Category: On Writing

My Top Posts of 2025
Another year, another blog post recap.

As the year wraps up, it’s time to look back and celebrate the posts that have found their way into your screens, bookmarks, and the occasional late-night doom-scroll. This year felt a little more settled than last, albeit not exactly a literary avalanche, but apparently more widely read.

Some older posts keep refusing to retire, a few newer ones found an audience, and a small but growing number of you even clicked the little heart icon; which I’m choosing to interpret as deep emotional commitment.

Here are the stats, and similarly to my Top Books for 2025 post, I have a summary of the posts that received the most views this year.

Enjoy.

THE STATS (2025):
- Total Views: 12,088 (Apparently you’re not sick of me yet)
- Visitors: 9,104 (Nine thousand real humans, wild!)
- Comments: 18 (This is what growth looks like, right?)
- Likes: 118 (Triple digits. I’ve peaked.)
- Posts Published: 22 (Hmmm.)
THE TOP POSTS:

1. God’s Love Expressed: Through the Cross

(Yes, that one. Again.)

This post continues its stubborn reign at the top, despite being written years ago. It reflects on 1 John 4 and the way God’s love is most clearly revealed through the cross of Christ. At its heart is the conviction that God’s love doesn’t ignore our sin but deals with it fully, decisively, and graciously in Jesus.

If people keep reading this post, I’ll keep thanking God for the truth it points to.

2. AI, Ministry, and the Shape of Discipleship

One of this year’s newer posts. This piece explores how AI tools intersect with discipleship, pastoral ministry, formation, and wisdom. Rather than hype or fear, the post asks slower questions about what it means to form people in Christ when technology increasingly shapes how we think, write, and relate.

The response to this post confirmed that many of us are trying to think faithfully, not just efficiently, about the future.

3. Mission Possible

This post reflects on Christian mission not as an optional extra or specialist calling, but as the natural overflow of a life shaped by Jesus. It pushes back against both guilt-driven activism and comfortable disengagement, inviting readers to see mission as grounded in God’s initiative rather than our competence.

4. Martin Luther on Complete Forgiveness in Christ

Another perennial favourite. Drawing from Luther’s Commentary on Galatians, this post explores the freedom that comes from knowing forgiveness is complete, final, and grounded entirely in Christ’s work; not our performance.

Luther’s clarity, warmth, and theological stubbornness continue to do what they’ve always done: comfort weary consciences and unsettle self-reliance.

5. The Trial of Jesus: A Fulfilment of Prophecy

This Easter devotional reflection on Mark 14:53–65 looks at Jesus’ trial as both a moment of deep injustice and a profound fulfilment of God’s redemptive purposes. Jesus’ silence, His declaration before the council, and His willingness to suffer reveal a King who reigns through faithfulness rather than force.

So there you have it: the most-read posts of 2025. Some new, some old, all pointing (I hope) in the same direction.

This is something I’ve done in previous years, which you can find here: Top posts for 2024, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016. I also have a collection of writing published elsewhere on the inter-webs, which you can read here.

If you’ve got a favourite post, a lingering question, or a topic you’d love me to tackle in 2026, feel free to leave a comment or send a message.
January 1, 2026
Pull Up A Pew

I’ve been toying around with poetry lately, both as a fun little exercise and something to learn and improve my writing.

I wrote the following after reflecting on Matthew 14:23, where Jesus, even after all the ministry and miracles, withdraws alone to pray. I suspect many of us live in the tension of hurry and stillness, this is a kind of prayer from that place. An invitation to slow down and respond out of the rest in his presence.

Pull Up A Pew

Driven, my heart beats fast and faster
Hurried, from one to the next
The urgent crowds out my time and place
To sit, be still, and seek your face.

The mind, it races on and on
Thinking, what I ought to do
So much, so many, so few pursue
But here you call, pull up a pew.

You stopped and went with task after task
Up the mountain, where in the Father you bask
Teach me your ways, for I forget
Instead I find I just project.

I want to stop and pray my Lord
To find the rest you promise so
To leave the work in your hands
As you lead me to the silent lands.

After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. – Matthew 14:23

May 28, 2025
My Top Posts of 2024
Another year, another blog post recap.

As the year wraps up, it’s time to look back and celebrate the posts that have resonated with you, my dear readers. To begin with, this year hasn’t exactly been a literary whirlwind. It’s been more a little bit of randomness and some adaptation of other content I’ve worked on. Evidently there are a few people who appreciate my ramblings though, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to enjoy my writing and share it too.

Just like my post on the Top Books of 2024, without further ado, here are the stats and then a summary of the posts that had the most views.

Enjoy.

THE STATS:
- Total Views: 8,944 (Clearly, you still like me!)
- Unique Visitors: 7,058 (Some of you even brought friends—thanks!)
- Comments: 11 (Keep them coming; I’m lonely over here)
- Likes: 20 (A number so small, even my posts feel insecure)
- Posts Published: 14 or 10,645 words (Let’s call it “quality over quantity”)
THE POSTS:

1. God’s Love Expressed: Through the Cross

This post explores the sacrificial love of God, vividly demonstrated through the cross of Christ. Drawing on 1 John 4, it reflects on how God’s love transforms our sin and brokenness into something good through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. If you’ve ever doubted God’s love or struggled with the weight of sin, this post will remind you of the grace that calls you “perfect” even in your mess.

