Below are a collection of posts for help on the Christian walk. I hope you find the source materials therein useful. All links open in new tabs/pages.
Apologetics Corner
The Apostles’ Creed: what Christians must believe
The Christian life — Hebrews 13:1-8
Sand or rock? (our foundations of faith; Matthew Henry, John MacArthur)
‘I never knew you — depart from me’ (Matthew Henry)
‘Blood is thicker than water’ doesn’t mean what we think it does (refers to faith not family)
Apologetics Corner: ‘stairway to heaven’ scripturally accurate (contrast with ‘highway to hell’)
The importance of expository preaching (meaning: on the Bible, all of the time)
Proper Bible study brings the past to life and informs the future
Bible literacy making a comeback in the United States (January 2019)
John MacArthur: a good church is based on doctrine and Scripture
John MacArthur on why John’s Gospel refers to Christ as the Word
Francis of Assisi never said ‘use words if necessary’
Beware the ‘whole Gospel’ teaching
Apostleship cannot be bought (C Peter Wagner)
Conspiracy theories detract us from Christ
The non-ambassadors for Christ
The left-wing origins of ‘What would Jesus do?’
Apologetics Corner — immigration: US congressman refutes amnesty with Scripture (July 11, 2018, Lamar Smith [R-Texas])
African cleric tells the truth about the West (January 2019, Cardinal Robert Sarah)
John MacArthur on an overindulged, complaining generation — and an update (1970-2022, Gillian Bridge)
John MacArthur on work: a command, an example, a way to glorify God (1992; UK, 2023)
The surprising — and shocking — supporters of assisted dying (2015)
Bible verses on Christ’s Atonement
Is Jesus the star of your pastor’s sermons?
The importance of joy — not happiness
Experiencing sorrow and fear is normal — just don’t let them rule you
How societies hang together (common grace, natural law, Noahide Laws, philosophy)
Poverty isn’t the way to salvation
On living and dying well (the Revd Samuel Rutherford)
One pastor’s suggestions on dealing with suspicion
Ezekiel 25:17 — a verse to ponder (God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked; Pulp Fiction cited it)
Christian Hedonism (the joy of serving God)
St Andrew the Apostle — thinking differently
Archbishop Cranmer on the importance of biblical literacy
Sola Scriptura or solo Scriptura? There is a difference
Examining the myths about John Calvin
John Calvin: theocrat or socialist?
John Calvin embraced scientific knowledge (the Bible is not a science book)
Zwingli and Felix Manz (the drowning incident had nothing to do with Calvin)
Welcoming the stranger biblically (not what you might think)
St Peter did not intend us to be cowardly doormats
When good people are called devils (Matthew Henry on Matthew 10:25)
John MacArthur reminds us that Jesus also prayed, so why shouldn’t we?
It’s difficult to pray for our enemies
Why praying for our pastors is a good thing (shocking statistics)
The Five Finger Prayer (for children and adults)
An Internet prayer (for our online friends)
Prayers for Coronavirus Christmas 2020
The value of liturgical prayer (Percy Dearmer, 1912 — a surprising read)
Acts 11 mentions the word ‘Christian’
America’s tide is turning (2014, expect persecution of some sort)
Let us pray for Christians in the Holy Land and the Middle East (2021, persecution)
‘The priesthood of all believers’ (it doesn’t mean what you might think!)
A Lutheran pastor’s dos and don’ts for the serious Christian (questions on which to ponder)
‘God helps those who help themselves’ — a truism (although not in the Bible)
London head teacher — and government adviser — talks Original Sin (2021, Katharine Birbalsingh)
The cost of sin (2022)
‘Hate the sin, love the sinner’? Unbiblical!
What happens when a priest calls out a liar
John MacArthur on Peter’s leadership qualities
More from John MacArthur on Peter’s leadership journey
Part 1 of Acts 9:1-9: Saul’s — St Paul’s — conversion
Part 2 of Acts 9:1-9: Saul’s — St Paul’s — conversion (includes interesting info from John MacArthur on his own conversion)
Acts 9:10-19 — when scales fell from the eyes of Saul of Tarsus (final part of St Paul’s conversion story)
January 25: Feast of the Conversion of St Paul the Apostle
St Paul’s faith compared with ours
John MacArthur on providential protection (personal anecdote and Acts 23:12-35)
Philemon: St Paul’s lessons of brotherly love
Acts 13:1-3 — the shift to a Gentile Church
Ignoring sin = ‘spiritual amnesia’
Biblical qualities of a leader — French case study
Christ’s road to salvation is narrow
Believers versus unifiers (what to look for in theological attacks)
Jesus was no unifier (an important message)
A practical application of censure, repentance and forgiveness (Revd Matt Kennedy)
Preach the truth and they will come
The pleasure of sexual and identity-based sin (an argument against it)
Being grateful for what we have in a materialistic world (about kind, hard-working husbands)
Religious trolling and the ‘God bless’ — yeah, right
‘Speaking truth in love’ or making trouble? (on busybodies)
The way Christians act conveys much about our faith
The stiff upper lip and the cardinal virtue of Fortitude
Why older denominations turn to the social gospel (Catholic case study)
Abundant life or eternal life?
The atheist’s big error about Christianity (Abraham is our father in faith, not Moses)
Randall Niles: A former atheist speaks
Be careful with navel-gazing and guilt
The use of Greek in Palestine in Jesus’s time
Marian colours and religious art
Introducing the Gospel according to Matthew
John MacArthur: how Matthew 8 and 9 show us that Christ is Lord
Matthew Henry on Matthew 10 — part 1 of 2
Matthew Henry on Matthew 10 — part 2 of 2
John MacArthur on the structure of Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 1 – 13)
The Gospel of Mark (also includes a basic introduction to the Synoptic Gospels)
The authorship of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts
The ‘madness’ of Jesus? (Mark 3; our brotherhood with Christ — good for evangelising with Muslims)
On Christ’s personal relationship with us (also good for evangelising with Muslims)
Blaspheming the Holy Spirit — the unforgiveable sin
Is it the Spirit speaking — or our own voice?
What do people hear when we speak?
When we refuse to discuss the world — a Christian attitude?
St Paul, ‘niceness’ and work (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12)
True story of the mission that stopped ‘doing’ and started loving
Pastor Niemöller on Christian salt and the world
John MacArthur videos about the protests (and riots of 2020; two highly important sermons)
John MacArthur’s sermon ‘Act Like Men’ — ‘be strong and courageous’ (2020; related to the protests and decades-old family breakdown)
James, James, James and the Epistle of James — who wrote it?
The Epistle of James — themes and justification
James 4:1-6 — faith versus the world
Doubting Thomas: John 20:19-31
John: from ‘son of thunder’ to ‘apostle of love’
What John 6 really says (what happened after the feeding of the 5,000)
The true story of Onan (not what you might have thought)
Some things are secular, some things are sacred (R Scott Clark)
Heidelberg Catechism’s important teachings about Christianity (R Scott Clark)
The far from perfect people in the Bible
How much should Christians work for change?
Donna Summer — a Prodigal Daughter (useful for those seeking relief from a guilty conscience)
The absurdity of ‘Nephilim babies’
Ben Carson and the pyramid-as-grain-silo theory (2016, ancient theory)
A case against universal Communion
Christians and animals (includes the story of the Gadarene Swine)
The Gadarene swine served a purpose (Apologetics Corner)
The Gadarenes — what happened next (Apologetics Corner)
On publicised fasting and charity
Churches still relevant when it comes to charity (2019, UK)
We ARE adopted sons of God — accept no imitations (good for evangelising amongst Muslims)
Sexual continence and marital fidelity
The Pope [Francis] on matters sexual: ‘Who am I to judge?’
Could the Pope — and other famous Catholics — please speak plainly? (2014)
Anglican relativism of sexual sin
Does the Anglican Bishop of London embrace Christian mysticism? (2014)
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s weak evangelising (2014)
Church of England alternative baptismal rites (2014)
Jeremiah 23:1-6 warns about leading the flock astray
Religious and societal condemnation of abortion is nothing new (the Didache)
Serial abortionist Kermit Gosnell was not wrong in his predictions (2013)
British Heart Foundation study: baby’s first heartbeat comes early (2016, abortion)
US: compared with abortion numbers, homicide numbers a drop in the bucket (2016, statistics)
The March for Life and the ‘Silent Scream’ of the unborn (2019, abortion, good photos of foetus development, Lady Penquin)
Infanticide now legal in New York State (January 22, 2019)
President Trump on late-term abortion: ‘It’s executing a baby’ (February 14, 2019)
A Calvinist reflects on the Pill, marriage and family life
The six ‘P’s of marriage (John MacArthur)
On idle talk and mobile phones
Acedia — the forgotten Deadly Sin
Seven everyday sins which the Lord loathes
Mind-altering drugs and the Bible
Living without pride, which goeth before a fall
Prayer — more powerful than we think
A perspective on prayer from Edmond Sanganyado
A marvellous prayer to say in times of crisis
Exploring prayer (at least seven types)
St Augustine on the importance of the Lord’s Prayer
St Augustine of Hippo’s take on cafeteria Christians
The Anglican Prayer of Humble Access
A Prayer for the President of the United States (Episcopalian, 1928)
Subjective assurance and the worry of temporary faith
Want assurance? Start reading the Bible
John MacArthur defines God’s grace
Understanding more about saving grace
Grace in a Pauline context (refuting the ‘divine spark’ error)
Putting on new clothes and working out (Colossians 3:12-14)
Synergism compromises the doctrine of grace
More on monergism (the opposite of synergism)
Why today’s churches need to rediscover monergism
RC Sproul on the ‘Pelagian captivity of the Church’
The Devil speaks, or the temptation to wallow in doubt (on repentance and God’s forgiveness)
The perceived dichotomy between unbelievers and Christians
Unbelievers leading church services — why it’s discouraged
Jonathan Edwards: Sinners in the hands of an angry God
Do church mission slogans really help?
