To be fruitful, churches need to be good at investing in good people, and so generating leaders! At our church…
Listening Together: Joint Muslim-Christian Events
On numerous occasions I’ve had the huge privilege of involvement in a get-together where many dozens of Muslim friends listened…
Your Church’s Statement of Faith: Why & How
Why do we need a church statement of faith? And what do we actually do with it? The answer’s simple.…
Isaiah 6: How God Prepares A Spokesperson
Today we’re in one of the old testament’s greatest chapters. We, like Isaiah here, are called to speak for God…
Esther intro
As we listen to God in Scripture we want to get a better grip on how we live for Him…
1 Samuel intro
The eight earliest books of the Bible seem to be setting out the fundamentals of faith. One way of looking…
Isaiah 7 and 8: Living By Faith At A Culture’s Turning-Point
Today, two highly important chapters of Isaiah; sections repeatedly quoted in the NT, chapters that actually introduce Jesus here! Their…
1 Samuel 1
1 Samuel and the next 8 Bible books offer a leadership training manual: what things mark people God uses –…
Parenting – part 1
1 Samuel is the Bible’s first `leadership manual`. And strikingly, the common factor in its very first stories is raising…
Sermon On The Mount intro
The sermon on the mount has to be one of the most massively important parts of Scripture. There’s more of…
Old Testament Intro Course 1 – The Big Picture
I love the old testament! There’s so much of God’s glory in it. Agreed, some parts can be hard work.…
Parenting – part 2
Like we said: 1 Samuel is the Bible’s first `leadership manual`, and the common factor in its first two stories…
Isaiah 9: Getting The Christmas Passage Right
Here’s something really daft I’ve seen churches do at Christmas. They’ve wanted to flag up the background to Jesus’ birth…
Leading Prayer In The Homegroup
What are the advantages of prayer in homegroups? It brings us closer together It releases God’s power It brings us…
Job part 1
Now’s the time for us to launch into the – little-read? – book of Job. Below are some initial, thought-provoking…
Fasting… Why? How?
Fasting has in recent times been recognized as having significant medical benefits. But it has significant spiritual benefits too! And…
Fostering Evangelism In Our Homegroup
How can we foster evangelism through our homegroup? God so loved the world that He gave the very best thing…
Worship Leading In The Homegroup
First, before we talk about what we do when we worship God in homegroups: what is `worship`? `Worship` is —…
Isaiah 11 and 12: Fantastic Cosmic Restoration!
Today, two of the most joyous bits of Isaiah… Here’s a key thing about reading old testament books: we grasp…
Old Testament Intro Course 2: Foundations (1)
WELCOME TO THE BANQUET! What we’ll to try to do in the rest of this course (and what you can…
Isaiah 13 to 26: What It Means That God is King of Kings
Here’s an important thing about feeding on the Bible: there are parts where it doesn’t help to go slowly, like…
1 Sam 7: The Path to Real Renewal
1 Samuel: leadership training. These next chapters show us how a leader leads people into deeper commitment. Eli fails in…
1 Sam 8 and 12: Servant Leadership And The Other Kind
1 Samuel 8 and 12 bring us something vital about leadership. These chapters help us see two kinds of leaders…
1 Sam 9 to 15: Saul – Losing Your Life-Destiny
If there’s one old testament story that scares me, it’s our next one, about Saul: how it’s possible to lose…
1 Sam 14: The Kind Of Person God Uses
1 Samuel 14 is one of the great commando raids of history, when God used Jonathan in a venture that…
David: Not Quite Like We Think
Now David. David: a nice blue-eyed, curly-haired boy sweetly playing his harp? Not quite. Actually, a deeply damaged kid from a…
1 Sam 17: What We Learn From David & Goliath
If there’s one part of 1 Samuel that everyone knows, it’s ch17, David and Goliath. And so it should be.…
1 Sam 18 to 31: What We Learn From Saul
We’re going through 1 Samuel. A series of people – some did well with their lives, some didn’t. How? Why?…
1-2: The Heart of Christian Faith – Repentance And Faith
In this course we’re feeding on 6 key themes of our faith. I pray this will bless us – and…
Job part 2 – Amidst The Agonizingly Incomprehensible
OK, now we’re starting exploring the tough but astonishing book of Job. After last week’s intro, today chapter 1; which…
1 Sam 19: A Deeper Grasp Of The Spirit
There’s a darkly funny episode in 1 Samuel’s history of Saul’s disintegration. It’s funny, but it’s also a bit bizarre…
1 Sam 22 & 24: The Way Of The New King
It’s great to read 1 Samuel. It contains so many practical encouragements! We’ve watched how Israel chose against God’s style…
Psalm 22: David’s Cry In The Dark
Last week we saw what we gain from how David (sometimes, not always) symbolises Jesus the Son of David. This…
1 Sam 25: When A David Goes Wrong
This week we’ll look at David for the last time. And the question is: how do you help a David…
1 Sam 28 & 31: The Last Lessons From Saul
Today we complete our `leadership training` from watching the leaders in 1 Samuel. Today’s is a dramatic, powerful story, and…
1 Samuel summary
As we leave 1 Samuel – what do we learn from it? Here’s an overall summary, the whole book in…
Some Pointers For Disciplers
`Making disciples`, really serious followers of Jesus, is central to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). What we call `discipling` happens…
Isaiah 20 & 22: Two Hugely Challenging Chapters
Today two short parts of Isaiah that I find very personal and very, very challenging indeed… Last time we embarked…
Old Testament Intro Course 3: Foundations (2) – Leviticus to Ruth
I pray that what follows gives some really fertile starting points for grasping these six foundational books! Last time we…
1-3: The Bible – Why Do We Trust & Follow It?
