Plains Evangelical Church Blog

FIEC Leaders Conference

2011-11-23T12:24:00.001Z

The FIEC held its Leaders Conference at the beginning of November. There were 400 people gathered together for this event. You can listen to talks by John Stevens, Johnny Prime, Trevor Archer and Andy Paterson here Technorati Tags: FIEC

Latest Christian Institute News

2011-11-23T12:19:00.001Z

Technorati Tags: Public policy

Latest News from Christian Institute

2011-11-16T08:57:00.001Z

Technorati Tags: Public policy

The Holocaust…..

2011-09-27T15:08:00.001+01:00

Here is a hard hitting and tremendously moving documentary which reminds us of the horrors of the holocaust and points us to the holocaust taking place in our society today. It is produced by Ray Comfort who is an evangelist. Beware, many of the scenes in this documentary are disturbing…. Technorati Tags: Public policy,Abortion

The Reason for God – Tim Keller

2011-09-09T15:18:00.001+01:00

Technorati Tags: Keller,Apologetics

Sinclair Ferguson on James 3 @ Desiring God

2011-09-01T11:16:00.001+01:00

As most of you will know we are working through the book of James in our small groups at the moment. Here Sinclair Ferguson speaks at the Desiring God Conference on James 3 Technorati Tags: Piper,Ferguson

Turning People back from the Dangers of Hell!

2011-08-22T14:16:00.001+01:00

Technorati Tags: Driscoll,Doctrine,Hell

Matt Chandler - Horrified

2011-08-19T11:00:00.001+01:00

London Riots

2011-08-17T10:31:00.001+01:00

A lot has been said over the past week or so on the London Riots. David Cameron and Ed Milliband are even now debating the different approaches that should be taken in the aftermath of the riots. Gerard Hemmings, minister at Amyand Park Chapel Twickenham had his letter printed in ‘The Telegraph’ on the 9th August. I think he is talking a lot of sense: “SIR - Having taught our children that

Why do you Believe the Bible?

2011-08-04T13:31:00.001+01:00

Why do you believe the bible? In this video Voddie Baucham explains why he chooses to believe the bible! Technorati Tags: Bible,Voddie Baucham

Give thanks for all things…….

2011-08-01T12:40:00.001+01:00

Well he certainly did that! Go Joe Nelms….

How do we respond to the terrible situation in Norway?

2011-07-31T09:16:00.001+01:00

David Robertson of the SOLAS Centre for Public Christianity in Dundee gives an insightful analysis below: Technorati Tags: Public Policy,Norway,David Robertson

What things are Chiefly contained in the Holy Scriptures?

2011-07-29T13:25:00.001+01:00

Technorati Tags: Baptist Catechism

In Memory of John Stott

2011-07-28T11:56:00.001+01:00

The Difference between ‘being good’ and receiving grace – Matt Chandler

2011-07-26T12:12:00.001+01:00

Have you ever wondered about the difference between being good and standing in grace? Too many Christians think that they are saved by grace, but live by the effort to be good. This paralyses lives and robs joy! Too many non-Christians think Christianity is about being good and this puts them off because they know they can never manage it and they know that Christians seem not to be managing it.

Latest News from the Christian Institute

2011-07-22T16:54:00.001+01:00

Technorati Tags: Christian Institute,Public Policy,Politics

The Big Debate – John Lennox v Richard Dawkins

2011-07-20T10:55:00.001+01:00

Has Science buried God? What do you think? Technorati Tags: Science and God,Dawkins

May all men make use of the Scriptures?

2011-07-19T15:29:00.001+01:00

Evangelism using Mark’s Gospel

2011-07-19T09:25:00.001+01:00

Christianity Explored, developed by Rico Tice of All Souls Church in London, is a course whose aim is to “‘let the gospel tell the gospel,’. It is a course from which many at Plains have benefited greatly. In fact, we plan to begin a new Christianity Explored Course in the next few months. Click here and you will find an evangelism training video where Rico Tice show how to share the gospel from

What is the Word of God?

2011-07-17T15:59:00.001+01:00

Technorati Tags: Baptist Catechism

Break the Chains – Misty Edwards

2011-07-17T09:20:00.001+01:00

He gave his life! What more could he do? Technorati Tags: Music

How May we Know there is a God?