Seeking the right kind of trouble (welcoming sinners)
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What’s on Anglican priests’ minds
Coronavirus and Communion (March 2020; Revds Marcus Walker, Giles Fraser)
Anglican priests discuss the parlous state of the Church of England today (summer 2021; Revds Marcus Walker, Giles Fraser, Peter Anthony, Philip Murray)
Anglican clergy discuss the state of the Church of England today, continued (August-October 2021)
Anglican vicar’s sermon goes viral as he refuses to close church at Christmas (December 19-23; Revd Will Pearson-Gee)
Moving to a new church (April 2022, Giles Fraser)
What’s on Anglican priests’ minds: passports, Holy Communion and morality (April 2022, Will Pearson-Gee)
What’s on Anglican priests’ minds: Calvin Robinson from GB News (May 2022, Archbishop of Canterbury and bishops various)
What’s on Anglican priests’ minds: social media, colonialism, maybe Ascension Day (May 2022; Archbishop of Canterbury, Dean of Trinity College Cambridge, Calvin Robinson)
What’s on Anglican priests’ minds: the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (May 2022)
What’s on Anglican priests’ minds: Trinity Sunday, mission work — and more (June 2022)
What’s on Anglican priests’ minds: parish life, baptismal vows, sermons (June 2022)
The televisual rarity: an ordination (June 2022, Calvin Robinson’s ordination on GB News)
What’s on Anglican priests’ minds: the 2021 British census results showing Christianity in clear decline (November 2022)
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What’s on Episcopal priests’ minds
A defence of Morning Prayer (Revd Robert Hendrickson, Anglo-Catholic)
A defence of Christian beliefs (Revd Everett Lees, SCP, Anglo-Catholic)
Preaching on the end of the world (Revd J Wesley Evans, OPA, Anglo-Catholic)
Respecting the Church calendar (Revd Scott A Gunn, Anglo-Catholic)
Inclusion (Revd Keith V, Anglo-Catholic)
Transfiguration Sunday (Revd Everett Lees, SCP, Anglo-Catholic; The Rev. Green Man)
Lent (Revd Scott A Gunn, Anglo-Catholic)
Church attendance and coffee hour during coronavirus scare (Revd Scott A Gunn, Anglo-Catholic)
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Abortion and infanticide
Religious and societal condemnation of abortion is nothing new (the Didache)
Serial abortionist Kermit Gosnell was not wrong in his predictions (2013)
Chilling footage of New York abortion clinic worker: ‘Flush it’ (2013)
An abortion survivor’s powerful testimony (2013 and 2015, Melissa Ohden)
British Heart Foundation study: baby’s first heartbeat comes early (2016, abortion)
US: compared with abortion numbers, homicide numbers a drop in the bucket (1973-2016)
The March for Life and the ‘Silent Scream’ of the unborn (2019, abortion, good photos of foetus development, Lady Penquin)
Infanticide now legal in New York State (January 22, 2019)
President Trump on late-term abortion: ‘It’s executing a baby’ (February 14, 2019)
Two views of abortion: an opinion and an ex-abortionist’s explanation (February 2019 and 2015; Bill Nye, Dr Anthony Levatino)
‘Christian’ abortionist acknowledges he kills human beings (February 22, 2019; Dr Willie Parker)
Unplanned: new true story about abortion debuts March 29 (2019, Abby Johnson — once Planned Parenthood Employee of the Year and now pro-life)
Unplanned: abortion film box office hit in first week (March 30)
Unplanned: Abby Johnson’s two abortions before being employed at Planned Parenthood (March 29)
March for Life UK’s 2019 event attracts thousands (May 11)
Alabama passes new abortion law: doctors, not patients, prosecuted (May 15)
Photo of an aborted human at nine weeks (May 18)
‘Garbage humans’: pro-choicers’ comments on abortion photo (May 22)
Photo of a baby some would have aborted (May 23)
UK court relents on abortion order for Nigerian woman (June 24)
Historic first: US president — Donald Trump — addresses March for Life (January 24, 2020)
Democrats refuse to defend the rights of the unborn (February 11; Pete Buttigieg)
More on the phalanx of Democrats who support abortion (February 12; Bernie Sanders)
A Calvinist reflects on the Pill, marriage and family life
The six ‘P’s of marriage (John MacArthur)
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Billy Graham and his daughter Ruth
Remembering Billy Graham (aged 99, 1918-2018)
More on Billy Graham (March 2018)
Ruth Graham on breakups, self-doubt and faith (2012, with a 2018 postscript on her father’s funeral)
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Guest post
Lutheran versus Presbyterian denominations (John J Flanagan, 2015)
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Political awareness
Why Christians should be politically aware
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The French touch (la touche française)
Cannes 2019: return trips to the Reformed Church (Philippe Fromont; 2017, 2019)
A return trip to the Reformed Church in Cannes (Paolo Morlacchetti, 2015)
Paolo Morlacchetti on Philippians 3:17 – 4:1 (2015)
‘The tyranny of happiness’ (the Revd Louis Pernot, Paris)
Happiness and the Beatitudes (the Revd Louis Pernot, Paris)
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Resurrection theology
Remembering the reality of the risen Christ
Are we bypassing the risen Christ?
A call for Resurrection theology
Christianity IS the Risen Christ
Unlocking the meaning of the Gospel
The extension of the risen Christ
A Lutheran application of Resurrection theology
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Christology and miracles
The Office of Christ from Luther’s Small Catechism
A Lutheran pastor on faith and the Bible
Lutherans on the purpose of Scripture
A Lutheran theologian on Christ’s use of miracles
A Lutheran pastor’s perspective on Christ’s miracles
Miracles were for a limited time only (the cessationist perspective)
Characteristics of New Testament miracles
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Truth versus error
R C Sproul explains semper reformanda
Heidelberg Catechism’s important teachings about Christianity (R Scott Clark)
Charles Porterfield Krauth (19th c. Lutheran)
Beware of apologists and useful idiots (21st century clergy)
Barna Group’s biblical literacy survey: we have work to do
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Which denomination?
This quiz can help you find the right denomination
Church scorecard — ‘cotton candy’ versus historical-biblical Christianity
Finding a good Reformed church
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Happiness is leaving legalism, enthusiasm and pietism for confessionalism
The dangers of dramatic conversion stories
Culture shock: moving from an Evangelical to a Reformed church
Legalistic Lutheranism (and Applied Finneyism) – Part 1
Legalistic Lutheranism (and Applied Finneyism) – Part 2
John MacArthur’s warning against enthusiasm in church
Church scandals (2015)
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Conversions
From Christianity to Islam (France)
From Islam to Christianity (France)
From Judaism to Christianity (England)
John MacArthur: Matthew’s Gospel converts man who had everything (Israel/United States)
Conversions of convenience or the real thing?
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Women
Eunice and Lois set example for Timothy
Heidelberg Catechism’s important teachings about Christianity (R Scott Clark)
The Churching of Women — misogynist or not?
EWTN’s Mother Mary Angelica: feisty, fearless and faithful (died on Easter Day 2016)
Matthew Henry: an 18th century perspective on women (encouraging words)
Wife selling (less encouraging)
The Epistles on women in the Church and society
Philip B Payne on hair, headship and gender equality
Women, ‘federal headship’ and ordination
Christian Domestic Discipline — when life imitates art? (Warning against spousal abuse!)
Subtle spousal abuse: a Catholic story
Conservative clergy’s responses to spousal abuse
Quotes throughout history on the treatment of children and women
Jacobean England: Women, Christian fasting and marriage
Helpful resources for Christian women suffering domestic abuse
Clothes: Are we attracting or repelling potential converts?
On the cusp of Diamond Jubilee Weekend — facts about the Queen (Queen Elizabeth II)
Palace intrigue: background to Queen Elizabeth II’s ascent to the throne
Young Margaret — portrait of a future Prime Minister (Margaret Thatcher, Methodist)
From socialite to Carmelite: Ann Russell Miller (1928-2021)
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Children
The Apostles’ Creed: what Christians must believe
Heidelberg Catechism’s important teachings about Christianity (R Scott Clark)
Christian child abuse: more works-based carnality
Quotes throughout history on the treatment of children and women
Carnality: Children historically seen as ‘poison containers’
Study of a 17th Dutch family portrait
Our treatment of children determines our future
The shameful abuse of Evangelical and Baptist children revealed (2007)
Church scandals (2015)
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Death
Why a mourner’s grief is so severe
Home burial still possible in the UK
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Hallowe’en
Hallowe’en and similar traditions — a brief history
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Elders defending their own
The absence of values in today’s society (see third paragraph from the bottom for Grandma’s break-in)
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Marriage and family
Heidelberg Catechism’s important teachings about Christianity (R Scott Clark)
The six ‘P’s of marriage (John MacArthur)
Moving away from the God-given institution of marriage
What next for the institution of marriage?
Martin Luther on marriage and the devil
Missing fathers — at the office or elsewhere
The perils of men growing up fatherless — from a woman’s perspective
Which is more deplorable, the gun culture or the fatherless culture?
