# From the Couch

> The blog of David Couch


## Posts

- [The Rest We Were Made For](https://www.david-couch.com/2026/06/rest-in-the-bible/): Rest runs through the whole Bible, from the seventh day to the Sabbath rest that remains. A warm walk through Scripture in Hebrew-canon order, home to Christ.
- [Isaiah 34 and Edom: Why the Prophet Targets the Wrong Nation](https://www.david-couch.com/2026/02/isaiah-34-edom-why-prophet-targets-wrong-nation/): Why does Isaiah 34 target Edom when Assyria threatens Jerusalem? Discover how Hebrew prophecy uses archetypal patterns to speak to every generation.
- [Logos 2026 Researcher Silver: A Pastor's Case for Serious Exegetical Tools](https://www.david-couch.com/2026/02/logos-2026-researcher-silver-review/): A pastor's honest review of the Logos 2026 Researcher Silver library. Is it worth it for preachers who want to do serious exegetical work with original language texts, textual criticism, and scholarly tools?
- [Is Study Assistant in Logos Worth Using? A Full Review for Pastors & Teachers](https://www.david-couch.com/2025/11/is-study-assistant-in-logos-worth-using-a-full-review-for-pastors-teachers/): Logos Study Assistant Review: The New Feature That Brings Your Whole Library to Life Every so often, Logos Bible Software releases something that genuinely changes the way you use the software day to day. Logos 46 introduces one of those moments with Study Assistant — an AI-enabled conversational tool designed to help you draw insight from the resources you already own. I’ve been testing it for a while now, and I honestly think this is the most significant feature Logos has added in years. Not because it’s flashy, but because it quietly helps you study better. After working with Logos as […]
- [Logos Bible Software Review 2024: A Pastor’s Experience with the New AI-Powered Platform](https://www.david-couch.com/2024/10/logos-bible-software-review-2024-a-pastors-experience-with-the-new-ai-powered-platform/): After eight months of hands-on experience with the latest Logos Bible Software, I’m excited to share how its new AI-powered features and continuous updates have transformed my Bible study and sermon preparation. Whether you're a pastor, Bible study leader, or academic, Logos 2024 offers a subscription tier for every need. In this review, I dive into the key features—like the Bible Study Builder, Smart Synopsis, and Factbook—while offering suggestions for future improvements. Ready to see how Logos can streamline your study? Check out my full review and get an extended free trial!
- [Why bother with church?](https://www.david-couch.com/2023/10/why-bother-with-church/): I was recently invited to Hertfordshire Christian Union to give an answer to the question ‘why bother with church?’. We went on a tour through Ephesians to find the answer. The recording is below:
- [Notes on Preaching Esther](https://www.david-couch.com/2023/01/preaching-esther/): Over the first few months of 2023, I plan to preach through the book of Esther. Below are my notes, resources I found worthwhile, and other things that I found useful. This is a work in progress – feel free to recommend resources to me! Structure Structure: On either side of the turning point are repeated phrases, some reiterated in reverse order and unusual idioms used three times (first half, second half, and in Esther 5:11-6:3. Note also that entire verses from Esther 3:10-15 are repeated in chapter 8. Recommended Reading Articles Duguid, I. M. (2006) “But Did They Live Happily […]
- [Herts, Brunel & Luton CU Weekend Away: Ephesians](https://www.david-couch.com/2022/11/cu-weekend-away/): I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the weekend away of Bedfordshire, Brunel and Hertfordshire CU's...
- [Logos 10 Review](https://www.david-couch.com/2022/10/logos-10-review/): Logos 10 is finally here, and there are some great improvements. Read on to find out the things that make me particularly happy with this release!