2011-07-16T10:04:00.001+01:00

Ought Everyone to believe there is a God?

2011-07-15T14:04:00.001+01:00

Technorati Tags: Baptist Catechism

Who is the First and Chiefest Being?

2011-07-15T14:02:00.001+01:00

What is the Gospel?

2011-07-15T13:04:00.001+01:00

Listen to Sam Storms on what the gospel is…. Technorati Tags: Gospel,Alan

Adam Baker – Latest Release

2011-07-15T09:13:00.001+01:00

Glasgow based singer-songwriter, Adam Baker, has been a regular visitor to Plains over the years. Adam is about to launch a new CD and you can get a preview right here! Technorati Tags: Music,Alan,Worship

Something to Say….by Starfield

2011-07-14T13:28:00.001+01:00

This is one of a great series of animations set to music. Really thought provoking. If you like this one check out the others

The Bible says it so I believe it – Is this enough?

2011-07-14T11:01:00.001+01:00

I’m currently reading Kevin De Young’s ‘Good News we Almost Forgot’. He blogs at the Gospel Coalition and recently raised this interesting question. He says, “It takes a certain courage to look at what the Bible teaches, not like it all that much, and still believe it. I am thankful for brothers and sisters who believe in hell or believe in complementarianism or believe in election and

Do you have a problem with Forgiveness?

2011-06-29T15:44:00.001+01:00

What does real forgiveness look like? This interesting article from CCEF is very useful. You can listen here

Casting Crowns

2011-06-28T14:57:00.001+01:00

This one is old….but ever new! ‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus”

Is Baptism Important?

2011-06-27T15:23:00.001+01:00

How important is baptism for the believers in Plains? Carl Bloomberg makes some compelling points here

I will wait for You…

2011-06-27T10:49:00.001+01:00

On Sunday morning we were looking at ‘Life in the Providence of God’ from Genesis 24. We were exploring God’s guiding hand in the life of his people. Obviously, given the content of Genesis 24 we were thinking a bit about relationships and marriage. I came across this poem this morning and thought it interesting…

A Hellish Perspective

2011-06-24T10:56:00.001+01:00

David Robertson from St. Peter’s Church Dundee dons the cloak of C.S. Lewis to give a sobering assessment of the Church in Scotland. You can read it here

Driscoll - Are you going to the party?

2011-02-16T11:10:00.000Z

Hi folks Here is a very challenging sermon excerpt from Mark Driscoll, why not watch it and make sure you're going to the party!

10 of those – Plains Evangelical Partnership

2011-02-15T11:20:00.001Z

Plains Evangelical Church are pleased to announce a new innovative partnership with ‘10 of those’ to meet all your reading requirements. The ‘10 of those’ vision is to help local churches and Christian organisations by providing quality Christian resources at prices they can afford. Their resources are consistent with the Word of God as we understand it and all generated money is used to

Paul Tripp on struggles

2011-02-10T18:59:00.001Z

Right here, right now God isn't first working on altering your situations. No, in grace he's using your situations to undo and rebuild you.

Persecuted Christians in the Middle East

2010-11-18T14:13:00.003Z

The events in Iraq where indigenous Assyrian Christians are being persecuted; murdered and driven from their homes have at last been discovered by the BBC and Press in the UK. Most of the reports I have heard seek to make one excuse after the next for the intolerance of Islam, but Ed West from the Telegraph seems to have hit the nail on the head. You can read it here.

Another Great British Preacher

2010-11-16T14:11:00.005Z

One more fellow to fill your ipod with. Johnny Prime is Pastor of Enfield Evangelical Free Church. The Lord regularly blesses him in his preaching you can listen here

Internet Preaching

2010-11-11T15:59:00.004Z

Isn't it wonderful how you can have fantastic preaching at your finger tips any time of the day or night? We have also listened to the greats: Piper; Keller: Driscoll; Begg; Ferguson; MacArthur, but there are many great preachers all across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom and your Ipod can bring them straight to you. Why not listen to Rupert Bentley Taylor, Former President of the

FIEC For a New Day

2010-11-04T08:35:00.005Z

I recently attended the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) Leadership Conference in Derbyshire. There was great teaching from Ray Evans of Grace Community Church, Bedford and FIEC (in the form of John Stevens, Richard Underwood and Trevor Archer) set out a tremendous vision for independent churches working together for the gospel in the UK. The audio is available for you here.

