“Freely you have received, freely give”. The people who are most useful in mission will be those who still think that grace is amazing.

Good to be in Loughborough speaking on “Union with Christ”. It’s still my favourite theme to teach. The question the Christian asks every morning is “What are Jesus and I going to do together today?” Or Hudson Taylor on this topic- “Think of it. Can Christ be rich and I poor?”

Gethsemane is both unique and a pattern- Gethsemane moments will be part of Christian experience when God’s will for our lives and what we want clash in a way that leaves us in deep pain. How do we respond? We submit to Abba Father and pray that His will would be done.

Delighted to be preaching Psalm 22 this morning- because it foretells the suffering and triumph of the Messiah and the story of the subsequent centuries. Because the message that has travelled across nations and down through generations is this: He has done it!

Preaching Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard this morning. This did me good from Lloyd-Jones- “The secret of a happy Christian life is to realise that it is all of grace and to rejoice in that fact.”

Very much looking forward to preaching back at Woodstock Road this morning. Can’t begin to express how thankful I am for that church.

A busy day with a church wanting to reflect on Valentine’s weekend but having me as the speaker (ironies abound!). So a morning sermon on the Church as Bride, an afternoon seminar on Jesus, sexuality and identity and an evening preach on 1 Cor 7.

Preaching 1 Cor 7 tomorrow. I had forgotten how radical it is. I’m pretty sure Paul is saying that marriage is better than sexual immorality but celibate singleness is better than marriage. Aware that’s provocative and incomplete overall but it seems to me the gist of the text.

“All that God had done through them” (Acts 14:27). I love that as a short-hand definition of what ministry is about.

And- once again- a misspent youth is now studying for exams rather than playing darts…

Happiness is a train heading north…

When you’ve got to make a 90 second video, finally get it nailed and you realise you’ve merely taken a picture of yourself…

Not sure I will ever write a book but, if I did, I would love to write something in praise of nuance. I fear it has gone missing in much of our public comment. A Christian view of humanity- created and fallen- should mean that our assessments of most things should be nuanced.

There’s been some great golf this year…

Looking forward to preaching John 5 at Magdalen Road this morning. Who would you choose to act as the final judge of the earth? Who has the necessary wisdom and integrity? I’m so glad that role is in the hands of Jesus.

Would quite like to write all my talks in places like this. As ever- sermons feel so weak when you write them. Deeply conscious of the need for the Lord to work through them. And prayers for Sat evening appreciated.

Preaching at Luke and Hannah’s wedding today. Never been given Ephesians 3:14-21 before! We are not designed to do the better and worse of life alone. Not even designed to do it with just a spouse. We are designed to go through it with the power and love of Christ in our hearts.