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18/09/2017

Review of ‘Why The Reformation Still Matters’-Part 2

Previously we established that the Reformation was not supposed to be limited to a one- time event but more accurately a continuing process… We looked at justification, scripture, sin and grace and their relevance today. We saw how Reeves and Chester traced Luther’s former view of sin back to Aristotle where righteousness was seen as something to be earned by doing righteous deeds and then recognised that we could never accomplish that in a lifetime of lifetimes. Our sin needs to be forgiven by God and we need to be declared righteous by Him. Justification is by grace through faith. Though only a small part of the overall book is being reviewed here, it is time now to look at ‘How do we know what is true and how can we know God?

To read the full article please go to Jon's Blog or click here

12/09/2017

Review of 'Why The Reformation Still Matters' by Michael Reeves & Tim Chester

This book is worthwhile reading not simply because it is the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation this year and it is important to understand our history. The Reformation still matters today. We should consider the implications of the Reformation concerning issues in the continuous present rather than relegating it to the annals of the past. Reeves and Chester provide an excellent means of communicating that, both in this book and on You-Tube. For the sake of brevity this part of the review is mainly limited to the first four chapters, though of course, that will hopefully be enough to encourage you to purchase it for yourselves!

To read Jon's complete review of this excellent book please click here

22/06/2017

5 ways to celebrate the Reformation 500 years on...

It is five hundred years since Martin Luther famously nailed his ninety five theses on the church door in Wittenberg Germany, bringing an enormous change that affects us still today. The Reformation was monumentally important since the Bible became increasingly accessible in English when previously it was mainly read only in Latin by the privileged few who were using it mainly for personal gain whilst exploiting the masses. Salvation by grace not works was preached according to the scriptures replacing the numerous erroneous traditions that were largely outside of Scripture or a misinterpretation of it.

The five guiding principles were:

·         1. Sola Scriptura: by Scripture alone
·         2. Solus Christus: by Christ alone
·         3. Sola Gratia: by grace alone
·         4. Sola Fide: by faith alone
·         5. Soli Deo Gloria: glory to God alone

We have a tremendous opportunity to celebrate the Reformation in this five hundredth anniversary in the following ways…

1 At the Bournemouth and Poole Convention this year from 3^rd-7^th July, during the evening presentations, Tim Chester will be preaching from Galatians and specifically linking in his sermons with the Reformation. Together with Michael Reeves, Tim Chester has authored a book entitled ‘Why the Reformation Still Matters’.
2 Michael Reeves has also produced a series on the Reformation and the Puritans on You Tube. Why not watch some of these and also share them with your friends on Facebook?
3 I will be writing a series of blog articles on the Reformation and will be focussing on some of the key individuals which will include some book reviews. I will also do an article on John Wycliffe, known as ‘The morning star of the Reformation’.
4 On the 31^st October, we will be celebrating Reformation Day at Broadstone Baptist Church which will fall on a Tuesday, so we will have a special evening service. Specific details will follow.
5 Why not tell and invite your friends to the events above? Ultimately we want to be changed and transformed by God and His word so that we are conformed to His image.

20/06/2017

Reflections on the Gideons South West Scripture Focus

On Saturday we split into three teams to give out scriptures and engage in evangelistic conversation in Wimborne, Bournemouth and Christchurch Quay. My team was based at Christchurch Quay. It was a mixed experience since it was initially hard going though half an hour or so in, constructive conversations began to develop and handing our scriptures became easier.

Please click here to read Jon's complete blog article

27/05/2017

Make use of the Christian Institute Election Briefing 2017

This helpful guide enables quick comparison and analysis concerning issues that matter to Christians. Since we don’t live in a theocracy, there will always be conflict in trying to live as Bible based Christians, observing Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17 and Acts 5:29 in our sphere of influence… It wisely doesn’t state who to vote for, but by providing a systematic layout of the particular views, positions and policies held by the respective parties, it makes it far easier to not only determine which party to vote for, but to be able to meaningfully articulate your view from ideally a biblical perspective.
Please Click Here to read Jon's Complete Blog Item

19/05/2017

Enduring and worthwhile thoughts from the 2017 Gideons National Convention

I arrived at the conference feeling already tired before the first meeting, although I returned greatly encouraged and refreshed. It was an especially full and excellent itinerary which was incredibly well planned and administered.

