When my beautiful daughter, Elen, was born almost 6 years ago, my life changed forever. Becoming a dad did something inside me - my heart melted! Perhaps even more importantly it radically altered the way I understood my relationship with God and in so many profound ways my little girl has taught me lesson after lesson about both myself and my loving Father God.
Consequently, I started using my experiences as a new dad to preach the gospel whenever evangelistic opportunities arose, be they in churches, coffee shops or even prisons. I was frequently blown away by the ways in which people, especially hard men, started to truly grasp the essence of the gospel through the eyes of the Father.... continue reading
Does belief in hell deter crime? Does belief in heaven lower rates of criminality? These were the questions investigated by researchers in Oregon and Kansas, and their findings have been published in a paper entitled "Divergent Effects of Belief in Heaven and Hell on National Crime Rates" published in the online journal PLoS ONE
Sociologists have long noted the positive effects of religion in areas like generosity, co-operation and decreased levels of cheating. But this study set out to measure the relative effect of reward in the afterlife as opposed to punishment. The results are intriguing...... continue reading
I heard on the radio last week that Spem in Alium, a piece of music by Thomas Tallis, had unexpectedly appeared at no. 7 in the classical-music chart. Unexpected because these days those charts tend to be topped by compilations or well-known artists (or both, eg: André Rieu, an Austrian violinist/conductor with Willy-Wonka hair). So why has Tallis suddenly popped up there? Because the music is referred to in the book 50 Shades of Grey.
Later that day, a neighbour started talking about this same book. She heard it was rubbish, so wasn’t going to waste her money on it. But before I could rejoice in a non-Christian having a moral objection to something that’s basically degrading porn, she told me she’d borrow it from her sister-in-law instead.... continue reading
There are some subjects that it's just plain difficult to speak on. Talking on death can reduce anyone who's been bereaved to tears. Addressing personal sins like lust, greed and immorality can easily anger those listening in.
And at times those emotional responses can't and shouldn't be avoided. Sometimes people need to cry - it's a release. And sometimes it's good for the state of our hearts to be exposed by the word of God - then the issues that lie beneath can be dealt with.
But there are other moments, unfortunate moments, where those tears or outbursts are triggered unhelpfully. Occasions when those of us who have the privilege of speaking - whether that's as a preacher, at a women's breakfast or a youth group meeting - use a tone or turn of phrase that is profoundly unhelpful to those listening. Times when we inadvertently cause great distress to those around us.... continue reading
We’re currently filming the next in the series of Jesus and You short, video-based evangelistic courses. It’s thrilling to hear people’s testimonies as they talk about hearing and responding to the message about Jesus. Some have been “spectacular” – others worry that their story is too “ordinary”! But each one reveals a miracle, as God changes people from rebels to disciples.
Yesterday, we filmed a friend of mine. She had a church-going childhood, but gave up on that as an adult. Much later, she and her husband moved house, and my friend got to know one of her new neighbours, an elderly gentleman who lived along the road. He invited her to join his homegroup, which she didn’t, and then to come along to church, which she occasionally did.... continue reading
The Council of Dort laboured for months to make a five point response to the doctrines of Arminius, and finally formulated what have become known as The Five Points of Calvinism. Somewhere down the line (if you know when, please tell us) someone attached the acronym TULIP to the doctrinal formulation, and now they are the touchstone for people who consider themselves convinced Calvinists:
Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints
But such formularies can grow stale and lose their power to interest. So here is a brave effort to create a modern version that might appeal to full-blooded men (and women!) of today. Works for me. As Homer Simpson might say: "Mmmmmmmm.... Calvinism!"
If you want to know more about the Reformation and the issues that surrounded the formulation of these doctrinal positions, why not sign up for The Reformation Church History module of the Moore College course operated by our distance-learning college? Email admin@open-bible-institute.org to enrol.
I’m just back from a church weekend where we learnt the whole of Psalm 16 by heart. I’m now practising it every day to try and get it firm in my mind. I am not finding it easy. But that’s partly because my adult brain isn’t used to memorising stuff, and is protesting at the strain. However, children do learn things – poems at school, the words of pop songs, lines for a Christmas play. So this is the ideal time for them to be memorising key verses from God’s Word.
Most children’s teaching material will include some memory verses, and may also give suggestions for how to teach them. But we can quickly get locked in to using the same few techniques – the ones we think “work”.... continue reading
Few debates have become more heated in the last 50 years. The Bible's teaching on homosexuality is profoundly counter-cultural and hugely unpopular. But amid the debates are real people. People who are struggling. People who want to be more like Jesus. Today on the blog one person, who wishes to remain anonymous, asks a very personal question to each of us: would it be safe for them to tell us that they're bi-sexual?... continue reading
Do you have a question? A burning ministry conundrum? Something that is confusing you about the Bible, Jesus or how to serve him? Then why not post your question below or send it in to: blog@thegoodbook.co.uk. We'll do our best to answer them all in the coming weeks ... and throw open the discussion to all our other readers too.
Whether you'd value some hints on leading your youth group better, preaching more engagingly, discipling more effectively or you're simply wondering what the Bible says about a specific doctrine, we'd love to help you tease things out.
We’ve been studying 1 Chronicles in homegroup, and I was struck again by the contrast between the Philistines’ “god”, Dagon – and the LORD, Sovereign of all things. You may be familiar with the account in 1 Samuel 5 v 1-5 where the Philistines have captured the ark of the covenant and plonked it in their temple, next to Dagon. In the morning, Dagon has fallen over. So they prop him back up. But the next morning, he’s not only toppled over but his head and hands have fallen off. It’s a great story that points to the supremacy of the LORD God – and children love it!... continue reading
