Much of 2020 for us so far has been waiting for God to show us what’s next. Some days have been hard. On one of those days, a good friend sent a timely and encouraging article, where John Piper describes his transition experience: “I was 28 years old.I was jobless. I was eager for ministry […]
Category Archives: Trials
Some thoughts on Level 2, citizenship and freedom
In New Zealand there’s been lots of debate about moving down to Alert Level 2, but the government restricting social gatherings to a maximum of 10 people — including church services and weddings (funerals just got a boost to 50 people, but you have to sign a form and submit it to the Health Department). […]
Five laments your church could sing this week
“What can miserable Christians sing?” A couple of years ago, pastor and church historian Carl Trueman posed this question in an article. He was reflecting on contemporary worship music and its limited ability to lament. Cries of pain are largely absent from our gathered worship vocabulary, and so in the wake of a terror attack, […]
The best contents page I’ve ever read – Thomas Brooks, Precious remedies against Satan’s devices
Our church has been going through the book of Ephesians. We’re at the part where the Apostle Paul gives final instructions (more like marching orders) to his readers: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the full armour of God, that you may be able to stand against […]
Two truths to hang on to when your pastor leaves
A few weeks back, I was asked to preach Acts 18 as part of Howick and Papakura Baptist’s teaching series through Luke’s account of the early church. The preaching commitments had been organised months beforehand. But in God’s providence, I preached Acts 18 at Papakura Baptist the week after it was announced that their Pastor, Richard Cutforth, was the […]