A blank Bible on a lectern indicating a famine of God‘s word 
In Amos 8:11, the prophet delivers a stark warning from God: “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Sovereign Lord, ‘when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.’” This Old Testament passage describes a divine judgement where God withholds His word as punishment for persistent disobedience. In our modern day, surrounded by unprecedented access to Scripture, this warning remains profoundly relevant, exposing a spiritual famine amidst apparent abundance.
In ancient Israel, God’s word through prophets was a lifeline, guiding the nation in covenant faithfulness. When the people embraced idolatry and injustice, God’s response was sometimes silence—a withdrawal of His voice. Amos 8:12 elaborates, stating that people would “stagger from sea to sea… searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it” (NIV). This spiritual famine was a deliberate act of judgement, leaving the nation desolate. Similarly, Hosea 4:6 declares, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests.” Here, God links spiritual ignorance to rejecting His truth, a precursor to the famine Amos foretells.
Today, such a famine seems unlikely. Smartphones and tablets provide instant access to countless Bible translations, sermons, and commentaries. A quick search yields devotionals, theological podcasts, and Christian blogs (including this one ). Yet, Amos’s warning persists. Despite this digital abundance, many churches fail to proclaim the full counsel of God’s word. Some prioritise uplifting messages over the call to repentance and faith in Christ. Others dilute the gospel, avoiding the reality of sin or the truth that “there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). This selective preaching creates a modern famine—not of Scripture’s availability, but of its faithful proclamation.
Consider the state of many churches. Is the gospel preached clearly, pointing to Christ’s atoning work and the need for repentance? Too often, sermons focus on self-help or cultural trends, neglecting the transformative power of God’s word. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that Scripture is “living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword,” yet its edge is blunted when churches sidestep its harder truths. This echoes the judgement of Amos 8:11: God’s word is present, but its clarity and authority are withheld from those who refuse to heed it. Isaiah 55:2 questions, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy?”—a challenge to those chasing spiritual substitutes over God’s truth.
This famine manifests in congregations unaware of biblical doctrines or unprepared to confront sin. It appears where the gospel is reduced to moralism, leaving souls hungry for the true “bread of life” (John 6:35). As believers, we must seek churches that faithfully proclaim God’s word in its entirety, urging repentance and pointing to Christ. We must also examine our hearts, ensuring we don’t contribute to this famine by ignoring Scripture’s call to holiness.
Amos 8:11 challenges us to hunger for God’s word, not merely its accessibility but its faithful preaching. Let’s pray for churches to boldly declare the full counsel of God, lest we wander in a self-inflicted famine, searching for truth we’ve chosen to ignore.
I am very excited to announce the publication of my second book! From Doubt to Disciples: Unlocking the Great Commission is now available on Kindle e-book and paperback from Amazon. 
A photograph of the book cover for From Doubt to Disciples: Unlocking the Great Commission by Andy Brown 
I began writing this little book a number of years ago, based on a series I had written on the blog about the Great commission. While the manuscript was mostly complete, it sat untouched for awhile… I like to think it was maturing! I was very pleased to complete the final edit and get it published this week!
With huge thanks to Andy B of the Berry Bunch and Pure 24/7 Radio, who kindly wrote the foreward for this book.
The book takes a deep dive into the words of the Great Commission which Jesus left us. the commission goes far beyond simply telling others about Jesus, although that is clearly a part of it.
Jesus’ final instructions weren’t just a suggestion – they were a commission. This book delves deep into the Great Commission as revealed in Matthew and Mark, culminating in the vital understanding from Acts: don’t go it alone. Explore the call to make disciples, baptise, and teach, and grasp the essential role of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling this monumental task. Discover how to move forward prayerfully and powerfully, playing your part in God’s enduring mission to the ends of the earth.
If you read and enjoy it, please do recommend to a friend or leave a review.
Finally, a massive thank you to everybody who follows this blog-sporadic as it is-and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ for all that he has done for us. 
It was a great honour to be asked to contribute to this wonderful series of encounters with Jesus on the blog Eaglesight. I encourage you to check out and subscribe to Nicola’s wonderful writing!
Today’s encounter is written by Andy Brown who blogs at http://andy-brown.org. Please check out Andy’s blog which I have found a great encouragement …
For my final best of the year series of posts, I want to share one from the UK Christian bloggers.
Over the last year, a group of UK-based bloggers have been getting together regularly to pray and swap stories. It’s been a tremendous encouragement. I want to publicly thank each and everyone of them today.
If you are looking for something to read or watch, do check out their blogs. There is some wonderful material there and you will not be disappointed.

Hi! My name is Andy Brown, you may remember me from such blogs as andy-brown.org…! It has indeed been some time since my last proper post, although I have tried to share some older material and some great posts from friends and fellow bloggers. Life has gotten rather busy and my writing has suffered. I…
— Read on andy-brown.org/2022/06/18/uk-christian-bloggers/
Are you preaching to the choir? Is that wasteful, or does the choir need your encouragement as well? It was a great pleasure yesterday evening to meet (on video) a couple of fellow Christian bloggers, and lovely to share some of our stories, questions and experiences of ministering through this medium. It was humbling to…
— Read on andy-brown.org/2022/04/09/preaching-to-the-choir/
Welcome to the weekend! Whether you have exciting plans or not, I pray you get the chance to rest and relax, see friends or family, and most importantly spend some time with the Lord.
I have seen a number of new followers in the last few months so want ted to take this opportunity to say a very warm welcome. It is a real honour that you have chosen to follow my writing, and I do hope it blesses you and enhances your relationship with God. Please do share the blog with anyone else you feel may enjoy it, as it really is the best way to get the word out.