The theme of the weekend was memorably introduced by watching a clip of Jim Peters attempting to run the last lap of the marathon at the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver. Though he was literally miles ahead, his only mistake was failing to pace himself in a race where the temperatures soared in unbearably inclement conditions.

It was an emotionally charged and sombre experience seeing a man who was severely dehydrated and had given his all, known by some as the greatest marathon runner ever, staggering bewildered like a drunk man in plimsoles, trying to run in a straight line and complete what would have been his victory lap. Peters was eventually stretchered off and soon announced his retirement. He was awarded an honourary medal for his courage, though never fully recovered from that race.

Please click here to read the full story

16/05/2017

5 Reasons to Study Genealogies in the Bible

God’s word is rooted in history and concerns real people involved in real events that affect us today and will continue to do so. History and genealogies are provided for a reason .The way in which the precise historical record and extensive lists of ancestors are presented in Scripture and linked to massively significant events is unmistakably unique, especially when compared with other religious texts, many of which have either less or no concern regarding historical accuracy. Therefore, history is ‘His story’.
Please click here to read the full story

25/02/2017

God is Light and terrifyingly holy yet approachable and knowable through His Son

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all and He is perfect in all His attributes. He is of purer eyes than to behold evil (Hab.1:13).Though the entirety of His understanding is unfathomable because we are finite and He is infinite and He isn’t limited by time and space as we are, God is still knowable and we created in His image. He is indescribably holy and can only be approached on His terms not our terms. God’s glory is so great that no one has seen God at any time although, the Lord Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son has declared Him. Encouragingly, Jesus said that He who has seen Him has seen the Father (John 14:9).
Jon Taylor
Click Here to read the full article

11/02/2017

Use Biblical Terms but Define Them

Some of us have been attending church services and mid-week services for decades and so we are familiar with Christian vocabulary. Sometimes we need to be reminded that for the unchurched this can be both a confusing and bewildering experience, so we need to present and communicate the gospel in a way that can be understood by everyone present.

As a child I sang tremendous hymns that were frequently long without understanding much of their content. Now I really enjoy them, though I wish they had been explained to me simply so I could have grasped their meaning.

Click here to read the full article

08/02/2017

The benefits of using maps for Bible Study

Effective teachers are usually aware of visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning styles and incorporate that into their presentation for the benefit of their students. The use of a Bible atlas or the maps provided at the back of some study Bibles are an excellent aid to gaining more insight from God’s Word and help to bring it to life. Here are some useful applications for personal study, group work, sermons and visiting biblical sites.

To read this complete article please click here

02/01/2017

Pastor Tim's New Years Message

The New Year is a God given opportunity to look back and look forward. As we look back we do so with gratitude to God. That’s because our God is a God who everyday gives us grace to help in time of need. There may have been times when we didn’t feel it, but the reality is that he was there sustaining us. He was sustaining our lives, but more significantly he was sustaining our faith. We know that because God is the one who gives faith. That’s what Paul tells us in Romans 12:3;

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (Romans 12:3, ESV)

What that means is that if we have come through trials and we are still trusting in Christ for salvation, then we can look back with gratitude to God.

But we can also look forward to this year with a real and solid hope. We don’t know what this year will bring. For some it may be that the Lord has planned to give us rest from suffering. For others it may be that he plans to bring suffering into our lives. The one thing we can be sure of is that his grace will overflow into our lives to sustain us.

This Paul’s prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfil every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11–12, ESV)

According to this verse, all that you and I need this coming year to be counted worthy of our calling, and to enable us to do the good we resolve to do, and for that to become an act of faith, will be given by God’s grace.

Practically that means we don’t need to fear this year. For sure we will face fearful things, but God’s grace will abound to us at those times.

May we as a church trust him each day for his grace.

With love,

Pastor Tim

21/12/2016

That it might be fulfilled

Matthew’s gospel contains an astonishing amount of fulfilled prophecy. Even the opening genealogy evidences that Jesus is the Son of Abraham and the greater Son of David. As a Jew, Matthew was writing to a Jewish audience portraying our Lord as the King of the Jews proving that He was the long-awaited Messiah.

