The search engine on this blog can help you to get answers to vital spiritual questions. I began writing blog posts to sow the seeds of solid Evangelical and Reformed doctrines. In my experience as a Christian the church needs truth and the world needs truth as well.
Perhaps you have questions on topics such as:
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As you find the time, try using the search engine for topics you may want answers on. I have found this blog to be a helpful means of conveying biblical truth from a biblical and Confessional perspective. I uphold the inerrancy of Scripture and fully subscribe to the Westminster Standards as part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.
Friday, 23 December 2016
Monday, 12 December 2016
Reformation Bible Conference, Sheffield, 2017.
This is the third conference we have had at Hill Top Chapel, Sheffield. The last tow have proved to be a great blessing to nourish and feed the Lord's sheep at the beginning of a New Year. It gives the opportunity for fellowship, while sitting under preaching.
The theme this year is Christ our head, husband and bridegroom. The preachers will be Richard Brooks, Warren peel and Kevin Bidwell.
The dates are are Friday 6th and Saturday January 7th, 2017.
The conference is free and there will be an offering of the Saturday to go towards the church planting work in Salford-Manchester.
For more information check out the Sheffield Presbyterian Church website at: http://sheffieldpres.org.uk/reformation-bible-conference
This has proved especially beneficial to the age group 16-25's as a time of meaningful and wholesome fellowship, however all age groups attend. We do not want to divide the body of Christ and all peoples, ages and nationalities are warmly welcomed.
The theme this year is Christ our head, husband and bridegroom. The preachers will be Richard Brooks, Warren peel and Kevin Bidwell.
The dates are are Friday 6th and Saturday January 7th, 2017.
The conference is free and there will be an offering of the Saturday to go towards the church planting work in Salford-Manchester.
For more information check out the Sheffield Presbyterian Church website at: http://sheffieldpres.org.uk/reformation-bible-conference
This has proved especially beneficial to the age group 16-25's as a time of meaningful and wholesome fellowship, however all age groups attend. We do not want to divide the body of Christ and all peoples, ages and nationalities are warmly welcomed.
Tuesday, 6 December 2016
Six Excellent Christological Sermons from the book "The Song of Songs"
I would like to commend "Five Excellent Sermons" by men who have preached on "The Song of Songs" from a Christological position.
John Flavel (1628-1691): This puritans preacher was a favourite from his writings with Archibald Alexander, one of the foremost theologians that the American content has produced, in my view. This sermon is found in Volume 6 of the Works of John Falvel published by the Banner of Truth.
A Coronation Sermon: Preached at Dartmouth to Celebrate the Coronation of William III and Mary II on 11th April 1689.
The text from The Song of Songs was 3:11 "Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart".
Robert Murray M'Cheyne (1813-1843). These sermons are found in the book by the Banner of Truth "Memoirs and Remains".
Song of Songs 2:2-3 "Christ and the Believer".
"As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women. As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste".
Song of Songs 2:8-17 "The Voice of the Beloved", preached the first day he was in St Peter's Church in Dundee.
"The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies. Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains".
Song of Songs 3:4 "Holding Christ Fast".
"Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me".
Song of Songs 4:12 "The Church a Garden and Fountain".
"A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed".
Song of Songs 5:6-7 "The Church Coming Up from the Wilderness".
"I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer. The watchmen found me as they went about in the city; they beat me, they bruised me, they took away my veil, those watchmen of the walls".
May these sermons help us all to rediscover the glories of Christ and the church in this amazing book of holy Scripture!
John Flavel (1628-1691): This puritans preacher was a favourite from his writings with Archibald Alexander, one of the foremost theologians that the American content has produced, in my view. This sermon is found in Volume 6 of the Works of John Falvel published by the Banner of Truth.
A Coronation Sermon: Preached at Dartmouth to Celebrate the Coronation of William III and Mary II on 11th April 1689.
The text from The Song of Songs was 3:11 "Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart".
Robert Murray M'Cheyne (1813-1843). These sermons are found in the book by the Banner of Truth "Memoirs and Remains".
Song of Songs 2:2-3 "Christ and the Believer".
"As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women. As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste".
Song of Songs 2:8-17 "The Voice of the Beloved", preached the first day he was in St Peter's Church in Dundee.
"The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies. Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains".
Song of Songs 3:4 "Holding Christ Fast".
"Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me".
Song of Songs 4:12 "The Church a Garden and Fountain".
"A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed".
Song of Songs 5:6-7 "The Church Coming Up from the Wilderness".
"I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer. The watchmen found me as they went about in the city; they beat me, they bruised me, they took away my veil, those watchmen of the walls".
May these sermons help us all to rediscover the glories of Christ and the church in this amazing book of holy Scripture!
Monday, 5 December 2016
Recovering "The Song of Songs" with a Trinitarian and Christological Approach
"He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love", Song of Songs 2:4.
