Mindfulness and the Bible
A recent article from Christian Concern stated that ‘mindfulness is gradually becoming a popular relaxation method for individuals, employers, health services, and now possibly schools’. They reported that Edward Timpson, Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families, told MPs that mandatory lessons in mindfulness should become a ‘normal part of the school day’. However, Christian Concern […]
Conformed or Transformed?
The volume of the white noise simulator was slowly raised in the college library until it was at its full capacity. Nobody stirred, heads were down, and no one noticed the steady increase of background noise. Suddenly everyone’s head came up wonderingly; had the volume got just a bit too loud? No, the volume had […]
Uniforms and Weapons
‘Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’, Eph. 6. 16–17 NKJV. There is a big difference between the clothes we wear […]
The Bible: Light for guidance
As a younger christian I, like many others, found myself with a great deal of major life decisions to make. I was keen to follow the will of God but felt at times that what God wanted me to do was unclear. I looked at how God spoke to people in the Old Testament, how […]
Editor’s Introduction
Welcome to the latest issue of YPS. In this issue we are addressing two main issues – ‘Dealing with doubts’ and ‘Using the word of God, the Bible, to guide you in life’. These issues are related and really important as we live our lives as believers. In addition to this, I have included a […]
Mr. Moody’s Welsh Holiday
Introduction Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey, along with their families, arrived from New York at the port of Liverpool, UK on June 17th 1873. Although they were both equally good preachers, Moody was tone deaf, but Sankey had a fine baritone voice and a very dramatic way of singing gospel hymns. They didn’t […]
Standing on our Own Two Feet: Dealing with doubts
‘And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace’, Eph. 6. 15 NKJV. It’s a ridiculous game, and Canadians want credit for inventing it. The game is called ‘broomball’, and it is played with a ‘stick’ that resembles a broom and a ball that is supposed to go in the opponent’s […]
A Seasoned Spiritual Traveller
With modern innovations like TripAdvisor, Easyjet and Uber, we often fail to realize that Mediterranean society in the first century was just as accustomed to long-distance journeys as we are. Paul was particularly well travelled, which is why W. M. Ramsay entitled his biography of the apostle, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen. […]
The Bible: Sword for Protection
The maintenance of a soldier’s issued weapon is always a priority. While they may have a wide variety of kit that can offer some level of protection from the enemy, it is only their weapon that will cause the enemy to leave. As a result, in basic training, they are taught how to disassemble clean […]
Editorial
Welcome to another issue of YPS. In this issue there are a variety of writing styles and lots to get you thinking. Please take time to read all of the articles. I have found them all different but equally stimulating and challenging. We trust that you will find YPS helpful as you seek to build […]
The Land of
’Having put on the breastplate of righteousness’, Eph. 6. 14. Our world is changing at an incredible speed. Advancements in technology are a blur. And yet, even though it’s all happening so fast, some things will never change about us. That’s what Shigetaka Kurita found out in the late 1990s when he created 176 simple […]
The Lord’s Coming
Paul refers to the Lord’s coming in each chapter of 1 Thessalonians. He also presents five reasons we should be actively waiting for His coming. Two have been dealt with – service and reward, the other three will be dealt with in this article. Character In chapter 3 verses 12 to 13, Paul reminds us […]
Word Versus Image
After having beseeched, urged, appealed to us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, the apostle Paul now turns his attention to the mind, for this is where the necessary sanctification process must begin. Only by being transformed by its renewal can the believer prove, that is, discern, appreciate and […]
Events at Ephesus
Philo of Byzantium identified Seven Wonders of the ancient world. These were the mustsee tourist destinations – the original ‘bucket list’! Seven monuments of amazing architectural endeavour were located across the Mediterranean and Middle East, from Zeus’ statue at Olympia to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders, […]
The Bible
My 14-year-old nephew plays for the youth team of an SPL football club. As a result he is very concerned with two things: his exercise regime and what he eats. He is knowledgeable on the subject, aware of which foods will improve or adversely affect his performance. The Bible describes itself as food which can […]
Core Strength
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness” Eph. 6. 14 NKJV Michael Jordan may be one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. Yet, as great as he was, it wasn’t until his seventh professional season in the NBA that he finally led […]
Editorial
You may remember that my editorials all focused on evangelism in 2015.It’s an important topic and one that we need to keep in the forefront of our minds! This issue of YPS has a very interesting article by a new writer, Tim Lancalot, called ‘Who should I witness to?’ – it’s worth a read. Jeremy […]
Part 1
Introduction Many years ago I heard a speaker liken the Lord’s coming for the believer to people waiting for a bus. There are those who wait for the bus but are busy doing other things whilst they wait, like reading the paper, talking to others, daydreaming, and using their mobile phones. They are waiting for […]