To read the whole of Jon's article please click this link

In making the connection between Old Testament prophecies finding their precise fulfilment in the Lord Jesus Christ, Matthew doesn’t leave us guessing; often using the phrase ‘that it might be fulfilled’ or mentioning the prophet by name. This gives us confidence and assurance in God and His word since they are both perfect and trustworthy in their entirety.

17/11/2016

Autumn Term Sermons Card Now Available

AM SERMONS
20th November; Ephesians 4:1-16 - Health Depends on All

27th November; 1 Corinthians 12:1-30 - Gifts That Build

4th December; 1 Corinthians 13 - The Excellence of Love

11th December; Colossians 3:13 - Two Essential Exercises

PM SERMONS

20th November; Galatians 6:1-5 - Caught and Restored

27th November; Galatians 6:6-10 - Grace and Good Works

3rd December; Galatians 6:11-18 - How to Boast Well

11th December; Psalm 13 - Faith, Joy and Singing

Please click here to see the complete Autumn Term Card

15/11/2016

Review of 'Just do Something- A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will

This book is refreshingly concise and uncomplicated; biblically sound, clear and pragmatic. It is an excellent resource for Christians seeking God’s will for their lives today. Joshua Harris wrote the foreword and stated ‘I am a Pastor. And the highest praise I can give this book is that this is my new go-to book on decision making and “finding God’s will (p8).”

Click here to read the full book review

10/11/2016

Lis Webb's Baptism Story

What a joyous occassion we had last Sunday to hear Lis Webb's Testimony and to witness Pastor Tim baptise her as part of the morning worship service.

Lis has given permission for us to publish her testimony here on the church website and to include photographs. Please read the fill story on our the BBC News page.

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11/10/2016

A Constructive Christian Response to Halloween

Opinion is divided in relation to how and what Christians should do when Halloween comes round each year. Some view this festival as harmless fun, some recognise connections with paganism and the occult, some hide away and avoid it at all costs, some have church parties celebrating the Reformation or have light parties, whilst others seek to use the opportunity to share the gospel.

Please click here to read Jon's full article

30/09/2016

Four reasons why we do not lose heart

Scripture encourages us in various ways not to lose heart. To use a phrase in common-usage today, we need to keep on keeping-on. Invariably it is too easy to lose heart the minute we temporarily avert our attention from considering the biblical and eternal perspective, or become overwhelmed by our problems. The reality is that we have everything we need in Christ and it is helpful to regularly remind ourselves and others of this.

To read the complete article please click here of go to the BBC Blog page

25/09/2016

A short and sober note on why we should do good works

There are many paradoxes in the Christian life. To the unsaved, many of these paradoxes will probably remain a mystery or appear to be unresolved contradictions, because they are spiritually discerned and God reveals that which humans cannot resolve for themselves. I am colour blind and there are some numbers hidden in colour mosaic eyesight tests that I cannot see and it would be foolish for anyone to expect me to see what I cannot see. Similarly all believers were blind before God opened their eyes to enable them to see spiritually.

To read Jon Taylor's complete article go to the BBC Blog page or click here

22/08/2016

LADIES FELLOWSHIP GARDEN PARTY

The Ladies Fellowship held their annual garden party in glorious weather on Wednesday 17th August at the Merley home and garden of Stephen and Ruth Pettifer. Click to read the full story and to view the pictures.

04/08/2016

Review of 'The Account Which We Must Give' by Carl Johnson

I read this book almost a decade ago and found it to be a wake-up call, while simultaneously encouraging. I am glad that I have just re-read it. While several topics relating to judgement are carefully examined and outlined, it is the bema judgement which relates to rewards at the judgement seat of Christ (this is a separate judgement to that of the Great White Throne Judgement) that is the main subject presented.

Please click here to read Jon's complete book review and commentary.

01/07/2016

Philippians 4:8-9 Godly thinking and Godly actions and the God of peace with you

It is no great revelation that right thinking influences and aids right behaviour. Furthermore, Christians should be doers as well as hearers of the word. However, a reward of the righteous, (that is those who have right standing with God through no merit of their own but through His imputed righteousness), is that they have the God of peace with them. The peace of God (Phil. 4:7) is incalculably treasured by those who know God and trust in Him as is the God of peace (Phil 4:9) who gives His peace.