- [Pentateuch Overview](https://www.david-couch.com/2022/07/pentateuch-overview/): Over the past year (September 2021 to July 2022), at our midweek small groups, I took my church through the Pentateuch. The plan was to cover as much of the key storyline as we could in the number of weeks available. This of course meant that bits that I would have loved to cover were cut. We also ran Topic Nights looking at some of the big themes that appeared, and review sessions at the end of each book. These were all filmed for members who could not make it, or who wanted to review (videos are at the bottom of […]
- [How does the divine intention of a text relate to the intention of the human author?](https://www.david-couch.com/2022/07/how-does-the-divine-intention-of-a-text-relate-to-the-intention-of-the-human-author/): In recent years, discussion around intentions has grown significantly. In evangelical circles, there have been many views of how the intentions of the divine author and the human author interact. In some senses, these fall along a spectrum from seeing the intentions as totally separate, through to completely identical. It is worth outlining what is meant by the human author’s intention. It can be very easy to overstate what is being said. This has caused many to mishear or talk past the other side. For instance, it would be ridiculous to claim we can infer everything about the author from reading […]
- [Review: James (Big Greek Idea)](https://www.david-couch.com/2022/05/review-james-big-greek-idea/): Over the past few months I have had the pleasure of looking over James: Big Greek Idea, the first in a new commentary series by Kregel Academic. I love the premise of this series! It provides a type of commentary that I have not seen before. It takes the benefits of a Greek language commentary (such as the NIGTC), and combines it with bits of an expositional commentary (such as the ProcTrust series), whilst also including details for teachers and language students. This makes the series, in my eyes, something to dip into regularly as I preach through a book. To […]
- [Review: Are you 100% sure you want to be an agnostic?](https://www.david-couch.com/2022/02/review-are-you-100-sure-you-want-to-be-an-agnostic/): A quick glance at the current landscape shows that agnosticism appears to be the trendy thing to be. Gone are the days of the ‘New Atheists’ with their outspoken opinions, and in their wake now stand the ‘nones’. People who don’t have a religious affiliation on their census. The people who asked whether God exists will reply ‘I don’t know’. The position that appears wise in a world torn between competing opinions. Peaceful, centred, not causing a ruckus. Agnostic – a trendy choice. But can you be agnostic about Jesus? To answer that question Andrew Sach and Jonathan Gemmell come along […]
- [The revelation of the Trinity in Scripture is perfect](https://www.david-couch.com/2021/12/the-revelation-of-the-trinity-in-scripture-is-perfect/): “The revelation of the Trinity in Scripture is perfect”, says Fred Sanders in ‘The Triune God'. As Sanders says this, he means that the disclosure in Scripture of God’s identity is complete, sufficient, and the way it is meant to be. Or, to put it another way, we could not have done a better job of revealing the Trinity if we wrote the Bible ourselves.  When you really think about that statement, it leads to a realisation that, in Scripture, we have all the information that the True and Living God wants us to know. It also means that to ask […]
- [Logos 9 | 6 months later...](https://www.david-couch.com/2021/05/logos-9-6-months-later/): It has been six months since Faithlife released Logos 9, and I thought it would be a good time to look and see the parts that I have used the most.According to my ‘screen time report’ from macOS, Logos is my most used application during the week, which already speaks for how prominent it is in my daily workflow. So I took note of the features that I use regularly, and the things that keep me coming back to them. Hopefully you, as the reader, will find this beneficial for seeing how you could do similar! Preaching mode When I started […]
- [Logos | Custom Highlights](https://www.david-couch.com/2020/12/custom-highlights-in-logos/): Logos has the ability to add custom highlights across your Bible. Not only are these helpful on the desktop, but they also sync onto mobile too! To add Dave’s highlight palettes to your copy of Logos, click the links below and press ‘Get a copy’: Structure Palette Chiasms Palette The team at Faithlife have kindly given ‘From the Couch to the Study’ viewers a discount on upgrading to Logos 9. To take advantage of it, please use the link below.
- [Logos 9 | Review](https://www.david-couch.com/2020/10/logos-9-review/): Every couple of years Faithlife release an update to their flagship software Logos. The Faithlife developers have not taken a break, and even in the midst of a global pandemic, they have been hard at work. 2020 introduces us to the latest and greatest: Logos 9. Faithlife was kind enough to give me early access to this new version for review. I have been able to tinker with it for the past few days and use it day-to-day. Before full-time pastoral work, I worked in the software engineering field. I am, therefore, very interested in bringing the best of technology into […]
- [Logos | Two recommendations for structure work](https://www.david-couch.com/2020/08/logos-two-recommendations-for-structure-work/): Finding the structure of a Bible book is really important for getting the message that the author is wanting to convey. Dave shows us two resources in this video that he finds useful to ‘invite into his study’. As always, the resources – and links to pick them up in Logos -are below. Resources shown in the video:
- [Are you sure you're an agnostic?](https://www.david-couch.com/2020/06/are-you-sure-youre-an-agnostic/): Surely sitting on the fence is the easiest place to get the best view? The big problem is that Christianity doesn’t rest on things we can take a ‘don’t know’ position on. Christianity rests on facts. Either facts you believe or facts you don’t believe.
