Author: faithrootsdw

The truth probably lies somewhere away from the scare stories

An unnamed government minister has warned today that if we delay lifting COVID-19 restrictions on the 21st June, then we will end up with restrictions in place until spring next year.  Well, whilst many things are now up and running again, such a situation would be catastrophic for the entertainment and hospitality sector and unpleasant… Continue reading The truth probably lies somewhere away from the scare stories

The difference between heresy and error -another worked example

I’ve been talking about the difference between error and heresy and in my most recent article, I argued that Scripture and not church courts and councils is the final authority on such matters. As I was looking at Acts 15, I realised that we had a helpful case study regarding the difference between the two… Continue reading The difference between heresy and error -another worked example

21st June will be decided on data … and assumptions

Donald Rumsfeld famously (or perhaps infamously) talked about there being “known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns.”  It’s another way of saying that you don’t know what you don’t know.  This is particularly true when we come to the decision the Government must make about COVID-19 unlocking by Monday 16th June. What do we know?… Continue reading 21st June will be decided on data … and assumptions

The court for determining heresy is the court of Scripture

Since my last article on the difference between heresy and error I’ve had some push back. The question has come “how do we decide if it’s error or heresy?” It’s been suggested that the risk is that it becomes my opinion against someone else’s. Don’t worry though because my Presbyterian friends have offered a solution.… Continue reading The court for determining heresy is the court of Scripture

How can we encourage our church family to know God’s word well?

It starts with children.  Look at your teaching programme for your Sunday School and also what you do with your midweek clubs.  At Bearwood we used a programme with our 4-11s that took them through the whole Bible.  With our 11-16s, they were either joining in the main Sunday morning teaching programme at our 9:30… Continue reading How can we encourage our church family to know God’s word well?

Trauma, grief and response to abuse

Over the past few years, I’ve written and spoken quite a bit about the problem of abusive cultures particularly in the context of church life. First of all, my concern is to see us doing better in letting what we believe affect how we live so that doctrines of grace lead to cultures of grace.… Continue reading Trauma, grief and response to abuse

Why it is important that we help vaccinate the world

The UK’s efforts in delivering the COVID-19 vaccinations has been phenomenal. We now have over 50% of the population fully vaccinated and a further 25% have received one jab. This along with those not yet vaccinated who have had a dose of the virus means we should be moving towards herd immunity. However, there are… Continue reading Why it is important that we help vaccinate the world

June 21st -where are we and what does that mean for churches?

We’re getting a bit closer to June 21st and are tensely waiting the Prime Minister’s press conference on Monday when we’ll know whether or not the final lifting of pandemic/lockdown measures will happen. Church leaders will be watching and waiting with baited breath because Monday’s announcement will affect whether and when we can return to… Continue reading June 21st -where are we and what does that mean for churches?

An excuse for sin? (Romans 6:1-14)

You can also watch this back (with discussion exercises) here When I started work after University, my workplace had a clocking in system. Each week we would collect a time card and then put it into a machine to be time stamped when we arrived in the morning, started and finished our lunchbreak and went… Continue reading An excuse for sin? (Romans 6:1-14)