God hasn’t left us alone! He loves us massively and has given us His Word – the Bible – as…
Job part 3 – How Not To Be A Friend
Today our third Job post: how not to be a friend! (It seemed a good idea to include some notes…
Homegroup Leaders – A Possible Job Description
The homegroup leader plays a vital role in God’s work. She or he seeks to make sure that homegroup happens,…
Enhancing Your Bible Feeding
How can we feed ourselves more fruitfully from the Bible? Well, first, do it with God! Ask for His help,…
Isaiah 23 to 26 again: The End
God crafts a powerful, wonderful finish to this part of Isaiah (chs 21-26)! Like we saw last week, there’s been…
Old Testament Intro Course 4: The Leadership Manual – 1 Samuel to Esther
Now the old testament’s further `historical books`. How will we feed on these – and why? Well, first, to understand…
1-4: The Bible – What Do We Actually Do With It?
Last time we saw how trusting the Bible is central to following Jesus. He made very clear that it’s 100%…
What Makes A Good Homegroup Bible Study?
BEFORE THE MEETING – LEADER’S PREPARATION: Pray: for faithfulness to the Bible, for wisdom and understanding, personal learning for the…
Job part 4 – chapters 3 to 31 (1)
Job is one of the Bible’s least-known books, even though it’s totally God-inspired! And I’ve come to see how little…
Some Ways To Enhance Our Prayer Lives?
To begin: grasp afresh, deep down, the reality that it makes a big difference that we pray – James 4:2,…
Global Vision In The Homegroup
God is a missionary God; and from its opening pages the Bible shows us his passionate heart for the lost,…
1 Peter series #1: What We’ll Get (Fairly Uniquely) From This Book
There are two sides to the Christian life. The norm – and this cannot be said too strongly, because Jesus…
1 Peter #2: What is God’s Word For Exiles (And For Us)? (1:1-9)
As our feeding on Scripture takes us to Peter’s first letter, we sense its recipients working through the tough experiences…
1 Peter #3: The Power Of Desire (1:10-14)
I’m glad we’re looking at 1 Peter, because it’s an extremely rich book, and 1 Peter 1 is an extremely…
1 Peter #4: Three Roots For Our Lasting Transformation (1:15-2:3)
We saw last time how `setting our hope’, our desires, `fully’ on the enormous glory coming our way from the…
1 Peter #5: We Have A Home In The Wilderness (2:4-10)
`Pioneering` in the Bible – following the taste, the desire, for the `pure milk of the Word’ – will lead…
1 Peter #6: Wrestling With Wilderness Relationships (2:11-3:18)
1 Peter seems to be written particularly for believers going through experiences of `exile`; of being away from our `home`,…
1 Peter #7: The New Testament’s Most Puzzling Verses? (3:18-4:1)
This time we’ve reached what are maybe the new testament’s most difficult verses. But of course as part of the…
1 Peter #8: The Vision That Arms Us (4:1-11)
Studying 1 Peter could save our lives. We’re only on this planet for a few decades; we’re in heaven for…
1 Peter #9: The Way Ahead (4:12-5:11)
We’re almost at the close of 1 Peter, so now we watch how Peter brings all the great things he…
PS: `Grace` Is The Point Of All We’ve Seen (1 Peter 5:12-14) – But What Does It Mean?
So here we are at the end of 1 Peter. Peter, we’ve seen, is someone for whom reflection on the…
A Prayer For The Homegroup Leader’s Fridge
Sunday: Father, please help me grow as a homegroup leader! Monday: Father, please grant each of us more vision for…
Job part 5 – chapters 3 to 31 (2)
These 2 weeks’ posts have aimed to supply a `pocket map` of the turbulent central section of the great book…
Isaiah 27 to 35: So Many Practical Jewels!
And so we reach the final chapters of Isaiah’s first half. They start with chapters chewier than some, but what…
James 1 and intro
This week a few introductory thoughts that may help us feed on James; and why it matters… For some of…
1-5: Prayer – What Actually Is It?
Last week we explored how we can better hear God speaking to us through His Word; this week, it’s how…
1 Peter 1 and intro
This time an introduction to 1 Peter! Why is it valuable? It’s valuable because our Christian life involves two types…
Job part 6 – Elihu (chs 32 to 37)
We’re coming to the dramatic close of Job. Last week we watched Job’s last, powerful speech: `Let the Almighty answer…
Questions For Group Vision Reviews
Every homegroup needs a periodical vision review. If we lose our grasp of God’s vision for our group – why…
Hebrews 1 and intro
Hebrews: we really need to know Hebrews! It’s different from any other new testament book. Like others, though, it’s a…
Isaiah 36 to 39 (part one): Why Are these Records So Crucial?
