The fourteenth chapter of the gospel according to Matthew is dominated by the two main figures of the first half of Matthew John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. One thing that can definitely be said about both men is that they were willing to live by the courage of their convictions. John Pays The Ultimate […]
Read More Insights From Matthew: The Cost & Courage of Living By Kingdom ConvictionsI’ve written before about the power of stories, but Jesus throughout Matthew 13 takes the art to profound ends and also shows something crucial about understanding the Kingdom. First up the stories. I love how verse 3 of this chapter says you teach by telling stories. Right here should be a dream come true for […]
Read More Insights From Matthew – Jesus Tells You StoriesI had been given hints of one sort or another over my upbringing. There were the rare occasions when my dad and/or Mum would be out giving leaflets explaining the church and the gospel. I have no recollection of going out with them during that, preferring the warmth and comfort of my home than being […]
Read More Insights From Matthew – Jesus Commands Us To GoThere will be more insights on what’s coming out from reading Matthew in later blogs over the month. I thought I’d take a moment out to follow up on a theme that I mentioned yesterday. So there’s this module that I’m delivering to people this week on time management. Now you don’t have to be […]
Read More How Much???It’s All About The Systems On this trip that is about learning about Christian community something startling strikes me – just how much we rely on systems. Take the hierarchical approach to leadership. Most believers I know would be aghast at the thought of having a church without an ordained ‘leader’ (whether that’s a pastor […]
Read More When Systems StifleI hope to start the first in the series of brief insights into the gospels in February with a look at the gospel according to Matthew. As I was thinking about that some bloggers I read were referring to different parts of the book and stirred in me a reminder of how this Kingdom that […]
Read More Kingdom Living – An ExampleI was having a chat with a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses. As ever in their missionary strategy they got round to asking me if I wished to explore the truth further with them along the lines of the helpful literature they have produced. I know it may come as a surprise to you, but actually […]
Read More Nothing But The Truth …What I love about community and what I love about family is the opportunity you have to sit down over a cup of a beverage of your choice and be real with each other. I remember going through a tough stage in Stoke-on-Trent and my dear friend Andy opened his home up to me. Indeed […]
Read More The Church, Community and IdentityDMCD and The Reading Plan There is this really healthy spiritual exercise that brothers and sisters in Christ apply through the calendar year and that is to go through the Bible in a year. The scriptures are arranged in such a way so as to ensure all 66 books are covered in the 365 days. […]
Read More What Is The Deal With A Reading Plan?On the one hand I’m not into New Years Resolutions. Anything worth planning for or resolving is something that should be part of every day life, so I have no recollection of any New Year’s resolution I’ve ever made and I have no recollection of making any in the last year or so. On the […]
Read More Looking Ahead
