Posts (Page 39)

‘My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul  which You have redeemed.’ (Psalm 71:23) Problems cloud our vision and prevent praise, It is said that on one occasion, the Cleveland Orchestra were playing the overture to The Magic Flute by Mozart when the house lights went out due to a power-failure. The orchestra kept playing and managed to…

Now what is the answer which the cross of Christ gives to this inquiry? We know the answer which paganism would give; it would point the inquirer to the Ganges and tell him, That is the way to heaven. We know the answer which Rome would give; it would tell him to repeat his prayers to the virgin. . . . But what is the answer which the cross gives to his inquiry? It will…

Can you sense the stirring emotions felt by the pilgrims as they came to Jerusalem, and into the courts of the temple? The anticipated entering, intensifying as they got closer, and then the great enthusiasm as they stood within the precincts of grace and met with brethren whom they perhaps had not seen since the last time they were all together. In this Psalm David, as…

This week we continue to consider and unite in the Songs for the Road (Psalms 120 – 134). As Psalm 120 declared the supreme motivation in the believer’s life of longing to be with God and know the blessings of His love and fellowship, Psalm 121 speaks of the confidence with which he sets out as being kept safe by the power of God. In both Psalms his eye is on…

The Psalms are for worship – and so they have been used through the years been a vital part not only of Jewish worship but of Christians in the Presbyterian Churches. They rightly hold a place in our worship here in SYPC. But they are also Songs for Life, reflecting on all the situations, emotions, questions, desires, aspirations and delights of being the people of…

“Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” (1 Tim 3:7) John Stott wrote, “William Golding is a contemporary novelist who has vividly illustrated the negative power of hypocrisy. In his book Free Fall he tells the story of Sammy Mountjoy, an illegitimate child brought up in…

This is a faithful saying: “I a man desire the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless.. ” (1 Tim 3:1-2a) Are you a stained glass window? So asks John Macarthur, and added : ‘An unholy pastor is like a stained glass window: a religious symbol that keeps the light up. That’s why the initial qualification for…

“… and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you … a bishop … a steward of God…” (Titus 1:5-9) “… take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of God, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God…” (Acts 20:28) As we prepare to biblically recognise Shepherd-qualified men…

Mother’s day … and yet we are talking about Eldership today. Is that a bit odd, something better suited to Father’s day perhaps …, or is there a connection? Would you be surprised if I said “Yes, there is a connection”? Well have a look at 1 Thess 2:6-7, Paul speaking in his role not just as an Apostle but as a founding missionary…

It is an often told story, but it highlights a great truth. There was an extremely wealthy man who possessed vast treasures of art. The man had one son who was an ordinary boy and who passed away in late adolescence. Having loved the lad deeply, the sorrowing father died of a broken heart only a few weeks later. The father’s will provided that everything would be…