I’ve always been grateful for the principle in JI Packer’s writings that humility is a big part of reading God’s Word. Even the doctrine of ‘inerrancy’ involves taking the view that the text is ‘...
When I preached on Deuteronomy 20 on one occasion, a couple – admittedly nominal in their faith – left the church. In a world that rightly despises aggressive invasion of foreign countries this...
Martin Luther struck a great balance when he spoke of God’s will for government and also of God’s control of government. He said that human government “is not of men; otherwise it would not be safe...
My wife came from a very faithful Christian home and I came from a very nominal one. Once on a Sunday, (since we had started going out), I asked her – in earshot of her father – if she would like to...
I once read of a scene at an airport where everything was in chaos. Some flights had been cancelled, others were delayed and customers were in uproar. In the middle of all this one stewardess was...
In the church where I served for many years, we had a very loveable caretaker who was a ‘recovered’ alcoholic. He lived in a tiny flat and I remember organising a holiday for him on the central coast...
The Sydney evangelist John Chapman (1930-2012) had a wonderful way of making profound truths simple and memorable. He told of being offered a cup of white tea with two sugars when he preferred black...
When a family goes on holidays and children are piled into the back seat you know that those children don’t really contribute to the security of the journey. They are not deciding where to go, or...
One of the questions that pastors are often asked is something like ‘why would I want to be good, if the sins of my life were all forgiven? Wouldn’t the natural thing be to sin some more? Aren’t you...
Some years ago, I was given a book of daily readings by CS Lewis and was quite shocked to find that the subject of ‘pride’ came up day after day. I would have thought a day or two on the subject...
In one of his final books John Stott wrote of the need to learn dependence. It sounds strange in a world that prizes independence and hammers away the need to “believe in yourself”. But Stott was...
Have you noticed that the two great lies in Genesis 3 – you can do what you like and nothing will come of it – continue to thunder down the world? The non-Christian world wants to be able to do...
When are we in most danger? Is it when everything goes wrong and we are in danger of doubting God’s commitment to us? Or is it when everything goes well and we are in danger of ignoring God’s Word to...
It is a wonderful thing to have a friend who will care about you, keep up with you, provide for you and even protect you. “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” says the Proverb (18:24...
People who work in radio (especially talk-back radio) claim that it’s more personal than television because it requires careful listening not just careless watching. Married men like me know how...
You may notice that many of the psalms begin with trouble and end with praise. Would that our own troubles ended so quickly and turned to praise. If we are reading such a psalm with God’s people, we...
I don’t know if you’ve tried to get onside with someone – into their good books – but I guess I’ve tried everything from avoiding tricky subjects to (feebly) agreeing with all someone says and even...
The biblical world is an hierarchical place. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was without form and void.” Where did the heavenly world go ? The Book of Genesis...