Success in marriage requires careful attention (pastor says, ‘Many beautiful houses are not homes’)
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Church history and miscellany
The church in Rome pre-dated Peter
The parallels between ancient Jewish and Christian worship
Church history: early form of liturgy still followed
Church history: Eastern liturgy in the 4th and 5th centuries
Church history: Western liturgy between the 5th and 9th centuries
Church history: how mediaeval Mass led to the Reformation
Church history: early Lutheran liturgy
Church history: Zwingli’s rite in Zurich
Church history: the German rites in Strasbourg (Martin Bucer)
Church history: Calvin’s French rites
Church history: early Reformed rites in Scotland (and a biography of John Knox)
Church history: the early Book of Common Prayer
History — the Bible would have been questioned sooner or later
Church history: Communion frequency in Protestant churches
Communion frequency in Reformed churches
Why Joe Biden was denied Holy Communion (2019, South Carolina)
Young Iraqis make their First Holy Communion (2022)
The value of liturgical prayer (Percy Dearmer, Anglican, 1912)
Changes in Lutheran liturgy from the 1950s to the present
Baroness Thatcher’s funeral — Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The reinterment of Richard III (ceremonies March 22 and 26, 2015)
Being a rector in the City of London (St Bride’s)
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Notre-Dame Cathedral
A reflection on Notre-Dame Cathedral, Holy Week and Jesus (April 18, 2019; fire occurred on Monday, April 15: Holy Week)
Looking back at Notre-Dame Cathedral
Notre-Dame’s significance to the world (Holy Week — April — 2019)
Notre-Dame Cathedral: immediate reactions to the fire (Monday of Holy Week — April 15, 2019)
What survived at Notre-Dame Cathedral (Holy Week — April 15 and 16, 2019)
Notre Dame’s powerful beauty changes hearts (April 16, 2019)
How the Notre-Dame fire influenced Holy Week in Paris (April 15-20, 2019)
What people said about the mysterious cause of the Notre-Dame fire — part 1 and part 2 (Holy Week 2019)
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris: what do restoration and rebuilding mean? (April 16-May 1, 2019)
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England
Beautiful English church vandalised after restoration (St Mary Magdalene, Caldecote, Hertfordshire)
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Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: at least ten years of attacks on churches (2009, 2019)
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The Church Year
Advent
Advent resources for Catholics and Protestants
Advent reflections: John the Baptist and the Apocalypse
Advent: Make straight a highway
Advent: John the Baptist’s message of Good News — and repentance
Advent: a time to examine one’s conscience
Advent: Mary’s Magnificat and Zechariah’s prophecy in Luke 1
John the Baptist, charity and Advent
The Advent wreath: symbolism and history
Advent and Christmas in colonial America
From Christ the King Sunday to Advent (Year A to Year B in the three-year Lectionary)
First Sunday of Advent
Readings for the First Sunday of Advent — Year A
Readings for the First Sunday of Advent — Year B
Readings for the First Sunday of Advent — Year C
Second Sunday of Advent
Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent — Year A
- Second Sunday of Advent — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, Matthew 3:1-12 (includes explanation of kingdom of God)
Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent — Year B
Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent — Year C
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Gaudete Sunday — Third Sunday of Advent
Readings for the Third Sunday of Advent — Gaudete Sunday — Year A
Gaudete Sunday: readings for the Third Sunday of Advent — Year B
Readings for the Third Sunday of Advent — Year C
Advent sermons: the bad news — and the Good News
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Fourth Sunday of Advent
Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent — Year A
- Fourth Sunday of Advent — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, Matthew 1:18-25 (the virgin birth)
Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent — Year B
Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent — Year C
December 6
St Nicholas Day (much to learn about a man of great faith)
More on St Nicholas — feast day December 6
St Nicholas Day — December 6 (1970s celebrations in Germany)
O Antiphons
The O Antiphon for December 17 (2013)
The O Antiphon for December 17 (2014)
The O Antiphon for December 18 (2013)
December 18: a second O Antiphon for this day (2014)
The O Antiphon for December 19 (2013)
December 19: a second O Antiphon for this day (2014)
The O Antiphon for December 20
The O Antiphon for December 21
The O Antiphon for December 22
December 22: another O Antiphon for this day (2014)
The O Antiphon for December 23
December 23: another O Antiphon for this day (2014)
Christmas
The Christmas story in Matthew’s Gospel (hermeneutics)
Christmas Eve — Matthew 1:18-25 (with commentary from Albert Barnes)
The Christmas story according to St Luke
The Christmas story in Luke’s Gospel (hermeneutics)
Migdal Eder: the shepherds provide a biblical key to unlocking the Christmas story (Luke’s Gospel, Micah, Genesis; Carl H Bloch’s painting The Shepherds and The Angel, oil on copper, 1879)
Christmas Day: exegesis on the Epistle, Hebrews 1:1-12
Readings for Christmas Day — Proper III (John 1:1-14)
Christmas Day — John 1:1-14 (with commentary from Matthew Poole)
Happy Christmas, one and all! (John 1:1-17)
And light shone into the darkness (Gospels of Matthew and John)
Compliments of the season to all my readers! (features Dr Paul Copan on the manger scene)
A Lutheran defence of Nativity scenes and crucifixes
Prayers for Coronavirus Christmas 2020
Martin Luther on the birth of Jesus
Carol services: ‘Christmas as secular entertainment’
Jesus’s nature as depicted in Christmas carols
What we can learn from Christmas — humility
Angel imagery in Christmas carols (Dr Paul Copan on how the Bible portrays them)
Jesuit astronomer discusses the Star of Bethlehem (2016)
The Christmas tree — a history (related to Christianity)
Candy canes: useful for a Nativity lesson in Sunday School (Christian symbolism possibly unintentional — nonetheless, providential)
Christmas gifts — a history (and a Christian defence thereof)
Christmas feasting and revelry (the rehabilitation of Christmas)
British attitudes towards Christmas
Bizarre Christmas cards from the 19th century
Louis Prang — father of the American Christmas card
The Christmas message from Outer Space (1968)
People laugh, but there is a war on Christmas (2017)
War on Christmas has impact on Americans (2017)
Detail from Pew Research on Christmas celebrations and beliefs in the US (2017)
The Queen’s Christmas messages: 2020, 1957
December 26 – Feast of St Stephen, Boxing Day
Keeping the hope of Christmas alive
Thoughts on Christmas (Murillo’s Holy Family with dog)
December 26 — St Stephen’s Day, Boxing Day and more (the money box, details on St Stephen and Good King Wenceslas (2017)
The Christmas season is 12 days long (2021, GB News)
Christmas Day and Boxing Day reflections for 2022
Famous Christmas carols
‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’
‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’ (from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s ‘Christmas Bells’)
‘Good King Wenceslas’ (for Boxing Day, St Stephen’s Day)
Christmas 1
Christmas 1 – Year A (all readings)
Christmas 1 – Year A (Isaiah 61:10 – Isaiah 62:3 — God keeps His promises)
Christmas 1 – Year B (Luke 2:22-32 — Matthew Henry’s apologetic for infant baptism, Luke 2:21 — and Luke 2:33-40 — Anna’s father’s name Phanuel/Penuel/Peniel and obedience)
Christmas 1 – Year C (1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52)
First Sunday after Christmas — Book of Common Prayer
New Year’s Day
Readings for New Year’s Day — the Holy Name of Jesus (all Lectionary years)
Readings for New Year’s Day (general, all Lectionary years)
January 1 – Feast of the Circumcision of Christ (2010)
January 1: why Jesus was circumcised (2021)
New Year’s Day: the Circumcision — and Naming — of Christ Jesus
New Year’s greetings — and the Feast of the Circumcision (2017, details on circumcision stained glass window)
Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God
Happy new decade! (2020, along with a review of socio-political changes in the US and the UK between 1960 and 2019)
Best wishes for a happy 2022! (Kenneth Clarke clip from Civilisation)
Christmas 2
Readings for the Second Sunday after Christmas Day — Year A
Readings for the Second Sunday after Christmas Day — Year B
Readings for the Second Sunday after Christmas Day — Year C
- Christmas 2 – Year C (Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14)
- Second Sunday after Christmas Day — Year C — exegesis on the Gospel, John 1:(1-9), 10-18
Epiphany
A Lutheran pastor reflects on the Epiphany
More Lutheran reflections on the Epiphany
Remembering the Epiphany in chalk
Why the Epiphany is so important — a Lutheran perspective
A Lutheran perspective on the Magi
Jesuit astronomer discusses the Star of Bethlehem (2016)
What to remember about Epiphany (2016)
Epiphany — Old Testament reading — Isaiah 60:1-6 (2017)
Epiphany — Epistle — Ephesians 3:1-12 (2016)
Epiphany — Gospel — Matthew 2:1-12 (2016)
How Spain celebrates Epiphany (Three Kings Parade)
Epiphany and king cake — a history
St Distaff’s Day — Distaff Day: January 7
Plough Monday – first Monday after Epiphany
The English tradition of Plough Monday (2016)
Plough Monday — the Monday after Epiphany (2017)
First Sunday after Epiphany
Readings for the First Sunday after Epiphany — Baptism of the Lord — Year A
Readings for the First Sunday after Epiphany — Baptism of the Lord — Year B
Readings for the First Sunday after Epiphany — Baptism of the Lord — Year C
Second Sunday after Epiphany
Readings for the Second Sunday after Epiphany — Year A
- Second Sunday after Epiphany — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, John 1:29-42 (also see John MacArthur on our Lord’s various calls of the Apostles)
Readings for the Second Sunday after Epiphany — Year B
Readings for the Second Sunday after Epiphany — Year C
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Readings for the Third Sunday after Epiphany — Year A
- Third Sunday after Epiphany — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, Matthew 4:12-23 (also see John MacArthur on the synagogues of our Lord’s era and John MacArthur on our Lord’s various calls of the Apostles)
Readings for the Third Sunday after Epiphany — Year B
Readings for the Third Sunday after Epiphany — Year C
Candlemas — February 2
Jesus presented at the temple (Part 1)
Jesus presented at the temple (Part 2)
Candlemas: the prophetess Anna
The Feast of Candlemas (last day to display Nativity scenes)
February 3
St Blaise’s feast day and the blessing of throats
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Readings for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany — Year A
Readings for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany — Year B (Septuagesima Sunday 2021)
Readings for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany — Year C
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
Readings for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany — Year A (Septuagesima Sunday 2020)
Readings for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany — Year B (Sexagesima Sunday 2021)
Readings for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany — Year C
February 14
A bit of history about Valentine’s Day (2015)
More history about Valentine’s Day (2016)
Valentine’s Day ‘shameful’ to totalitarians (2017)
Reflections on Valentine’s Day (2022)
Thoughts on St Valentine’s Day 2023 (dating)
Shrovetide
The Sundays before Lent — an explanation (the Sundays that define Shrovetide)
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
Readings for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany — Year A (Sexagesima Sunday 2020)
Readings for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany — Year C (Septuagesima Sunday 2019, 2022)
Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
Readings for the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany — Year C (Sexagesima Sunday 2019, 2022)
Transfiguration Sunday
Readings for Transfiguration Sunday — the last in the season of Epiphany — Year A (Quinquagesima Sunday)
Readings for Transfiguration Sunday — Year B (Quinquagesima Sunday)
Readings for Transfiguration Sunday — Year C (Quinquagesima Sunday)
Lent
The Sundays before Lent — an explanation
Ash Wednesday: ‘No, that wasn’t dirt on my forehead’
Lent, denominational differences and freedom in Christ
Thoughts as we enter Lent 2014
St Athanasius and the Lenten practices of the early Church
Lent in the early Church — not a pagan practice
The labyrinth: Lenten it isn’t
On publicised fasting and charity
Gosh, the rules on Lenten ‘fasting’ really have changed
The Church of England’s Lenten carbon fast
Why not read the Bible this Lent?