2. The Trial of Jesus: A Fulfilment of Prophecy

Looking at Mark 14:53-65, this post unpacks the unjust trial of Jesus as both a moment of human injustice and a divine fulfilment of prophecy. Jesus’ silence, His declaration of being the Son of Man, and His willingness to endure suffering reveal the depths of God’s plan for salvation. It’s a reflection that leads us to the cross with gratitude and confidence in Christ’s work.

3. Martin Luther on Complete Forgiveness in Christ

Inspired by Luther’s Commentary on Galatians, this post delves into his reflections on the complete forgiveness found in Jesus. Luther’s bold and comforting words remind us that forgiveness is not something we earn but something Christ gives freely through His sacrifice.

4. My Top Books for 2024

So, after posting about my reading in 2024 and giving some recommendations for the year this post got a little traction. It ended up sneaking into the top 5 within a week. If you’d like to see what I’ve been reading and what books you might like to add to your list this coming year then heading over and have a look.

5. Adoniram Judson’s Courtship Proposal

Adoniram Judson’s marriage proposal to Ann Hasseltine is anything but ordinary. This post recounts the radical faith behind his request, as he asked Ann’s parents to release their daughter to a life of missionary hardship—and possibly death. Ann’s courageous response highlights the cost of following Christ and her shared commitment to God’s mission. It’s a love story that’s as inspiring as it is humbling.

6. Book Review: Adoniram Judson by Jason G. Duesing

This book review highlights the life and legacy of Adoniram Judson, the father of American missions. Through the lens of Duesing’s collection of essays, this post explores Judson’s faith in God’s sovereignty, his endurance through suffering, and his commitment to long-term service. If you’re looking for a book to inspire your faith and challenge your perspective on missions, this review will convince you to pick it up.

So there you have it: my greatest hits of 2024. Thanks for reading, sharing, and sticking with me—even through my quieter years. This blog wouldn’t exist without you (well, it would, but it’d feel more like me talking to myself).

This is something I’ve done in previous years, which you can find here: Top posts for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015. I also have a collection of writings published elsewhere on the inter-webs, which you can read here.

Got a favourite post or a burning topic you’d love me to tackle in 2025? Drop me a comment or message.
December 26, 2024
My Top Posts of 2022
I’ve done very little writing on this blog in 2022.

So little writing you’d almost think I’ve given this away!

But, this isn’t the case. Life circumstances have changed and publishing content through this website hasn’t been a priority these past 12 months. A change in churches and moving into a Lead Pastor role has meant I’ve continued to write, just not for my personal blog here. There is a hope that as I continue to settle into the role I will begin publishing here again. As I posted last week, I continue to read which often leads to review posts or reading recommendations here and there.

Nevertheless, this year has still seen plenty of visitors and people checking out some old posts. Below is a bit of a summary of who has popped by and what they’ve been interested in. This is something I’ve done in previous years, which you can find here: Top posts for 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015. I also have a collection of writings published elsewhere on the inter-webs, which you can read here.

As to what has been popular on joncoombs.com this past year, here are the top five posts for 2022:
All in all I have only posted 4 times this year, one of those posts being this one. However, in total I have had:
- 7662 views from 4828 visitors.
- I’ve had 7 comments and 28 likes on these last 3 posts.
A big thanks to all those who do come and have a read. It’s quite humbling and amazing anyone would come and check this place out. Look out for more via social media or go ahead an subscribe so I can regularly hit up your inbox.

Thanks, and have a good New Year.
December 28, 2022
My Top Posts of 2021
I continue to write and seek to express myself and hopefully encourage others along the way too.

This past year has seen my writing develop in different ways, and less so on this blog than I would’ve liked. I’ve been taken up with writing more sermons due to an increased teaching role at my church. And, one of the unique writing projects I completed this year was a weekly review focussed on Supercoach (fantasy AFL) during the footy season. This meant that time and dedication to writing in this space dissipated from previous years. And to be honest, another year of lockdowns had an affect on this too.

Nevertheless, I continue to commit myself to writing. I find it is the best way for me to express myself and to find clarity of thought. It’s also an enjoyable experience to have written, to finally hit publish on a post about an idea that I’ve been mulling away on for a while.

Having only posted 13 times in the past 12 months you’d think people would simply stop reading the articles and posts I have here. However, this hasn’t been the case. There are still a number of popular posts that continue to have traction with people, which is certainly pleasing as a writer! It seems that I had about the same amount view this blog as I did last year, which is to say just over 9200 hits all up.

As to what has been popular this past year, here are the top five posts for 2021:
If you’d like to explore more of what has been popular on here in previous years you can do so here: Top posts for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015. I also have a collection of writings published elsewhere, which you can find here.
January 7, 2022