Tag: guilt

Confronting abuse in the church – reforming towards a culture of grace

I’ve written from time to time about the issues of bullying and abuse within the church. That is because recent serious scandals relating to high profile leaders that include sexual, emotional and physical abuse, and sadly the accompanying failure of the church to deal with such issues over many years raise challenges about church culture. … Continue reading Confronting abuse in the church – reforming towards a culture of grace

Demons

Last Sunday, I preached on Jesus casting out demons. I highlighted three points in reference to this. Demon possession is possible today though I suspect rarer than in Jesus’ day Christians cannot be demon possessed because we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit The demon exorcisms in the Gospel help us to understand the wider… Continue reading Demons

My country right or wrong?

“Patriotism is the last resort of a scoundrel” This was the classic first term subject for the University debating club to get their teeth into.  Of course, each year we would make the mistake of debating whether or not patriotism was a good or bad thing. In so doing, we missed the point that the… Continue reading My country right or wrong?

It was the Russians

Finally we have had the report about Russian interference in elections. If I understand things right, there’s some evidence of attempted interference in some campaigns and none or little for others. However where there is no evidence of interference that proved that there must have been interference and the government have intentionally looked the other… Continue reading It was the Russians

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