social, cultural, or political opinions — opinions not addressed directly by the confessions and not forbidden by Scripture — have become socially disqualifying within the church.’

CSB Anglicised: What is Optimal Equivalence?

It has been a privilege to have been involved with anglicising the excellent Christian Standard Bible. The CSBA is now available in UK English, complete with Us in all the right words and idioms that culturally land. But the CSBA also markets itself as following the translation philosophy ‘optimal equivalence’. This one digs into exactly what that means and why it might be a good thing.

Every man’s Conscience by Ryan Burton King (Book Review)

I appreciated this helpful review of Ryan King’s book, Every Man’s Conscience. Speaks to some contemporary issues and helpfully traces the answers given 400 years ago by Baptists to the modern day.

From the archive: Two ways not to pray for Donald Trump

‘Do pray for your leaders. It doesn’t matter whether you like them or not. Jesus says get on with it. Love them well enough to pray for them. Love your city, town, village well enough to pray that – though you disagree with them – they would succeed in what they are doing because in their welfare you will find your welfare. And when you do, do it in private. You’re not doing to get the applause of your liberal or conservative mates. You’re doing it (presumably) because you love the Lord, this is what he asks you to do and you can see how – despite you may feel about it – praying for the success of our government is going to serve our neighbours far more than praying they would fail.’