Tag: encouragement

Responding to some criticism

In response to conversations about Affinity’s proposal to create a UK version of The Gospel Coalition, I came in for a bit of criticism recently   The criticism could be summed up as being to the effect that we should all want greater Gospel unity and therefore what am I personally doing to encourage it? In… Continue reading Responding to some criticism

She finished the race

The Commonwealth Games are known as “The friendly games”. It is probably true already of athletics that you see things at such events that you wouldn’t at something like a football tournament (much as I love football). There is much less tribalism.  Imagine for example  English football fans standing politely for the national anthem of… Continue reading She finished the race

What do we do in times of crisis? We find strength in the Lord’s identity

This week I’ve started working through the book of Habakkuk. It is a challenging book as in it God’s prophet intercedes and begs God to act only to discover that God is acting by bringing judgement and devastation.  Yet, one thing really stood out to me as I read through the whole book in one… Continue reading What do we do in times of crisis? We find strength in the Lord’s identity

What does the Bible tell us about corporate worship?

Talking about the connection between church context abuse and a shallow view of worship the other day, I mentioned a debate about whether corporate worship was primarily a corporate activity, addressed to God or a horizontal activity addressed to one another. I would like to investigate that question a little further with a quick look… Continue reading What does the Bible tell us about corporate worship?

Whatever happened to the local church? A response to John Benton

I hope I can cheer John Benton up a little here. In his latest Evangelicals Now column he asks what has happened to the local church. The answer is that is is alive and kicking. That’s because Jesus is Lord of his church. To be fair, we’ve seen our share of the big city centre… Continue reading Whatever happened to the local church? A response to John Benton