- [Jonah in Luke's Gospel](https://www.david-couch.com/2020/05/jonah-in-luke/): We recently had Luke 8:22-56 preached at Christ Church Hemel, and it struck me that Luke alludes (quite strongly) to Jonah in the first section (Luke 8:22-25). Just consider the similarities: Jesus, like Jonah, falls asleep on the boat. (Luke 8:23, Jonah 1:5) Shortly after a storm rises, threatening to sink the boat. (Luke 8:23, Jonah 1:4) The disciples cry the same thing as the captain (Luke 8:24, Jonah 1:8) The response of the disciples and sailors is fear. (Luke 8:25, Jonah 1:16) There is a striking difference though. Jesus actually went and offered salvation to the Gentiles, whilst Jonah did […]
- [Review: ESV Bible with Creeds and Confessions](https://www.david-couch.com/2020/03/review-esv-bible-with-creeds-and-confessions/): Crossway has been publishing different editions of their well-received ESV Bible for a while now. This year they have released the ‘ESV Bible with Creeds and Confessions’ to add to their collection. Since receiving my copy I have used it as my go-to Bible in my office, and put it through its paces! Looks Box The first thing you see, as you open the shipping box, is the presentation box. This has been very well designed, with red and gold colours. It really stands out. Cover Once again Crossway has outdone themselves in making a very nice-looking Bible. The edition I […]
- [Notes on preaching Hosea](https://www.david-couch.com/2020/02/notes-on-preaching-hosea/): Here are my findings as I preached through Hosea at Christ Church Hemel between January and April 2020. This is a live page, so I plan to keep this updated with further research as time progresses (and allows). To hear my sermon series on Hosea, please visit the sermon archive. Big picture Below is the big picture structure for the book of Hosea. This will be fleshed out further on in this page: Passage Theme Hosea 1-3 Hosea and Gomer’s marriage is a picture of God and Israel’s relationship Hosea 4:1-3 God lays out his charges against the people of Israel […]
- [Review: The Mind Muddler by Jo Boddam-Whetham](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/09/review-the-mind-muddler-by-jo-boddam-whetham/): “God made our minds to run on his trackbut instead we chose the track that was cracked.Like fools we live in a tunnel of lies;and fools without God can never be wise.” I do not think that a book like this exists in the children’s market – or at least, I have never seen a book that tackles this particular topic aimed at children (feel free to let me know of others in the comments!). Over the past few years, 10ofThose have been publishing a number of well thought out children’s books. The Mind Muddler joins this ever-growing collection, and it […]
- [Whose Word Are We Singing?](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/08/whose-word-are-we-singing/): On Bethel, Hillsong, and what actually happens when a church opens its mouth on a Sunday morning I was standing in a room full of Christians last summer, singing a song I knew came from a church whose theology I don’t trust, and nobody around me was batting an eyelid. Neither, if I’m honest, was I — not until the second verse, when I caught myself and thought: do I even know who wrote this, or what they believe? I didn’t check the screen. I just sang. That’s the real question underneath this whole debate, and it isn’t really about Bethel […]
- [Review: Reformed Systematic Theology Vol. 1 by Joel Beeke & Paul Smalley](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/08/review-reformed-systematic-theology-vol-1-by-joel-beeke-paul-smalley/): ‘Reformed Systematic Theology’ is the latest volume put out by Joel Beeke, Paul M. Smalley and published by Crossway. This is the first in a projected 4-volume work, aiming to cover the broad category of Systematic Theology. This particular volume looks at the themes of Revelation and God (or Theology Proper). It has been said that the church needs good theology that engages the head, heart, and hands. In this volume, Beeke and Smalley say that they are aiming to do that as they ‘seek to strengthen a Christian reformed according to the Word of God’ (p. 114) From that description, […]
- [Review: My Bible Animals Storybook by Dandi Daley Mackall](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/05/review-my-bible-animals-storybook-by-dandi-daley-mackall/): 10ofThose have been putting out some good quality children’s books recently (see Rosie & Friends for example) and this is no exception. The artwork is lovely, and the approach is fun too. The author has managed to write a Bible storybook around the ideas of animals – and one thing I’ve learnt since getting this book is that children love animals! There are two pages to each story, but the author does not make it so that the animal is central. When I first saw the title I thought it would be making the animals centre-stage, at the cost of the […]