Laetare Sunday, Mother’s Day and the Golden Rose
Laetare Sunday is Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday reading: the story of Hannah and Samuel
Ash Wednesday
- Exegesis on the Epistle for Ash Wednesday — 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
- Exegesis on the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21; Matthew Henry)
First Sunday in Lent
Readings for the First Sunday in Lent — Year A
Readings for the First Sunday in Lent — Year B
Readings for the First Sunday in Lent — Year C
Second Sunday in Lent
Readings for the Second Sunday in Lent — Year A
Readings for the Second Sunday in Lent — Year B
Readings for the Second Sunday in Lent — Year C
Third Sunday in Lent
Readings for the Third Sunday in Lent — Year A
- Third Sunday in Lent — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, John 4:5-42 — part 1
- Third Sunday in Lent — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, John 4:5-42 — part 2
Readings for the Third Sunday in Lent — Year B
Readings for the Third Sunday in Lent — Year C
Fourth Sunday in Lent – Laetare Sunday
Readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent — Laetare Sunday — Year A
- Fourth Sunday in Lent, Laetare Sunday — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, John 9:1-41 — part 1
- Fourth Sunday in Lent, Laetare Sunday — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, John 9:1-41 — part 2
Readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent — Laetare Sunday — Year B
Readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent — Laetare Sunday — Year C
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Readings for the Fifth Sunday in Lent — Passion Sunday — Year A
- Fifth Sunday in Lent, Passion Sunday — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, John 11:1-45 — part 1
- Fifth Sunday in Lent, Passion Sunday — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, John 11:1-45 — part 2
Readings for the Fifth Sunday in Lent — Year B
Readings for the Fifth Sunday in Lent — Year C
Holy Week
Holy Week begins (Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday)
Holy Week begins tomorrow – today is Lazarus Saturday
Psalm 118, Christ’s Passion and Eastertide
John 17 — the High Priestly Prayer: parts 1, 2 and 3
John Donne’s ‘Christ’s Legacy’, a sermon on John 14:20
Palm Sunday
The greatest reality story of all time begins on Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday and the Jesus watchers
If this is the first time you have received palms
Readings for Palm Sunday — Year A — and sermonette on Pontius Pilate’s entry into Jerusalem (Dr Chris Perry)
- Palm Sunday — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, Matthew 21:1-11 (Liturgy of the Palms)
- Palm Sunday — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, Matthew 27:11-54 — part 1 (Liturgy of the Passion)
- Palm Sunday — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, Matthew 27:11-54 — part 2 (Liturgy of the Passion)
- Palm Sunday — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, Matthew 27:11-54 — part 3 (Liturgy of the Passion)
Readings for Palm Sunday — Year B
Readings for Palm Sunday — Year C
Monday of Holy Week
Readings for Monday of Holy Week
- Monday of Holy Week — exegesis on the Epistle, Hebrews 9:11-15 (Christ as the true tabernacle)
The righteous anger of Jesus towards the money changers
Tuesday of Holy Week
Readings for Tuesday of Holy Week
- Epistle for Tuesday of Holy Week — 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (2016)
- Tuesday of Holy Week — exegesis on the Gospel: John 12:20-36 (2021)
Contemplating the withered fig tree (2017)
The High Priests plot against Jesus
Spy Wednesday
Readings for Wednesday of Holy Week — Spy Wednesday
- Wednesday of Holy Week — exegesis on the Epistle: Hebrews 12:1-3 (2021)
- Gospel reading for Wednesday of Holy Week — John 13:21-32 (2016)
Holy Week — the story thus far
Wednesday of Holy Week — Spy Wednesday (2017, Henry and MacArthur on Judas: bad hombre)
Maundy Thursday
Readings for Thursday of Holy Week — Maundy Thursday
- Maundy Thursday — exegesis on the Epistle, 1 Corinthians 23-26
- Maundy Thursday — exegesis on the Gospel: John 13:1-17, 31b-35
‘One of you will betray Me’ (John 13)
Passover, the Last Supper and the New Covenant
Why some Jews celebrated Passover on Thursday and others on Friday (here and here)
Maundy Thursday and the Last Supper: Jesus’s words of comfort (John 14, alludes to Holy Trinity)
John MacArthur on Passover as celebrated at the Last Supper
John Donne’s ‘Christ’s Legacy’, a sermon on John 14:20
John 17 — the High Priestly Prayer: parts 1, 2 and 3
Jesus foretells Peter’s denial (Mark 14:26-31)
The concept of ‘basin theology’
Easter food explored — part 1 (Mary Berry, BBC — 2016)
Good Friday
- Good Friday — exegesis on the Epistle, Hebrews 10:16-25 (2022)
- Good Friday — exegesis on the Gospel: John 18 (2021)
Reign of Christ, or Christ the King, Sunday — Year C — exegesis on the Gospel, Luke 23:33-43 (a deep dive into the Crucifixion, forgiveness and the Repentant Thief)
The greatest reality show ends with a popular vote
Barabbas: an inspiration for liberation theology?
Reflections on the Crucifixion
Good Friday: in whom can we trust? (John 18:12-27)
Blood sacrifice and the Crucifixion: God hates sin (Hebrews 9 and 10)
Epistle for Good Friday Year C — Hebrews 10:16-25
Martin Luther’s ‘How to Contemplate Christ’s Sufferings’: the false views
Martin Luther’s ‘How to Contemplate Christ’s Sufferings’: the true views
Martin Luther’s ‘How to Contemplate Christ’s Sufferings’: the comfort
Good Friday: the horror of the Crucifixion (John MacArthur)
Easter: the drama and glory of the Resurrection (John MacArthur, explains Jesus’s relatively short time on the cross)
Holy Week and Easter — the two-part story
The concept of ‘basin theology’
Easter food explored — part 1 (Mary Berry, BBC — 2016)
Holy Saturday
Readings for Holy Saturday — daytime
- Holy Saturday — exegesis on the Epistle, 1 Peter 4:1-8
- Holy Saturday — daytime readings — exegesis on the Gospel: John 19:38-42
What happens on Holy Saturday?
Holy Saturday: preparing for Easter (Isaiah 53)
Holy Saturday and food traditions
Easter food explored — part 1 (Mary Berry, BBC — 2016)
Easter food explored — part 2 (Mary Berry, BBC — 2016)
Holy Saturday: preparing for an Easter feast (2017)
Leonidas Easter eggs — best value for money in Europe (including the UK, 2018)
Easter and Eastertide
Happy Easter — readings for the Resurrection of the Lord (Easter, Coronavirus 2020)
- Easter Day — exegesis on the Gospel: John 20:1-18 (2021)
- Easter Day — exegesis on the Gospel, Luke 24:1-12 (2022)
- Easter Day — further readings and exegesis on the Gospel, Matthew 28:1-10 (2023)
- Epistle for Easter in Year C — Acts 10:34-43 (2016)
Easter meditation: John Donne’s ‘The Sedulity of the Devout Women’
Easter: the greatest feast in the Church year
Easter Sunday: Thoughts on this greatest of days
The significance of Easter to the Church (various questions answered)
Psalm 118, Christ’s Passion and Eastertide
Easter poems from an inspired Anglican, the Revd George Herbert
George Herbert: 17th century poet and priest
Part I of a Martin Luther Easter sermon: the story of Christ’s Resurrection
Part II of a Martin Luther Easter sermon: the fruits and benefits of Christ’s Resurrection
Easter: the drama and glory of the Resurrection (John MacArthur explains the Gospel accounts)
Holy Week and Easter — the two-part story
The road to Emmaus — a great Easter story
Happy Easter — yes, Jesus rose from the dead! (2018, with explanation of Resurrection accounts, Year B readings)
How to keep Easter alive during the rest of the year (‘Thine Be the Glory’)
The Easter story: reflections on Mark 16:1-8 (Dr Gregory Jackson, Lutheran)
Judge Andrew Napolitano on the meaning of Easter (great, especially from a layman)
Looking back at Easter 2020 when many churches were closed (coronavirus)
Pre-1955 Latin Masses in 2021 — Easter Vigil and Easter Day
Easter documentaries — when knowing the Bible helps — part 1
Easter documentaries — when knowing the Bible helps — part 2
Easter, the egg and the hare (one of the fullest accounts about Easter symbolism)
Mary Magdalene and the legend of the egg (Christian — not pagan!)
