Faith, Hope & Love

I’m praying a lot at the moment about what I’m going to be teaching at the two services on my ‘preach with a view’ Sunday at Tonbridge Baptist Church. Having never ‘preached with a view’ before it’s a little unusual to climb into teaching preparation for two messages where an unusual amount of attention will [...]

You’ve got to get out of the boat. Whenever following Jesus has become boring and predictable, we should ask ourselves whether we’re stepping out enough into new and sometimes scary places where we’re giving Jesus the opportunity to remind us of his reality. It takes trust in God and it develops our trust in God [...]

I’m not sure about ‘Rev‘ yet as I’ve only seen half an episode. It had some funny lines and Tom Hollander who plays the ‘Rev’ is a good actor who I’ve enjoyed in other roles. Yet it struck me as slightly odd that this is the subject of a sitcom, particularly as Father Ted – which [...]

I’ve just returned from eleven days in a stunning home in the South West of France. Brilliant time with my family, wonderful time reading, particularly the first in Simon Walker’s ‘Undefended Leaders‘ series, and Ian Stackhouse’s ‘The Day Is Yours‘, and lots of time to think and pray. It was a gift from God through [...]

It was my first time at the New Wine Leaders conference, but a good way to start the sabbatical. I travelled with Rich Thomas and Ali FG in convoy with the rest of the St. Matthew’s High Brooms staff team. Spending time with the St. Matt’s team over those few days was as refreshing and [...]

“Sunday’s Coming” Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo. What I love about this video is its source. Northpoint is one of the ‘coolest’ churches in America. It does ‘contemporary’ like no other church I’m aware of and it ‘works’. They are passionately devoted about being a church that non-church goers (in America) want [...]

So, I’m beginning my sabbatical in about three hours. It’s a strange thing – it really is – to be released and invited to ‘stop’ when you’re used to a rhythm that requires you to keep producing. PBC was incredibly supportive this morning and lots of people have said some very kind things. As for [...]

Today at PBC we are doubling up as a Polling Station for the general election. It’s a small picture of a big question: how should the Church and government relate? It’s also a small picture of our heart as a church; to love and serve our community and be a catalyst for positive social engagement. Although, [...]

This Sunday I’m continuing our series ‘With Jesus’ and we’ll be looking together at John 21 and how the resurrected Jesus makes time for Peter , picks him up, restores him and sends him on his way with a new sense of purpose and mission. John 21 is an awesome chapter – one of the [...]

I had a great time this evening with one of my mentors and friends, Derek Tidball. We met in London and ate together as I shared with him some of the journey I’ve been on over this last year. During our conversation Derek reminded me of that beautiful moment in Jesus’ life when a woman anoints Jesus [...]

“Are we there yet?” How many times have we been asked that on a car journey by children? And it’s easy to ask or feel when you’re in a church trying to see a vision become a reality: are we there yet and will we ever get there? I’ve been at PBC long enough now to [...]

“The story of Acts is the story of stupendous missionary achievement of a community inspired to make a series of creative experiments by the Pentecostal Spirit. Against a static church, unwilling to obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit, no ‘gates’ of any sort are needed to oppose its movement, for it does not move. [...]

‘The foremost quality of a trusting disciple is gratefulness. Gratitude arises from the lived perception, evaluation and acceptance of all of life as grace – as an undeserved and unearned gift from the Father’s hand.’ – Brennan Manning ‘Let’s not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now [...]

Sunday was one of our biggest days of the year. I was so proud of everyone who took part and the excellence that was achieved. It was our Carols by Candlelight Sunday and this year we had a service at 4pm, 6pm and 8pm. My passion was to see the true story of Christmas communicated [...]