I remember the pastor of a church I used to attend commenting that rarely when people are in the midst of the crisis is that the time to try and teach them how to face the situation. Rather, if we are going to get through the challenge of a health, work or relationship crisis thenContinue reading “Were we prepared?”
Category Archives: Discipleship
Are we commanded to sing?
This is a little follow up to my articles on singing in our hearts and on the Creeds. One of the questions that keeps coming up is about the command to sing corporately. This is particularly important for people who follow what is sometimes referred to as “The Regulative Principle.” There are two approaches toContinue reading “Are we commanded to sing?”
This isn’t the pandemic we were expecting
Whilst pandemics are frightening things we dread, when one strikes it can send a bit of an adrenaline rush can’t it? That’s why we have been hooked by films and TV dramas like 28 Days Later and the Last Ship. Did the adrenaline kick in for you just a little bit back in February/March whenContinue reading “This isn’t the pandemic we were expecting”
Is it really unhelpful to recite the creeds?
On Steve Kneale’s blog is an article arguing against reciting the Creed in Church. You can see his arguments here. In this article, I’m going to offer a response. To be clear up front, I’m from a non-conformist background and am most comfortable in “non-liturgical” churches. However, I am not anti-liturgy. I think it canContinue reading “Is it really unhelpful to recite the creeds?”
You don’t have to be my Facebook friend
I was asked a brilliant question the other day. The questioner explained that they have friends on social media who they really struggle with, they find their regular comments about immigration hard to stomach and often there is an undercurrent of racism. For balance, they observed that they find some of the Black Lives MatterContinue reading “You don’t have to be my Facebook friend”
My grandad’s testimony – leaving it late
A few days ago, I talked about my grandad in one of our YouTube videos. As you will have seen from his photograph, granddad was tall and strong (he’s the bloke at the back in the middle). He served in the East Yorkshire Regiment, including tours of India and China. He was a boxing championContinue reading “My grandad’s testimony – leaving it late”
Wasting time?
You’re on the phone and every couple of minutes you get the message “You are number 7 in our queue.” You wait patiently. 10 minutes later you move up to 6 in the queue, another 20 minutes and you are up to number 4, you then have a 40 minute wait before you reach theContinue reading “Wasting time?”
Failure
A few years back, I was asked to lead a seminar for the Midlands Ministry Training Course on “failure.” I wasn’t sure how to take the invitation! It was there at the end of the year and I suspect not many people would be thrilled at getting that particular gig and I am not sureContinue reading “Failure”
Love Conquers Fear (2) Forgiveness
Here’s the next in our series on “Love that conquers fear.” Today we are looking at the role forgiveness plays (1 John 1:5-10)
When you want to prevent others from receiving forgiveness
It only really struck me with force when I was actually preaching on Sunday. I guess it was because I was preaching specifically on this incident for the first time from Matthew’s Gospel, I’ve spoken on it many times from Luke’s Gospel but not from here. Matthew really brings out the hard hearted merciless waysContinue reading “When you want to prevent others from receiving forgiveness”
