News
If I Became a Christian Would I Have To Quit Smoking and Drinking?
Christianity is often viewed as simply a set of cultural practices, and when you become a Christian you’re simply adopting those new cultural practices, swapping out one set of rules for another. In this Short Answers video, Steve Osmond speaks about smoking ans drinking to highlight that there is actually more than meets the eye.
Share
Please share this video widely with friends or family and for more Short Answers videos, visit solas-cpc.org/shortanswers/, subscribe to our YouTube channel or visit us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Support
Short Answers is a viewer-supported video series: if you enjoy them, please help us continue to make them by donating to Solas. Visit our Donate page and choose a free book as a thank-you gift!
THANK YOU!
Solas’s work is vital, exciting and demanding. Our speakers are reporting a spiritual hunger across the country as they share and defend the gospel of Jesus in cafe’s, restaurants, pubs, campuses and churches up and down the land. Our training work is very encouraging too – churches are keen to get skilled up and mobilised to share their faith keep inviting us! Our gospel resources: books, films, podcasts, web resources are in use all over the world…. It’s busy, exhausting, expensive and fruitful! We count it as a huge privilege to be involved in God’s work.
However, none of this could happen without the small army of people who support this ministry in prayer and financially. So we want to take a moment to say a big, and public THANK YOU, to all of you who pray and give to support us. Without your faithful generosity this work – would just stop!
The vast majority of our donors give around £4 a month. We have a few larger donors too – but we are largely dependant on our small army of faithful, smaller donors whose regular support keeps us going. We do not take your support for granted, we guard every penny wisely, keep costs to an absolute minimum to turn every gift into a gospel opportunity. We are so grateful to God for you – that’s it’s hard to express it adequately here.
So, to all of you who give to this work, THANK YOU.
Wondering at Kinross Rugby Club
Christian ministry can sometimes be frustrating! Sunday night at Kinross Rugby Club was one of those occasions. I had been looking forward to speaking at this event for ages for many reasons: I love Loch Leven Church, they are doing a ‘Have You Ever Wondered?’ series on Sunday nights; they don’t have their own buiding and so do these events out in the community, and loads of young people were planning to come, including many who haven’t yet trusted Christ.
Then on my way there there was a bad crash on the M90 and soon after I passed the scene the police shut the whole motorway – and queues stretched back for miles. Caught up in the delays were lots of people heading for the event. Worse still there were people at the event waiting to see their friends who were stuck on the motorway. Then we heard that one of the cars coming to join us for the Have You Ever Wondered? event was then involved in a shunt in the queing traffic – (thankfully no-one was hurt).
So with far too much pizza for the smaller-than-expected crowd, and several of the young people concerned about their friends, eventually we pressed on with the evening. We were looking at the ‘Have You Ever Wondered?’ question: Why We Long to Feel Seen? It’s a talk based on this article on the Solas website about the God who sees us and how we can repsond to the fact that we are not ‘invisible’ to him, nor unnoticed nor overlooked.
In such situations, it’s important to still bring the message and trust God to work! We had prayed extensively for the event, and so can rest assured that His will, will be done. Our own frustrations can be put to one side and we can continue to pray that those who were able to be there will have listened and realise that God sees them – in all their wonderful but fractured humanity and will forgive and restore any who come to Him.
Loch Leven Church is pressing ahead with these monthly events designed for young people, teenagers and those exploring the faith. This was only one evening of what we pray will be a really fruitful ministry in Kinross. Please join us in praying for those who were able to be there – as well as those who weren’t – and for my colleague Steve who is speaking there at the next one of these ‘Have You Ever Wondered?’ events at the rugby club.
Addressing a Crisis of Confidence
What is it that holds you back from sharing the Gospel? For most of us, it boils down to a lack of confidence. We don’t have confidence in our knowledge to field difficult questions, we don’t have confidence that we won’t get ‘cancelled’ and we might even lack confidence in our own faith itself. So you’re not alone! That’s why Solas runs ‘Confident Christianity’ training across the UK to help churches regain their confidence in evangelism. Gavin Matthews and Steve Osmond explain how it works and who it helps.
