Someone has approached you about getting baptised. You sit down to talk to them about why they want to get baptised, what it means and to get a sense of their profession of faith. As the conversation goes on, it becomes clear that they are not there yet in terms of clear profession. They have… Continue reading Unexpected twists and turns in the baptism conversation
Category: Church life
In defence of the Reformed Charismatics
At the back end of last year I offered a brief response to an article in Evangelical Times called “Why I escaped the so called Calvinistic charismatics”. The article seemed primarily to be focused on New Frontiers, the family of churches which our church is part of. I wrote to the newspaper asking for permission… Continue reading In defence of the Reformed Charismatics
Blue Christmas … What I need for Christmas
Some people have started a tradition of using the shortest day and longest night to specifically mark the occasion for those who for various reasons will find Christmas especially hard. I wrote this article two years ago in the face of raw grief. I am reposting it today hoping it will be of help to… Continue reading Blue Christmas … What I need for Christmas
Do you have an anchor?
I hope that the immediate answer is that “yes, Jesus is my anchor.”. However, I’m thinking of something slightly different here. Most good football teams have a player whose position is “anchor midfield” or sometimes “holding midfield.” Their job is to sit in front of the defence, protecting the back four. They anticipate danger, break… Continue reading Do you have an anchor?
The numbers game: The Good, the bad and the ugly
How many people are in your church? How many conversions have you seen? What are your finances like? How many baptisms, small groups,staff members, church plants? How long have you been a pastor? One way or another, we often find ourselves talking numbers. We often do so nervously because we see the pitfalls and dangers… Continue reading The numbers game: The Good, the bad and the ugly
People in your church that you should be talking about at elders/leaders meetings
I recently saw a post from Steve Kneale about who you should talk about at elders’ meetings. I did not disagree with the post but rather I thought it might be helpful to show another way of cutting things. Those moving in These are people who are new to the church or not yet members. … Continue reading People in your church that you should be talking about at elders/leaders meetings
Must there be divisions amongst us?
Following a recent debate, my attention was drawn to an intriguing interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:18-19. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,[e] 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may… Continue reading Must there be divisions amongst us?
What if anything does the Bible have to say about class?
When I recently posted some articles concerning class, the church and the Gospel, I opened up comments for discussion. Here is one comment that was posted. “What does the scriptures say about the class system that you are talking about? In which “class” would you put say Peter, Paul, Moses etc. What “class” would you… Continue reading What if anything does the Bible have to say about class?
A job interview or a doctor’s waiting room? How should we think about the church
Steve Midgely asks in Evangelicals Now whether our churches are more like “a group of people waiting for a job interview or those waiting in a doctor’s surgery.” He reminds us of Jesus’ statement that: ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous,… Continue reading A job interview or a doctor’s waiting room? How should we think about the church
It’s that time of year … But what is that time of year?
It’s the start of a new term for many, in fact it’s in effect a new year if you are at school, college or university or parents if children who are (not forgetting teachers, tutors and lecturers). A dominant theme in Christian media and in social media tends to be around helping students to settle… Continue reading It’s that time of year … But what is that time of year?
Faithroots 