Posts

The cost of living crisis: helping or hurting?

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been writing on and off about the implications of the current cost of living crisis for the church.  In these last few articles, I want to think a little bit more about how we approach the challenge Biblically and practically. In this article I want to talk about some… Continue reading The cost of living crisis: helping or hurting?

What approval are you looking for?

In my last article I said that whilst seeking approval can become idolatrous, it is not always necessarily so.  Sometimes it is right to be concerned for recognition and approval. In this article we’re going to dig a little bit more into that by focusing on elders and church leaders.   What type(s) of recognition/approval should… Continue reading What approval are you looking for?

How many gods? -and when an atheist debates…

The other day I reshared this blog post from the old faithroots.net site.  I reshared it in relation to a discussion that had come up on a friend’s Facebook page. Well, over the years since I first started Faithroots on the previous site, I’ve had an atheist blogger occasionally interact with what I write. I… Continue reading How many gods? -and when an atheist debates…

Approval

A little while back I wrote a little on the way that we can be tempted by three types of idol: approval, comfort and security.  Now one of the things about idols is that they tend to be parasitical on things that are genuine needs and in and of themselves, in context, within boundaries are… Continue reading Approval

Desire and Rule – handling a difficult and controversial text

Aimee Byrd, author of Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood has caused some further controversy with the release of her latest book “Sexual Reformation.” As with her previous book, at least part of the focus is on challenging some of the presuppositions behind the Biblical manhood movement.  Her most recent target is how Genesis 3:16… Continue reading Desire and Rule – handling a difficult and controversial text

Tales of the Kingdom -new publication

My introduction to teaching and preaching on Mark’s Gospel is now available on the Publications page. Tales of the Kingdom – Teaching and Preaching Mark’s Gospel Mark’s Gospel is foundational to our understanding of what the good news is about Jesus, his life, death and resurrection. This is in many respects a stripped back account… Continue reading Tales of the Kingdom -new publication

Why I’m in no rush to get back to the big events

I grew up attending one of the prominent Christian convention/holiday weeks of that time. It was an annual highlight until the event closed in the late 1980s.  Then on and off I (later we) booked in a holiday at another of the big-name events. Sarah had also spent much of her teens at one of… Continue reading Why I’m in no rush to get back to the big events

Is it burnout?

I’ve seen a few articles talking about burnout among those in church leadership over the past few weeks. These seem to be particularly in response to the experience of leaders through the COVID-19 pandemic which has in many ways amplified many of the challenges of Gospel ministry. One helpful contribution to the discussion was this… Continue reading Is it burnout?