Andy Robinson

Preaching Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard this morning. This did me good from Lloyd-Jones- “The secret of a happy Christian life is to realise that it is all of grace and to rejoice in that fact.”

Very much looking forward to preaching back at Woodstock Road this morning. Can’t begin to express how thankful I am for that church.

A busy day with a church wanting to reflect on Valentine’s weekend but having me as the speaker (ironies abound!). So a morning sermon on the Church as Bride, an afternoon seminar on Jesus, sexuality and identity and an evening preach on 1 Cor 7.

@danitreweek @BereanHopeful Thanks Dani. And very grateful for the help of your work in preparation.

@andyscgp @BereanHopeful Even if the “present distress” was a localised crisis (aside: it did not become a dominant view until the 20th C), in v29-30 Paul frames it as a broader eschatological reality of living in the now but not yet.

Preaching 1 Cor 7 tomorrow. I had forgotten how radical it is. I’m pretty sure Paul is saying that marriage is better than sexual immorality but celibate singleness is better than marriage. Aware that’s provocative and incomplete overall but it seems to me the gist of the text.

@BereanHopeful Possibly. It depends what Paul means by the present crisis in 1 Cor 7. But it seems to me that most of his argument doesn’t rely on an immediate return.

@andyscgp This is surely consistent with the understanding that Paul and the other apostles had that Jesus would return within their lifetime e.g. 1 Thess 4: 15-17

Which does mean we should always be asking about anything we do- “Does this have the feel of Jesus about it?”

Working on the end of Acts. There are so many parallels that Luke draws between Paul and Jesus. (Quite fun spotting them all). At one level that’s about Paul being authentic spokesman. At another it makes the point that all ministry is to be shaped by pattern of Christ.

“All that God had done through them” (Acts 14:27). I love that as a short-hand definition of what ministry is about.

And- once again- a misspent youth is now studying for exams rather than playing darts…

@UKLabour I’m far from a Farage fan but this video means I am much more likely to vote for him than Labour.

Reform poses a serious threat to women's right to choose.

Happiness is a train heading north…

When you’ve got to make a 90 second video, finally get it nailed and you realise you’ve merely taken a picture of yourself…

Andy exhorts church leaders to love people enough to be clear on the truth about sexuality, even if they might leave. livingout.org/resources/post…

Not sure I will ever write a book but, if I did, I would love to write something in praise of nuance. I fear it has gone missing in much of our public comment. A Christian view of humanity- created and fallen- should mean that our assessments of most things should be nuanced.

There’s been some great golf this year…

Looking forward to preaching John 5 at Magdalen Road this morning. Who would you choose to act as the final judge of the earth? Who has the necessary wisdom and integrity? I’m so glad that role is in the hands of Jesus.

Would quite like to write all my talks in places like this. As ever- sermons feel so weak when you write them. Deeply conscious of the need for the Lord to work through them. And prayers for Sat evening appreciated.

Preaching at Luke and Hannah’s wedding today. Never been given Ephesians 3:14-21 before! We are not designed to do the better and worse of life alone. Not even designed to do it with just a spouse. We are designed to go through it with the power and love of Christ in our hearts.

There is a reason Paul starts all his letters with “Grace and Peace”. I wonder how each day might be different if I woke up each morning and started with the thought “Here is another day where I have God’s grace and peace through Jesus.” Or if that started every church gathering.