Please click here to read Jon's complete article

26/06/2016

Responding to the EU referendum result

On Thursday 23rd June 2016, the UK voted, with a narrow majority, to leave the EU. A lot has been written and spoken on social media, in news reports and among friends. The following is an attempt to help us think in a Biblical way so that we can pray into the result. It is written primarily for those who are believers in Christ. It is written as a matter of urgency. It is written as a primer, to get us thinking about the issues. It’s not an exhaustive list and I’m sure that there is more that Christians need to hear and will be said in the coming months.

If we are going to respond properly to the result we need to …

Remember that what unites us is not politics but Jesus.

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28, NLT)

For [Christ] himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility … that he … might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross. (Ephesians 2:14–16, ESV)

As believers we don’t look to find unity in politics. Instead we ARE united together as one body in Christ. We are united with all our political differences and all other differences.

This unity needs to be worked out in the way we relate to one another over the EU referendum. It needs to be worked out by us bearing with one another in love and seeking to maintain the unity we have in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3)

Remember that believers differ over non-Gospel issues and are free to express their differences.

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. (Romans 14:13, ESV)

Although this text is referring to secondary issues relating to religious observances it still applies to all secondary issues. Those things that are non-Gospel.

We live in a democracy and other believers are free to vote according their own conscience and needs. Our responsibility is to not quarrel with them nor act in a way that will cause weaker believers to walk away from the faith.

Remember that God is still on the throne.

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1, ESV)

Israel’s king had died and there was uncertainty about the future for the nation.

As a nation we are now in a very similar situation. With leaving the EU, the PrimeMinister stepping down in October, fear in the financial markets and a nation deeply divided, there is great uncertainty.

Where are we to look? We need to look up and see that God is still on the throne ruling the nations to accomplish all his purposes. He hasn’t been taken by surprise. Indeed, through the choice we made, God will still accomplish His own purposes for us. In the coming months he will continue to sovereignly rule over the changes that are coming.

Can I suggest that as we read newspapers and blogs, and as we watch news reports and documentaries, that we also read our Bibles to ensure that our world view has God at the centre.

Remember to pray for our leaders.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1–2, ESV)

In the coming months and years as Britain extracts itself from the EU our leaders will need great wisdom, strength and integrity if they are to do what is best for us. We need to pray for them. We need to pray that they will have all that is needed to enable them to deal with the changes ahead.

Remember that God’s Kingdom has higher priority than the United Kingdom.

Jesus said;

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Jesus spoke this in the context of worry. Rather than worrying about money, he said seek God’s kingdom as a priority.

Although God is obviously concerned for the nations, ultimately the only kingdom that shall outlast every other kingdom is God’s kingdom.

To make his kingdom a priority is to pray for Gospel growth and Gospel opportunities. In other words, rather than only being concerned about Britain's financial future we ought to be more concerned about her spiritual future.

Remember that this gives us great Gospel opportunities.

In your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)

Because so many people in our nation will be concerned about the future we have an opportunity to point them to Christ. We have an opportunity to show that we are trusting our futures, both personal and national, to him.

Remember the eternal future we have.

The Bible ends with a united nations. It’s not a united nations brought about through political agreements or referendums. It’s not a united nations based on trade agreements. It’s a united nations accomplished through the life, death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9–10, ESV)

23/06/2016

Meet Rashmi in Nepal

Read the latest update from Phil & Pratiksha in Nepal

21/06/2016

5 ways to reach out to Jewish people

As believers seeking to share the gospel, it is essential to be ready to provide a hope for the reason within us and also to be able to do that in a way that is honouring to God and respectful to others. When sharing the gospel with Jewish people; one approach clearly doesn’t fit all the Jews, since there are differences within Judaism and of course with the individuals themselves. So the five points given can be tailored to the particular person who you are engaging with and in addition to prayer can be used as tools to witness with.

Please click here to read the full article

30/05/2016

Accessing Christian resources on the internet-5 simple tests to take heed what you read

The availability of ‘Christian resources’ on the internet is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand there is a terrific amount of excellent material available that is edifying and brings glory to God and is of practical use and we would be foolish in one sense, not to make use of it. On the other hand, there are sites set up by cults that are all too frequently accessed by well-meaning and sincere believers, plus teaching that is clearly not biblically based but is merely opinion, sometimes heretical. Some web pages contain all of the above.

We are frequently warned to be careful in this respect. On the Mount of Olives and in the context of the end times, Jesus warned “Take heed that no one deceives you (Matt. 24:4)”, and “For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect (Matt. 24:24).”

