Author: faithrootsdw

When we are charging for VIP access to leaders then something has gone badly wrong

Over the past few weeks there’s been some promotion for concerts where you can go and see Christian worship leaders performing. We’ll come back to the question about performances and concerts shortly but what has particularly caught the eye has been the offer of priority and VIP tickets. First of all, VIP tickets were offered… Continue reading When we are charging for VIP access to leaders then something has gone badly wrong

“Crushed” (Expository Worship a worked example)

I mentioned in the last post about a song that we had started to sing at Bearwood Chapel a few years back. The song is called  “Jesus Thank you (The Mystery of the Cross).”  In the first verse, you have the line “You the perfect Holy One crushed your Son.”  Some people have expressed discomfort… Continue reading “Crushed” (Expository Worship a worked example)

COVID-19 update for church risk management 05-11-2021

Here’s the latest COVID-19 data to assist with decision making and risk assessment. We are now coming up to the end of the first week back from the main half-term break. I have said previously that it is possible that we might see some uptick in cases as school LFT mass testing resumes. So far… Continue reading COVID-19 update for church risk management 05-11-2021

Making Expository Worship happen

How can we encourage an appetite for Expository Worship?  Here are a few more thoughts. 1. Get people to look at what they are singing.  For example, before you sing a hymn, ask people to look at a verse – what stands out to them? Are there lines they like? Where are we getting this… Continue reading Making Expository Worship happen

Do we need to test the ability of trainee pastors to write essays?

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?

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?