My first upcoming date in Sydney, Australia

 

Two Latest Library Lunch Time Lectures Now UP

You can find my lecture on John Fawcett and Fergus Pearson on Thomas Scott along with several other lectures at the Evangelical Library Channel.

https://youtu.be/UHoFm9sbbMY?si=Ld6piNpjuuZEF21X

https://youtu.be/K5OLUCMClU0?si=icrRknv2eWOzdMGr

Latest Evangelical Library Zoom Lecture - John Fawcett

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/f/a/w/c/fawcett_j.htm

It was a great privilege to deliver a lecture on John Fawcett on Monday in connection with the Evangelical Library. It is a fresh version of the lecture I gave at the Grace Assembly last May. This one should be on the Library's YouTube Channel soon. I have a John Fawcett blog - see here.

Evangelical Library Autumn Zoom Lectures

Readers will be interested to learn that we have arranged a new set of zoom lectures for this Autumn in connection with the Evangelical Library. All lectures are on Mondays and will began at 1 pm and be over by 2 pm.

Logon details can be obtained from the Library near the time.

The lectures will be as follows

September 29 Gary Brady on Pastor, theologian and hymnwriter, John Fawcett 1739-1817

October 27 Fergus Pearson on Bible commentator, Thomas Scott 1747-1821

November 24 Dr Ian Densham on Swiss Reformer, Theodore Beza 1519-1605

All are very welcome to join us.

Grace Baptist Assembly 2025 Final Part

So the rest of day two was filled with our usual business meeting, agreeing to meet again here, May19-21, 2026 then a break and a UK news session chaired by Colin Grimwood (work in Chelmsley Wood, Chorlton, Bethersden, Wensleydale, Ferris Lindsay teaching English, etc). Engouragements and difficulties abound. Mick Lockwood preached again in the evening, this time mainly on Revelation 21 but with a lot of Luke 24. So a good day - not just from the platform but chatting away with various people I know and didn't know. There have also been prayer meetings Wednesday and Thursday mornings (Noel Ramsey and Derek Meade leading).

I slept well and woke early as we hade to clear our rooms before ten and I was due to speak in the first session of Thursday morning. I had been asked to do something historical and chose to look at John Fawcett. I made ten points fom the material

Ten Lessons for small churches from the life of John Fawcett (1740-1817)

1. Never forget the importance of love

2. Sometimes a small church may find it difficult to pay its pastor

3. Small churches should not be surprised if other churches invite their pastors to step up into a wider sphere

4. Small churches, like large ones, must be led by and be made up of converted people

5. If even small churches produce men of the calibre of a Sutcliff they greatly serve the wider church

6. Interconnectedness. How ever it is done, it can be a great blessing, especially to a small church, to be connected with like minded churches, large or small

7. Even small churches can be involved, with other churches, in the wider work of mission

8. Remember, small churches can grow into big ones

9. Sometimes ministers even in small churches can exercise a wider ministry through print or judicious use of audio and video online

10. Sometimes it is right to hang on in there, even though thin
gs may look very discouraging

(If you are interested in John Fawcett I have begun a new blog on him here

Also my talk is here).

Today is my birthday. I am 66. Dennis Gamston tipped them off and they sang happy birthday to me, which happened once before.

Our final session was a preaching service. Chola Mukanga from Bexley Heath preached from Haggai 2. He reminded us that God is with us as his people, he is with us in his work and he is with us for his glory.

Midweek Meeting May 14 2025

Seven of us gathered last Wednesday. I ran through the material I hope to give at the Grace Assembly next week on John Fawcett. I did it as its designed to encourage small churches and we are one. We also spent time in prayer and then at the end heard a report of the testimony of a potential new member which was received amd agreed.

Day Off Week 18 2025

Hope Chapel, Hebden Bridge

Wainsgate Chapel Graveyard

Wainsgate Chapel, Midgley

My day off this Tuesday was rather different to the usual. I dropped Eleri off at the school where she is an administrator, got petrol and then headed uo the M1 to Hebden Bridge, where I did a little bit of research on John Fawcett, who I have agreed to speak on next month at the Grace Assembly. I was only there a while but it was a beautiful day and there were no traffic hold ups. It cost a bit for petrol, of course, but very nice. I'm sorry there was not ime to visit my few Yorkshire friends. See more on Fawcett here.

John Fawcett

This book which I downloaded in electronic form and read on kindle is a full and leisurely account of the life and ministry of the author's father. It includes many quotes from Fawcett's journal, letters to and from him and his poetry. A rambling book, its 440 pages could easily be reduced by half and still be worth reading. I read it at a quick pace seeking out information for a paper I am to give on Fawcett next month. Fawcett, a Particular Baptist pastor in Hebdenbrodge, Yorkshire, was clearly a godly man, a fine preacher and a force to be reckoned with in his day (1740-1817). At the end of the book are two of his sermons.

10 Eighteenth Century Baptist Hymn Writers

1. Anne Steele
2. Benjamin Beddome
3. Benjamin Francis
4. Benjamin Wallin
5. Daniel Turner
6. John Fawcett
7. John Rippon
8. John Ryland Jr
9. Robert Robinson
10. Samuel Medley

Midweek Meeting March 25 2015

Nearly forgot this, so busy. As we've come to the end of Philippians 2 and we're coming into the holiday period I thought I'd do something else. I plan to preach from 1 Peter 2:7 at the Banner and so I thought I'd explore the text probably over two or three weeks. So on Wednesday we made a start taking just five headings under which to place reasons for counting Christ precious. There is a helpful book on the subject by the 18th century Baptist John Fawcett. See here.

Hymn of the Week 33

We haven't had one of these for a while. We sang this fine hymn by John Fawcett last Sunday. I liked the final verse in particular.

1. How precious is the Book Divine,
By inspiration given!
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine
To guide our souls to heaven.

2. It's light, descending from above
Our gloomy world to cheer,
Displays a Saviour's boundless love
And brings his glories near.

3. It shows to man his wandering ways
And where his feet have trod,
And brings to view the matchless grace
Of a forgiving God.

4. O'er all the straight and narrow way
Its radiant beams are cast;
A light whose never weary ray
Grows brightest at the last.

5. It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts
In this dark vale of tears,
Life, light, and joy it still imparts
And quells our rising fears.

6. This lamp through all the tedious night
Of life shall guide our way
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.