- [Review: Confronting Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/05/review-confronting-christianity-by-rebecca-mclaughlin/): What are the trickiest questions you think Christianity faces? Can you cut that down to 12? That’s what Rebecca McLaughlin does in her first book – Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion, published by Crossway. The author tackles 12 of the most commonly questioned issues people have with Christianity head-on. And when I say that, I don’t mean like other books on apologetics do. McLaughlin actually wrestles deeply with the issues, and shows the actual facts undergirding them. For example, in her chapter on ‘hasn’t science disproved Christianity?’, she takes a good look at why that might […]
- [Review: Before You Open Your Bible by Matt Smethurst](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/04/review-before-you-open-your-bible-by-matt-smethurst/): What do you do before you open the Bible? What do you think to yourself? In this short book, Matt Smethurst challenges us to ask those questions of ourselves. And in doing so, he gives 9 reminders and correctives to help us approach God’s word. Each one packs a weighty punch, and does not take long to read. I found the author’s chapter on prayer particularly useful. As Smethurst mentions, even he did not think to add this chapter till the end. Prayer is so important to rightly handling God’s word, and something we regularly forget to do. I used this […]
- [Mark 11:27 - Mark 12:12: "Who do you think you are?"](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/04/mark-1127-mark-1212-who-do-you-think-you-are/): Passage: Mark 11:27 – Mark 12:12
- [1 Samuel 4: God is in charge, and cannot be manipulated](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/04/1-samuel-4-god-is-in-charge-and-cannot-be-manipulated/): Passage: 1 Samuel 4
- [Review: Rosie & Family by Nicola Fairbairn](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/04/review-rosie-family-by-nicola-fairbairn/): Rosie and the family is the new series of books published by 10ofThose, written by Nicola Fairbairn and illustrated by Ruth Hearson. Currently there are three books in the series: Mummy’s New Baby, The Bad Dream, and Sports Day (that’s the order I placed them in – there is a very subtle story progression, see if you can spot it!). The Stories Each book is around 24 pages long, and speaks into the lives of children. I really like the formula that the stories follow. The issue for the child (Rosie in two of them, and her brother Joshua in the […]
- [Review: The Lord's Supper as the Sign and meal of the New Covenant by Guy Prentiss Waters](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/03/review-the-lords-supper-as-the-sign-and-meal-of-the-new-covenant-by-guy-prentiss-waters/): I have grown to love the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series by Crossway. These short books pick up a topic, and show how the Bible develops them over salvation history. The Lord’s Supper is one of those topics, and I was glad to see the editors pick it. The title interested me since it picked up on two aspects of Biblical Theology that I have not seen much work done on so far (let alone at a popular level): covenant signs and covenant meals. I also appreciated the pun (that I assume is intended) in the title, so kudos to […]
- [Review: Prophetic from The Center, by D. A. Carson](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/03/review-prophetic-from-the-center-by-d-a-carson/): “It is easy to sound prophetic form the margins; what we urgently need is to be prophetic from the center” D. A. Carson The center Don Carson’s latest book, from 10ofThose publishing, is a call for all Christians to get back to the gospel. Rather than standing at the margins, we need to get right back to the center of the faith, and stand on its foundations. At a time when modern society is going through major upheaval, and the core convictions of previous generations are being thrown under the bus, Carson reminds us that the gospel really has power. To […]
- [Review: Different - by David Martin](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/02/review-different-by-david-martin/): Different is a short book (only 80 pages!) aiming to bring to the forefront the sins that we may not notice in our churches. The ‘nothings’ that the Western world are prone to in our time in history. Well what are they? They are: materialism, careerism, sentimentalism, and nationalism. David Martin does not call these out for no reason. No, he wants us to realise that they are there, and that they affect our witness to the outside world. The book is written in an engaging and witty way. I was able to read the whole book in one go. Now, […]