John Piper - Don't Waste Your Life @ Christian Audio

2010-11-03T11:45:00.007Z

What do walking the dog; jogging; cycling; driving and swimming all have in common? You can listen to an ipod while doing them! (Well perhaps you better forget about the swimming). Christian Audio are offering a free download of John Piper's classic "Don't Waste Your Life". You can access it here. This is a really challenging read (listen) which will help you to orientate your life around God

Octavius Winslow On Prayer

2010-10-14T12:33:00.000+01:00

I have recently started using daily devotions written by Octavius Winslow and I have to say they have done my spirit the world of good. For those not familiar with who he is, I have included a small bio at the end of this post. I just want to share one of his devotionals I read the other day on prayer, very encouraging. “But the end of all things is at hand: be you therefore sober, and

Frenzy Report - Newworldson

2010-08-12T20:21:00.000+01:00

Ok, I know it has been a while since the frenzy music festival, however I still thought it worthwhile to share what was undoubtedly the band of the festival. NEWWORLDSON. This Canadian group just about stole the show! With their unusual reggae feel and excellent lyrics and presence, they were fantastic. I have included a you tube video below to give you a taster:

Food for Thought from Luther

2010-05-05T16:12:00.005+01:00

"Let the world, rather than God, be offended with me." - Martin Luther

An Open Letter to the Airdrie & Shotts Candidates

2010-05-03T11:39:00.001+01:00

It has been a great pleasure to meet with you in the course of this election campaign. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to spend some time talking through your values and policies with me. I have enjoyed it greatly and it has helped me to think through how I will cast my vote on Thursday.In a few short days one of you will be

Should I Vote for John McGeechan – Independent?

2010-04-30T20:55:00.001+01:00

I visited John McGeechan tonight and enjoyed a tea and blether. He has decided to stand because he is sick of what the traditional parties have served up over the years and wants to be a sort local councillor writ large serving the Airdrie and Shotts constituency. We discussed the same three issues that I discussed with the other candidates. Here we go for the last time….Sanctity of Life – We

Should I Vote for Pamela Nash – Labour?

2010-04-30T16:42:00.002+01:00

Earlier today I had the privilege of spending some time with Pamela Nash the Labour candidate for Airdrie and Shotts. She was accompanied by Councillor Tommy Morgan who is an elected representative on North Lanarkshire Council. Pamela began by telling me that she is fully committed to ‘Labour Values’ and to the Labour Party manifesto upon which she is standing. We then went on to discuss the same

Should I Vote for Sophia Coyle – SNP?

2010-04-29T12:20:00.003+01:00

I’ve just had the privilege of spending an hour or so over coffee with Sophia Coyle the SNP candidate for the Airdrie and Shotts constituency. She was accompanied by her father Cllr. Michael Coyle and her daughter. Sophia has been active in local politics for a number of years currently serving as a North Lanarkshire Councillor and having previously stood for the Scottish Parliament. Our

Ruth Whitfield - Conservative Update!

2010-04-27T08:32:00.003+01:00

Do you remember the pledge? The pledge to ‘respect, uphold and protect the right of Christians to hold and express Christian beliefs and act according to Christian conscience' that is. It doesn't sound that controversial does it?Well as I mentioned on an earlier blog I had asked Ruth Whitfield if based on her earlier comments here she would be prepared to make this pledge. Well here's the

Should I Vote for John Love – Liberal Democrat?

2010-04-22T11:57:00.004+01:00

It seems that the question, ‘Should I vote Lib Dem?’ is one which half the country is asking at the moment! I’ve just had the privilege of spending an hour and half with John Love the local Lib Dem candidate. He has been active in local politics for years and is currently a sitting North Lanarkshire Councillor. I asked him about the place faith had in his own life. He told me that he was a

Should I Vote for Ruth Whitfield – Conservative?

