Category: Church life

Church Unity in a time of Coronavirus

Crisis brings out the best in us and the worst in us. I remember some wise advice many years ago from a pastor. Similarly, a tragedy like Coronavirus will not magically (or mystically even) bring together disunited Christian tribes. This applies not just to different individuals and tribes but to specific issues. If we had… Continue reading Church Unity in a time of Coronavirus

HUP

How important is ethnic diversity to a church? At Bearwood Chapel, we place a great emphasis on this. People within the church have explicitly prayed that we would reflect the neighbourhood around us. Nb 3 there are parts to this. FIrst is seeing it in attendance and there id movement on this though there are… Continue reading HUP

A way out of lockdown (part 2)

In my first article, I argued that Evangelical churches should be proactively participating and making recommendations to the government about how we move out of lockdown. In part two I want to think through some of the scenarios and how we might respond. I notice that the church of England is already putting forward it’s… Continue reading A way out of lockdown (part 2)

A way out of lockdown?

People are now beginning to think more and more about what the exit strategy from lockdown might be like.  There are some concerns about the level of engagement with what this means for churches – especially as the secular media seems silent on this. Perhaps we should not be surprised. In more encouraging news, national… Continue reading A way out of lockdown?

Marks of a healthy Church – Humility

I’ve also suggested that a number of other marks will flow out from this one. The first I want to look at is humility. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says that love builds up others whilst knowledge (without love) puffs up, in other words it leads to arrogance and complacency on the part of the speaker whilst… Continue reading Marks of a healthy Church – Humility

Healthy Church – marks that flow out from the one mark (love)

I argued in a previous post that when looking to see if a church is healthy, there is one essential, governing mark presented in the Bible and that is love. A few years back, Mark Dever wrote “9 Marks of a Healthy Church.” In it he proposed a list of marks that were important to… Continue reading Healthy Church – marks that flow out from the one mark (love)

“Put me to what you will…” What the Covenant Renewal service says about our view of gifts and ministry

What do you enjoy doing around the house?  I love making deserts like rice pudding I would say that’s my gift. I enjoy making them and I enjoy sharing in eating them with others. I don’t mind getting out in the garden and cutting the lawn either.  I’m not so keen on drying up or… Continue reading “Put me to what you will…” What the Covenant Renewal service says about our view of gifts and ministry