I’ve been handling a couple of recurring themes over the past few weeks. First there has been the question of the Christian Sabbath and then there has been the question of whether or not pastors have jobs, whether they work or whether their role is leisure. The two issues dovetail neatly into another question that… Continue reading The pastor’s role and the Christian Sabbath
Author: faithrootsdw
Birmingham’s bankruptcy is exactly why we need church planters
The recent announcement that Birmingham City Council is in effect bankrupt will not have done the city’s image much good. It may put off business from locating here and people from investing in the city. It is likely to make a lot of people reluctant to relocate here for work. This might affect your thinking… Continue reading Birmingham’s bankruptcy is exactly why we need church planters
If Sabbath is a creation ordinance, then…
I recently argued that one of the reasons why we should continue to keep a sabbath holy is because it is a creation ordinance. In other words, our relationship to Sabbath is based not just on the laws given in Exodus- Deuteronomy but relates to something given by God at creation. “The Sabbath was made… Continue reading If Sabbath is a creation ordinance, then…
Calvin and the Sabbath
One of the arguments raised concerning Lord’s Day Sabbath observance is that the early reformers, especially Calvin rejected it seeing it as belonging to the Old Covenant. It was, according to the viewpoint only reintroduced by later, Sabbatarian puritans taking a more legalistic hardline. It is true that Calvin did make talk in terms of… Continue reading Calvin and the Sabbath
Handing on the baton
After a summer break for August, the Faithroots Podcast returns this week. We’re rounding up our look at 1 Chronicles. 1 Chronicles 22 -29 David is coming towards the end of his reign. God has revealed to him that he is not he one to build a house for him. How does David respond? Practical… Continue reading Handing on the baton
Is the Christian Sabbath unBiblical?
I’ve written a little about Sunday and Sabbath recently. I don’t seem to be the only one talking about the subject. This article takes a different position to me, arguing that Christians are not under an obligation to observe Sunday as Sabbath. Like the author, Luke Plant, I don’t think that the question is of… Continue reading Is the Christian Sabbath unBiblical?
How should you make best use of your Theological training?
Australian pastor, Rory Shiner has responded to a variation of this question. He’s specifically given his views on how to spend your last year at theological college. There’s some stuff I agree with in Rory’s comments but there are a few areas I would differ from him on. Perhaps that reflects my starting point which… Continue reading How should you make best use of your Theological training?
Do we understand the middle classes?
There’s been a lot of discussion and debate in recent years about Britain’s class structure. Most of the focus has been on analysing and understanding the phenomenon of a working class in society. This is to some extent for two main reasons. First, that much of the discussion happens in academic circles, and by definition,… Continue reading Do we understand the middle classes?
An excellent church (1 Corinthians 13)
At the end of 1 Corinthians 12, having talked about many of the problems and troubles in Corinth and having given some time to talking about things like gifts and unity, Paul says: “And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” Excellence is something we all crave. Schools covert the “outstanding” status whilst… Continue reading An excellent church (1 Corinthians 13)
How should we talk about the pastor’s role?
I’ve written a couple of articles disagreeing with a particular description of pastoral ministry. First, in response to Tim Suffield, I said “Yes and no” to the statement that as a pastor you don’t have a job. I said both “yes and no” because I agree that there can be particularly unhelpful connotations if we… Continue reading How should we talk about the pastor’s role?
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