To find out how Confident Christianity can help your church, visit the Solas website here.
Addressing a Crisis of Confidence – PEP Talk
Our Guests
Gavin Matthews is Solas’s Assistant Director (Scotland) and does a wide variety of work for the organisation. He speaks for Solas in churches and at conferences, co-ordinates the website, writes articles and other Solas communications and presents webinars and podcasts. He also loves networking for Solas and speaking with church leaders about our work. Gavin has been married to Elaine since 1996 and they have three adult children. He has been a member of Perth Baptist Church since 1999.
Steve Osmond is a full-time speaker and writer for Solas, focussing primarily on Scotland. He is enthusiastic about evangelism and regularly speaks at universities around the country on the big questions of life and the truth of Christianity from a range of perspectives. He also spends much of his time working with churches and other Christian groups, both to grow their faith and equip them to share their faith in Jesus persuasively.
About PEP Talk
The Persuasive Evangelism Podcast aims to equip listeners to share their faith more effectively in a sceptical world. Each episode, our hosts chat to a guest who has a great story, a useful resource, or some other expertise that helps equip you to talk persuasively, winsomely, and engagingly with your friends, colleagues and neighbours about Jesus.
Motivation for Mission #10: Speaking God’s Word
Francis of Assisi (1181-1226), is alleged to have said: “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” That might be one of the great misquotes of Christian history!
There are two problems with the quote. First of all, he never said it – and he certainly didn’t practise it! The second is that it is not what we’re told to do in scripture. Jesus said, when you “go into all the world … teach people to obey all that I have commanded” (Matthew 28).
In Jesus’s view it is necessary to use words.
Now, of course, Francis had a point, and the point he always made in his work, in his writings, was this: don’t just use words. Our mouths need to be open with the gospel of Christ, our wallets need to be open with the generosity of Christ, our hearts need to be open with the love of Christ, and our homes need to be open in hospitality like Christ. But words are a necessary component!
Jesus came with the “words of life” (Jn 6:68), and when we go in his name and with his gospel “[w]e are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:20). The gospel of God is transmitted with words – spoken, written, printed, broadcast, texted, WhatsApp’d etc to individuals, families and crowds. When he calls us into partnership with him, he gives us the privilege of speaking his word!
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the privilege of speaking your life-giving word to people who need to hear about you. Thank you for the way your word changes lives. Give me the courage to speak it boldy. Amen.
Steve, Strathclyde, & Students!
Spirituality, love, freedom, success and truth. Those are some of the topics that I had the opportunity to speak to university students about this past February at Strathclyde University
in Glasgow for their Christian Union’s events week. Along with speaking at their evening events, I also participated in some lunch events – one where I was asked to speak about ‘Jesus and the failures of the church’.
Across the week we were at different venues around the campus, but no matter where we were there was always a great turn out, which wasn’t unexpected with the variety of activities on offer at the events. From a pub quiz, to ‘Bonkers Bingo’, to an open mic night, to constructing pancakes and playing Wii, there was something for everyone, but it also created great spaces where people could come in and meet members of the Chrisitan union, experience some community, and hear about Jesus.
This year as part of the talks I was working through part of the Gospel of Luke as a way to engage with relevant topics and also introduce people to Jesus, perhaps for the first time.Many people still have a very skewed idea of what Christianity is really about (often not helped much by social media), and so it is always such privilege to explain the truth of Jesus and show how Christianity is not only true, but answers the big questions of life better than anything else.
Have You Ever Wondered Why Everyone Is Talking About God?
In our uncertain world of pandemics, unceasing foreign conflicts, and economic rollercoasters, is there anything we can hold onto for peace and stability? A world without God might be appealing when everything is going well, but when we start looking looking for answers in tougher times, perhaps it’s no surprise that God and spiritual things are back on the front burner of our society.
