Posts

How do we relate to Anglicans and the Church of England?

The main protestant church here in the UK is the Church of England.  Its status owes to three things. First its size, it is the largest, secondly its prominence, it is the established church and so, it’s what most people thinking of when they think about church and thirdly it has influence. The Church of… Continue reading How do we relate to Anglicans and the Church of England?

Dignity

Do ethics matter and where do Christians get their ethics from? Read Genesis 9:1-7 God’s blessing of Noah’s family mirrors the original Genesis 1 blessing as they are commanded to be fruitful and re-fill the earth (v1).  In contrast to Genesis 2 where the animals were brought near to Adam to be named, God causes… Continue reading Dignity

Jonah’s type

In Luke 11:30, Jesus says: 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.  This was in response to demands for a sign by insisting that the only sign the people would be getting was that of Jonah.[1] The other Gospels flesh… Continue reading Jonah’s type

Sacrifice

Why did God choose to save Noah?  When we read the description of him as righteous and blaeless, we might assume that it was because he was a better person than others, that it was down to his morality, his good works. Read Genesis 8:20-22 Having disembarked from the ark, Noah builds an altar. We… Continue reading Sacrifice

Does conservative theology and practice put off younger people from church?

One of the points of discussion arising from the articles about aging church demographics was whether conservative evangelical theology acted as a barrier, putting off young people especially where it clashed with their social values.  One claim is that people might be drawn into evangelical churches because of the passionate focus on the Gospel or… Continue reading Does conservative theology and practice put off younger people from church?

Action

Noah has now been waiting some time for the end of the flood and to return to the land in order to start populating the earth again. How will he know when it is time to act? Read Genesis 8:6-19 Forty days after the mountain tops become visible, Noah opens up the window in the… Continue reading Action

Rumours of Revival

There have been some incredible reports coming from Asbury University in Kentucky of God moving in a powerful way starting at a chapel service.  These reports describe people to come, stay, come back to an extended gathering where there has been praise, prayer, Scripture reading, preaching and testimony continuing over a number of days.  Testimonies… Continue reading Rumours of Revival

Ceasing

“Give me patience and give it now” Read Genesis 8:1-5 God remembers Noah, not that he has forgotten him but the language signifies that God continues to show concern and care for Noah whilst in contrast, evil doers are not remembered, they are not regarded by God.  He does not continue to protect them and… Continue reading Ceasing

What should we make of an aging church?

John Stevens, National Director of the FIEC has recently shared a couple of articles looking at the most recent data for church attendance.[1]  John notes two things, first that we’ve long argues that the percentage of born again believers has always been much smaller than the percentage of church attendees generally.  Secondly that a key… Continue reading What should we make of an aging church?