Circumstances have compelled us to change churches. I’m very grateful that there are a couple of other churches that have been very loving and caring, looking out for us as we make that transition but not everyone has that luxury. Ordinary church members are less likely to have church leaders watching out for them specifically… Continue reading Joining a new church in lockdown
Category: Church life
Can we make it more Biblical?
I remember a few years back that we had issues with a particularly disruptive church member. They liked to see themselves as the guardian of orthodoxy and so they would regularly find ways to protest and object. They would also write to us to tell us how we were somehow in league with some person… Continue reading Can we make it more Biblical?
If you love Christ then don’t trash talk his bride.
I couldn’t help responding to this tweet with the obvious repost. It would be highly concerning if the bride of Christ were to be caught cross-dressing. Missing the point and the humour, my interlocutor was quick to accuse me of somehow lacking in Biblical manhood and needing to repent. I’m not sure how he determines… Continue reading If you love Christ then don’t trash talk his bride.
Zoom communion revisited
Back when we first went into lockdown, our church decided to use zoom and Facebook to enable us to continue gathering. We recognised that these means were not perfect but we felt that the Scriptural injunction to gather was so important that we should try by every means possible to do so. As a church… Continue reading Zoom communion revisited
Knowledge is power, France is Bacon
This little article had Sarah and me in stitches. Of course we were laughing with the poor guy, not at him because we’ve all been there at some point in our life, completely mishearing something leading to confusion. I remember my mum’s perplexed concern when I arrived home from school fresh from our first ever… Continue reading Knowledge is power, France is Bacon
To open or not to open
This is the dilemma that John Stevens posted following the announcement of lockdown three. “Just because we can open does not mean that we should open” Churches will be permitted to remain open for public worship during the third lockdown, unlike in the previous two. So, how to respond? I must admit that I felt… Continue reading To open or not to open
The Rule of Ten
One of the little thought experiments Chris Green encouraged his leadership students at Oak Hill to do was to think in terms of the rule of ten. Think in terms of ten times less and ten times more. So, if you had a church of 100, then stop and think about what it would be… Continue reading The Rule of Ten
Fallow Ground
Ancient Israel was expected to observe sabbath years (every 7) and jubilee years every 50. Those years were meant to allow for the release of slaves, cancellation of debt, return of property to tribal/clan ownership and rest for the land with the fields left fallow. Whilst those laws were specific to Israel and so not… Continue reading Fallow Ground
Developing Robust Safeguarding policies
In a recent article, I wrote in defence of safeguarding policies and officers. Here I want to put forward some suggestions for how to have good, robust policies in place. First of all, I believe it is important to start from a Biblical basis. Elders have a responsibility to provide good spiritual food for the… Continue reading Developing Robust Safeguarding policies
True Hope – Happy New Year from Parky and friends
Parky and friends wanted to share a last message of the year. It’s all about hope -something Bradford City supporters like Parky and me struggle with. Here’s a short video for the family talking about how we can find true hope that does not disappoint
Faithroots 