Who Should I
Imagine the scene in Nazareth: village folk having set aside their work for the weekly Sabbath are sitting down in the relative coolness of the synagogue building to listen – as generations before them had – to the local rabbi teach. A shaft of sunlight through a window reflects on the gold gilt of the […]
Paul at Corinth
The map of Greece, like that of Scotland, has a lovely hourglass shape. Corinth was located precisely at the thin neck of the Greek hourglass, making the city a cosmopolitan centre for both people and their philosophies. In Acts chapter 18, we discover what happened when Paul arrived at Corinth with ‘the preaching of the […]
The Bible
Unless otherwise stated, Bible quotations are from the NKJV. The question ‘Have you brushed your teeth?’ is one my youngest son often hears. He is still at an age when he sometimes forgets! You get the impression that getting washed is something to be avoided, if at all possible, when you hear the complaint ‘I […]
Editorial
Here we are in a New Year. Doesn’t time fly! What are your plans for 2016? Have you decided that this year will be different! Maybe you want to grow spiritually and make further progress as a Christian. That’s a great ambition. How are you going to go about it? Personally, I think it’s all […]
Multiculturalism
‘It is a truth universally acknowledged’. So begins a well-known British novel but here’s the question: Is it possible to have universally acknowledged truth in societies where there are a multitude of different cultures and where people have different beliefs? To put it simply, is it possible to know and hold the truth of the […]
Standing Tall
Unless otherwise stated, all quotations are taken from the NKJV It is time for a reality check. Time to face the fact that, for the Christian, the world is in a state of war! The sun may be shining and the birds may be chirping. You may think that you live in a land of […]
Metropolitan Evangelism
Paul is travelling west into Greece, still preaching the gospel message faithfully. The apostle appears to be strategic in his outreach but he is clearly guided by the Holy Spirit; he targets large population centres with established Jewish communities. In this chapter, Paul goes to three places that were, and still are, major cities in […]
Consumerism
This is the first of four papers dealing with issues that we all face in modern society even if we are not aware of it. You may not immediately recognize the terms I am using, but I imagine that most of my readers will be familiar with them but may not wish to give a […]
Editorial on Evangelism
Local Church Evangelism In our recent YPS editorials I have been focusing on evangelism. As local assemblies we need to constantly refocus on this key issue. In this edition we are going to think about how a local church could get the message of the gospel out and about. In addition to this, Jeremy Singer […]
The Value of
Introduction In John’s Gospel, we read four short phrases which begin with the words ‘it was’. In themselves, they seem to be just simple statements of fact, which appear to add nothing of consequence to the narrative. But since we believe that there are no wasted words in the Bible and that the Holy Spirit […]
European Evangelism – God Sends Reinforcements
After the debacle in Antioch, Acts 15. 39, the trio from Paul’s first missionary journey has disbanded. However, God forms a new team to accompany Paul on his next journey. Silas is Paul’s new preaching companion. Silas is an encourager, like Barnabas, 4. 36. Silas encourages individuals, for instance when he and Paul strike up […]
An Exciting and Extensive
The words of Mark chapter 16 verse 15, ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel’, are clear and well known to most of our readers. Despite being familiar words, they bring a great challenge. Are we utilizing every opportunity that is available to us to spread the greatest yet simplest message in […]
Editorial on Evangelism
In the previous two issues of YPS we have focused on the core motivation for evangelism. In this editorial I want to look at the core message of evangelism and to focus on those who communicate the message. We also have an interesting account from Tim Coltman of Burton–on-Trent of how the Lord has provided […]
Thoughts About Thinking – Q&A Introduction
Question The mind of a believer is obviously an important part of the spiritual battle going on in the world – what thoughts do you have on the danger of being conformed to this world? Answer I believe it’s a matter of relationship – Jesus said, if you love me, keep my commandments and James […]
Difficulties and Disagreements
There are two problems in this chapter: the first is doctrinal and the second is personal. The first issue is resolved in a spiritual way; the second causes a division between friends. The key point in this section is that God has a purpose in our problems. In this case, it is that His power, […]
Crucified with Christ
‘I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me’, Gal. 2.20 NASB Paul’s letter to the Galatian churches tells us […]
Editorial on Evangelism
In the last couple of issues of YPS we have been looking at the personal motivators behind evangelism. In this article, I would like to look at some of the other reasons for reaching out with the gospel, including why such urgency is required, what the core message is, and who the main communicators of […]
Maybe You are in a Cult
The above suggestion was made to a young person who was talking to some friends about the assembly and its activities. What is surprising is that those friends were not unbelievers but other Christians, so why would they consider an assembly to be a cult? As I was not present at the time of the […]