- [Review: The Ten Commandments by Kevin DeYoung](https://www.david-couch.com/2019/01/review-the-ten-commandments-by-kevin-deyoung/): Kevin DeYoung has written a number of accessible level books for lay-people in the church. From topics of busyness, to holiness, to how do we find God’s will, these books have helped the church grapple with difficult areas of doctrine for today. In his latest book on the Ten Commandments, DeYoung sets out to explain what they mean, why they matter, and why we should obey them. Coming from a different view to the author, I was interested to read this book and see if his arguments were convincing. So let’s see if he manages to answer those three questions in […]
- [Review: Can We Trust the Gospels - by Peter WIlliams](https://www.david-couch.com/2018/12/review-can-we-trust-the-gospels-by-peter-williams/): Can we trust the gospels? That is a very important question. If they do tell the truth, then there is no denying that they must be heard, read and followed. If they’re false, then we can discard them and not bother at all with them. Peter Williams, Principal of Tyndale House in Cambridge, has been working on this area for a number of years. I first heard him debating Bart Ehrmann on the Unbelievable podcast, on this very topic. And now he is here with 160 pages of academically rigorous research, written at a popular level. Williams states “This [book] seeks […]
- [Review: From Chaos to Cosmos by Sidney Greidanus](https://www.david-couch.com/2018/12/review-from-chaos-to-cosmos-by-sidney-greidanus/): If you’ve followed this blog for even a short time, you’ll know that I am a big fan of Crossway’s Short Studies in Biblical Theology. These books make Biblical Theology approachable to the masses. So whenever Crossway offers the books, I jump at them. And that was the case with the latest entry to the series ‘From Chaos to Cosmos: Creation to New Creation”, by Sidney Greidanus. This theme is a major one that spans the entire Bible, and when I heard that it was to be released I was excited. A number of issues, related to the idea of chaos […]
- [Review: ESV Story of Redemption Bible](https://www.david-couch.com/2018/10/review-esv-story-of-redemption-bible/): The Bible is the grand, sweeping story of the unfolding plan of God throughout the history of the world. Those are the words on the back of the new ESV Story of Redemption Bible, and these are words that we need to remember today. Many people have lost the idea of scripture as the story of the unfolding plan of God. Instead, we know select verses, and perhaps the name of the some of the books. But how do they all fit together? Crossway has been on a mission it seems to tie the Bible back together for us. With their […]
- [Review: Even Better Than Eden: Nine Ways the Bible's Story Changes Everything About Your Story by Nancy Guthrie](https://www.david-couch.com/2018/09/review-even-better-than-eden-nine-ways-the-bibles-story-changes-everything-about-your-story-by-nancy-guthrie/): “Christ came to accomplish what was necessary to open the way for us, not just back into the garden of Eden, but into a home that will be even better than Eden and a life that will be even better than the life Adam and Eve enjoyed there.” What is your story? Where would you begin? Maybe it’d be where you grew, where you went to school. Nancy Guthrie in ‘Even Better Than Eden’ wants you to start further back. She wants you to think of your story as part of the grand story – the story that begins in Eden. […]
- [Review: Christian Ethics: Biblical Moral Reasoning by Wayne Grudem](https://www.david-couch.com/2018/08/review-christian-ethics-biblical-moral-reasoning-by-wayne-grudem/): Christian Ethics is a complicated subject to tackle. Well, I say complicated, in some ways it is pretty straight forward. But ethics are what fall out of a whole Bible theology; and therefore, are affected by the way you put together the Bible. So the challenge is to put together an ethical standard that is consistent and as Biblically centred as is possible. To this challenge, Wayne Grudem steps up with his book on Christian Ethics. I’ve been looking forward to this book coming out ever since I first listened to recordings of his Sunday School class on the topic a […]
- [Review: Archaeology Study Bible (ESV)](https://www.david-couch.com/2018/06/review-archaeology-study-bible-esv/): ‘History is foundational to the worldview presented in Scripture’. As we read the Bible we need to know that it’s contents were written to a specific people at a specific time. Therefore we need to ‘go to Corinth’ – to understand what the original readers would have thought – before we apply truths to ourselves. This is where Crossway’s Archaeology Study Bible aims to help. As famed Biblical archeologist David E. Graves says, archaeology is not a ‘proof’ for the Bible. Instead it should inform our exegesis. This is why I was excited to hear about Crossway’s latest study bible. And why […]
