Last term I did a preaching series based on Peter Scazzero’s book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. I read the book whilst on sabbatical and found it personally useful; it gave framework for thinking about and processing some stuff in my own life. I also thought it might give some folk in the church a similar framework... Continue Reading →
What makes a good sermon?
As a regular preacher and speaker it is a question I frequently ponder. So over recent months I’ve been trying to note what grabs people and gets positive feedback; either from my own preaching or that of others. Here are some unscientific observations. 1. Tell them about yourself. As someone put it to me, “tell... Continue Reading →
Advent: the collision of worlds
As we have moved though advent this year I’ve been struck by two texts, which don’t normally come to prominence at this time of year. The first is the start of Hebrews (well actually from 1:1 to 2:4). The writer with great rhetorical skill moves from considering how the coming of Jesus changed the way... Continue Reading →
Sermons, I’ve preached a few
Most of the time I don't blog about things to do with the church here, or about the routine of my life as a minister. But a couple of people have recently noted that it gives an entirely different impression of me than the one you get by reading this blog. So, for those who... Continue Reading →
Distinct Reflections 