Have you ever wondered why no one at funerals in churches ever has gone on the broad way that leads to destruction. Everyone has gone on the narrow path! How can this be?

And they talked together of all these things which had happened  And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. Luke 24:14-16

The Crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

If Christ be not risen then is our preaching vain. Up from the grave He arose With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.

The central essential doctrine of Christianity is the Cross of Jesus Christ. That is why Paul could say "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Further thoughts on the coming of The Lamb of God.

Jesus has slipped off the Birthday Party List

Alpha and Ecumenism. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Cor. 11: 3/4) The headlong rush into ecumenism today is encouraged and accepted by the Alpha Course, leading into Biblical error and false doctrine. This talk, given around 16 years ago has been copied from an old tape.

Jesus said: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14.3 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 1 Cor. 11:26 We remember the Lord in expectation of His coming - Not till we die or not till next we meet but “till He come”. Until He come we take the bread, Type of Him on whom we feed; He who liveth and was dead, We give Thee thanks, O God. Until He come we take the cup, As we at His table sup; Eye and heart are lifted up, We give Thee thanks, O God.

In the first few chapters of John’s Gospel we were introduced to The Lamb of God by John the Baptist followed by an account of the early ministry of our Lord Jesus. We have spent some time looking at the important message springing from the meeting between our Lord and Nicodemus: Except a man be born again he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. In these words from Jesus we clearly understand that there is no way into the Kingdom of God except by being born again. This podcast summarises this basic truth in simple terms. It finishes with a children's choir (courtesy of GospelRiver.com) singing: A Ruler once came to Jesus by night, To ask him the way of salvation and light; The Master made answer in words true and plain: Ye must be born again.

Baptismal Regeneration especially in relation to infants is an error which crept into the churches many, many, years ago and has spawned many extra biblical attachments: godparents, holy water, confirmation services, candles, to name a few. Christians must be Bereans. Upon hearing the message from the apostles the Bereans searched the Scriptures to check if what was being preached was in accord therewith. We should all follow their zeal for the truth

A further look at this most vital subject: How to be born again and thereby enter into the Kingdom of God. So here are two simple questions. A child is taught: (i) That through “baptism” as a baby he was made “a member of Christ, the child of God and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven” - is this based on Scripture? (ii) Godparents “promise and vow” solemnly before God things in the name of a baby being “baptised”. Does the Bible teach that someone else may swear to God on my behalf anything which will affect my future? These are important questions, which with others, demand our attention by answers based solely on the Word of God. Your eternal destiny may depend on it!

Today we are introduced to Nicodemus, a leader amongst the Jews and a Pharisee who came to speak to Jesus by night, . Had he not come to seek out Jesus we would have missed one of the most interesting and challenging portions from our Lord’s ministry explaining the need for all to be “born again” or “born from above”. Jesus says this new birth is the only way of entry into God’s kingdom! The only way, no compromise, no exceptions: except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God!

Jesus clearly describes himself as the Bridegroom who would go away but we know that he later shows that he will return to take those who love him to his Father’s house. Moreover, in this passage he tells two short parables: one of the futility of adding new cloth to old garments, the other the uselessness of putting new wine into old wineskins. Both very relevant as to what is taught in many churches!

John the Baptist, the one anointed by God to be the the harbinger of the coming Messiah. As Isaiah 40.3 foretold “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God”. Our Lord described John as being particularly special “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist”. Yet John was a humble man whose sole mission in life was to glorify the Coming One. May each of us live in like manner to glorify the Lord Jesus through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit. When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an offering far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

This talk has been adapted from one given in 2005 as part of a series on the Second Coming entitled Mystery of Iniquity. As the lure of this “present evil world” becomes more powerful year on year, the message from our Lord to his people “Ye are not of this world” needs to be stressed and taken to heart by us all. We feel that it is perhaps even more relevant now than when first recorded.

Is Hallowe'en just a load of fun or is there a sinister darker side to it all? Why all this morbid emphasis on death and darkness?

The Yardstick of the Word of God is being replaced by man's tradition and ideas.