What is eldership about?

I’ve recently joined the eldership team of our church.  The process has been significantly different to my previous experience including when we joined our previous church and when I had a look around at potential church jobs back in 2021.  This partly reflects the fact that I was not being considered for a paid role… Continue reading What is eldership about?

In his name

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Quite a few worship songs talk about “the name of Jesus.”  Classics include:  “There is power in the name of Jesus” “There is a name, who reigns without contention …” “What a wonderful;/beautiful/powerful name it is.” “I speak Jesus” There is a risk with these kinds of song lyrics that they could be perceived superstitiously… Continue reading In his name

Warning … Danger! What was going on with Ananias and Saphira?

It’s one of the most shocking and disturbing events in the New Testament. Ananias and Saphira, two early Christians turn up to make a donation to the Jerusalem church coffers, neither return home alive. They are struck dead by the Holy Spirit. What is going on there?  At one end of the spectrum are those… Continue reading Warning … Danger! What was going on with Ananias and Saphira?

When the Holy Spirit breaks in

In Acts 2, when is seeking to explain what has happened, he quotes from the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says,    ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy.    Your young men will see visions,    and your old men will dream dreams.18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit    even… Continue reading When the Holy Spirit breaks in

Twenty-one

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If you’ve been following along with Faithroots over the past few months, you’ll have got used to reading quite a few articles linked to Mark’s Gospel.  That’s because I’ve been linking in the day to day articles with the teaching programme that our church are currently following. However, once a month, we take a break… Continue reading Twenty-one

Are you ready to have the tough conversations?

If you are a pastor or elder in the church, then your responsibility is to provide and protect.  We see this in Acts 20:28-31 28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood[h]—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.[i] 29 I know that false teachers, like… Continue reading Are you ready to have the tough conversations?

Did Paul disobey the Holy Spirit? (Lessons on guidance in Acts 21)

In Acts 21, we are told about Paul’s final journey to Jerusalem.  It’s an illuminating case study on interacting with God’s guidance through the Holy Spirit. Paul travels from Miletus where he has met with the Ephesian elders and given them the commission to provide for and to protect the flock. He has spoken there… Continue reading Did Paul disobey the Holy Spirit? (Lessons on guidance in Acts 21)

Was Pentecost the greatest act of mass excommunication in history?

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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?