How to Interpret the Bible

On Saturday I had the privilege of kicking off the new year at Manchester School of Theology. I’ve taught here many times over the years, but this was by far the biggest cohort I’ve seen, and it was so much fun helping them dig into the Bible, wrestling with a few of their questions, and…

Premature eulogies and spineless tributes

There has been a recent flurry of eulogies commemorating the passing of… well, various things, including the church, Christianity, and God himself. A survey by The Times claims that three quarters of Church of England priests think Britain is no longer a Christian country, and many believe the church is on the verge of extinction….

Stanley and the Sacraments

My first read of 2023 was Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci. I received it for Christmas and devoured it greedily. It’s a lovely, heart-warming memoir about life, food, memory and family. Whether or not you’re particularly a fan of Stanley Tucci, or knowledgeable about Italian food and culture, it’s just a delight…

The Lord’s Supper (Luke 22.7–20)

What is your most vivid food memory? What is the taste or aroma that you experience and it’s like “ah, that takes me back…” Food has an amazing ability to transport us across lands and through time, evoking memories that take us back to a particular place; a holiday; specific meal; a moment in time….

Slow Mercy

What if what feels like the slowness of God is actually his mercy? What if what feels like the unnecessarily long route is actually him protecting us from battles we are not yet ready to fight? Here’s a short reflection on Exodus 13 If you’re not familiar with Jubilee + I’d highly recommend checking them…

The Sovereign God (Isaiah 13–23)

On Sunday I spoke at King’s Church Didcot, continuing their series on the book of Isaiah. I was asked to speak on 11 chapters (!!) which demonstrate the Sovereignty of God over the nations. Challenge accepted! 😊 So in this talk, I give an overview of the book of Isaiah, showing how God’s plan for…

School of the Spirit

In April 2021 Helen and I moved to Oxford, following a series of unexpected prophetic words and dreams. If you’re not bored of having heard the story, you can catch some of it here and my one year update here. It’s been quite a journey, working out precisely why God has called us here, and…

The Walk of Faith (Matthew 14.22-33)

On Sunday I spoke at our old church, Christ Church London, at their Mile End Services. It was great fun to see old friends, make new ones, and preach on the subject of faith. We looked at the story of Jesus (and then Peter) walking on water, and drew out three principles for living a…

Fellowship with Focus (Acts 2.42–47)

Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking at Witney Community Church, continuing their series on the book of Acts. We looked at the picture of the early church in Acts 2.42-47 (a passage I think I’ve heard more sermons on than any other, but had never preached on until this week!) We considered some of…

The Host. (A very short story).

His lips turned an icy blue. A shocking contrast against the crimson rising around his neck and cheeks. His whole body screamed in silent convulsions. At first unnoticed. Then slowly awareness began to spread among the other guests. Is he…?Should we…? One hand clutched his throat. The other shot out and began flailing around, seeking…