Category: Discipleship

Jeff the low stakes prophet

Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com

I recently saw this video from Lutheran satire. Here are some reflections. First  the video may play into a stereotype of Charismatic prophecy, people talking to their experience and with it the status of their ideas, with a “thus says the Lord”.   Now, it is fair to say that I have encountered people who either… Continue reading Jeff the low stakes prophet

When Saturday comes: between death and resurrection

One of the themes we recently picked up on over Easter was that the whole of history is death and resurrection shaped because it is centred on, points to and is shaped by the death and resurrection of Jesus. This means that our lives are death and resurrection shaped too. This is both in the… Continue reading When Saturday comes: between death and resurrection

What is fasting really all about? Should Christians fast or not?

We are just over a week away from Easter.  In some church traditions, the period leading up to Easter is meant to be marked by fasting during Lent. Similarly, of course, Advent would have marked a period of fasting up until Christmas rather than an excuse for a daily chocolate!  Now, I’m from a background… Continue reading What is fasting really all about? Should Christians fast or not?

What you really should be saying to me about regular Bible reading

I’m not quite sure why Ian Carmichael picked on me in particular in his article about poor Dave who gets asked about what he’s learnt from his Bible reading recently. As it happens, I enjoy reading, both my Bible and other books.  I suspect “Dave” is being used as the typical church member.  There after… Continue reading What you really should be saying to me about regular Bible reading

The problem with seeker senstive church

The other day I responded to the question about whether or not we should be making it harder or easier for people to join our churches.  I argued that it was both yes and no.  In so doing, I mentioned that the “high bar”/”make it harder” approach had originated really in rection to “seeker sensitive… Continue reading The problem with seeker senstive church

Do we need ‘less Bible’ in our Youth Ministry?

Robin Barfield writes in Evangelicals Now, asking if we have too much Bible in youth ministry.  There are some reasonable questions in the article and it’s worth a read.  Specifically, the central point is true, it is too easy for us to be on “transmit” to the point that we don’t listen and we don’t… Continue reading Do we need ‘less Bible’ in our Youth Ministry?

We are not after your money …. or are we?

It’s quite common when churches have announcements about giving, whether or not a collection bag is sent round, for someone to say, almost apologetically “We don’t want/are not after your money.”  The sentiment is sound, too often religious groups are seen as primarily looking to get hold of people’s wallets. It is important, that a… Continue reading We are not after your money …. or are we?

Church membership

Occasionally I have conversations with church planters and revitalisers about whether or not they should have church membership. There are actually quite a lot of Christians who don’t agree with the idea of membership and say they would refuse to join a church. How do churches do membership? Every church has some form of membership.… Continue reading Church membership