Banished from his Sunday School at All Souls, Langham Place, for hiding a dagger in his sock, John Stott was a little boy who was not expected to join the ministry. Far from it. His father had other hopes and ambitions for his first born son. So John received the best education that money could buy. He went to the best schools and the best university. John's family wanted him to be a success and a credit to the Stott name.
And he was. John was bright, energetic and dedicated. However, something happened that changed the direction of his life. Family ambitions took second place to serving the Lord Jesus Christ and working for God's glory.
So bizarrely the little boy who had been banished from All Souls Sunday School eventually became its...

read more

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) is highly-valued by contemporary preachers and Bible users. Here we get a closer look at the life of Matthew Henry by an author who has had a life-long interest in Matthew Henry and his writings. Matthew Henry was the son of a Puritan pastor who had been silenced by the government of the time. Nevertheless Philip Henry, a godly man reared his family on Christian principles and Matthew followed the Lord from an early age. Although it was difficult to find suitable ministerial training, Matthew Henry eventually studied for the ministry. With government opposition relaxing, he became a Presbyterian pastor in Chester in 1687 and later in London from 1712. It is astonishing to note the amount of preaching and writing that he...

read more

Created in the image of God, man and woman are designed to reflect God's own nature and being. At the very heart of the Godhead-Father, Son and Spirit-we see the qualities that form the basis of our design as men and women. In the Godhead, there is perfect equality, diversity, unity and order, and it is these characteristics that shape our differences as well.
Carrie Sandom, along with a rising tide of like-minded Christians, is concerned about the growth of feminism in our society, our families and our churches-and the detriment this poses to all three. She clearly presents the problem and leads readers along the path to restore God's design to its rightful place.
Just as relationships in the Godhead are equal yet diverse, working...

read more

Poetry is the language of love. The Songs of Solomon are no different as we read these beautiful cameos of the intimate relationship between the King and his lover. These were the song of songs which were often sung to God in temple worship with a realisation that these songs spoke of God's love towards his chosen people. For Christians through the ages these songs point to Christ and his love towards his own ransomed and redeemed people. Indeed in New Testament Scripture the analogy is often used of Christ and His church as the bride and His bridegroom. It speaks to them of restoration and reconciliation. Through the contributions of the daughter of Jerusalem, we begin to get a sense of the joy of fellowship. In this devotional work we too will...

read more

Daniel Donford is a new pastor: excited, filled with bright dreams, anticipating a big future for him and his new church, Broadfield Community Church. However opposition and obstacles lie just ahead, and both may end his journey into pastoral ministry before it has really begun. But Dan has an Uncle Eldon, if anyone can see Dan through his trials and disasters, Eldon can. The wisdom he offers, via a series of emails, might just be enough to see Dan transformed into the mature, selfless, loving pastor God wants him to be.

read more

Like a wife unfaithful to her husband so Israel was unfaithful to the LORD. This is vividly illustrated in the book of Hosea where Hosea's own marriage represents Israel's relationship with the LORD.
In worldly terms it appears that life is going well for God's people. The Northern Kingdom had been going through a time of great economic stability and security. However this does not lead the people of Israel to give thanks to the Lord who is the provider of such blessings but rather they fall straight into the arms of the heathen idol Baal. Despite their unfaithfulness, the Lord does not give up on them, but rather he speaks to them in grace and mercy. Through the use of metaphors, Hosea brings an uncomfortable yet vital message to warn them...

read more