- [Review: Light in a Dark Place - The Doctrine of Scripture](https://www.david-couch.com/2018/05/review-light-in-a-dark-place-the-doctrine-of-scripture/): Light in a Dark Place is the latest entry in Crossway’s ‘Foundations of Evangelical Theology’. This has been a great series of systematic theology over the past few years, with each volume tackling a foundational aspect of theology. In the latest volume, the editor of the series, John Feinberg turns the focus on to another foundation – the doctrine of Scripture. This book could not have come at a better time, both personally where I have been completing studies in the doctrine at college, and in society where society seems to be scraping around in the darkness looking for the light […]
- [Review: The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross](https://www.david-couch.com/2018/04/review-the-kingdom-of-god-and-the-glory-of-the-cross/): “What is the kingdom of God? Well let me tell you about a tree.” That sums up the introduction to this latest addition to the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series by Crossway. The beauty with these books is that they are ‘short’, but they pack plenty of punch!
- [Psalm 150 - The complete, unending, hallelujah](https://www.david-couch.com/2018/04/psalm-150-the-complete-unending-hallelujah/): Passage: Psalm 150 Summary What is it that makes you sing? That makes you laugh, that makes you shout for joy? Perhaps it’s the moment when your favourite footballer, running up the wing, gets passed the ball and in a moment of skill curves the ball past the hapless defenders, right into the corner of the goal. Or maybe it’s the news of a newborn. The long wait is over, and they’re finally here!  Or maybe you’re like me, and are a product of these isles we live in. Where emotion sometimes gets stuck at customs somewhere between Dover and Calais. There’s […]
- [Review: Echoes of Exodus](https://www.david-couch.com/2018/03/review-echoes-of-exodus/): When you think of the Exodus, what do you think of? For me I still have Dreamwork’s ‘Prince of Egypt’ jumping to the front of my mind. The authors of ‘Echoes of Exodus’ tell us we must think bigger than that. In fact, we should think of the Exodus as fundamental to our understanding of the Bible. We should be seeing the echoes all over the place. God’s plan is about saving a people from slavery to freedom, and that applied physically to the Israelite nation in the book of Exodus, as well as to people today. The authors go on […]
- [1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:10 - "Separated, but..."](https://www.david-couch.com/2018/02/separated-but/): Passage: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:10 Summary For the Thessalonians it may have felt like they’d been left alone. But as we work through this passage, we’ll get to see behind the curtains and see Paul’s actual thoughts. We will see his heart for these people living in the north of modern day Greece. As the person who set up their church, but also as a fellow Christian. We’ll see what he cares most about, and therefore see what we should care about too.
- [Review: Theistic Evolution](https://www.david-couch.com/2017/11/review-theistic-evolution/): In ‘Theistic Evolution’, Crossway has gathered together a broad range of experts, both scientific and theological, to discuss the topic that titles this book. The idea that evolution is scientifically accurate appears to have become a commonplace idea in today’s world. Part of this comes from confusion over what the term actually means. This has led Christians to react generally in two ways: either condemning science as a discipline and relying on faith alone, or saying that God uses evolution somehow in his design process (theistic evolution). This book points out the grave errors in this mindset, although they readily admit that […]
- [Review: Covenant and God's Purpose for the World](https://www.david-couch.com/2017/08/review-covenant-and-gods-purpose-for-the-world/): When I heard that Tom Schreiner was going to be writing a book in Crossway’s ‘Short Studies in Biblical Theology’ series I was excited. Then, once I found out it was going to be on the topic of covenant, I immediately preordered it from Amazon (and am still awaiting its delivery at the time of writing…)
- [Review: How to Read and Understand the Biblical Prophets](https://www.david-couch.com/2017/07/review-how-to-read-and-understand-the-biblical-prophets/): It is said that there are two kind of teachers: those who teach so their students can pass tests, and those who teach so their students learn. Peter J. Gentry, in ‘How to Read and Understand the Biblical Prophets’, is one of the latter.