Click here to read the complete article

26/05/2016

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice...

At the prayer meeting recently, we were encouraged to rejoice and have joy in the Lord. Paul wrote the book of Philippians, one of his four ‘prison epistles’ from prison, though he is remarkably joyful and emphasizes the same throughout this joy-filled epistle. Luke also recalls in Acts 16:25 that before the earthquake and the Philippian jailer was saved, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns at midnight!

Click here to read the complete article

21/05/2016

Reaching out to Muslims

Ramadan is approaching and Muslims will be fasting and searching spiritually. As Christians, we should be ready to give a reason for the hope within us with meekness and fear and consider how we can share the gospel in a way that is understood and at the same time make an effort to comprehend where those from the Islamic faith are coming from.

Please click here to read the full article

12/05/2016

There's a new Fighter Verse on this site

Better late than never! We are pleased to announce the 2nd Quarter 2016 Fighter Verse that we all strive to commit to memory.

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. (Isaiah 40:29, ESV)

10/05/2016

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Being all things to all men in the way Paul intended

These verses grant us liberty in how we present the gospel. The paramount principle is that this freedom is used for the sake of the gospel. That means the content of the message must be biblically sound, though the means of delivery will not be so rigidly fixed that we fail to consider a relevant approach to the recipient.

Read the full article by clicking here

29/03/2016

JonTaylor elected to the Diaconate

We are delighted to announce the election of Jon Taylor to the Broadstone Baptist Church Diaconate. Converted as a child and baptized at twenty one Jon is also a Youth and House Group Leader, a Teacher in the Junior Church and he also helps with pastoral visits and preaching.

Jon is a member of the FIEC Pastors Association and a Researcher for the Reachout Trust. He is employed as a Support Worker and supervises Social Work students on placements. He enjoys exercising and active pursuits, meeting up with friends, reading, writing and travel.

21/03/2016

Encouragements from Psalm 40

We want to know the purpose of enduring trials and to experience God’s blessing in the midst of adversity and this Psalm instructs us in this matter and guides us in what to do. Firstly, we are to wait patiently for the Lord. Waiting in this sense is far removed from passivity and involves seeking the Lord’s will and counsel.

To read Jon's full Psalm 40 blog article click here.

12/03/2016

Spiritual maturity is not the same as theological head knowledge

You may have attended studies where individuals are desperate to contribute something of what they know that is interesting in its own right, though is of little relevance to the passage being expounded. Calvin wisely counselled ‘Almost all men are infected with the disease of desiring to obtain useless knowledge’.

Read the full article on Jon's Blog page by clicking here

08/03/2016

The Comfort of God's Sovereignty

Spurgeon believed that God’s sovereignty is His most comforting attribute. Unquestionably God is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient; though how does this apply meaningfully and effectively to our lives? How does this relate to the trusting assurance of knowing the peace of God when in human terms the wicked may temporarily appear to prosper and the righteous endure suffering? How should we live today in the knowledge of God’s sovereignty?

Read the full article on Jon Taylor's Blog page - click here

17/01/2016

The Historical Adam and Eve

I remember attending a lecture where a ‘theistic evolutionist’ considered the opening chapters of Genesis as akin to a ‘true myth’. In his mind he was trying to reconcile two opposing views though unwittingly failed to account for the historical reality of Scripture. In relation to the above, some today deny that Adam and Eve were our original parents.

Throughout scripture Adam and Eve are considered to be real individuals. This is astoundingly evident in Genesis 5, 1 Chronicles 1, Matthew 1 and Luke 3 where lists of detailed genealogies are provided. Genealogies are what they appear to be; lists of individuals that actually existed showing who was descended from whom. Paul wrote to Timothy, ‘For Adam was formed first, then eve (1 Tim. 2:13). Jude also wrote concerning Enoch, the seventh from Adam (Jude 14) demonstrating that he was familiar with the chronology provided in Genesis 5 and considered Enoch to be a real person, descended from Adam.

Click here to read Jon's complete article

06/01/2016

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth

Consider a set of dominoes lined up at equal measure representing a timeline of a chain of events. Something or someone, either a hand, breath of air or some agency needs to apply force to topple the first domino and set the chain in motion. By necessity, the cause needs to be independent of the set of dominoes and the dominoes themselves had to be formed from something, not nothing and planned in an order, so that they might continue.