If you want to learn more about these issues, we’d recommend finding a Christianity Explored or Alpha Course run by a church near you.
The Parable of the GP
A few weeks ago I woke up with a mouth full of ulcers.
Not one discreet little ulcer hiding in the corner – oh no – a full committee meeting. Every syllable felt like sandpaper. Preaching with mouth ulcers is like attempting Handel’s Messiah while chewing gravel.
So I rang the GP’s surgery. The earliest appointment? A week away.
There’s a sentence that stretches both your patience and your theology.
In the meantime, I turned to the time-honoured British remedy: salt-water rinses. Then more salt-water rinses. By day four my mouth tasted like the North Sea and the ulcers were still thriving Eventually, the appointment arrived. My wife, Killy, came with me, partly for moral support, partly to ensure I remained Christian in the waiting room.
We entered the doctor’s office.
No warmth.
No welcome.
No ‘How are you?’
Just: ‘What do you want?’
It felt less like a consultation and more like a cross-examination.
He glanced in my mouth – and when I say glanced, I mean one second. I’ve had longer eye contact from a pigeon.
Tap. Tap. Tap on the keyboard.
‘Go to the pharmacy. Pick up your prescription. Goodbye.’
Ninety seconds.
We were in and out faster than a Formula 1 pit stop.
He wasn’t offensive. He was efficient. Just distant. Detached. Disinterested. You know the sensation: you’re not a person, you’re a problem to be processed.
The prescription didn’t work. The ulcers and pain worsened.
So I rang again. To the surgery’s credit, they offered another appointment three days later with a different doctor. We walked into the second consultation.
‘Hello! Come in! Take a seat.’
And immediately, something shifted.
He examined my mouth properly. Checked my ears. Took my blood pressure. Asked questions. We even had a little banter about football and life.
Ten minutes.
Same surgery.
Two doctors.
Two atmospheres.
Two prescriptions.
Two outcomes.
The second doctor’s prescription cleared the ulcers within three days.
But this isn’t really about ulcers. It’s about us.
A Culture Running on Empty
We are living in an age of relentless pace. The NHS is under enormous strain. Staff are exhausted. Patients are anxious. Systems are stretched thin.
Efficiency has become a survival strategy.
But somewhere along the way, efficiency has started to replace empathy.
The first doctor treated a mouth. The second doctor treated a person.
That distinction may sound small. It is not.
We underestimate the power of tone. We underestimate the ministry of manners. We underestimate how much kindness costs and how much coldness costs more.
Attention is one of the purest forms of love. To give someone your full focus for even a few minutes says, ‘You matter.’ And in a distracted society, that message is priceless.
The first consultation was quick.
The second was human.
Efficiency clears diaries. Humanity clears ulcers.
The Invisible Aches
Here is what troubles me most.
There are people walking around Britain today with invisible ulcers.
Ulcers of grief.
Ulcers of anxiety.
Ulcers of loneliness.
Ulcers of disappointment.
They sit across desks. They stand in queues. They scroll through phones late at night.
You cannot see their pain in a scan. But it is there.
And when they come into our orbit, at work, at church, in the supermarket, at home, we face a quiet choice.
Ninety seconds.
Or ten minutes.
A glance.
Or a careful look.
Efficiency.
Or empathy.
We are arguably the most technologically connected generation in history, yet loneliness has become a public health crisis. We speak constantly, but listening is becoming rare.
And listening is not passive. It is powerful.
The Example of Jesus
Whatever one’s personal faith, the figure of Jesus remains compelling in this regard.
Read the Gospel accounts and you notice something striking: he was never hurried with hurting people.
There were crowds. There was pressure. There was urgency. Yet when someone in pain stood before him, he stopped.
A blind man by the roadside.
A woman suffering silently.
A grieving family.
He asked, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’
It is almost the same question my GP asked. But tone transforms meaning.
