2014/07 ISLAM Late spring in N Ireland was enlivened not just by the hullaballoo of an election campaign but by controversy occasioned by a single sermon. The message was delivered by one of the province’s best-known Evangelical pastors, and its theme was Islam. By all accounts, the preacher presented a forthright denunciation of the world’s

2014/07 Distinctives Features of Free Presbyterianism PREACHING THE WORD The year was 1960. It was a Sunday morning and I was, as usual, in Mount Merrion church. I was not in my accustomed place, but was seated right at the front, with no one between the pulpit and me. The preacher was Rev. Bert Cooke

The Prime Minister, a vociferous campaigner for the change, saw a majority of Conservatives – eighteen members of government included – withhold their support.

2014/09 Distinctives Features of Free Presbyterianism EVANGELICAL AND EVANGELISTIC There was no one there. The lepers ventured into the Syrian camp realizing that death was likely no matter what they did. They went from tent to tent, found food and drink, silver, gold and clothing, but there was no one there!  They feasted and they

Was the death of the Lord Jesus Christ a failure, as the Pope says, or was it His greatest victory? “We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:23)

2014/11 ‘The Chariot of Israel and the Horsemen’ A Personal Acknowledgement of Dr Paisley I do not know of a more appropriate statement in the entire Bible by which to describe my feelings about the death of Dr. Paisley than these words uttered by Elisha in tribute to Elijah: “My Father, my father, the chariot

The Lord desires that His people live for the glory of his Name. By the power of His grace we are under His rule in Christ and can say, “O Lord our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us; but by thee only will we make mention of thy name” (Isaiah 26:13)

2014/11 How Can I Benefit From The Old Testament? Paul, writing to Timothy, said “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15). Paul was referring to the Old Testament scriptures.  The Lord had

A simple search of words like ‘elect’ or ‘chosen’ in an appropriate programme will show you how prevalent the concept is in the Bible. One writer states: ‘No other doctrine has been so central in theology and so ignored in the pulpit.’

2014/11 Distinctives Features of Free Presbyterianism A COMMITTED MEMBERSHIP Church members are not to be spectators but participants, willingly employing what God has given them for the good of the church as a whole. To survey the religious scene in the area where I minister is to be struck by the fact that many congregations