Easter food explored — part 1 (Mary Berry, BBC — 2016)
Easter food explored — part 2 (Mary Berry, BBC — 2016)
Second Sunday of Easter
Doubting Thomas — John 20:19-31
Doubting Thomas: When seeing is believing
Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter — Year A
- Second Sunday of Easter, Quasimodo Sunday — Year A — exegesis on the Epistle, 1 Peter 1:3-9
- Second Sunday of Easter — exegesis on the Gospel, John 20:19-31
Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter — Year B
Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter — Year C
Third Sunday of Easter
Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter — Year A
Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter — Year B
Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter — Year C
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter — Year A (2020)
Fourth Sunday of Easter — Lectionary readings for Year B (2018)
- Fourth Sunday of Easter — Year B — exegesis on the Gospel: John 10:11-18 (2021, the Good Shepherd)
Fourth Sunday of Easter — Lectionary readings for Year C (2019)
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter — Year A (2020)
Fifth Sunday of Easter — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, John 14:1-14
Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter — Year B (2021)
Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter — Year C (2019)
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter — Year A (2020)
Sixth Sunday of Easter — Year A — exegesis on the Gospel, John 14:15-21
Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter – Year B (2021)
Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter — Year C (2019)
Ascension Day
Acts 1:9-11 on the Ascension (addresses errors of preterism)
A Reformed view of the Ascension (Christ as prophet, priest and king)
Ascension Day 2016 (John MacArthur on Acts 1-11)
Readings for Ascension Day (same regardless of Lectionary year)
- Ascension Day – exegesis on the First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
- Ascension Day — exegesis on the Epistle, Ephesians 1:15-23
- Ascension Day — exegesis on the Gospel, Luke 24:44-53
Exaudi Sunday
Exaudi Sunday: between the Ascension and Pentecost
Readings for Exaudi Sunday — Year A (May 24, 2020; Seventh Sunday of Easter)
Seventh Sunday of Easter, Exaudi Sunday — exegesis on the Gospel, John 17:1-11
Readings for Exaudi Sunday — Year B (May 13, 2018)
Readings for Exaudi Sunday — Year C (June 1, 2019)
Pentecost Sunday
Pentecost — the Church’s birthday, with gifts from the Holy Spirit
Lutheran reflections on Pentecost
Thoughts on Pentecost: the power of the Holy Spirit
Reflections for Pentecost — a Reformed view
Pentecost Sunday — May 15, 2016 (John MacArthur explains adoption in the ancient world)
Justin Welby’s thoughts on Pentecost (2018, Archbishop of Canterbury)
Readings for Pentecost Sunday — Year A
May 20, 2018: readings for Pentecost Sunday — Year B
Readings for Pentecost Sunday — Year C
Transformation is a beautiful thing (a secular look)
Trinity Sunday
A great way to explain the Holy Trinity
Anglican reflections on the Trinity
A practical — and Anglican — reflection for Trinity Sunday
Trinity Sunday — an Anglican analysis of its importance
Readings for Trinity Sunday — Year A (2020)
Lectionary readings for Trinity Sunday — Year B (2018)
Readings for Trinity Sunday — Year C (2019)
- Trinity Sunday — Year C — exegesis on the Epistle, Romans 5:1-5
- Trinity Sunday 2016: May 22 (exegesis on the Gospel, John 16:12-15, three-year Lectionary Year C)
Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth: Lectionary readings for Year B (Thursday, May 31, 2018)
First Sunday after Trinity — Corpus Christi Sunday — Second Sunday after Pentecost
What is Corpus Christi Sunday?
Readings for the First Sunday after Trinity — Year A (June 14, 2020)
Readings for Year B (June 3, 2018)
Readings for the First Sunday after Trinity — Year C (June 23, 2019)
Second Sunday after Trinity — Third Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Second Sunday after Trinity — Year A (June 21, 2020)
Readings for the Third Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (June 10, 2018; ignore URL name)
Readings for the Second Sunday after Trinity — Year C (June 30, 2019)
Third Sunday after Trinity — Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Third Sunday after Trinity — Year A (June 28, 2020)
Readings for the Third Sunday after Trinity — Year B (2018; ignore URL name)
Readings for the Third Sunday after Trinity — Year C (July 7, 2019)
Fourth Sunday after Trinity — Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (July 5, 2020)
Readings for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (June 2018; David defeats Goliath)
Readings for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (July 14, 2019; Parable of the Good Samaritan)
Fifth Sunday after Trinity — Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (July 12,2020)
Readings for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (July 2018)
Readings for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (July 21, 2019; Jesus meets Martha and Mary for the first time)
Sixth Sunday after Trinity — Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (July 19, 2020)
Readings for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity — Year B (July 2018)
Readings for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (July 27, 2019)
- Sixth Sunday after Trinity — Year C — exegesis on the Gospel, Luke 11:1-13 (The Lord’s Prayer)
Seventh Sunday after Trinity — Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity — Year A (July 26, 2020)
Readings for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity — Year B (July 2018; ignore URL name)
Readings for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity — Year C (August 4, 2019)
Eighth Sunday after Trinity — Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (August 2, 2020)
Readings for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (July 2018; ignore URL name)
Readings for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (August 11, 2019)
Ninth Sunday after Trinity — Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (August 9, 2020)
Readings for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (August 5, 2018; ignore URL name)
Readings for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (August 18, 2019)
Tenth Sunday after Trinity — Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (August 16, 2020)
Readings for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (August 2018)
Readings for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (August 25, 2019)
- Tenth Sunday after Trinity — Year C — exegesis on the Gospel, Luke 13:10-17 (This post also tells the history of the synagogue.)
Eleventh Sunday after Trinity — Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity — Year A (August 23, 2020)
Readings for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (August 2018)
Readings for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity — Year C (September 1, 2019)
- Eleventh Sunday after Trinity — Year C — exegesis on the Gospel, Luke 14:1, 7-14 (This post includes the history of the Pharisees.)
Twelfth Sunday after Trinity — Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (August 30, 2020)
Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (August 19, 2018)
Readings for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (September 8, 2019)
Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity — Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (September 6, 2020)
Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (August 26, 2018)
Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year C — exegesis on the Gospel, Luke 15:1-10 (standard readings)
Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (September 15, 2019, Holy Cross Sunday)
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity — Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (September 13, 2020)
Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B
Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (September 22, 2019)
- Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year C — exegesis on the Epistle, 1 Timothy 2:1-7 (September 18, 2022, in memory of Queen Elizabeth II)
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity — Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (September 20, 2020)
Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (September 9, 2018)
Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (September 29, 2019)
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity — Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (September 27, 2020)
Readings for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (September 16, 2018)
Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (October 5, 2019)
Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity — Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (October 4, 2020)
Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (September 23, 2018)
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost for Year B: Lectionary omits verses on sin
Readings for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (October 13, 2019)
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity — Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (October 11, 2020)
Readings for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (September 30, 2018)
Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (October 20, 2019)
Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity — Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (October 18, 2020)
Readings for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (October 7, 2018)
Readings for the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (October 27, 2019)
Twentieth Sunday after Trinity — Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity — Year A (October 25, 2020)
Readings for the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (October 14, 2018)
Readings for the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity — Year C (November 3, 2019)
- Twentieth Sunday after Trinity — Year C — exegesis on the Gospel, Luke 19:1-10 (includes details about Jericho, tax collectors and salvation)
All Saints Day — November 1
- Readings for All Saints Day, November 1 — Year C — exegesis on the Gospel, Luke 6:20-31
- All Saints Day — Year C — exegesis on the Epistle, Ephesians 1:11-23
Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity — Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity — Year A (November 1, 2020)
Readings for the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (October 21, 2018)
Readings for the Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity — Year C (November 10, 2019)
- Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity — Year C — exegesis on the Gospel, Luke 20:27-38 (includes the history and beliefs of the Sadducees)
Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity — Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity — Year A (November 8, 2020)
Readings for the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (November 4, 2018)
Readings for the Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity — Year C (November 17, 2019)
Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity — Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity — Year A (November 15, 2020)
Readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (November 2018)
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity — Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost — Year B (November 2018)
Christ the King — Reign of Christ — Sunday
From Christ the King Sunday to Advent (Year A to Year B in the three-year Lectionary)
Readings for Reign of Christ — Christ the King — Sunday — Year A (November 21, 2020)
Readings for Reign of Christ — Christ the King — Sunday — Year B (November 25, 2018)
Readings for Reign of Christ — Christ the King — Sunday — Year C (November 24, 2019)
- Reign of Christ, or Christ the King, Sunday — Year C — exegesis on the Gospel, Luke 23:33-43 (a deep dive into the Crucifixion, forgiveness and the Repentant Thief)
Thanksgiving Day
Readings for Thanksgiving Day — Year C
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Churches
Why are the doors on Episcopal churches painted red?
