The other day, I began exploring the question about applying Jesus’ teaching on logs and specks corporately to churches and communities. Steve Kneale has helpfully developed the conversation here. At this stage I am struck by two very helpful things Steve asks us to think about. The first one is that only true heart change… Continue reading More on logs and specks: What is the heartbeat of our church?
Tag: Grace
How do I want to be judged?
Jesus says that we will be judged by the same standard by which we judge others. This should slow us down before pronouncing a verdict on others. Judging is not just about coming to a conclusion about what has happened, it is also about handing out the penalty too. When Jesus in Matthew 18 and… Continue reading How do I want to be judged?
Forgiveness, reconciliation, trust and what you choose to remember
Forgiveness does not always lead to reconciliation. It is possible to say “I forgive you” but rebuilding broken trust is difficult, takes time and may not be possible. This may leave us feeling hopeless, helpless and despairing. What hope is there for the married couple where there has been a breakdown in the relationship, they’ve… Continue reading Forgiveness, reconciliation, trust and what you choose to remember
Lockdown -an opportunity to relearn how we do forgiveness and reconciliation
Lockdown -an opportunity to relearn how we do forgiveness and reconciliation In Sunday’s Zoom talk I talked about moving from submitting to the ruler of this world to submitting to Christ. One aspect of this was that we should move from holding onto bitterness and hate to learning to show compassion and forgiveness. This led… Continue reading Lockdown -an opportunity to relearn how we do forgiveness and reconciliation
Breakfast with Jesus – John 21(The Truth about Cats and Dogs 3)
An incomplete picture –The problem of o…………. s…………… – How ……………………………………………………………….? An invite to come and eat Meals with Jesus Our responsibility …………………… and ………………… Meals are …………………………… (cf 1 Corinthians 12) A commission to Go Feed Difficult conversations Restoration includes ………………. This is not an a…………… of g………….. Future Grace protects us from thinking… Continue reading Breakfast with Jesus – John 21(The Truth about Cats and Dogs 3)
How (not) to be a guilt driven church (The truth about cats and dogs 2)
The book we bought and the book we read Bridging the gap – Ephesians 2:8 -10) For by grace….To do good works Useless and harmful bridges L……………….. L………………… M………………. Solving the problem Two reasons why we don’t boast S…………….. N……… C……………………………… It’s g……….. all the way To think about When I am challenged… Continue reading How (not) to be a guilt driven church (The truth about cats and dogs 2)
The thing we don’t talk about (The truth about cats and dogs 1)
This is the first of three talks/studies. I will include a handout followed by a video talk The thing we don’t like to talk about – but probably should (Psalm 51) The difference between cats and dogs What is guilt? Often when we talk about guilt we really mean s……………. g….. and s………… Shame is… Continue reading The thing we don’t talk about (The truth about cats and dogs 1)
The Shaming of the Shrew
This is the third in a little series of articles reflecting on the controversy surrounding Dominic Cumming’s trip to Durham. I guess it also relates to the issues that came up with Professor Neil Ferguson and Catherine Calderwood, the former Scottish Chief Medical Officer I am more concerned with the lessons we learn for our… Continue reading The Shaming of the Shrew
A Code to live by?
The long running hit US drama NCIS revolves around the central character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Gibbs is both a hero and a troubled soul. Before joining the federal agency, he had been in the marines and whilst on active service left his wife Shannon and daughter Kelly at home. One day, he returned from duty… Continue reading A Code to live by?
The Scandal of the Evangelical Heart
In 1994, Mark Knoll wrote “The scandal of the Evangelical Mind” in which he protested at what he perceived as a lack of willingness to think deeply and carefully among evangelicals. He identified an anti-intellectualism within our movement. Rachel Held Evans became a notable doubter/sceptic of evangelical faith and in 2013, she wrote: The questions… Continue reading The Scandal of the Evangelical Heart