2010-04-21T11:43:00.001+01:00

Unfortunately Ruth Whitfield is unable to meet with me. However, she has very helpfully outlined her views on some of the issues I asked about in my original email. Let me give you a flavour of what she said.Ruth started off by giving me a little of her own faith background. She said, “I am a member of the Church of Scotland and my Christian faith is very important to me. I know that as a Member

Will the Real Conservative Candidate Please Stand Up!

2010-04-14T13:58:00.002+01:00

Eagle eyed readers of the blog will notice that the last blog has disappeared! In it I gave chapter and verse on a series of emails between myself and 'Ruth Whitfield' and concluded that she didn't want to meet me! Well that's right! But the reason she didn't want to meet me is that she has nothing to do with politics and isn't standing in Airdrie and Shotts! This poor innocents email address has

Decisions, Decisions – Who should I vote for?

2010-04-14T11:01:00.000+01:00

A few years ago I decided that I was finished with party politics. I decided that what was more important than a party machine was the person who was actually going to be representing me in the Council, in the Scottish Parliament or in Westminster. In practice, what this has meant is that after years of voting for the same party, since making this decision I have voted for three different parties

Performance Treadmill

2010-04-05T17:03:00.002+01:00

Hi I thought I would share some thoughts that have been of great release to me in my Christian walk and also just as challenging.The easiest way to summarise it is I have been trying to work through the following Question,How am I going to live in a God Pleasing and Glorifying way today?I know that if we were all to be asked do we want to live that way today we would in the blink of an eye say

Idol Prayer

2010-01-13T12:12:00.000Z

Hi, I thought that since we are looking at shaking idolatry from our lives in our evening services, it would be good to pass on this prayer that I read on another blog: Heavenly Father, in Rome I saw the statues of various gods that filled the temples and lifestyle of that great ancient city. In London, I visited the biggest Buddhist temple in the city and wandered from station to station as

9Marks comes to Scotland

2009-12-02T16:23:00.004Z

Charlotte Chapel are hosting 9Marks Scotland 2010, a conference aimed at Building Healthes Churches. The speakers are Mark Dever, Pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington D.C and founder of 9Marks ministries, together with Paul Rees of Charlotte Chapel and Liam Garvie of St. Andrews Baptist Church. This is a really welcome development in Scotland and Paul and Liam are to be thanked for

Food for Thought - Martin Lloyd-Jones

2009-11-25T10:44:00.005Z

"The man who is trying to be a Christian is trying to hold on to something. The man who is a Christian feels that he is being held by something. It has been put to him, it is there; it may even seem to be in spite of him, but it is there. It is not what he is doing that matters to him; it is what has been done to him." - Martyn Lloyd-Jones What do you think?

The Night the Wall Came Down

2009-11-18T16:14:00.002Z

Do you remember where you were the night the wall came down? I was at home in the first flat my wife and I had after getting married. I watched the news in disbelief as the Berlin wall crumbled and fell with joyous East German’s clambering over it to celebrate freedom.Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s the ‘cold war’ was rarely off the news. Phrases like, ‘mutually assured destruction’ were well

Food for Thought

2009-11-13T16:20:00.004Z

"The life of a Christian is one perpetual good work which God begins, continues, and completes." - Ulrich Zwingli (1484 - 1531)Discuss

Songs of Heaven

2009-11-06T12:24:00.006Z

Worship has been a theme that has emerged here on several occasions. I wonder have you noticed the songs of heaven in Revelation 5. I don’t know about you, but whenever I read Revelation 5 my focus tends (probably rightly) to be on the first nine verses. They paint an awesome picture of heaven where there seems to be no-one worthy to open the scroll. John weeps and weeps until one of the elders

Extravagant Worship

2009-11-05T14:39:00.001Z

Extravagant Worship, that is a popular phrase in the church today and in what I understand that is meant by it, I wonder if I ever enter in. In my mind if someone comes to our church and asks are we extravagant worshipers, I would say no, not at all, for in my mind when I think of extravagant worship I think to my days growing up in a Charismatic Church and all the extremes that happened in

Bodies - Robbie Williams

2009-11-04T13:38:00.002Z