A Pivotal Chapter in the 1689 Confession

‘In many ways, Chapter 8 of the 1689 Confession is the pivotal chapter of the entire document. It is headed ‘Of Christ the Mediator’. If the earlier chapters set out the biblical context in which Christ’s work of redemption was accomplished, the chapters that follow expound what that work involved. Chapter 8 itself focuses us on the Saviour himself. It is an exquisite summary of Scriptural teaching on his person and his work of redemption. It is beautifully concise, biblically faithful, theologically sound and historically consistent.’

Why Does Jesus Silence People Who Say Who He Is?

This one takes a look at a question that often perplexes people. If Jesus came as God’s Messiah, why does he so often tell people proclaiming it not to say who he is?

The Hardest, Most Important Truth in the Bible

‘In Exodus 4:21, God says to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go” (ESV). If you’re anything like me, I know this raises a couple of questions.’

Reflections on 9 months of paid ministry

This one offer three reflections, all broadly helpful I think, on the work of paid pastoral ministry.

Living in Love and Faith—a personal reflection

I’m sharing this one for a set of reasons. I think it brilliantly lays out the different “lenses” through which discussions on sexuality take place within the Church of England, and I think more broadly. It helps those of us outside understand why the CoE is at the impasse it has reached. At the same time, it also lays out (albeit accidentally) why outsiders like me are utterly dispirited with evangelical voices within the CoE. The solution put forward here is not separation but “a settlement that gives both sides a place in which their theological commitments are able to flourish”. This is a call to actively pursue and permit an errant gospel-denying wing of the church to flourish under the same umbrella. Thinking it is posing a genuine solution, this one lays bare the issue.

How Did Churches Start Using Grape Juice for Communion? (video)

This is a really interesting historical look at where grape juice in communion came from and why some churches started doing this.

From the archive: Why be a Christian?

‘I was bereft of ideas as to what to write (which happens from time to time). I did my usual trick of asking my wife if she had any thoughts that I could cack on about. She did not. So, I turned to the rest of my family. My son had nothing too. My daughter, however, did have an idea: why be a Christian? I liked that idea. So, here it is – why be a Christian?’