Category: Wisdom

  • It’s OK to be ambitious? Yeah … nah.

    It’s OK to be ambitious? Yeah … nah.

    My thoughts on Christians and ambition. And why Bill and Ted have a more Christian view of excellence than many Christian views of excellence

  • Truthing in love

    Truthing in love

    When it appears in the Bible, “speaking the truth in love” (literally “truthing in love”) means far more than just “saying true things in a charitable way”.

  • Gospel Speech Online

    Gospel Speech Online

    I’ve written this brief book to help Christians to speak the gospel of truth in love in the online world, drawing on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

  • Listening to the law without being under the law (a sermon on Exodus 20:22-23:19)

    Preached at Kurrajong Anglican Church on 26 August, 2012. Our problem with the law A few days after we got back to Australia from England, my wife had an experience that made us realize that we were well and truly back home. She was driving along Redbank Road in North Richmond, and a car coming…

  • Same sex marriage: why are so many Christians opposed?

    Kudos to the Sunrise team for this excellent interview. No matter where you are in this debate, it’s well worth taking 11 and a half minutes to hear this balanced and helpful presentation of the biblical viewpoint:

  • Paul and the Law by Brian Rosner – free download of lecture series

    Brian Rosner’s Annual Moore College Lectures on Paul and the Law are now available for download (MP3 and PDF) at the Moore College site. I expect it’ll be well worth listening to. Overview Paul and the Law:  Keeping the Commandments of God Five Lecture Series “Circumcision is nothing”: The Puzzle of Paul and the Law “Not under…

  • Brian Rosner on Paul and the Law

    If you’re anywhere in or around Sydney in August, don’t miss Brian Rosner’s lecture series. This is a very important topic. I’m guessing the lecture series will touch on issues like: What does the Old Testament law have to do with Jesus? Will God judge me based on whether I keep the law? What does…

  • Is God Green Part 2: God and the Future of the World

    I’m grateful to Byron Smith who made a few critical comments about a previously published version of this sermon (in five parts: #1, #2a, #2b, #3a, #3b) and helped me to speak more clearly and helpfully in this subsequent version. Talk Outline The story of the world so far… Creation Curse Christ The future of…

  • Is God Green Part 1: God, the World and Jesus

    I’ve preached this series a number of times over the years – here’s the latest edition (this time with a slightly croaky voice). Before you listen to the talk, you might find it helpful to read this introductory piece which contains the things I didn’t have time to include in the sermon. Thanks to Sandy…

  • I’m sayin’ something

    On the Sola Panel I’m with Tony. When it comes to telling you what to do in response to the issue of climate change, I’m sayin’ nuttin’. But I’m also with Carl Henry as quoted by Tony. So here’s some biblical truths that I am willing to say. Maybe they’ll help you to think more…

  • Happy 400th Birthday, King James Bible

    Last year I lamented the fact that some educated Brits have squandered their heritage and effectively transferred the emotional and spiritual ownership of the King James Bible to the Americans. Thus I’m very pleased to hear that BBC Radio 4 is broadcasting extensive readings from the King James Bible to mark its 400th anniversary. Well…

  • Suffering and decision-making

    On the Sola Panel: Is it better to choose a more difficult ministry, or an easy one? Is it more godly to choose suffering over comfort when we make decisions about life and ministry? After all, suffering makes us more like Jesus, and surely that’s good for us, isn’t it? From time to time, we…

  • Cross-shaped Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1)

    This was originally published on the Biblical Theology Briefings website (beginningwithmoses.org) in 2006. The Biblical Theology Briefings aim to provide worked examples of sermons that apply the insights of evangelical biblical theology. I recently preached at the commissioning of two dear friends of mine who have now gone as missionaries to work as ministers in…

  • The wisdom of the minister

    Part 3 in the series “Being Ministers of God: Reflections on the Servant concept in Isaiah.” Moore College 2nd Year 2008 Houseparty, Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort, Fairy Meadow, 23-24 February 2008. Power point file with visual aids also available.