Please click here to read the complete article

21/12/2015

Angela Roth's 2015 Christmas Poem

Do You Hear Him Calling?

Do you hear the Christmas music?
Hits from all the years gone by,
Songs of Santa, snow and sleigh bells,
Meant to lift our spirits high.

Meanwhile adverts on the TV,
Full of jingles and good cheer,
Make suggestions for the presents
That we ought to buy this year:

ipads, games and gadgets, calling
'If you haven't got one yet,
Then you surely need to buy one,
Latest model, don't forget!'

So we're pressured, into spending
Money we don't really have,
Whilst forgetting that our Christmas
Should mean so much more than that.

Do we hear the voice of Jesus
Through the busyness and noise?
Do we our Saviour calling
While we're wrapping gifts and toys?

Do we think of that first Christmas
When our Saviour came to Earth?
Born to Mary, in a stable,
Come to bring us all new birth.

Shepherds heard the Angels singing,
And they listened, as the bowed,
To the message they were bringing
Of the King, become a child.

Leaving sheep, they rose together,
Running fast, they reached the place,
Found the baby, in a manger,
Where they gazed upon His face.

Meanwhile,in land far distant,
Wise Men, prompted by a star,
Left their homeland, set to travel,
Destination unaware.

But they listened, as they journeyed,
Heard the message loud and clear,
They were bound to meet our Saviour,
And to kneel and worship there.

Did they question? Did they wonder,
Who it was that called them forth?
Or did they take a step of faith
And trust the God who made the Earth?

Christmas Day is close upon us,
Will we let it pass us by,
Without thinking of the Saviour,
Born to take our sin and die?

On a cross, to bear our judgement,
Crucified to set us free,
Raised from death, now King forever,
Arms outstretched to you and me.

He will heal your pain and sorrow,
Bring forgiveness, joy and peace,
He will give you life eternal,
For His love will never cease.

All you need to do is answer,
When you hear Him call your name,
He will touch your heart forever,
Life will never be the same.

So this Christmas, take a moment,
Just to listen to His voice,
Hear Him speaking in the stillness,
Let His ways become your choice.

You will find new hope eternal,
You'll discover joys untold,
And no matter where life takes you,
You will never be alone.

29/11/2015

Is there physical healing promised in the atonement?

‘But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed’ (Isaiah 53:5)

Great controversy has arisen concerning the above verse. Some wholeheartedly believe that physical healing is guaranteed and can be claimed by the believer since the Lord Jesus Christ dealt with sin past, present and future through His sacrifice on the cross. Others would argue that the remit is limited to spiritual reconciliation and that full organic restoration occurs in heaven only and that God in His mercy heals today by His kind providence, not as an inherent result of the substitutionary atonement.

Please click here to read the full story

03/10/2015

Rugby, Conversion and the Christian Life

It is no secret that in years past and also today, there are a number of solid Bible believing Christians who are zealous for God and playing rugby in the World Cup. Noticeably from the All Blacks, the likes of Michael Jones the ‘Ice Man’ flanker and Va’aiga Tuigamala ‘Inga the Winger’, set a great example in Christian conduct on and off the pitch reminiscent of the timeless concept of ‘muscular Christianity’.

Click here to reads Jon's full article

17/09/2015

Take heed that no one deceives you

Jesus commenced the Olivet discourse concerning the signs of the times and the end of the age with these famous though often neglected words ‘Take heed that no one deceives you (Matt. 24:4; Mark 13:5; Luke 21:8)’. I remember the late Doug Harris bringing that to our attention at the last Reachout Trust Conference. Many will claim to be the Messiah and many who listen to those claims will be deceived. Some will get caught up and be troubled by world events and some will be deceived. The good news is that those who endure to the end will be saved.

Click here to read Jon's complete article

09/09/2015

The Blessing of Small Groups

Our Lord undertook his earthly ministry with a small group. The many benefits of small groups to list just a few include close fellowship, the opportunity to mature in the faith and encourage others, pastoral support and the opportunity to go out in pairs and evangelise.