"What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of a merchant?", Song Songs 3:6
During times of spiritual awakening in the church, the rich and immeasurable love of God is often magnified. Just think of these hymns as examples>
From the Welsh Revival
Here is Love vast as the ocean
By Charles Wesley in the 18th Century
Jesu' Lover of my Soul
Love divine, all loves excelling
These are just a sample. Likewise during times of what we may term revival or awakenings, an increased sense of God's love for us through Christ comes to the forefront of the church's experience. It is no surprise then, that at such times that the rich poetic expression of the book of the Song of Songs comes to be loved by the church in a renewed way. Its rich language of love expresses the divine love between Christ the bridegroom and the church, the bride of Christ.
Admittedly there are two lines of interpretation that are proposed. One is that this book is on a horizontal level about human love in marriage; the other is that it is primarily about our union and communion with Christ. I hold the latter view. The overarching theme of the Bible is that the Triune God's salvation plan is for the Father to redeem a bride for his Son, in the blood of the redeemer the Son, and she is gathered in by the Holy Spirit. This marriage is consummated eternally in heaven.
Some rich resources to consider are commentaries on this by Richard Brooks and George Burrows. Additionally sermons by Robert Murray M'Cheyne also follow this rich Christological line. I encourage you to read this book again with fresh eyes to consider our union and communion with Christ our head, husband and heavenly bridegroom.
"What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of a merchant?", Song Songs 3:6
During times of spiritual awakening in the church, the rich and immeasurable love of God is often magnified. Just think of these hymns as examples>
From the Welsh Revival
Here is Love vast as the ocean
By Charles Wesley in the 18th Century
Jesu' Lover of my Soul
Love divine, all loves excelling
These are just a sample. Likewise during times of what we may term revival or awakenings, an increased sense of God's love for us through Christ comes to the forefront of the church's experience. It is no surprise then, that at such times that the rich poetic expression of the book of the Song of Songs comes to be loved by the church in a renewed way. Its rich language of love expresses the divine love between Christ the bridegroom and the church, the bride of Christ.
Admittedly there are two lines of interpretation that are proposed. One is that this book is on a horizontal level about human love in marriage; the other is that it is primarily about our union and communion with Christ. I hold the latter view. The overarching theme of the Bible is that the Triune God's salvation plan is for the Father to redeem a bride for his Son, in the blood of the redeemer the Son, and she is gathered in by the Holy Spirit. This marriage is consummated eternally in heaven.
Some rich resources to consider are commentaries on this by Richard Brooks and George Burrows. Additionally sermons by Robert Murray M'Cheyne also follow this rich Christological line. I encourage you to read this book again with fresh eyes to consider our union and communion with Christ our head, husband and heavenly bridegroom.
Monday, 28 November 2016
Personal Communion with the Lord and Good Daily Devotionals
It is important to cherish and nourish our personal communion with the Lord. How do you do this? Of course our personal communion is never a substitute for communion with the saints in the church. In fact the Apostles' Creed teaches "I believe in the ... communion of the saints". However, Jesus Christ explicitly teaches and exhorts all true disciples to walk in personal daily communion with the Living God.
Matthew 6:6 "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you".
This is an exciting invitation rather than a burden. Personal communion with the Living God. There are however some very good resources to strengthen us as as Christians in personal worship and also in family worship. Two books that come to mind are:
Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith: Daily Readings by C. H. Spurgeon
Daily Readings on the Gospels by J. C. Ryle
These cannot be props to substitute our personal reading of the Bible and mediation on key Bible verses, but they can support individuals and families significantly. I commend these two resources to you. If others know of other helps that you have found beneficial then do put a comment on this blog post.
Matthew 6:7-8 "“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him".
Matthew 6:6 "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you".
This is an exciting invitation rather than a burden. Personal communion with the Living God. There are however some very good resources to strengthen us as as Christians in personal worship and also in family worship. Two books that come to mind are:
Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith: Daily Readings by C. H. Spurgeon
Daily Readings on the Gospels by J. C. Ryle
These cannot be props to substitute our personal reading of the Bible and mediation on key Bible verses, but they can support individuals and families significantly. I commend these two resources to you. If others know of other helps that you have found beneficial then do put a comment on this blog post.
Matthew 6:7-8 "“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him".
Friday, 25 November 2016
Do you pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work in the church?
We recently had Iain Murray come to preach in Sheffield and it was a blessing. He helpfully highlighted the need of our dependence upon the Holy Spirit in the church. I am sure we all agree that our nation needs a spiritual awakening. Here are two verses for us to consider.
Luke 11:13 "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”.
John 16:13-15 "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you".
I have blogged on the church for years, preached on it and prayed for her. We must pray for our own congregation where we are a member, but also for the whole body of Christ as well. We are part of "one body".
The need of the hour in the United Kingdom is urgent and therefore let us pray for an increased effusion of the Holy Spirit. What will such an answer to prayer look like?
