Soon after moving into the Free Church Manse at Reay, Rev Finlay Cook wrote a letter in July 1844, in which he said this: I am here in a lonely part of the vineyard, but I have a large house, and a good many rooms in it. The first room I have is “Who can [Read more…]
Homosexuality
Introduction By any reckoning, homosexuality has become the defining and dividing issue of the current generation. It is widely taken for granted that any area of influence within society, such as politics, public sector bodies, the media and corporate business, should not only accept homosexuality, but actively promote and celebrate it. This movement seems to [Read more…]
Overcoming the World
The worldly world is a constant enemy for the Christian. It seems always to be with us, clamouring for our attention and seeking to dazzle our eyes. Like Bunyan’s pilgrims we cannot avoid making our way through “Vanity Fair”. These days the distractions can be portable and may even accompany us everywhere we go unless [Read more…]
A recent Communion Season
As usual, the communion season in Sydney began with a service on Thursday morning. The text was from Exodus 5:2: “And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go”. Here we have a king of Egypt, [Read more…]
Worksheets for the Scripture and Catechism Exercises 2
The worksheets for Exercise 2 of this year’s Scripture and Catechism Exercises are now available at this link. From there you can print these worksheets. Entries are to be in by 31 March 2017.
Induction of Rev K D Macleod to the Inverness Congregation
The Northern Presbytery will meet for ordinary business, God willing, in the Inverness Free Presbyterian Church on Friday 3rd March 2017 at 4.00 pm, and again at 7.00 pm for the induction of Rev K D Macleod to the Inverness congregation. Rev D W B Somerset, Clerk of the Northern Presbytery.
Luther, 1517 and Church Principles
[A lecture given in Barnoldswick on 31 December 2016] We are on the threshold of a new year. This year ends with much anticipation of change in 2017. Election results contrary to the expectations of many, both for Brexit in the United Kingdom and for a radically different president in the United States, have dramatically [Read more…]
“Thy” or “Your”?
The common idea that the desire to change from the singular thee and thy to the plural you and your in addressing God is a modern phenomenon is scotched by a comment of Thomas Boston (1676-1732) in a sermon on the third petition of the Lord’s Prayer (Works, vol 2, p 587). Described in the [Read more…]
Education Committee Survey
In the past year concerns have been raised by members of the Religion & Morals Committee regarding the fact that some aspects of government funded state education, are contrary to, and undermine, sound Scriptural teaching. Consequently, a proposal was considered by the 2016 Synod to provide support to parents who wish to educate their children [Read more…]
The blasphemy of an “Emoji Bible”
On 29 May 2016 an Emoji Bible was launched called “Scripture for Millennials”. In place of words it uses frequent emoticons and text language (e.g. the number 4 replacing the word “for”). Used to express emotion, such symbols are a staple part of text message and social media communication. It is said that billions of these are [Read more…]