Click here to read the full article

05/09/2015

The Blessing of Memorizing Scripture

Committing sections of Scripture to memory has profound benefits for the believer. For evangelism this will help us to handle objections, steer people towards the truth and lead them to the Lord. In our prayer life, this will aid us in praying according to God’s will. To encourage ourselves and others, it is a great boon to have ‘go to verses’ for various seasons of the soul whilst God unerringly remains constant. For making a defence for our faith and discerning truth from error, knowledge of God’s word will help us to weigh teaching carefully and accurately.

Click here to read the full blog article

25/08/2015

THE BRITISH MUSEUM WITH AN EYE ON GOD'S WORD

Click here to read the full story

01/08/2015

A brief note on the importance of church attendance

Some say that religion is a ‘personal thing’ almost like ‘you in your small corner and I in mine’, so why all the fuss about church attendance? Others are on an endless quest to find the ‘perfect church’ which reminds me of a children’s cartoon called ‘The Mysterious Cities of Gold’ in which the adventurers would invariably journey a bit further on their quest in search of the gold though never arrive anywhere near the city.
Read Jon's complete article by clicking here

29/07/2015

Look to the Son, not to the stars!

Part of me finds it astounding that some people claiming to be rational, read horoscopes and find them convincing. Not only are the write ups ambivalently worded, leaving a vast range of scenarios that may vaguely resemble life events at any given time; furthermore consider cases whereby twins raised in a congruent environment differ markedly in character, personality and of course outcomes. The other part of me is reminded that people are constantly searching and monthly prognosticators are nothing new and their roots can be traced to Babylon.
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18/07/2015

When God solves our problems, ............

When GOD solves our problems, we have faith in HIS abilities. When GOD doesn't solve our problems HE has faith in our abilities.

God's accuracy may be observed in the hatching of eggs. . .
-those of the canary in 14 days; -those of the barnyard hen in 21 days; -eggs of ducks and geese in 28 days; -those of the mallard in 35 days;

-The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days. (Notice, they are all divisible by seven, the number of days in a week!)


God's wisdom is seen in the making of an elephant. . . .

-The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the same direction. -No other quadruped is so made. - God planned that this animal would have a huge body too large to live on two legs. - For this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily. The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first. A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first.

How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation!

-Each orange has an even number of segments.
-Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind.
-Each ear of corn has an even number of rows. -Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains.
Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number.

Amazing.

-The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to the minute in all kinds of weather.
-All grains are found in even numbers on the stalks.
God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day. Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed.

The lives of each of us may be ordered by the Lord in a beautiful way for His glory, if we will only entrust Him with our life. If we try to regulate our own life, it will only be a mess and a failure.

Only God, who made our brain and heart, can successfully guide them to a profitable end.

I pray God blesses you in ways you never even dreamed. I didn't think twice about forwarding this one.

When you carry "the Bible" Satan has a headache; when you open it, he collapses;

When he sees you reading it, he loses his strength, and when you stand on the Word of God, Satan can't hurt you!

Life without God is like an un-sharpened pencil - it has no point.

26/06/2015

Some thoughts on 1 John-Knowing, Believing and Loving...

1^st John is an excellent and practical application commentary for John’s gospel. The opening verses are unmistakeably similar compared with Genesis 1:1, John 1:1 and Hebrews 1:1, though there is a slightly difference emphasis since the focus is on the fact that John and the apostles had seen and handled the Lord Jesus Christ. Gnosticism in its various forms which denied the full deity and humanity of Christ often taught that Jesus only appeared in a phantom state and viewed the physical part of human existence as of little value, was clearly being refuted here.

25/06/2015

BBC Family Fun Day - Don't miss out!

Saturday August 29th is a highlight to go on your calendars. Its the church Fun Day at Hillbourne Primary School. Lots for all to enjoy 10.00am through to 4.00pm. See you there!

21/06/2015

Space for all at Broadstone Baptist

Morning Service on Sunday 21^st June saw the first use of the wonderful elongated worship area now that the dividing wall through to the kitchen area has been removed.

09/06/2015

Contemplating the Psalms and their Writers

Have you ever scanned through a hymnbook, picking out your favourite ones and then read through their biographies? Maybe someone like Charles Wesley? Or possibly the turnaround in John Newton’s life, or Fanny Crosby who had a massive output and influence despite the fact that she was blind, almost from birth. In the same way, when we read the Psalmists inscriptions, it provides great insight and perspective such as Psalm 34 when David feigned madness before Abimelech or Psalm 51 as Nathan went to him after he had been with Bathsheba. This also helps us to live and feel our theology and can at times provide us with a necessary caution to relentlessly acquiring knowledge for its own sake.