- [Review: The New Calvinists](https://www.david-couch.com/2017/05/review-the-new-calvinists/): As an evangelical Christian, living in England, and after hearing JD Hall recently recommend ‘The New Calvinists’, and seeing that it was about the UK church, I was eager to open it and see what it said.
- [1 Samuel 17 - Seeing things as they really are](https://www.david-couch.com/2017/05/1-samuel-17-seeing-things-as-they-really-are/): Passage: 1 Samuel 17 Summary 1 Samuel has been all about looking for a leader and we re-join in the middle of a leadership crisis. Saul has been made the first king of Israel by popular demand – but things have not gone well. In fact, even the selection of Saul was flawed to begin with. The people had demanded a king to bring stability and security and to ‘make them like all the nations around them’. But – as we saw before Easter – Saul had been disobedient to God’s commands and been rejected by God, but he is still […]
- [Review: Sinai and the Saints: Reading Old Covenant Laws for the New Covenant Community](https://www.david-couch.com/2017/03/review-sinai-and-the-saints-reading-old-covenant-laws-for-the-new-covenant-community/): How do the laws given to Moses at Mount Sinai relate to Christians today? This is a topic that has caused millennia of thought, and barrels of ink to be spilled. By use of careful exposition and Biblical Theology, as well as contemporary illustration, James M. Todd III attempts to explain, as simply as possible, a potential answer to this conundrum.
- [My Best Reads of 2016](https://www.david-couch.com/2016/12/my-best-reads-of-2016/): In what has become a tradition on my blog, I hereby present my top 5 books of 2016 for your perusal. Before getting to the books though, I just wanted to answer the question “How do I come up with this list?” Well, there are a few criteria that these books meet. Primarily, these books are ones that have either: changed/enhanced my worldview challenged/developed my understanding books that I want to share with others So, without further adieu, here are ‘my best reads of 2016’!
- [The first Noel](https://www.david-couch.com/2016/12/the-first-noel/): What is Christmas all about for you? There’s good food, you get time to see family, crack out the board games etc. Well, one of my favorite festive things to do – call it a Christmas hobby – is playing Christmas music. Each and every year, I kindly play my Christmas music for all my family to hear. One day they’ll learn to appreciate it… (If you’re interested, this year’s is available here) Thing is, when you think through the lyrics of the songs, it really is quite interesting. You see, these songs tell us what the authors think Christmas is all about.
- [The truth of post-truth](https://www.david-couch.com/2016/11/the-truth-of-post-truth/): Post-Truth Relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief Each year, the Oxford English Dictionary, publishes its ‘word of the year’. This is a word that has “become prominent or notable during that [year].”1 This year that word is ‘post-truth’. Never-mind the irony that a dictionary – bastion of promoting the true meaning of words – is publishing the word; we have to take on board the sentiment that as a society we are ‘post-truth’. But what does that mean?
