As a free gift to my hardworking pastor readers, here is a draft sermon outline that I hope will prompt an idea for any of you still preparing your sermon for tomorrow. Romans 8:14-19 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, … [Read more...]
“And God knew” three words that change everything
May 29, 2013 By 5 Comments
And God heard their groaning . . . God saw the people of Israel-and God knew I just wanted to share a brief encouragement with you this morning that struck me reading in Exodus today. We do not serve a blind God. We do not serve an ignorant God. Nor do we serve an indifferent God. Whatever pain you are going through today, know this: GOD KNOWS. When God knows he cares. When God cares he acts. Just as he saved his people from their suffering in Exodus he has acted to save us in Jesus. However … [Read more...]
A Good Friday Sermon
March 29, 2013 By 2 Comments
At Jubilee Church I preached yesterday's sermon. Here are some notes from the sermon with some extra material woven in. Earlier today on Twitter somebody asked why people would wish each other a "happy" Good Friday. It begs the question why we even call the day "good." But many Christians have a real tendency to celebrate even on the day their Lord died. Why is this? It is in part because we know the end of the story! As the old preacher once said "It's Friday, but Sunday's a-comin'!" … [Read more...]
10 reasons why Acts is normative
February 19, 2013 By 7 Comments
One major source of the differences seen in the church today I outlined in my Charismatic-Cessationist Spectrum are differing approaches to the book of Acts. Some say it is merely a descriptive book to tell us the story of the growth of the early Church. Others say it is prescriptive, giving us an idealised model of what church life should be like, it is in other words "normative." That does not mean that churches will always look like this, but it does mean that this is a model to aspire to. … [Read more...]
The God of new beginnings
January 3, 2013 By
Many believers will have decided to read the Bible through this year, and as I mentioned there are great promises for those who will reliably and regularly feast on God's word. Anita Mathias is one such person who has decided to blog through the Bible this year. She writes of what she has learnt so far from reading (as many will be) the book of Genesis. She speaks of how she has been struck by how God is the God of second chances (and many more, fortunately!), and how he blesses people who … [Read more...]
Promises for those who read God’s Word
January 1, 2013 By 2 Comments
Today is the first of a New Year. Many millions of Christians will include in their New Years resolutions a renewed commitment to reading the Bible. This is a good thing. Many reading plans which encourage variety will include beginning the Psalms today. How good it is then that on this first day of the year so many Christians will read these great promises from God himself. If we will but meditate on The Truth we are assured God will change our nature so we will be a well-rooted tree able to … [Read more...]
“Remember the poor” – by Simon Pettit
November 18, 2012 By 4 Comments
This is a sermon that changed a movement. Anybody who has been in the same family of churches as me for any length of time will probably have heard mention of this sermon by Simon Pettit. Until now it has not been available to watch online. This really was a transforming message, and as a direct result of this sermon countless ministries to help the poor were started by Newfrontiers churches. The impact of this talk is still being felt today many years later. If you are an Evangelical who is … [Read more...]
Disagreeing with Frank Viola on Baptism with the Holy Spirit
November 13, 2012 By 13 Comments
I love Frank Viola and really rate his writings, but it surprises me how often it seems to me like people I totally respect seem to apply different rules of interpretation to usual when it comes to issues connected with the Holy Spirit. So far in his first post on baptism with the Holy Spirit he begins by mentioning people being coached to "speak in tongues" which is surely something everybody can agree is totally wrong! Secondly he seems to assume that everyone who believes in the baptism … [Read more...]
Logos 5 – the best Bible software
November 2, 2012 By 11 Comments
I have had a long-standing relationship with Logos Bible Software, version 5 of which has just been released. It is something I have spent a lot of money on over many years, but the benefits of it have been incredibly worthwhile. I am able to offer a 15% discount to new Logos users. Simply click one of the links or the image in my sidebar and ensure WARNOCK5 is listed as coupon when you check out. Note that the discounted price will only appear later in the checkout process. Existing Logos … [Read more...]
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