You may have already figured out that I am not the most consistent poster! I am trying to be better, but have a rather hectic lifestyle and so sometimes my writing can suffer. If I could post daily with any regularity, then I certainly would, and although it comes in fits and starts, I hope you understand and enjoy it when it arrives!
There are now over 500 posts on the blog, which is amazing to me. Who knew I had so much to say?! Feel free to look around and use the search to see if I have written anything on a particular subject you are interested in.
If you like the blog, then you may also like the 40-day devotional book I wrote a few years ago called – A Journey with Jesus. It is available on Kindle and paperback,and you can also find a large print copy if that suits you better. Click on the Books section to find out more.
If you ever get fed up of reading my words (heaven forbid!) you can always click on the Audio link and listen to my dulcit tones instead. I have posted a number of audio messages and sermons on the site, and like the written blogs, hope you find them interesting, challenging and encouraging too.
Finally, if you have any questions for me personally, or on particular Bible topics, then do reach out. There is a contact form where you can get in touch, and I’d love to hear from you. Find me on Facebook at andy-brown.org and also on Twitter as @andrewbrown100
Welcome aboard, and so pleased you have joined me here. Hope you have a great weekend, and looking forward to getting to know more of you through the comments. I have met some amazing Christians on this blog, and some true friendships. Do connect with people through WordPress as it is a great way to do so.
Sharing a video post from last year with you today. Hope you enjoy!
Do follow my Facebook page while you are there
It was my pleasure to stand in for our local vicar at short notice this week. In this video, I share a few thoughts about why I think Jesus turned water into wine from John 2. For some technical reason I do not understand, I was not able to upload the video directly to this…
— Read on andy-brown.org/2021/01/24/why-water-into-wine/
This day is not only my 41st birthday, but I’ve just realised that I have surpassed more views in 2022 than I had in 2021, and it’s only June!
Given my rather erratic posting habits, this is something of A miracle!
I wanted to take a very brief moment to thank every single one of my readers and followers, as it is truly humbling that you would take the time to digest my words.
It may not be a particularly significant milestone, like a 41st birthday, but I think it is so important to pause and thank God (and all of you) for these little moments.
On this Sunday in June, perhaps like any other Sunday, what can you pause to give thanks for today?
God is indeed good, all of the time! And here’s to the rest of 2022! May you be outrageously blessed!
I don’t want you to just take my word for it… We take a little break from our current series on Psalm 103 to discuss something important. It is an immense privilege to share God’s Word with you through this blog, and I take that responsibility very seriously. But you, the reader, have a responsibility…
— Read on andy-brown.org/2018/04/12/the-berean-approach/
Hi! My name is Andy Brown, you may remember me from such blogs as andy-brown.org…!
It has indeed been some time since my last proper post, although I have tried to share some older material and some great posts from friends and fellow bloggers. Life has gotten rather busy and my writing has suffered. I would like to tell you that I’ve been working on book projects or other writing, but alas no! Some days I feel guilty for neglecting the blog, and other days I reflect on my full-time job, wife and four children, church leadership and Christian study course – and realise that I do have a lot on my plate! I’m sure you understand!
Thursday evening I enjoyed a time of fellowship with a group of UK-based Christian bloggers. We have been (trying) to get together every couple of weeks to swap stories, encourage one another and pray for each other. It is a wonderful time and I regret not being able to make all of the sessions so far!
The photo lists some of the members and their sites, so do check out their blogs if you are not already familiar. There are doubtless many more Christian bloggers out there hailing from the UK, so this is by no means an exhaustive list!
I came away from our recent call feeling very much encouraged, and I value the prayers of the group. Having a fellowship of believers is so important, and in our largely disconnected modern world, it is even more so. We often feel alone or isolated, despite the noise of life, and so it is critical we connect with fellow believers in Christ and strengthen one another.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
It is an instruction from the Bible that we do indeed encourage one another. There are times when life is a struggle, and in those days or seasons, we need the comfort of others to help us through. We absolutely rely on the Lord, but a little encouragement from fellow believers is most welcome too!
Encouraging someone costs little more than a small amount of time or effort. A kind word or timely phone call can really make a difference in someone’s life. You have that power today, and don’t let being busy be an excuse not to (talking to myself here…) My guess is that you won’t have to look very hard or travel very far to find someone in need of a boost.
While the gift of encouragement may be a specific spiritual gift (see Romans 12:8), it does not excuse the rest of us from doing it. Some have a special gift for evangelism, yet the call to share our faith is one we all enjoy. Naturally or spiritually gifted or not, we can all improve by practising. See if you can find a way to encourage someone in each of the next seven days, or even see how long you can keep the streak going.
I “encourage” you to check out some of the other writers I mention above, and have no doubt you will come away refreshed and uplifted. I will be sharing some of their posts in the near future, so do look out for them.
If you wish to encourage me, do leave me a comment, share a post or pray for me. I receive your prayers with delight and gratitude. Have a great weekend!
I really enjoyed reading this blog, and found it quite a personal challenge too.
When it comes to our motives, we must be honest with ourselves and ask why we are doing certain things.
I thoroughly enjoy writing my blog, and equally enjoy writing books. Do I do it for my own enjoyment though? Or do I do it for the Lord?
These are not always easy questions to answer. if, like me, you find yourself all too often checking your stats… Then you must also check your motivation!
I could say a great deal more about this subject, and find myself examining my own heart. I urge you to do the same as you read the post below. I do hope you enjoy it.
This blog seeks to prevent Christians from thinking of “self” and focusing on God.
Andy Brown 