- [Review: The Reformers and Their Stepchildren](https://www.david-couch.com/2016/11/review-the-reformers-and-their-stepchildren/): The Reformers and Their Stepchildren by Leonard Verduin My rating: 5 of 5 stars
- [Review: The How and Why of Love: An Introduction to Evangelical Ethics](https://www.david-couch.com/2016/11/review-the-how-and-why-of-love-an-introduction-to-evangelical-ethics/): The How and Why of Love: An Introduction to Evangelical Ethics by Michael Hill My rating: 5 of 5 stars
- [John 19:1-16 - Here is the man! Here is your King!](https://www.david-couch.com/2016/08/john-191-16-here-is-the-man-here-is-your-king/): Passage: John 19:1-16
- [My Best Reads of 2015](https://www.david-couch.com/2015/12/my-best-reads-of-2015/): I have a confession to make – I really enjoy reading good theology and having my thoughts challenged. Having spoken to a number of friends, I’ve found I am not alone. So, because of that, I wanted to shout (well, write) about some of the books that have really made me think and/or challenged me personally. I pray that they may be useful to you too…
- [The gospel in the linen](https://www.david-couch.com/2015/04/the-gospel-in-the-linen/): Dave updated his thoughts on this post in 2020, and preached a sermon on it. Hear it here! Happy Easter! I don’t know whether you went to an Easter service today, but if you did, you may have come across a book referred to as ‘John’s gospel’. It is read in many churches over the Easter period and no doubt will be heard many times more today. The author tells us that he wrote his book “[so] that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”. (John 20:20) Now, if you […]
- [My Best Reads of 2014](https://www.david-couch.com/2014/12/my-best-reads-of-2014/): As we approach the end of 2014, we can expect to see a lot of reminiscing. This of course will lead to the trend of ‘top 10 lists’. Some of these helpful, some interesting, and some that really did not need to really be thought about. Quite a few people have asked me what I’ve been reading, so I thought it would be a good idea to briefly review the best 5 books I’ve read this year. Hopefully it’ll fall into the helpful camp, if not being somewhat interesting. So without any more hanging about, I present the 5 best books I […]
- [Where is God's presence?](https://www.david-couch.com/2014/07/ehuds-sword-where-is-gods-presence/): Over the summer I was invited to preach at a couple of churches. This was a great privilege and I pray that my words helped people in their walk with God. One worry that struck me though just before the service was what should I wear as I stand at the front? A number of people informed me that I should be myself, whilst others suggested I should wear a suit either because I was in a ‘holy place’ or that my taste in “novelty tshirts” was embarrassing! In the end I went with the classic jeans and shirt approach – casual […]
- [Introducing... Ehud's Sword](https://www.david-couch.com/2013/10/introducing-ehuds-sword/): So I’ve recently been reading through the book of Judges (with the aid of the brilliant Judges for You by Tim Keller) and have been really loving it. The tales of each judge in Israel’s history makes for some good reading and reflection, whilst being – in parts – hilarious but gruesome.
- ['Baa, I'm a Facebook user'](https://www.david-couch.com/2012/04/baa-im-a-facebook-user/): Something interesting is happening in the way people receive news. A step backwards to a time when newsboys would be standing on the street, and information would be passed by word of mouth from person to person with no ability to corroborate the story unless you were affected first hand. Of course, back in 1900 this was acceptable we did not have the Internet with wonders such as Google, Wolfram Alpha and (ahem) Wikipedia to answer our every question. So with the recent controversy over “Kony2012” and other such ‘viral’ news pieces it did make me wonder what had happened to […]
- [The worth of a degree](https://www.david-couch.com/2012/03/the-worth-of-a-degree/): So for those of you who know me, and have spoken about the worth of a degree, you probably know where my opinion falls on the matter of higher education. I honestly believe that degrees have almost completely lost their worth. This is a matter that I’ve discussed with a lot of people. Those who went to, those at, those thinking of going and those who have not ever touched the university experience. Let me give you some history. Back in 2007 I was in my final year of secondary school, applying to universities (six in my day) and hoping to […]
- [King of Kings - Demo from upcoming project](https://www.david-couch.com/2012/01/king-of-kings-demo-from-project/): Well it looks like this may be the first official post of 2012. I say that because I have a number of posts that are in ‘draft’ at the moment, but are not ready for release. Anyway.. I’ve been playing with the idea of releasing an instrumental album of songs that I find really powerful. If you know me you probably have been asked which songs you think I should include. So just to prove I’ve actually been doing it, here’s a short demo of one of the songs. [soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/35142422″ iframe=”true” /] The demo is just there for you to […]
- [The top 10 Christmas albums you probably havent heard](https://www.david-couch.com/2011/12/the-top-10-christmas-albums-you-probably-havent-heard/): In the run up to Christmas I thought it would be interesting to do some mini reviews of Christmas music. Many people ask me what the Christmas music projects to look out for are. So here we have the top 10 Christmas music projects that you probably have not heard. I’ve spent quite a bit of spare time consolidating this list, so hopefully you’ll find something new that you’ll love! Every album has a Spotify/iTunes link attached to the album cover!
- [Carol of the Bells](https://www.david-couch.com/2011/12/carol-of-the-bells/): So I love playing music in my spare time, and here is a recording I just did for a laugh. Enjoy 🙂 [soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/29910531″ iframe=”true” /]

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