Author: faithrootsdw

How do we respond to the riots?

The last few days have seen a wave of violence across the UK. The trigger point was the horrific knife attack in Southport and murder of three little girls. We are seeing this stirred up with stories, rumours and blatant untruths circulated online and not helped by politicians’ comments.  Passions are being inflamed.  There is… Continue reading How do we respond to the riots?

The problem with seeker senstive church

The other day I responded to the question about whether or not we should be making it harder or easier for people to join our churches.  I argued that it was both yes and no.  In so doing, I mentioned that the “high bar”/”make it harder” approach had originated really in rection to “seeker sensitive… Continue reading The problem with seeker senstive church

The dreamer

God had promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3).  Although Abraham and Sarah, his wife were childless, God had promised them a son. When the boy finally arrives, he is named Isaac which plays on the idea of laughter.  Isaac has twins, Esau and Jacob but although slightly younger by… Continue reading The dreamer

Should pastors expect to preach 3 times a week?

As a follow up to John Brand’s open letter to those training people in church contexts, a further letter to the editor appeared in the next month’s issue from David Randall.  You can read it here but it may be behind a pay-wall.  So, in summary, he contrasts what Brand had referred to as “real-world… Continue reading Should pastors expect to preach 3 times a week?

Do we need ‘less Bible’ in our Youth Ministry?

Robin Barfield writes in Evangelicals Now, asking if we have too much Bible in youth ministry.  There are some reasonable questions in the article and it’s worth a read.  Specifically, the central point is true, it is too easy for us to be on “transmit” to the point that we don’t listen and we don’t… Continue reading Do we need ‘less Bible’ in our Youth Ministry?

Should we really stop calling the church “a family”?

Tim Suffield writes that we should “stop calling the church a family.”  There seem to be three aspects to his argument. First, he argues that the Bible doesn’t really talk about the church as a family.  Secondly, even where it does use familial language, it isn’t the kind of family that we would think of… Continue reading Should we really stop calling the church “a family”?

An open response to an open letter in Evangelicals Now about training future pastors

This first appeared as a letter in Evangelicals Now here. Evangelicals Now have recently published an open letter from John Brand, principal of Edinburgh Bible College. It’s addressed to “church leaders training men for ministry.”  Well, that kind of sounds like me, so I hope that John and EN will accept an open letter in… Continue reading An open response to an open letter in Evangelicals Now about training future pastors

Offended?

One of the incidents in the Olympic opening ceremony that caused most controversy was the decision to create a tableau mimicking Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper and featuring drag queens.  The incident was seized upon as offensive to Christian viewers around the world, something that the organisers have since accepted whilst denying that this… Continue reading Offended?

Calvin without Hobbes

1517 Johann Tetzel ““As soon as a coin in the coffer rings / the soul from purgatory springs” Indulgences – a financial payment protecting you and/or your family from Purgatory Semi Pelagianism –a recipe for corruption and Abuse Martin Luther Born 10th November 1483 2nd July 1505 –studying law –nearly struck by lightening “Help Saint… Continue reading Calvin without Hobbes