Covenant History blessed in God’s presence, cursed by exile from it To understand the Covenant ceremony, we need to go back to Genesis 1-3. God creates a good world and also plants a beautiful and secure garden for the first humans, Adam and Eve, to live in. Adam is commissioned to tend to the garden… Continue reading The Curse
Tag: Paul
Reformation Reflections (2) Judgement Day
Who remembers the dread of parents’ evening?
What drives false teachers, bullies and abusers?
False teachers also tend to be bullies and abusers. The reverse is also true, abusers and bullies tend to be false teachers if they happen to be involved in church life and leadership. There are a couple of reasons for this. First of all, false teaching is itself a form of spiritual abuse, secondly false… Continue reading What drives false teachers, bullies and abusers?
Depression tells you that you are weak – and that’s okay
It’s the funny thing about Sertraline. Every morning if you’ve been pre-scribed it, the box sits there on the breakfast table as a reminder that you need to take your medication. And each morning, it shouts out to you “You are so weak.” It’s funny because you don’t think that when you get up and… Continue reading Depression tells you that you are weak – and that’s okay
Phoebe
Here’s our last clue when thinking about deacons. At the end of his letter to the Romans, Paul greets a number of people in the church. First of all, at the head of the list is a woman named Phoebe. Rather than greeting her, Paul commends her. “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a… Continue reading Phoebe
Law and Spirit: A COVID Parable
Imagine this: it’s summer 2021. After extensive trials and tests, the COVID-19 vaccine is available. It has been internationally confirmed to be reliable, safe and effective. Here in the UK it is available to you for free. What would you say to someone who is choosing to refuse the vaccine and instead is insisting on… Continue reading Law and Spirit: A COVID Parable
What should we look for in missions presentations?
This post is prompted a little by Steve Kneale’s article where he describes sitting through a missions’ sermon. It got me thinking a little about what we expect in and from a missions talk. So often the aim of a such a presentation (aside from sharing specific prayer points) tends to be about persuading me… Continue reading What should we look for in missions presentations?
#BlackLivesMatter or #AllLivesMatter ?
My wife is a teacher. As a teacher, she wants to ensure that all of the children in her classes are treated equally and fairly. However, she has discovered over the years that “treating fairly” does not mean “treating the same.” She has learnt that if the gap is to be closed for boys then… Continue reading #BlackLivesMatter or #AllLivesMatter ?
Being filled with the Spirit and not drunk on wine (Sealed with the Spirit 5)
What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit. I have often heard two illustrations for this. That we are like jugs and the Holy Spirit like water. Just as the jug may lose water as it is drunk or spilt, so we can lose some of the fullness of the Spirit and need… Continue reading Being filled with the Spirit and not drunk on wine (Sealed with the Spirit 5)
Learning the wrong lessons: virtual church and remote pastoring
What happens to church during lockdown? There are essentially * answers to that question Option 1: Physical gathering never mattered much, the spiritual was always what mattered and therefore virtual online church is great. It is at least the equal if not better than physical gathering in buildings. Option 2: It is impossible to physically… Continue reading Learning the wrong lessons: virtual church and remote pastoring
Faithroots 