Our first and foremost struggle with wisdom is that without Christ, our position is spiritually dead, putting true wisdom beyond our grasp.

When we read the book of Proverbs, or any other book in the Bible, we must do so through the lens of the cross.

Pastor, now is not the time to drum up false enthusiasm.

‘When the voice of folly speaks, with her charm and vanity, though seductive her deceit, give us hearts that run to Thee.’

The early stages of forming a launch group for a new church are particularly vulnerable. Once word gets around that something ‘new’ is starting, people will want to become a part of it. This is both good and bad. It is good if you attract the right sort of people. They are very few and […]

I picked this up to read and a friend immediately commented: “Is that one of those self-help books? What are you doing reading that?” I responded that I didn’t think it was, but would let them know when I’d read it. With a recommendation list that includes a practical ‘who’s who’ of the modern Evangelical […]

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:1) At Niddrie, we are having our annual ‘prune’ as we review our ministry across […]

I picked up this book for two reasons: (1) the title intrigued me, and (2) because I was going through a phase in my life when I began wondering if I would be happier by having a change of scenery. It’s the curse of most pastors, I suppose (the honest ones anyway). If you stay […]

Congratulations. You have been saved from a housing scheme background and you have taken the step to enter into cross-cultural ministry. Ministering to the middle class is fraught with many pitfalls and dangers, and is therefore not to be entered into lightly. Please take time to read the following. As a people group, they are […]

There are lots of little articles flying around the ‘blogosphere’ on how to be more ‘missional’ etc. Some of them are helpful and some of them are breathtakingly hilarious. Here are some of my tips of how not to engage ‘evangelistically’ on a housing scheme. Remember, it’s just for fun! 1. Sit in the front […]