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02/06/2015

What makes a good biblical song?

Good biblical songs are usually taken directly from Scripture or based on scriptural principles. When I was in Haifa, Israel the Messianic congregation listed the Biblical references on the screen underneath the words of the song. This is an extremely effective way of learning Scripture. Similarly in our context, it is often an interesting and helpful exercise to go through a song, hymn book or the words that appear overhead and see how much is derived from the Bible.

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29/05/2015

Reaching out to Jehovah's Witnesses

Earlier this week I was presented with an excellent opportunity to share the Gospel. Furthermore I didn’t even have to leave the house! The doorbell rang and I was approached by an articulate, sincere and unassuming chap, who helpfully identified himself as a Jehovah’s Witness.

Read the full story of Jon's experience by clicking here.

13/05/2015

Joshua Meets the Commander (Joshua 5:13-15)

Under Joshua’s leadership, the children of Israel had crossed the Jordan and were advancing toward Jericho. Before battle, Joshua was isolated and encountered a mysterious Man bearing a sword in His hand. Joshua immediately interrogated his visitor and enquired as to where his loyalties lay.
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28/04/2015

Making Your Vote Count

Politics is usually a contentious issue. One of the unwritten rules in Western civilization concerning amicable social discourse is never to mention religion, work or politics when one is ‘apparently outside those realms’ and in the company of friends. I learnt today however that in Australia, there is a fine for non-voters which is certainly a contentious means of combatting apathy.

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14/04/2015

Thinking Biblically About Facebook

Thinking Biblically About Facebook

I was amazed last Sunday morning when I heard this sobering thought. It is possible to read through the Bible in a single year by reading for just ten minutes per day, which would equate to around seventy hours annually. Meanwhile it is the norm to spend one hundred and eleven minutes every day on the internet. Now obviously balance is required here, since the internet has many useful applications. But just imagine the exact opposite. Think how different our lives would be, if we averaged one hundred and eleven minutes reading the Bible daily and restricted ourselves to ten minutes using the internet.

Click here to read Jon's insight into good use of our time

24/03/2015

Hearing from God - Speak Lord for your servant hears

We all at times struggle to hear from God and so did Samuel. Samuel was a young lad, probably about twelve years of age who was dedicated to the Lord by Hannah and was training for the priestly ministry under Eli.

In our contemporary setting it’s often difficult to know why, how and whether God speaks to us. Maybe we are waiting to hear the still small voice, or it could be the case that we experience trouble discerning that voice. Or possibly He is ministering to us via means that we haven’t even recognised, because we are too busy or ignorant of His ways? Most importantly, the way that Samuel was called by God and established as a prophet has an application for believers today.

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10/03/2015

Wrestling with God

Wrestling is an instinctive and natural activity and is the oldest known competitive sport. Several thousand years ago, Jacob had a wrestle with God that would change his life forever. Similarly, when we wrestle with God, He transforms us for His purposes and glory so that our character is refined and becomes more like His. Wrestling is vigorous and demanding and so is God’s chastening of His children that brings about true reform.
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18/02/2015

Five Reasons to Read and Study Deuteronomy

1 This is the book most often quoted by the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember when Jesus was tempted by the devil in three ways, He quoted Deuteronomy on each occasion (Deut. 8:3; 6:16; 6:13). How do we know who was the Prophet like Moses (cf. Deut. 18:15-22) who Philip told Nathanael about (John 1:45)? This reason in itself is ample justification to read Deuteronomy!

Read the other four reasons on our blog page by clicking here.

26/11/2014

Broadstone Baptist Church History 1968-1976

Continuing the serialisation of the book “A Tale of Two Churches on Baileys Hill” we are pleased to release on-line Chapter Three detailing the years from 1968-1967 (Pages 24 – 36). With Pastor Rogers having retired the helm was taken by Pastor Harold Perrett but only for two years and there followed a number of inter regnum years when a number of key leaders stepped up and kept the church together. One individual in particular, Mr Leonard Henman will always be remembered for laying down the plans for the new church building. His heritage lives on.
Click here to open the Part 3 pdf