From time to time I write about where I believe things need to change in terms of training people for pastoral ministry. I believe that if we are going to train more people for Gospel work then we need to look at different ways of going about the training. This does not mean that I’m… Continue reading Do we need to test the ability of trainee pastors to write essays?
Author: faithrootsdw
Expository Worship
In his book “Nine Marks of a Healthy Church,” Mark Dever makes Expositional Preaching his first and most important mark of healthy church life.[1] I want to suggest that Dever is right to give expositional preaching such a central position, but that he does not go far enough. Why is Expositional Preaching so important? Dever… Continue reading Expository Worship
Can we talk about ugliness?
John Piper hosts a podcast called “Ask Pastor John”. Recently he was asked: ““Pastor John, why did God make some people ugly and unattractive? How can I accept the fact that God, though capable of making me beautiful or at least average looking, chose to create me in an unattractive manner?” Now I guess, Piper… Continue reading Can we talk about ugliness?
Was Pentecost the greatest act of mass excommunication in history?
I got passed this quote the other day and asked for comment. I’m sorry if my response seems overly blunt but that quote is just obvious nonsense isn’t it. I have great respect and admiration for Bob Letham, he is a godly, wise scholar from whom I’ve learnt much, but I am utterly bewildered as… Continue reading Was Pentecost the greatest act of mass excommunication in history?
Happy
Co-incidentally at the same time that I was preparing the original post on Apologetics, I was also teaching a couple of Apologetics sessions at OM Lifehope. One student asked “What do I do when someone’s objection is that they are already happy and contented in life.” We talked through all the sorts of things you… Continue reading Happy
In the face of climate change – what is our greatest need?
This week, world leaders have flown into Glasgow for the COP26 summit on the environment and combatting climate change. Two Christian responses to the summit raise some questions and challenges, First of all, a church in Glasgow responded by displaying this banner saying The World’s most urgent need is churches preaching Christ crucified, not climate… Continue reading In the face of climate change – what is our greatest need?
Are we the bad guys?
This is in effect the question that Steve Kneale raises in his blog post on the original sin debate. He argues that Christians are in effect “mud.” We are no longer seen as the good guys, perhaps with some quirky ideas and practices but at least offering a little bit of light and love to… Continue reading Are we the bad guys?
Sorry -some worked examples in apologetics
The questions we want to ask…and answer If God exists, why doesn’t he show up and prove it? If the Gospel is true, why is the church so full of hypocrites and killjoys? If God is love, then why doesn’t he stop all the suffering in the world? Can I really trust the Bible to… Continue reading Sorry -some worked examples in apologetics
COVID update – post half-term
English schools are beginning to return from the half-term break so this would be a good opportunity to have a look at the current data. We might expect some of the reduction in case numbers last week to have been a result of reduced testing during the holidays. Certainly we have seen an increase in… Continue reading COVID update – post half-term
Spiritual Warfare
“I think my house is haunted; there’s an evil Spirit present. Will you come and do an exorcism?” How would you respond to this request? Or what do you do when someone confidently announces that the reason that the evangelism team are struggling is because of territorial spirits? They suggest a prayer march through the… Continue reading Spiritual Warfare
Faithroots 