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Parables
Prodigal Son
Historical meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son
Everyone sees older brother as bad
The Prodigal Son, public policy and churchgoers
The Parable of the Prodigal Son and brothers in Genesis
The Parable of the Prodigal Son relates to the lost tribes of Israel
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Hymns and psalmody
The ancient tradition of exclusive psalmody (where only psalms are sung)
For All the Saints — a rousing hymn with beautiful lyrics
Famous hymns: There’s a wideness in God’s mercy (Frederick William Faber, 1862)
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Martin Luther
Martin Luther on the birth of Jesus
Martin Luther’s thoughts on the Lord’s Supper
A Reformed perspective on Luther’s esteem for leisure time
Martin Luther’s marks of a good preacher
Religious and societal condemnation of abortion is nothing new (the Didache)
Abortion and slavery equally abominable (2018, Mike Huckabee, Susan B Anthony List Gala)
New book on Martin Luther: ‘not an easy hero’ (2016)
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What is Reformed?
A Calvinist explains the word ‘Reformed’
Michael Horton on the principle called semper reformanda
Culture shock: moving from an Evangelical to a Reformed church
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John Gresham Machen (20th c. Presbyterian)
Christianity and Liberalism (1923) – chapter by chapter. If you read only one book on Christianity (outside of the Bible, of course), please make this THE one:
Introducing Christianity and Liberalism
Societal decline and the State
The modern aversion to doctrine
Jesus and the Sermon on the Mount
The Modernist view of the Bible
Jesus and the first Christians
Jesus, miracles and modern thought
What to do about the modern Church?
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John MacArthur
John MacArthur on why John’s Gospel refers to Christ as the Word
On the ‘Son of Man’ (His humiliation for our sinful sakes)
On early Church rituals (St Paul’s era)
John MacArthur on the use of heart in the Bible: mind not emotion (biblical terminology)
John MacArthur reminds us that Jesus also prayed, so why shouldn’t we?
John MacArthur on the synagogues of our Lord’s era
John MacArthur on our Lord’s various calls of the Apostles
John MacArthur explains why people lie about Jesus
John MacArthur warns about trends in the Church
John MacArthur: why today’s churches are so man-centred
John MacArthur: ‘Whatever happened to sin?’
John MacArthur: a good church is based on doctrine and Scripture
The Church’s best time is now (2014, related to Luke 17:20-27)
On biblically-anaemic preaching
On the structure of Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 1 – 13)
How Matthew 8 and 9 show us that Christ is Lord
John MacArthur: Matthew’s Gospel converts man who had everything
John MacArthur: the power of Mark’s Gospel in conversion
On reading the Bible and understanding Christ
On Bible reading and meditation
John MacArthur on Peter’s leadership qualities
More from John MacArthur on Peter’s leadership journey
On providential protection (a personal anecdote and Acts 23:12-35)
John MacArthur’s ten reasons for entering the ministry (includes car crash anecdote)
Introducing John MacArthur’s Sermon Builder
John MacArthur on Mariolatry – Part 1
John MacArthur on Mariolatry – Part 2
John MacArthur warns us about globalisation and peace
Don’t be duped by Today’s New International Version (TNIV)
John MacArthur: Be an overcomer
John MacArthur on St Paul’s secrets to endurance (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
John MacArthur on an overindulged, complaining generation — and an update (1970-2022, Gillian Bridge)
John MacArthur on work: a command, an example, a way to glorify God (1992; UK, 2023)
MacArthur on the Modern Church
John MacArthur on the state of the Church today
John MacArthur’s success: ignore church growth movement
John MacArthur on discernment — Parts 1 – 3
John MacArthur on discernment — Parts 4 – 6
John MacArthur on confronting the culture
John MacArthur on compromising Scripture
Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Life — is it about Man or Christ?
Easy-believism and the watered-down sermon
John MacArthur on postmodernism (2009)
John MacArthur on postmodernism and rationality (2017)
Apostate says, ‘I’m happy I now live in the real world’
John MacArthur on personal treasure, the heart — and counselling (1985, 1987)
John MacArthur on handling Christmas advertising complaints (1992, Spencer Nielsen)
The Devil speaks, or the temptation to wallow in doubt
On learning the Bible by heart
John MacArthur’s warning against enthusiasm in church
On responsibility for spiritual growth (a seeming paradox)
John MacArthur explains the wise fear of the Lord
John MacArthur criticises ‘Let go and let God’
John MacArthur videos about the protests (and riots of 2020; two highly important sermons)
John MacArthur’s sermon ‘Act Like Men’ — ‘be strong and courageous’ (2020; related to the protests and decades-old family breakdown)
John MacArthur continues battle with California over indoor church services (August 16, 2020; Governor Gavin Newsom)
The legal background to John MacArthur’s battle with the State of California (August 17, 2020)
Why John MacArthur’s church complies with Romans 13 (August 2020)
A court win for John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church (August 20, 2020)
Guest post: thoughts on the lack of clergy support for John MacArthur’s court battle (August 2020; by H E; two other pastors fined)
John MacArthur — today’s true Pauline pastor (September 16, 2020)
John MacArthur’s church remains in the crosshairs (October 24, 2020)
John MacArthur: we cannot ‘fix’ divine judgement (August 2021 sermons)
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Charles Simeon
Charles Simeon on Matthew 7:6 — pearls before swine
More on Charles Simeon’s ministry — still relevant today
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Bible versions and biblical literacy
A brief history of the biblical canon
Modern Bible ‘experts’ and Scripture (also about the pericope de adultera in John 8)
Don’t be duped by Today’s New International Version (TNIV)
The King James Version celebrates its 400th anniversary this year
BBC shows on the King James Version
BBC’s Story of the King James Bible — The Commission
BBC’s Story of the King James Bible — The Translation
BBC’s Story of the King James Bible — The Legacy
The timeline of a Bible for the British Isles
Barna Group’s biblical literacy survey: we have work to do
John MacArthur on learning the Bible by heart
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Hell
Hell on low — or no — heat (20th century history)
Christian views on hell: moving back to Origen
J C Ryle on hell (19th century, first Anglican Bishop of Liverpool)
Our inability to comprehend hell — and God
Archibald G Brown’s tour of hell that happened on earth (Pompeii, 79 AD)
Thomas Boston, Scottish Presbyterian, on hell (17th century)
Who’s Who in Hell from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 21)
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The Anglican Communion
The story of priest holes in Tudor England
More on priest holes (priest hides, h/t Cherie’s Place)
The importance of the Book of Common Prayer (1662 – present)
Anglican news: the Prayer Book Society is 50 years old in 2022
Confession in the Anglican Communion
The Anglican Prayer of Humble Access
Archbishop of Canterbury: selection process (2012)
Possible successors to the Archbishop of Canterbury (2012)
Justin Welby — new Archbishop of Canterbury (November 2012)
The Enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury — March 21, 2013 (Justin Welby)
Women bishops won’t boost Church of England membership
A new archbishop writes about his duties (the Rt Revd Foley Beach)
The Episcopal Church’s membership continues its decline (2014, John 10:1-18)
Anglicans, the Thirty-Nine Articles are essential, not historical (2014)
The Episcopal Church in Cuba (2015, good news)
Church of England sinking rapidly, bearded priests to the rescue (2016)
Archbishop of Canterbury’s tweet offends those who pay his salary (2020)
Another coronavirus catastrophe: Sheffield Cathedral disbands choir for ‘diversity’ (2020)
Church of England news: update on Nine O’Clock Service scandal (1995, 2021)
Church of England: more on the rise and fall of Sheffield’s Nine O’Clock Service (1995, 2001)
Church of England dismantles itself: can it survive? (2021)
Church of England to recruit financially independent retirees to priesthood (2022)
Are senior Church of England clergy Christlike? (2022)
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Anglicanism: The Book of Common Prayer — Percy Dearmer (1912)
Percy Dearmer on the Anglican Thirty-nine Articles of Religion
Percy Dearmer on the title page of the Book of Common Prayer
Percy Dearmer on the title page of the Book of Common Prayer – part 1
Percy Dearmer on the title page of the Book of Common Prayer – part 2
Percy Dearmer on the earliest church service manuscripts
Percy Dearmer’s interpretation of St Paul on prophecy and tongues
Percy Dearmer on elements of worship in the New Testament
Percy Dearmer: how several prayer books became one liturgical book
Percy Dearmer on Reformation, royalty and the Book of Common Prayer
Percy Dearmer: first Anglican Prayer Book ‘too fair-minded’ for a violent era
Percy Dearmer on the effect of Edward VI’s reign on the Church of England
Percy Dearmer on the Second Prayer Book’s Calvinistic bent
Percy Dearmer on the Third Prayer Book and Elizabeth I
Percy Dearmer blamed Calvinists for sucking the life-blood out of Anglicanism
Percy Dearmer on the Fourth Prayer Book and the King James Version of the Bible
Percy Dearmer on the historical background to the Fifth Prayer Book, 1662
Percy Dearmer on the Savoy Conference for the Fifth Prayer Book
Percy Dearmer on the Fifth Prayer Book of 1662 and later developments
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Lutheranism
The growth of Lutheranism in the United States (a 19th and 20th century history)
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Methodism
The Methodist Church advocates man-centredness — survey (2010)
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Ideas for children
Teaching children the Lord’s Prayer
The Ten Commandments and a catechism (Lutheran)
Short catechism (Reformed)
Learning the Bible one verse at a time
Here’s what happens when Dad doesn’t attend church
88% of young people drift from the Church before adulthood
On biblical literacy, teens and ‘Christian’ books
A great way to explain the Holy Trinity
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Grant Horner Bible Reading System
You, too, can read the Bible with the Grant Horner system
Update on the Grant Horner Bible Reading System
The Grant Horner Bible Reading System is a success
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The Lectionary (yes, we do need to read the Bible in full)
Three-year Lectionary — a good idea?
