A Plea to a Rising Generation
What an exciting time of life! Learning to drive, Having ever-increasing independence, Going out with friends, Meeting new people. Perhaps you are going to university or starting work! There are new freedoms, more money, maybe a student loan, or your first salary – the opportunities seem endless! We have a tendency as young people to […]
Evangelistic Exploits
Introduction Paul’s first missionary journey was a large circuit, covering over one thousand miles. The evangelical explorers traversed the island of Cyprus and visited major cities in the Roman province of Galatia (modern-day central Turkey). Let’s consider this mission and see how we can draw principles for evangelism today. Henry Martyn, an 18th century English […]
Editorial on Evangelism
Last month I started to focus the editorial article on the subject of evangelism. As many of you know, it’s a subject that is close to my heart. I’ll be developing this in the next few issues. This quarter I’ll be brief, as we are finishing the ‘Studying and Preaching with a Tablet’ series with […]
Preaching with a Tablet
And He said to them, ‘Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature’, Mark 16. 15. We have reached the final article in our Tablet preaching series. I hope you have enjoyed reading this series as much as I have enjoyed writing it. More importantly, my prayer is that the […]
Psalm 139. 19-24
The testimony of God concerning David was, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will’, Acts 13. 22. What a testimony from God! The Lord knew David’s innermost thoughts and motives. He had examined him and found one who had a desire […]
Self-Denial
Despite the undeniably strong emphasis in the Bible upon the blessings of salvation, the gospel is essentially a call to self-denial rather than self-fulfillment. ‘Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken […]
Pivot Point
We have reached the pivotal section in Luke’s account of the early Church. The Gentiles are included at last; the gospel is going global. The cues for this narrative transition are clear, in terms of changing emphasis on both character and location. Until this point Peter has been the most prominent person. However, now Paul […]
Editorial on Evangelism
How many people do you know who have been saved in the last year? Having said that, thousands are being saved across the world! Maybe you have had the privilege of leading someone to Christ! If that is the case, that is wonderful; praise the Lord! Being a Christian is brilliant, but not always easy, […]
Ego
‘But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy’, 2 Tim. 3. 1, 2 NKJV. It is a dangerous time to be a Christian in many parts of the world today. A knock at the door […]
Preaching with a Tablet
‘Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh’, Eccles. 12. 12b ESV. Preaching requires a significant amount of time dedicated to preparation, and much of that time is spent reading. This is yet another area where a tablet computer can play a significant role as an […]
What does the Lord want me to do?
There is no doubt that we are here on this earth to work. Even before the fall, man was given useful things to do, Gen. 2. 15. A consequence of Adam’s sin was the introduction of hard work in order to earn a living, Gen. 3. 19. So, daily toil is basic to a fallen […]
The Gospel Spreads
Acts chapters 8 to 10 describe a period of church growth geographically, numerically, and, more importantly, spiritually. In this article, we will see the underlying reason for the dispersion of the new believers: human hatred, and hostility is overruled by God’s sovereignty, resulting in the progress of the gospel message. We will focus on three […]
Editor’s Introduction
You have just started to read another excellent issue of YPS. This comment is not a reflection of the fact that I am the editor, but serves to highlight the excellent articles that you are about to read. My intro is extra short to give space for the articles. Rather than tell you what’s coming […]
Fact or Fairytale?
You are in the centre of your nearest city, helping with some gospel literature distribution. A man in his early twenties approaches and asks, ‘How do you know God is real?’, or at lunchtime in school your friend asks, ‘Why do you believe in Jesus?’ What would you say? First Peter chapter 3 verse 15 […]
Image Conscious Christians
If it matters to you what brand your phone is, or what label is on the bottom of your shoes, keep reading because you have all the signs of being an ‘image conscious Christian!’ We are ALL victims – influenced by a constant stream of promotions and advertisements that tell us ‘you can’t do without it today’, yet knowing that […]
Preaching with a Tablet
‘Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth’, 2 Tim. 2. 15 ESV. This is the third article in a series about using a tablet to study, and to preach. In this article we will explore some […]
Psalm 139. 13-18
In this Psalm, David asks two rhetorical questions, ‘Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?’, v. 7. The answer, of course, was nowhere. Thoughts about God’s comprehensive knowledge and presence had captivated David’s mind. His reflections upon God were acts of worship. The pattern set by David […]
What Happens When We Witness?
