Category: Church life

A little proposal, what if we got rid of the distinction between elders conpletely?

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My friend Steve Kneale recently wrote in praise of unpaid elders.  He began by talking. about the problems with different descriptions for paid and unpaid elders.  I agree 100 percent with him. In fact the one thing I’d want to do is make explicitly clear that there is no Biblical foundation for the presbyterian distinction… Continue reading A little proposal, what if we got rid of the distinction between elders conpletely?

Talk of a Quiet Revival – how is it affecting Bible reading?

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Most of the focus on the Quiet Revival report has been on the figures concerning Church attendance.  However, the report also asked people about perceptions of the Bible and their own Bible reading habits. According to the report,  44% of adults own a Bible at home, however, 79%  either hardly ever or never read it. … Continue reading Talk of a Quiet Revival – how is it affecting Bible reading?

Is having children the best long term strategy for church growth?

Ian Paul writes that “the best long-term strategy for church growth” .. is child birth.  Now, as John Stevens has said when commenting on the article, yes, encouraging people to get married and have children is a good thing to be doing and very counter cultural.  However, it is not by any stretch, a strategy… Continue reading Is having children the best long term strategy for church growth?

Ask me in 40 years

I must admit to being rather baffled by an article I’ve just read in Evangelicals Now.  Church historial Michale Haykin describes how he has spent the last 40 years researching and writing about the Particular Baptists of the 1800s.  Her suggests that it has taken him this long to get to properly know his subject… Continue reading Ask me in 40 years

We don’t have to celebrate Easter but there is a good reason for those who do

My friend, Steve Kneale has written here about why you don’t need to celebrate Easter.  His crucial point is that there is nothing in the Bible that requires us to celebrate any of the key festivals.  We might add that it would be silly to be legalistic about Christmas and Easter, possibly in some places… Continue reading We don’t have to celebrate Easter but there is a good reason for those who do

Training for all?

An anonymous person writes to Evangelicals Now: Dear Editor, I’m interested to know why there is very little training of Christians in general. What do I mean? I cannot remember ever seeing a course on how to read the Bible well, that is open to everyone. There are many courses out there and they all… Continue reading Training for all?

Can the Church of England be reformed and revived

Linked to Simon Jenkins article in the Guardian, I’ve seen a number of people comment that they hope the Church of England might experience revival and recognition that this will require reformation. I’m sorry to pour cold water on the suggestion but I don’t think it is possible. Nor, frankly so I think it is… Continue reading Can the Church of England be reformed and revived

Disestablishing and re-establishing

Simon Jenkins wrote here in the Guardian recently about the sorry state of the Church of England.  This has prompted some discussion about whether true reformation, renewal and revival of the Church of England (as opposed to within the Church) is possible.  I may come back to talk about that specific subject but I want… Continue reading Disestablishing and re-establishing

We aren’t going anywhere!

The other day, our life group had a conversation about “Somewheres and anywheres”.  We asked the question: “how best can our church serve those who consider themselves to be ‘somewhere’ people.” One person who would not say they are a Christian at the moment responded. “Give us time.” They encouragingly said that they felt they… Continue reading We aren’t going anywhere!