Right at the start, we said that this would be a blog for people with messy lives. In other words, this is meant to be a practical blog helping us to think about how we live as believers. So it still may seem a little strange to think that we’ve spent so much time talking… Continue reading How do you know? -Pulling Things Together
Category: Theology
“Crushed” (Expository Worship a worked example)
I mentioned in the last post about a song that we had started to sing at Bearwood Chapel a few years back. The song is called “Jesus Thank you (The Mystery of the Cross).” In the first verse, you have the line “You the perfect Holy One crushed your Son.” Some people have expressed discomfort… Continue reading “Crushed” (Expository Worship a worked example)
Making Expository Worship happen
How can we encourage an appetite for Expository Worship? Here are a few more thoughts. 1. Get people to look at what they are singing. For example, before you sing a hymn, ask people to look at a verse – what stands out to them? Are there lines they like? Where are we getting this… Continue reading Making Expository Worship happen
Do we need to test the ability of trainee pastors to write essays?
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?
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?