Presence changes everything.
The Small Things That Shape a Nation
We tend to think society is shaped only by major policies and grand speeches. But often it is shaped just as profoundly by the smaller omissions:
No smile.
No warmth.
No eye contact.
No curiosity.
These are not dramatic failures. They are quiet absences. Yet they accumulate. They form the emotional climate of a workplace, a family, even a country.
The second doctor did not perform a miracle. He simply practised attentive care.
And that changed both the experience and the outcome.
Kindness is not weakness.
Patience is not passivity.
Warmth is not wasted time.
In a hurried world, slowness can be quietly radical.
The Prescription We All Carry
Most of us will never sit behind a GP’s desk. But every one of us carries something just as powerful:
Our tone.
Our attention.
Our presence.
Our extra two minutes.
You may be the only gentleness someone encounters today.
The only pause in their chaos.
The only moment they feel seen rather than scanned.
Same office. Different spirit.
The lesson of my ulcers is simple but searching: sometimes the greatest healing does not come from what we prescribe, but from how we treat people.
We cannot fix everything. We cannot solve every systemic problem. But we can decide what kind of presence we bring into a room.
And in the end, that may be one of the most powerful prescriptions of all.
Read more from J. John here.
Aberdeen Events Week 2026
‘More Than…’. That was the theme of the Aberdeen University Christian Union events week that I had the opportunity to speak at this year. Across 5 days I spoke at 5 lunchtime events on topics including: Tradition – is Christianity just another one to follow?; Myth – is that all Christianity is?; Success – where do we ultimately find it?; Struggles – how do we make sense of them; and Politics – where does faith fit in?
It was a great week and I was privileged to spend the week with some great people, including Pastor Wayne Sutton of Carrubbers Christian Centre in Edinburgh (good friends of Solas) who was speaking at the evening events for the week.
We had a really great turn out at every event, and all of them were abuzz with conversations – especially with guests from diverse backgrounds. I eventually lost count of the number of conversations I had with guests who had come along after being invited by friends or receiving a flyer, and they were keen to hear more about Christianity.
Many people I spoke to were from countries where Christianity is a very minor religion, and so they didn’t have any knowledge of who Jesus is – what’s more encouraging is that many of them returned to several events to hear more about the Gospel, and by the week were keen to go visit a church the following Sunday for the first time.
Engaging with students on university campuses is always such a pleasure, especially to hear their questions and concerns and be able to point them to not only the truth of Christianity, but the hope that is found nowhere else but in Jesus Christ.
Whose Messiah? – Evangelism to Jewish People
Here in the UK, we might encounter Jewish people that range from secular atheists to highly religious. But Christians can be reluctant to engage in gospel conversation for fear of political pitfalls or cultural offence. How can we navigate the issues we might encounter when sharing the message of Jesus with his original ethnic group? In this episode of PEP Talk, we find some great encouragement and wisdom around evangelism to Jewish people.
Whose Messiah?: Evangelism to Jewish People (with Aaron Eime) – PEP Talk
Our Guest
Rev. Aaron Eime serves as the UK General Director for CMJ, The Church’s Ministry among Jewish People. Aaron studied in the master’s program at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, with a focus on early Jewish and Christian Interpretation of the Bible. He also studied psychology and sociology at Queensland University in Australia. Aaron is a dedicated Bible teacher exploring the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith. He reads Aramaic and ancient Greek and is fluent in German and Hebrew. He has taught internationally, including in Europe, North America, Hong Kong and China. He is married with three children, both he and his wife were born in Australia.
About PEP Talk
The Persuasive Evangelism Podcast aims to equip listeners to share their faith more effectively in a sceptical world. Each episode, our hosts chat to a guest who has a great story, a useful resource, or some other expertise that helps equip you to talk persuasively, winsomely, and engagingly with your friends, colleagues and neighbours about Jesus.