A Lutheran perspective on the Lectionary
Catholics on the Lectionary (a Cardinal Bugnini innovation)
More on the three-year Lectionary
The Lectionary: when the ellipsis is not your friend
Critiques on the Lectionary — read the fine print
Concluding on the Lectionary — once more, with feeling
A personal case against the Lectionary
December 2012 — new Church year and Lectionary Year C
Advent 2016 — new Church year, new Lectionary year
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Hermeneutics with Dr Craig S Keener
Reading Scripture as ‘basic research’
Reading the Bible is all about ‘context, context, context’
Biblical hermeneutics involves learning context
Biblical hermeneutics and whole-book context
Biblical hermeneutics and whole-book context — continued
Biblical hermeneutics — more context principles
Biblical hermeneutics and understanding Bible background
Understanding biblical background — selected examples
Understanding biblical background — more examples
Biblical hermeneutics and the context of genre: narrative
Biblical hermeneutics: more on genre
Biblical hermeneutics: genre in the New Testament
Biblical hermeneutics: prophecy and the Book of Revelation
Biblical hermeneutics: beware of misinterpreting Revelation
Biblical hermeneutics: knowing how to read Revelation
Conclusions on hermeneutics with a word on ‘social location’ (good for evangelising amongst those who want to become Muslim)
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Church attendance — why it is in decline
What kind of father doesn’t protect his family? (bishops and church closures)
Here’s what happens when Dad doesn’t attend church
Consistent churchgoing habits important for children
A Lutheran pastor on church music
Women priests in the Anglican Church
Women bishops won’t boost Church of England membership
Women priests — a Calvinist view
Once more with feeling — are church services too feminine?
For clergy: three reservations Christians have about church
Barna Group’s biblical literacy survey — we have work to do
New Gallup poll shows only 47% of Americans have a religious affiliation (2021)
Guest post: H E looks at declining church numbers (response to 2021 Gallup poll)
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Calvinism is not antinomian
Leading Calvinists refute antinomian (heresy of lawlessness) accusation:
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More on Calvinism
Michael Horton on the principle called semper reformanda
Weakened Calvinism is no Calvinism: Arminius, Amyraut and the Marrowmen
Why Calvinists refute Amyraldism and Universalism
Why Calvinists refute Arminianism and free will
The confusion over ‘free will’ and so-called ‘Calvinist’ Remonstrants (Arminius)
The Calvinist view of salvation
Heidelberg Catechism’s important teachings about Christianity (R Scott Clark)
Culture shock: moving from an Evangelical to a Reformed church
A Calvinist reflects on the Pill, marriage and family life
A Reformed minister traces his move from the Democrats to libertarianism
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Seminary curriculum
A pastor’s message to seminarians
Seminary warning signs — look before applying
Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopal)
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WELS)
Myers-Briggs scores and the seminary (2014)
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Charles Haddon Spurgeon on
Matthew 7:6 (pearls before swine)
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Matthew 7:6 — pearls before swine
J Vernon McGee (a very practical application)
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Europe
Europe’s Catholic versus Protestant outlook
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Huguenots
The origins of the word ‘Huguenot’
Notes on the Reformation (with regard to the Huguenots)
La Rochelle and the French Wars of Religion
The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes — the Edict of Fontainebleau
When the Huguenots finally became part of French society
France’s Protestants find equilibrium in the early 19th century
The Huguenot settlements in 16th century Brazil
The Huguenots in 16th century St Kitts
The Huguenot settlement in 16th century South Carolina (this made The Guardian on Tuesday, July 26, 2016)
The Huguenots in sixteenth-century Florida
The Huguenot legacy in South Africa
Huguenot migration, French alarm and the Channel Islands (the word ‘refugee’ was coined in 1681)
A summary of the Huguenots in Britain
Huguenot flight to England in 1572
How the Huguenots made their way in England and Ireland
Huguenots in 17th century England (and Ireland)
The Huguenot influence on English silk weaving
Huguenots and England’s lace making industry
Huguenot clockmakers in England
Samuel Romilly — an Englishman descended from Huguenots (the Next Generation)
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England
St Swithun’s Day and summer weather trends (relates to other European countries)
Subtle Puritan allegiances in the English Civil War
The impact of the Glorious Revolution on the Church of England
Jacobean England: Women, Christian fasting and marriage
World events at the time of the First Great Awakening
George Whitefield, a great preacher in the First Great Awakening
Robert Raikes and his Sunday Schools educated the poor
An Englishwoman’s observations on modern Britain
Famous Anglicans: Geoffrey Anketell ‘Woodbine Willie’ Studdert Kennedy
Famous Anglicans: David Suchet converted by reading St Paul’s Epistles
Famous Methodists: J Arthur Rank of British film fame
Famous Methodists: Young Margaret — portrait of a future Prime Minister
Guest post from Lleweton — former journalist — on the Houses of Parliament
A look at the monarchy on the Queen’s official birthday [2011] (cost of the monarchy — not much!)
On the cusp of the Diamond Jubilee Weekend [2012] — facts about the Queen and the 1950s
Diamond Jubilee Weekend [2012] and American impressions of England
Prayers of thanksgiving for our gracious Queen on her Diamond Jubilee [2012]
‘Elizabeth the Great’ — Diamond Jubilee sentiments
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American settlers, statesmen, military men and politicians on God
The Thanksgiving story seasoned with Calvinism
Advent and Christmas in colonial America
Happy birthday, America! (Founding Fathers’ religious denominations)
George Washington and the first Thanksgiving proclamation
Remembering Benjamin Franklin’s call to prayer
Unbelief and immorality in colonial New England (from two John Cottons, a century apart)
Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation of Thanksgiving
General Patton’s belief in prayer
President Truman on the importance of morality and education
Lt Col Allen West’s Land of Dreams — an inspiring speech
USMC chaplain’s poem for soldiers
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Famous Anglicans
Geoffrey Anketell ‘Woodbine Willie’ Studdert Kennedy
David Suchet converted by reading St Paul’s Epistles
Roger Scruton (also see 2019 wrongful sacking)
Famous Anglican clergymen — part 1: from the sublime John Donne …
Famous Anglican clergymen — part 2: … to the rather ridiculous Justin Welby (2022)
An ex-vicar reveals his love of anger and prestige (2023, Richard Coles)
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Famous Calvinists
Theodore Roosevelt — and his thoughts on the Bible
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Famous Catholics
The McLaughlin Group host dies, aged 89
‘Father of globalisation’ Peter Sutherland dies, aged 71
Salena Zito — one of America’s great journalists
RIP, Sir David Amess MP (1952-2021), murdered in cold blood (UK)
Remembering Sir David Amess MP (1952-2021) (UK)
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Famous Episcopalians
Famous Episcopalians: Cecil B DeMille
Famous Episcopalians: Tucker Carlson
The mysterious sacking of Tucker Carlson (April 24, 2023)
Great Tucker Carlson videos to enjoy (Episcopal Church reference)
Famous Episcopalians: Barbara Pierce Bush
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Famous Methodists
Famous Methodists: J Arthur Rank of British film fame
Famous Methodists: Young Margaret — portrait of a future Prime Minister
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Famous Presbyterians
Famous Presbyterians: James Stewart
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Creation
Notes on American fundamentalism — pre-1920
Fundamentalism in America after 1920
N T ‘Tom’ Wright on ancient texts, the Enlightenment and Darwin
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Saints
Cornelius — the first Italian saint
St Dunstan and the legend of the lucky horseshoe (feast day May 19)
Paris: beautiful video of a stag in the Church of Saint-Eustace (deer, St Eustace, St Hubert, Jägermeister logo)
St George’s Day 2009 news roundup
St George’s Day is April 23 (2010)
April 23, 2011: St George’s Day and Holy Saturday
It’s April 23, best wishes for a happy St George’s Day! (2013)
2014 St George’s Day celebrations held Easter Monday
Another April 23, another forgotten St George’s Day in England (2022)
More on the fascinating origins of St George (2023)
Jacob Rees-Mogg on St John Newman (October 13, 2019)
December 13: feast day of St Lucy, Virgin and Martyr (2020, also Gaudete Sunday that year)
John MacArthur: the power of Mark’s Gospel in conversion
Part 1 of Acts 9:1-9: Saul’s — St Paul’s — conversion
Part 2 of Acts 9:1-9: Saul’s — St Paul’s — conversion (includes interesting info from John MacArthur on his own conversion)
Acts 9:10-19 — when scales fell from the eyes of Saul of Tarsus (final part of St Paul’s conversion story)
St Paul’s faith compared with ours
Philemon: St Paul’s lessons of brotherly love
John MacArthur on Peter’s leadership qualities
More from John MacArthur on Peter’s leadership journey
St Stephen, Hungary’s first Christian king (includes Sts Emeric, Henry, Adalbert, Cunigunde)
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Tobacco and the Church
Can you take tobacco and receive Communion? (The answer might surprise you.)
Tobacco and 20th century Christian greats
John Alexander Dowie: a prohibitionist masterclass
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Heresy (and error — see categories below!)
