The Third Discourseman Once again, a bold title. The father I am talking about is not God the Father (whose love is almost certainly more surprising than you think), but the love of the father in Luke 15 (which I suggest you read now, and then have open in front of you if you wantContinue reading “The love of the father in ‘The Prodigal Son’ is less surprising than you think”
Author Archives: Four Discoursemen
Unnumbered Souls are Dying
In this article, I write about suicide and abortion. I have tried to write both clearly and carefully on a difficult and important topic, but it is possible that my words may still cause hurt to some readers. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. – Luke chapter 12 verse 7 WithContinue reading “Unnumbered Souls are Dying“
Thou who changest not
This is a season of saying goodbye. In a few weeks a good friend moves back to Australia, where he is from. Even with modern communication possibilities, it’s a challenge keeping in touch with folk in Sydney, with the near day-long time difference. Another close friend – a Discourseman no less! – has upped sticksContinue reading “Thou who changest not”
A New Home
The Second Discourseman 4th September, 2022 Today I visited a new church, and decided that I would call it home. I hinted this to some of the people I spoke to, but not in such personal terms. After all, to claim a place as home is presumptuous in the extreme. It is to demand thatContinue reading “A New Home”
Majesty, the sacred, and the mission of the church
I have waited some three days now to gather my thoughts and prepare my pen to offer a fitting tribute to her late Majesty. But I fear I have waited in vain. Grief comes to us in many guises, and we can but clutch at straws in trying to grasp at its complexities. But howContinue reading “Majesty, the sacred, and the mission of the church”
The World is not Broken
The Third Discourseman I wonder if you’ve ever heard a Christian, even a conservative evangelical, tell you that we live in a broken world. I guess this says something helpful, namely that the world is not functioning as it originally intended. But I don’t really like the phrase. It’s like, ‘Oh no, the fridge broke,Continue reading “The World is not Broken”
Going Moon-Hunting
The Second Discourseman I don’t think I had ever noticed moonlight until a couple of years ago. This is strange considering the part it played in so many stories of my childhood: poachers, smugglers, spies, all making their dubious ways under the silver gleam. But though we see the Moon, it is rare today forContinue reading “Going Moon-Hunting”
Why Justification by Faith Is Not the Gospel (And nor Is Penal Substitution)
The Third Discourseman A bold title, I know. So to avoid unnecessary offense to my fellow Reformed brothers and sisters reading this blog, I want to stress that I believe in both justification by faith alone and penal substitution. Both are true and wonderful and vital to our salvation. This blog is not calling eitherContinue reading “Why Justification by Faith Is Not the Gospel (And nor Is Penal Substitution)”
Robots don’t take Sabbath
On Sunday morning, the only email in my inbox is from Microsoft’s Viva, giving me its usual daily briefing. It doesn’t mind working on Sundays. Out the window, a different robot chirpily, absent-mindedly mows the lawn, because that’s what it’s programmed to do. It doesn’t mind working on Sundays either. The family could move outContinue reading “Robots don’t take Sabbath”
In Praise of His Bride
I hear a lot of complaints about ‘the church’ these days. I’ve been guilty of them myself. Why don’t Christians give more money to the poor? Why is British Christianity so middle class? Why aren’t we preaching the gospel properly? Why all the abuse scandals?
The Four Discoursemen 