1. Additional blessing upon the marks of a true church; which are the preaching of the word of God, the right administration of the sacraments and church discipline, that is the church being well ordered.
2. The Lord's Holy Spirit will raise up elders who will uphold these biblical patterns. Acts 20:28 "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood".
3. It is common in times of awakening and revival, for there to be an increased sense of reverence and the fear of God among God's people. In Isaiah 11:1-3 we learn of the different aspects of the Holy Spirit and one of them is "the fear of the Lord".
These are just some points for us to consider. John chapters 14-16 show us some of the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Holy Spirit, the one whom he calls the helper/comforter and the Spirit of truth. Therefore, increased effusions of the Holy Spirit in the church would lead to increased measure of holiness, comfort and truth.
How we need the blessed comfort of the Holy Spirit in such difficult days? May we pray for the good of the church. May we pray for the prosperity of Zion, as it were. Ultimately, the Lord's purposes are primarily outworked in the government of His church, with Christians in community together, worshipping the Triune God through Jesus Christ.
Luke 11:13 "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”.
John 16:13-15 "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you".
I have blogged on the church for years, preached on it and prayed for her. We must pray for our own congregation where we are a member, but also for the whole body of Christ as well. We are part of "one body".
The need of the hour in the United Kingdom is urgent and therefore let us pray for an increased effusion of the Holy Spirit. What will such an answer to prayer look like?
1. Additional blessing upon the marks of a true church; which are the preaching of the word of God, the right administration of the sacraments and church discipline, that is the church being well ordered.
2. The Lord's Holy Spirit will raise up elders who will uphold these biblical patterns. Acts 20:28 "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood".
3. It is common in times of awakening and revival, for there to be an increased sense of reverence and the fear of God among God's people. In Isaiah 11:1-3 we learn of the different aspects of the Holy Spirit and one of them is "the fear of the Lord".
These are just some points for us to consider. John chapters 14-16 show us some of the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Holy Spirit, the one whom he calls the helper/comforter and the Spirit of truth. Therefore, increased effusions of the Holy Spirit in the church would lead to increased measure of holiness, comfort and truth.
How we need the blessed comfort of the Holy Spirit in such difficult days? May we pray for the good of the church. May we pray for the prosperity of Zion, as it were. Ultimately, the Lord's purposes are primarily outworked in the government of His church, with Christians in community together, worshipping the Triune God through Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Current Trinitarian Discussion and Debate
I was reminded in recent days of the current storm around the doctrine of the Trinity. This has emerged in certain circles in the USA with Liam Goligher and Carl Trueman on one side as it were, with Wayne Grudem and Bruce Ware on another. Perhaps of all things that has emerged, it is the overall weakness of Christians and churches in the West on the doctrine of the Trinity.
Grudem and others insist on a notion of the eternal subordination of the Son. This apparently supports their view of marriage and male headship, but does it? In my PhD, I observed that people quickly project on to the inner-relations of the Triune God what they would like those relations to be. In effect, to buttress their own views. Most commonly to support the ordination of women in ministry by asserting that the Triune God is eternally orderless. This is also wrong.
The language of subordination in relation to the Persons of the Trinity, is a term fraught with danger. It is not biblical, it is not confessional and it does not fit within the bounds of Nicene Creed Orthodoxy. For those who want to know more about the doctrine of the Trinity, without attempting to follow lots of online debates, then here is my suggestion for reading and in this order.
1. The Nicene Creed
2. The Westminster Confession, chapter 2 "Of God and of the Holy Trinity".
3. John Calvin, The Institutes, Book 1:13. This is a masterpiece of writing on the Trinity.
For a biblical study, work through Ephesians and Revelation 1:1-5 and chapters 4-5.
Sometimes we need a safe refuge to run to in order to acquire restored spiritual peace.
"Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth" Rev 1:4-5.
Grudem and others insist on a notion of the eternal subordination of the Son. This apparently supports their view of marriage and male headship, but does it? In my PhD, I observed that people quickly project on to the inner-relations of the Triune God what they would like those relations to be. In effect, to buttress their own views. Most commonly to support the ordination of women in ministry by asserting that the Triune God is eternally orderless. This is also wrong.
The language of subordination in relation to the Persons of the Trinity, is a term fraught with danger. It is not biblical, it is not confessional and it does not fit within the bounds of Nicene Creed Orthodoxy. For those who want to know more about the doctrine of the Trinity, without attempting to follow lots of online debates, then here is my suggestion for reading and in this order.
1. The Nicene Creed
2. The Westminster Confession, chapter 2 "Of God and of the Holy Trinity".
3. John Calvin, The Institutes, Book 1:13. This is a masterpiece of writing on the Trinity.
For a biblical study, work through Ephesians and Revelation 1:1-5 and chapters 4-5.
Sometimes we need a safe refuge to run to in order to acquire restored spiritual peace.
"Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth" Rev 1:4-5.
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