Posts

Talking up the threat (more reflections on responding to the riots)

I’m writing on Thursday morning. Last night there was a lot of nervousness about potential further riots and disturbances around the country.  I’m encouraged that the night seems to have passed off fairly peacefully.  I’m not sure though that I share the optimism of the media or Christian leaders that a far right mob was… Continue reading Talking up the threat (more reflections on responding to the riots)

You may have already done more church plants than you think

The church where we currently serve started as an additional site for a city wide, larger church. Then, in 2019, the sites were launched out as autonomous churches with their own elders.  Of the three smaller churches, one struggled for various reasons through the pandemic season and sadly had to close, one saw a lot… Continue reading You may have already done more church plants than you think

Sold

Joseph continues to work for his father.  However, there is no doubt that the combination of the bad reports he was passing back to his dad, the favour shown by Jacob and the dreams made for an uneasy working relationship between the brothers. Read Genesis 37:12-36 Jacob sends Joseph to check in on his brothers… Continue reading Sold

How do we respond to the riots?

The last few days have seen a wave of violence across the UK. The trigger point was the horrific knife attack in Southport and murder of three little girls. We are seeing this stirred up with stories, rumours and blatant untruths circulated online and not helped by politicians’ comments.  Passions are being inflamed.  There is… Continue reading How do we respond to the riots?

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

The dreamer

God had promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3).  Although Abraham and Sarah, his wife were childless, God had promised them a son. When the boy finally arrives, he is named Isaac which plays on the idea of laughter.  Isaac has twins, Esau and Jacob but although slightly younger by… Continue reading The dreamer

Should pastors expect to preach 3 times a week?

As a follow up to John Brand’s open letter to those training people in church contexts, a further letter to the editor appeared in the next month’s issue from David Randall.  You can read it here but it may be behind a pay-wall.  So, in summary, he contrasts what Brand had referred to as “real-world… Continue reading Should pastors expect to preach 3 times a week?

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?

Should we really stop calling the church “a family”?

Tim Suffield writes that we should “stop calling the church a family.”  There seem to be three aspects to his argument. First, he argues that the Bible doesn’t really talk about the church as a family.  Secondly, even where it does use familial language, it isn’t the kind of family that we would think of… Continue reading Should we really stop calling the church “a family”?