From time to time I write about where I believe things need to change in terms of training people for pastoral ministry. I believe that if we are going to train more people for Gospel work then we need to look at different ways of going about the training. This does not mean that I’m… Continue reading Do we need to test the ability of trainee pastors to write essays?
Category: Theology
Expository Worship
In his book “Nine Marks of a Healthy Church,” Mark Dever makes Expositional Preaching his first and most important mark of healthy church life.[1] I want to suggest that Dever is right to give expositional preaching such a central position, but that he does not go far enough. Why is Expositional Preaching so important? Dever… Continue reading Expository Worship
Was Pentecost the greatest act of mass excommunication in history?
I got passed this quote the other day and asked for comment. I’m sorry if my response seems overly blunt but that quote is just obvious nonsense isn’t it. I have great respect and admiration for Bob Letham, he is a godly, wise scholar from whom I’ve learnt much, but I am utterly bewildered as… Continue reading Was Pentecost the greatest act of mass excommunication in history?
Happy
Co-incidentally at the same time that I was preparing the original post on Apologetics, I was also teaching a couple of Apologetics sessions at OM Lifehope. One student asked “What do I do when someone’s objection is that they are already happy and contented in life.” We talked through all the sorts of things you… Continue reading Happy
Sorry -some worked examples in apologetics
The questions we want to ask…and answer If God exists, why doesn’t he show up and prove it? If the Gospel is true, why is the church so full of hypocrites and killjoys? If God is love, then why doesn’t he stop all the suffering in the world? Can I really trust the Bible to… Continue reading Sorry -some worked examples in apologetics
Spiritual Warfare
“I think my house is haunted; there’s an evil Spirit present. Will you come and do an exorcism?” How would you respond to this request? Or what do you do when someone confidently announces that the reason that the evangelism team are struggling is because of territorial spirits? They suggest a prayer march through the… Continue reading Spiritual Warfare
How can we help?
The conversation you rather wouldn’t be having “I just don’t think we can go on. We’ve tried everything. It’s time to go our separate ways.” With those words, you are asked to give your blessing to divorce. Or, you’re sat talking with a young member. They’ve recently started dating someone who is not a Christian. … Continue reading How can we help?
God’s Word and its practical implications
The aim of this blog is not to simply present theoretical information, but rather to help us think through the practical implications of what we believe. Having set out the Christian doctrine of Revelation, we are now in a position to think through its practical implications for individual and church life. In this section, we… Continue reading God’s Word and its practical implications
Is Original Sin a terrible concept?
Katherine Birbalsingh, has got herself into hot water this week. Bibalsingh is a free school headteacher associated with an education philosophy that focuses on knowledge rich pedagogy and strict behaviour policies. She has also been appointed the chair of a social mobility commission recently. Her comments that have caused an outcry have been about the… Continue reading Is Original Sin a terrible concept?
Scripture – the source of special revelation
A while back, someone visited our church and, after the sermon, came to speak to me. He thanked me for what I’d said, but then said, “I’d rather you had spoken from the heart, not a book.” Now, it’s important to check on what someone means when they offer critique. It could well be that… Continue reading Scripture – the source of special revelation
Faithroots 