The heresy of Modernism explained simply
Modernist thought and rhetoric influence our world
The heresy of Modernism — seriously
Modernism: 1922 illustration proven true a century later
Pelagianism is still around and, no, we are not divine
Grace in a Pauline context (refutes the ‘divine spark’ error)
Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism throughout history to the present day
Popular Pelagianism in Oprah Winfrey’s Lifeclass
Avoid ‘radical’ — works-based — Christianity (à la David Platt)
Semi-Pelagianism in the Anglican Church and Frank Weston
Semi-Pelagianism in The Episcopal Church
Dr Michael Horton on Pelagianism
R C Sproul on the ‘Pelagian captivity of the Church’
Spiritual warfare for the faith and against false teachers
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Church of Gaia
The Church of Gaia saves the Earth
Church of Gaia prayers seem to be working
The Calvinist church of Gaia in Cannes
Christianity and you: eugenics, sex, Gaia — and a new currency
The Church of Gaia in the Diocese of Linz
The Church of Gaia WILL ‘motivate’ you into being eco-warriors
Will the Church of Gaia EVER close?
The British reaction to the Church of Gaia and Harold Lewis
Western social conditioning, Gaia and the perils of secular sin
More madness from the Church of Gaia
Where Pachamama and industry meet
Thoughts on Pope Francis (2013, first papal sermon)
A reminder about syncretism and the Church of Gaia (Summer Solstice services, Episcopal Church)
Union Seminary confesses to plants — read it and weep (September 17, 2019)
Catholic students anointed with chrism to protect environment (September 20, 2019)
A priest asks about the balance between love of environment and love of God (September 21, 2019, Catholic)
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Liberation theology
Barabbas: an inspiration for liberation theology?
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Moralistic Therapeutic Deism
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, or comfy Christianity
Fading ‘memory’ of Christianity, the Divine Butler and false teaching
Forbidden Bible Verses: John 6:16-23
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Pietism and Small Groups (semi-Pelagianism)
A brief history of the United Brethren churches in America
Later Wesleyan and pietist movements: holiness and temperance
Pietism, Holiness and Pentecostalism
Church history: the many small Pentecostal and Holiness denominations
A history of pietism elsewhere in Europe: Moravians, Anabaptists and Mennonites (see chart)
Clothes: Are we attracting or repelling potential converts?
Early pietism: Moravian history and Jan Hus
Early pietism: Count von Zinzendorf and the spread of Moravian teachings
An introduction to Swedish pietism
Swedish pietism: Carl Olof Rosenius and George Scott
Dwight Moody and the Swedish pietists
Famous Moravians: Andy Griffith, America’s favourite dad … and sheriff
A brief history of the United Methodist Church
Pietism in America today: the Emergents and the Purpose Driven Church
R C Sproul on the ‘Pelagian captivity of the Church’
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Evangelicalism and Enthusiasm (not such a good thing!)
Americana: Michael Horton on ‘the politics of enthusiasm’
The dangers of dramatic conversion stories
The origins of snake handlers in the Holiness Church
Dwight Moody: the evangelist who nearly wasn’t
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Charismatics / Pentecostals
A cautionary note about experiencing divine gifts
Experience and ‘gifts’ – Part 1: Gnosticism and the roots of Pentecostalism
Experience and ‘gifts’ – Part 2: Gnosticism and the roots of Pentecostalism
Pietism, Holiness and Pentecostalism
Church history: the many small Pentecostal and Holiness denominations
The Charismatic movement in Africa
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Oneness Pentecostalism
T D Jakes, Oneness pastors and the Trinity
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Messianic Christianity / Hebrew Roots Movements
On the error of Messianic Christianity
More on Messianic Christianity — preaching Torah, not Gospel
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Jehovah’s Witnesses
What you should know about Jehovah’s Witnesses
What Jehovah’s Witnesses really believe
When Jehovah’s Witnesses come to call
What it’s like being a Jehovah’s Witness
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Alpha Course
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Preterism (no, no)
England’s senior clerics react to Paris attacks (Justin Welby, 2015)
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Rick Warren / Purpose-Driven Church / Church Growth
Oprah Winfrey and Rick Warren – vital tools in globalisation
The influence of the UN, New Age and management theory on us and our churches
Beware of apologists and useful idiots
Rick Warren, John Piper and the Desiring God 2010 Conference
Rick Warren’s talk at the Desiring God 2010 Conference
Church Growth and our true ‘purpose’
Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Church and management theory
The errors of Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Church
Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Life — is it about Man or Christ?
Summary of reasons to avoid Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Broad Way Christianity
Rick Warren, the Church Growth Movement and ‘dissenters’
Pietism in America today: the Emergents and the Purpose Driven Church
Rick Warren reaches out to Muslims
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Rob Bell
Fuller Theological Seminary alums: Rob Bell
If Rob Bell is right, then God, Jesus and the Bible are wrong
Love Wins: a case of ‘Robbellion’?
Rob Bell versus shocked Christians: When two Gods collide
Rob Bell’s coming to the UK – April 2011
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Fuller Theological Seminary and alums
Seminary Curriculum: Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary blogs support emergents, church ‘n’ change
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Mark Driscoll
A cautionary note about receiving divine gifts
On Mark Driscoll and ‘cool’ pastors
Rick Warren, John Piper and the Desiring God 2010 Conference
An example of a controlling church environment
Mark Driscoll on the Song of Solomon
Mark Driscoll’s Real Marriage — where’s the sanctity?
Mark Driscoll’s Mars Hill churches are no more (2015)
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N T Wright and the New Perspective(s) on Paul (justification is NOT akin to church membership — presenting your card and you’re in)
A British Evangelical explains the error of N T Wright’s New Perspectives on Paul
Cornelis Venema on the error of N T Wright’s New Perspectives on Paul
Michael Horton on the error of N T Wright’s New Perspectives on Paul
J V Fesko on the error of N T Wright’s New Perspectives on Paul — Parts 1 and 2
Sinclair Ferguson on the error of N T Wright’s New Perspectives on Paul
Three more clergymen point out the errors of N T Wright’s New Perspectives on Paul (includes Ligon Duncan’s link)
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Crystal Cathedral
Robert Schuller — from Reformed to the Crystal Cathedral
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Prosperity gospel (some ties to Gnosticism)
Theological and scriptural issues with the prosperity gospel:
Rev Ike (Frederick J Eikerenkoetter Jr)
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Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey and Rick Warren – vital tools in globalisation
Eckhart Tolle and New Agers: The paradigm shift in faith
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New Age
Eckhart Tolle and New Agers: The paradigm shift in faith
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Apostate clergy
The Clergy Project — an atheist rescue mission for apostates
Time for Anglicans to return to the Bible
The Episcopal Church? ‘Satan laughs’
SHOCK: Lutheran — ELCA — pastors go off the deep edge
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Mariolatry
The Mariology Dossier — complete set of links
Ordinariate article turns into bunfight over the Bible and Mary
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Vatican II and its aftermath
Benedict XVI, Modernism and Vatican II
La nouvelle théologie — heretical menace to Catholics and Protestants
Thoughts on the Catholic Church
Canonisation as it used to be before John Paul II
Canonisations, holiness — and guarding the Church
Why Pope Francis’s Maundy Thursday foot washing was kicked into touch
Vatican II in brief, from Cardinal Bugnini to Pope Francis
Catholics on the Lectionary (a Cardinal Bugnini innovation)
A Jesuit misses an opportunity
Pope awards Dutch abortion activist distinguished medal (January 17, 2018)
Confession notice: get ‘direct to the point’ (January 11, 2020; Confession is not a mini-therapy session)
Ann Barnhardt on Latin Mass and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Memorial Day 2021)
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Pope Benedict XVI
Looking back at Benedict XVI’s papacy — part 1
Looking back at Benedict XVI’s papacy — part 2
Lesser known facts about Pope Benedict XVI
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Eastern Orthodoxy
A Lutheran warning about Eastern Orthodoxy
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Globalisation
John MacArthur warns us about globalisation and peace
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Conflicts with Islam
Middle East Anglican bishops do not speak for mankind
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Harold ‘the end is nigh’ Camping
Harold Camping, or the temptation of prophecy
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Other end of the world prophecies
The ‘plain truth’ never happened — beware false prophets! (avoid Herbert Armstrong’s false teachings)
December 21, 2012 fears? Carry on shopping!
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Toxic churches and their influence on marriage and family life
A word of advice on joining and leaving a church
Pastor Reb Bradley on the homeschooling ‘crisis’
Pastor Reb Bradley’s advice for homeschooling parents
Pastor Reb Bradley on ‘formulaic parenting’ and ‘relationship’
Baptist pastor decries today’s authoritarianism
‘Force and cruelty’ from pastors scatters the faithful
An example of a controlling church environment
Churches that Abuse — Ronald Enroth’s 1992 book still timely
Toxic churches: quizzes determine if you could be under the influence
Conservative clergy’s responses to spousal abuse
Christian child abuse: more works-based carnality
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Mormons
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General irritations
Unbelief: recent conversations
The Archbishop of Canterbury further embraces the world (Justin Welby)
What sort of ‘friend of Christianity’ is this? (Diarmaid MacCulloch, Anglican deacon and Oxford Professor of Church History)
Christian Summer Solstice services — sad but true
Noah: Why not film the original story?
Could UK footballers’ marriages affect our view of family life? (2011)
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Atheism
The atheist’s big error about Christianity (Abraham is our father in faith, not Moses)
The Washington Post recycles stale anti-Christmas message (2014, 2017)
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Buddhism
The Buddhist missionary came to call
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Fundamentalist Judaism
London’s Hasidic women told not to drive (Belz sect, 2015)
Churchmouse Campanologist 