Our study in Acts is picking up speed – from now on we will highlight only key themes from each section. In chapters 3 to 7 the focus is on Jerusalem. This is the city where ‘our Lord was crucified’, Rev. 11. 8. Now Jerusalem also becomes the place where the Lord’s ambassadors are rejected. […]
Editor’s Introduction
Welcome to another issue of YPS. I have enjoyed reading the articles that we have in this issue. I hope that you find them as interesting as I did. In fact, I find all the topics that we are dealing with really relevant to my understanding of God and to my day-to-day experience as a […]
Personal Prayer – Part 2
The Lord Jesus taught his followers to pray, Matt. 6. 9. He said that prayer, combined with carefully watching our behaviour, is the recipe for Christians avoiding falling into temptation, Matt. 26. 41. Obeying the commands of the Lord Jesus brings glory to God and this should be a Christian’s desire. Failing to pray is […]
Psalm 139. 7-12
In the last issue of YPS (Feb. 2014), we commenced a study of Psalm 139, and discovered something about the character of God. In the second section, vv. 7-12, David considers God’s presence. He understands that God is in all places at all times. The word used to describe God being everywhere is ‘omnipresence’. The […]
Preaching with a Tablet
‘“When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments’, 2 Tim. 4. 13 ESV. ‘The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God will stand forever’, Isa. 40. 8 ESV. This is the second article in a series about using a […]
Science, Code breakers, and Creation
Science has always fascinated me. I remember, many times during my childhood, dissecting plants and bugs, and rushing to peer down at them under my wobbly microscope, which my parents bought for me one Christmas. Ever since primary school, I wanted to study medicine; which I did from 2006 to 2011. Since then, I have […]
What happened at Pentecost?
Events that took place on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 are unique and unrepeatable. In this article, we explore how Pentecost is: (1) a fulfilment; (2) a birthday; and (3) an empowering. Today, we must be aware of the significance of Pentecost and realize these blessings for ourselves. Pentecost is a Fulfilment […]
Editor’s Introduction
Welcome to the first issue of YPS for 2014 and a belated Happy New Year to all of our readers. While I do not sign up to the concept of making New Year resolutions (as we rarely keep them for more than a day or two), I do think that it is good, from time […]
Psalm 139. 1-6
Theology is the discovery, arranging, and presentation of truths about God. The discipline of ‘theology’ is very exciting as it gives us an understanding of what God is like. What we think about God will determine how we think and act in this world. As this is true then theology is extremely important. How we […]
Personal Prayer
We have more methods of communication available to us today than ever before. Social networking, instant messaging, text messaging, blogging, and email are just some examples of the many ways people can keep in touch. Whatever method we use, whether electronic or not, learning to communicate effectively is important in every aspect of life. Communication […]
Preaching with a Tablet
‘“When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments’, 2 Tim. 4. 13 ESV. This is the first in a series of articles about using a tablet to prepare for meetings and to preach. As an itinerant preacher and public speaker, I have […]
Safe forever!
One sunny, spring afternoon as I was walking through a busy shopping centre, a man stopped me to offer me a leaflet with Bible verses. As we spoke, I soon discovered that the man thought people could be saved and then lost. Such a false idea undermines the great message of the gospel and contradicts […]
Communication Channels
At the beginning of any great expedition or military campaign, it is important to set up the lines of communication. The people on the front line need to keep in touch with those back at base. Napoleon is reputed to have said, ‘The secret of war lies in the communications’. In our chapter, we discover […]
Editor’s Introduction
Thanks again for reading YPS. I fi nd it encouraging when I hear that people of all ages read the YPS insert. Aft er all, the word of God is for all of us! The aim of YPS is to help those who are younger in the faith in their walk with God. The challenge […]
Enoch
I am glad that the Bible records examples of men and women who lived and served God in their generation. We can learn lessons from them, which when applied to our lives, enable us to live and witness for God in today’s society. In this article I want to think of the example of Enoch. […]
In the Den
This chapter is the last of the narrative chapters in the book of Daniel. From chapter 7 onwards we are into the prophetic section, and so, given the purposes of these articles, this will be our last stop. It is a chapter in which we are really coming full circle. Daniel faces a tremendous test […]
What can I do for God?
It is an amazing fact that the Bible teaches that every Christian can be like Christ! So a key aim for every Christian must be to abide in Christ, John 15. 4. When we are in tune with our Saviour, we will be like Him and the result will be that we produce the ‘fruit […]
Adventures in Acts
Acts is a thoroughly exciting Bible book, with a fast-moving narrative as it documents the first years of the church. J. B. PHILLIPS refers to Acts as ‘The Young Church in Action’. This article gives a short introduction to the book, with the aims of (1) motivating you to read it, and (2) providing background […]
Come, Take, Learn, and Find,
All of us have received invitations that provoke questions such as, ‘Who sent it?’ ‘What am I invited to?’ and ‘How should I respond?’ In Matthew chapter 11 verses 28-30, the Lord Jesus gives an invitation, a command even, that can be summarized in four words: Come, Take, Learn, and Find. Matt. 11. 28-30, ‘Come […]