Motivation for Mission #9 : Deepening your understanding of every good thing
Do you realise that the Bible says that sharing your faith is really important for your own spiritual growth? Read these words from Paul’s letter to Philemon:
I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. (v6) NIV
It’s in the sharing of our faith with others that we grow in our understanding and our knowledge of Christ. Which also means that if we don’t share our faith, our growth is going to be inhibited in some way. Now, what Paul is initially referring to here is sharing the life of faith with other Christians. But what he has in mind isn’t merely having a fellowship meal or sitting in cosy groups of Christians. Rather, for Paul, sharing faith always means participation in the apostolic mission of the church, which is to reach people with the gospel. Paul wanted to plant churches all the way along the north side of the Mediterranean from Athens towards Rome, and he wanted other people to share in that mission in fellowship together. So when Paul says participation in fellowship, he’s talking about joining together in the apostolic mission.
It’s in sharing our faith that we grow in it. And if we don’t share our faith, our own spiritual growth will be inhibited. Our own understanding of the grace of Christ will be restricted. Our own spiritual dynamic growth into Christ will be withheld in some way if we’re not sharing our faith with others as we join in the mission of the church.
There’s something about the dynamic of the spiritual life that means we stagnate if we are not an open channel for the grace of God to flow through us to others. One of the keys to spiritual growth is fellowship in mission! If you want to deepen your relationship with Christ, tell the world about him.
Prayer: Lord, I want to talk about you more often, and more wisely. I want to know you more deeply and to become more like you. Help me to grow into you by sharing in the fellowship of the gospel.
Student Mission at St Andrews
Almost 500 years ago, at the gates of St Andrews University a young student called Patrick Hamilton was burned to death. His crime: sharing the good news that Jesus Christ saves sinners by His free grace and through our simple faith in Him. Recently I visited the same spot, where Patrick Hamilton’s initials can be found spelt by bricks in the road. It was my way of saying: we continue the work that you began all those years ago.
It was a privilege to spend the week of February 9th to 13th serving the St Andrews University Christian Union. They had arranged a programme of ten evangelistic events for their friends, course mates and anyone else interested in thinking more about the question: What’s the purpose of life?
Much has been written about the meaning crisis that has engulfed the western world. Having turned our back on the story of God and His love, we have been cast adrift in a meaningless universe. We’re like characters in a story without an Author, who are forced to invent our own scripts to make sense of our otherwise absurd existence. It doesn’t make sense – because it isn’t true! We have been created by God and redeemed by Jesus to play a part in His great story.Each evening we ran an event which explored an ingredient that makes up a recipe of a life filled with meaning and purpose: a purpose that unlocks IDENTITY… A purpose that transcends PERFORMANCE… A purpose that fosters COMMUNITY… A purpose that brings JOY… A purpose that promises LOVE. Each event had a different flavour, appealing to different audiences: acoustic music, taskmaster challenges, international food, gin and jazz, cake decorating.
Then each lunchtime there was a free lunch with a talk addressing one of the big questions of life that tied into that days theme: is life pointless or purposeful? Am I matter or do I matter? How to survive the culture wars? Is there any hope? Why does God care who I sleep with?
It was wonderful to see signs that the so called Quiet Revival has come to St Andrews. The students report that this was their best attended mission since the pandemic. Each day the room was full of guests, many of them coming for multiple events and signing up for follow up (doing the Speak Life 3,2,1 Course or reading Uncover Luke). Three times we had to restock our supply of gospels because they were being taken away in droves by guestsThe afternoons were spent camping out in the Student Union, inviting any one interested in asking more questions to come hang out. These were often stretching but always stimulating conversations!
The highlight of the week was after speaking on the resurrection that a fifth year astrophysics student was introduced to me. He announced: “I’m convinced”.
We pray that God will water and cause the seeds sown to grow into a great harvest of salvation – with many more people testifying: I’m convinced!
Have You Ever Wondered What It Means To Be Human In An Age Of AI?
