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Do I Have a Drinking Problem?
Across Manchester and Greater Manchester “alcohol related deaths are higher than the national average.” If you’re reading this page, you’re probably worried about yourself, or someone you know. You may have asked Google or ChatGPT for help. Here’s the thing: However much you drink, alcohol isn’t your primary problem. It’s your false solution. It’s a…
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Can I Come to Church If I Don’t Believe?
Yes. You are welcome. At Manchester Lutheran Church we’ve had atheists, Muslims, and people from a variety of backgrounds visit, including from other churches that believe completely different things to us. You don’t need to pretend to believe anything. What happens? From 10:45am, we have refreshments together and chat. At 11am, our formal service starts.…
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Looking for a Church in Manchester?
If you’re looking for a church in Manchester, here are three things Jesus tells you to look for: 1) Look for a church in Manchester defined by the Word of Christ. Jesus said: where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (Matthew 18:20) A church is not defined by…
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God Directs Your Path—Without Dictating It
The Christian comedian Adrian Plass once wrote a story about a man who was convinced God wanted him to move to the Middle East. Why? Because he was praying for guidance, and every time he opened the Bible it mysteriously mentioned the land of Israel. Plass’ writings are full of humorous moments like this, which…
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Without Forgiveness Relationships Die
I talk to a lot of people about relationships. Marriages, parents and children, boyfriends and girlfriends, in workplaces, families and friendship groups. So many people are struggling with relationships here in Manchester and elsewhere. One massive reason is this: So often people don’t want the relationship to get better—they want to get even. The Bible…
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Has Allah Forgiven You?
Muslims and Christians both speak about the assurance of forgiveness.But they say opposite things. We see that very clearly in what their holy books claim about the assurance God gives us. The Qur’an (Surah 7:99):* أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ٩٩ Did they then feel secure against the plan…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 8 The Olive Tree
God genuinely wants all people to hear the Gospel. He genuinely gives salvation to all who believe the Gospel, so the Gospel is the Christian’s certain and only basis for confidence. All who believe the Gospel do so only because of God’s grace in electing them. All who don’t believe it do so only because…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 7 Don’t Climb into Heaven
How do I know God has chosen me? In the apostle Paul’s clearest discussion of predestination, the middle chapter is all about preaching the Gospel. But in John Calvin’s key chapter on predestination, he barely mentions proclamation at all. This contrast is crucial for understanding Calvin’s confusion about predestination. This is part seven of a…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 6 The Potter
God is all powerful. But that does not mean he is pleased with all things that happen, nor that he gets all that he desires. That is a logical leap made by the influential Reformed theologian John Calvin that led to him being confused about what the Bible says about God’s power. Calvin claimed that…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 5 Exodus, Pharaoh, Mercy and Hardening
God: (1) Wants all people to be saved. (2) But has mercy on whom he wills and hardens whom he wills. I do not know how those two truths fit together logically because God does not tell me. John Calvin introduced confusion into the Reformed churches by trying to explain how they fit together logically.…