Isaiah 36-39 raise a big question for any serious Bible reader! Isaiah prophesied during four kings’ dramatic reigns, but there’s…
Isaiah 36 to 39 (part two): Why Are These Records So Crucial?
As we said last week: Isaiah 36-39 raise a very big question. There’s very little history in Isaiah apart from…
Job part 7: The Glory Of The God Who Now Answers (chs 38-41)
So here we are at Job 38-41, this book’s amazing climax. These are chapters we must grasp if we want…
1-6: Some Ways To Enhance Our Own Prayer Lives
STARTER: What (Bible verses? stories? ideas?) have particularly motivated you to pray? Well: here are some ideas that can help…
Isaiah 40 (part one): The Sheer Greatness of God!
If we seek one old testament chapter that embodies the sheer greatness of God, for me it’s today’s: Isaiah 40…
Isaiah 40 (part two): The Sheer Greatness of God!
Again: if we seek just one OT chapter that embodies the sheer greatness of God, it’s arguably Isaiah 40 –…
Isaiah 41 to 52: So Much Fuel For Joy!
We’re now headed into some wonderfully joyous sections of Isaiah. Try reading 43:1-7 in your personal worship, or 41:17-20, or…
Job part 8: What Has All This Meant For Job? (ch42)
So: what is the point of the book of Job, what has all this been about? Last time we explored…
Core Issues 1: Was Jesus Mad? Bad? Or God?
This is the vital challenge at the heart of Christianity. If Jesus really is God, it makes all the difference…
Core Issues 2: The Resurrection Evidence
Here’s the second core reason why we have such good cause to worship Jesus as God. If we’re Christians, this is…
1-7: Who Is God The Holy Spirit, And What Is He Like?
STARTER: God makes it clear that He wants us to be gloriously transformed, growing just like Jesus; and, this comes…
Isaiah 42, 49-50: The Servant Of The Lord
Today: Very remarkable things about Jesus, that we may well not have seen before! Like we’ve said: in Isaiah’s second…
Isaiah 53: The Centre of This World’s History
When we look back from eternity, we’ll see this planet as the world where the cross happened… The cross is…
Isaiah 55: What Is Worth Living For?
Today’s piece of Isaiah, chapter 55, tackles the big question: What is really worth my living and striving for? It…
Isaiah 58: Fasting – And Why Doesn’t God Hear My Prayers?
Isaiah 58 is very, very challenging. Why doesn’t God hear my prayers? And: Might there be something deeply wrong with…
1-8: Living By The Spirit
One totally vital rule for Christian fruitfulness: `”Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit”, says the Lord`!…
Isaiah 60: The Big Picture Of Our World’s Future
Today’s chapter, Isaiah 60, is radiantly triumphant, and very helpful! “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory…
Isaiah 61: Here (Wonderfully!) Is What The Spirit Does….
This week’s piece of Isaiah is another phenomenal, refreshing chapter, ch61… If we grasp it we’ll receive a huge vision…
Isaiah 63 and 64: Knowing Father Better
This week’s passage is dramatic. It helps us grasp how the Father-God relationship works, & how it’s deepened; which leads…
Isaiah 65 and 66: How Does God Wrap Up A Book Like Isaiah?
Isaiah is – to my mind! – the great old testament prophet. So there’s an obvious question: with what particularly…
2 Samuel: intro and David
Today we launch out on the 2nd of the OT’s leadership training books: 2 Samuel (or 2 Kings, that is,…
Psalm 1, 2, and intro
How do we feed ourselves from the Psalms? They’re the Bible’s songbook. They’re also, as Bono says, the Bible’s blues.…
Psalm 8: Four Fuels For Worship
This week a magnificent worship psalm, Psalm 8… `O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the…
2 Sam 6: The Leader Learns To Worship
Not surprisingly, one of the first things we find, as we launch out on another of Scripture’s leadership manuals, is…
2 Sam 1: Helping In A Time Of Bereavement
Today 2 Samuel 1, about something very practical indeed, a skill that will be essential for anyone in any leadership…
Psalm 18: Model For our Life-Song
Today something else different from usual!- David’s life-song in Psalm 18. Watchman Nee says one thing that really matters in…
Psalm 22: A Psalm For the Blackest Darkness
This week we’re feeding on Psalm 22: `My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?` – that astonishing cry…
Psalm 23: `Exceedingly Great & Precious Promises`!
Today’s is perhaps the most treasured of all the Psalms, well worth memorizing, absorbing, regularly reflecting on – Psalm 23…
Psalm 24: The Earth Is The Lord’s!
I love this Psalm 24. Read it – then how shall we respond to it? First, obviously, in worship: `The…
If There’s A God, Why Don’t People Notice? Media & The Loss Of God
It is an extraordinary thing. For the vast majority of the human race, the existence of the supernatural is something…
How (And Why) Do We Believe In God?
How can we know whether there really is a God who loves us and gives meaning to our lives? According…