As our artificial intelligence tools mimic human abilities in incredible ways, is there anything about us that really makes us unique? If we are no more than biological computers, perhaps there is no difference, or value, in humanity? In this Short Answers video, Andy Bannister considers the human qualities derived from the Christian story, that ensure we will remain unique, valuable and loved in the age of AI.
Share
Please share this video widely with friends or family and for more Short Answers videos, visit solas-cpc.org/shortanswers/, subscribe to our YouTube channel or visit us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Support
Short Answers is a viewer-supported video series: if you enjoy them, please help us continue to make them by donating to Solas. Visit our Donate page and choose a free book as a thank-you gift!
Spotlight on Sexuality and Identity
One of the most common objections against Christianity is that it restricts people’s sexual freedom and discriminates against the LGBT+ community. Solas and our friends at the Living Out ministry bring you resources to help you navigate the tricky terrains of sexuality and identity.
Why Is God Against My Sexual Freedom?
“We live in an age that tells us our sexual freedom is the most important thing in the world, and in many people’s minds God is against that.” Andy Bannister looks at whether the Bible is restrictive and anti-sex.
Page Menu
- Why Is God Against My Sexual Freedom?
- Is The Gospel Really Good News For The LGBT+ Community…?!
- …And Is It Even Plausible In Our Modern Liberated World?
- Sexuality In A Broken World
- How Can I Explain My Faith To My LGBT+ Friend?
- “God, If You’re Real, I Want To Feel Joy”
- “People Want To Rewrite My Story”
- “I Felt An Incredible Presence”
- “I Always Thought I Was A Boy”
- “I Couldn’t Stand Christians!”
- A Better Story: More Transformed Lives
- Recommended Reading
Is The Gospel Really Good News For The LGBT+ Community…?!
Ed Shaw unpacks one of the most important questions for all of us, no matter what sexuality we are: is the gospel really good news?!
…And Is It Even Plausible In Our Modern Liberated World?
Ed’s second talk explores whether Christianity really holds up in a world that values personal autonomy and sexual freedom.
Sexuality In A Broken World
“God’s teaching about sex is both marvellous and challenging for everyone. I don’t think it’s just for those attracted to the same sex who find it hard to live by… It’s hard for everyone.” Vaughan Roberts explains why God is so important in our broken world.
How Can I Explain My Faith To My LGBT+ Friend?
How do you start a conversation with someone from the LGBT+ community who might think Christianity is homophobic or transphobic? Steve Osmond shows three ways of unlocking better conversations with those who disagree with us.
STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION
“God, If You’re Real, I Want To Feel Joy!”
Katherine met God through a girlfriend, after heart-break and grief led her on a quest to rediscover joy.
“People Want To Rewrite My Story”
Sean was told he was living a lie, because he fell in love with a woman, despite being same-sex attracted.
“I Felt An Incredible Presence”
David’s search for authentic love led him to a incredible encounter with God that changed his life forever.
“I Always Thought I Was A Boy”
Sophie always felt like a boy, but God met her at a painful time of her life, when she was trying hard to be a woman.
“I Couldn’t Stand Christians!”
Tracey hated Christians until she discovered that they were not all self-righteous, but were welcoming and loving.
A Better Story: More Transformed Lives
Adam Curtis speaks to Solas about how God is working in the lives of many people in the LGBT+ community today.
Recommended Reading
- The Plausibility Problem by Ed Shaw
- A Better Story edited by Ed Shaw
- Purposeful Sexuality by Ed Shaw
- A War of Loves by David Bennett
- Finding Your Best Identity by Andrew Bunt
- Transgender by Vaughan Roberts
- Is God Anti-Gay by Sam Allberry
- Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With? by Sam Allberry
See the Living Out website for more recommendations.
Preparing for Mission at St Andrews CU
In the week before the St Andrews CU ‘Events Week’ I spoke at the final CU Equip night, before the big week. There are more details in the video about what happened!
