I recently shared some notes setting out what I’m looking for from a preacher.. I suggested that we are looking for, in terms of content: I would suggest that in recent years, the emphasis has tended to be more and more on the first of these with a nod to the second. That to some… Continue reading The forgotten objective of preaching and why it matters
Posts
Bondi Beach and an abomination of desolation
There was a certain dissonance about the way I picked up on the news today. We were setting up for our Carols by Candlelight service and there was much joking and laughing as we worked out where fairy lights and candles were going to go. I stepped out of the room to see a news… Continue reading Bondi Beach and an abomination of desolation
Something bigger and better than Giant Santa.
It’s good to see a happy story from our neighborhood make it into the local papers. This story is about a family who live in the road where our church meets and they have opted to decorate for Christmas with a giant inflatable Santa Claus It certainly brightened up our morning when we first saw… Continue reading Something bigger and better than Giant Santa.
Preparing to preach at Christmas? … First break all the rules
Or at least two of them… One of my favourite books is by Marcus Buckingham and it’s called First Break All the Rules. It’s about how leaders are taught a whole load of conventions or rules but truly successful ones break those rules. In effect Buckingham is seeking to discover a better set of leadership… Continue reading Preparing to preach at Christmas? … First break all the rules
Christian Nationalism – the end of the line
Over much of this year, I’ve been engaging with the topic of Christian Nationalism. I’ve reached the stage where I think it is time for me to stop at least for now (with the exception that I’ve got a podcast video with David Robertson, aka the Wee Flea booked in for the new year) and… Continue reading Christian Nationalism – the end of the line
Is Globalism the work of the anti-Christ?
Nationalism tends to present globalism as it’s opposite opponent. Now at its simplest, globalism is about how everyone is interconnected, politically, economically, culturally so that nations cannot make decisions in isolation. However, the term is often used pejoratively to suggest that there are those seeking to control the whole world for their own ends. Those… Continue reading Is Globalism the work of the anti-Christ?
What is the Seven Mountain Mandate?
Another term that is knocking about within US evangelicalism and linked to the growth in Christian Nationalism is the Seven Mountain Mandate. The idea draws on the imagery of the seven hills on which Rome was built, identified as Babylon in the book of Revelation. The idea is also sometimes referred to as Dominionist because… Continue reading What is the Seven Mountain Mandate?
Christian nationalism: learning from castles and COVID
One of the reasons that we’ve been slow to respond to Christian Nationalism is the belief that it is not one single thing and therefore impossible to define. So, for example, Kevin DeYoung in his article “Six Questions for Christian Nationalists” says: “no one agrees what a Christian Nationalist is”[1] whilst Andrew Wilson recently wrote,… Continue reading Christian nationalism: learning from castles and COVID
An open letter to Evangelical Times concerning their deeply inappropriate article about TGC UK
Dear Evangelical Times My own views on the proposal for a UK version of The Gospel Coalition are on the record here. I was disappointed at the time that those proposing the new institution made it clear that they weren’t really interested in feedback or discussion from those who had reservations and concerns. However, I… Continue reading An open letter to Evangelical Times concerning their deeply inappropriate article about TGC UK
What am I looking out for when assessing preachers
One of my priorities is to train people for preaching and teaching. This also means that I get involved in assessing and offering feedback. Here’s what I’m looking out for. A. What the preacher knows Notes B. What the preacher communicates I’m focusing specifically on expository preaching. We need to remember that many people may… Continue reading What am I looking out for when assessing preachers
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