Church Life

Theses on preaching

Submitted by James on Mon, 09/01/2012 - 19:45

What's going on when someone preaches?

How does God's word preached relate to God's word written?

How does the sermon relate to the other parts of a church service?

How does preaching relate to / differ from the other contexts and events in which we hear God's word?

How do the words of the preacher relate to the words of God?

Where does the Spirit fit into preaching?

OK...

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The church's engagement in politics and economics

Submitted by James on Thu, 24/11/2011 - 08:14

The Adam Smith Institute have published an article (provocatively) called The Church of England is barking up the wrong tree.

It is well worth reading, inviting us to think a little more carefully what a Christian engagement in the realms of politics and economics should look like.

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Return to sender - not at this address

Submitted by James on Tue, 08/11/2011 - 11:37

Don't worry, I won't really return it.

But I don't think she lives here, do you?

Envelope

The Highest Place

Submitted by James on Mon, 17/10/2011 - 08:34

Next Sunday falls as part of a week off for us, so we won't be at Kemsing or Woodlands churches.

The week after is 30th October. For a couple of years now, we've taken the opportunity that comes around four times a year (the fifth Sunday of the month) to have one joint service for both churches. In the main they've been happy celebrations, and the aim is always to worship the one Lord Jesus Christ, and to remind ourselves that the gospel which unites us is far stronger than any cultural, geographical, or ecclesiastical-taste differences we might have.

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Church meetings which also welcome outsiders

Submitted by James on Sat, 15/10/2011 - 10:51

It's a perennial tension: How do we create church meetings where the church family are cared for, able to worship, fed and equipped to serve Christ in their week-round lives? And how do we simultaneously create meetings where newcomers and visitors are welcome and where things are accessible?

There's a good deal of wisdom and further asking of the right questions over at The Good Book Blog at a post entitled Meetings: For family and their friends.

Giving up is too easy

Submitted by James on Mon, 20/06/2011 - 13:11

Some sobering words from Chris Green as he comments on 2 Timothy 4:10

The very fact we are discussing whether Titus has defected, and that such an idea should be plausible within the context of 2 Timothy, shows how the lessons of this letter are needed. Christian leaders, no matter how mature and long-serving, are always to be nurtured, prayed for and watched. If Demas could falter, so could anyone. Even Timothy. (page 149)

Baptise, then teach

Submitted by James on Wed, 15/06/2011 - 13:11

Matthew 28:19 has a command ("go and make disciples"), followed by two participles: "baptising... , and teaching...".

Here's France again:

The order in which these two participles occur differs from what has become common practice in subsequent Christian history, in that baptism is, in many Christian circles, administered only after a period of ‘teaching,’ to those who have already learned. It can become in such circles more a graduation ceremony than an initiation. If the order of Matthew’s participles is meant to be noticed, he is here presenting a different model whereby baptism is the point of enrollment into a process of learning which is never complete.

Rubbish sermon vicar!

Submitted by James on Fri, 04/03/2011 - 14:34

I'm greatly heartened to read Richard Perkins' recent post: 5 ways to profit from a rubbish sermon.

(Mercifully,) a sermon can fall far, far short of what it should be, and people can still profit from it. That doesn't mean it's OK not to try, but for me just to settle for preaching badly. But isn't it good to know that preaching badly also doesn't mean it's OK for the hearer to have to settle for hearing nothing? In patnership, as the preacher unfolds the text as well as he can, the congregation can seek to hear the voice of God as clearly as they can. And then they will.

Go on, read it! He has some excellent suggestions.

The God of Lent

Submitted by James on Tue, 08/02/2011 - 19:21

There are some very helpful distinctions and other points made in an article by Doug Wilson on Lent. With a month to go before the season begins, I'd commend it to readers of this blog.

Persecuted church in Iran

Submitted by James on Thu, 27/01/2011 - 11:34

Those wishing to pray for the church in Iran may like to read this recent report that has documented the persecution there since June 2010.

The headline is this: “We know for sure that at least 202 Christians have been arbitrarily arrested in 24 cities in Iran since June 2010. 33 remain in prison today. This has happened against the background of government officials publicly speaking out against Christians.”

The report is available from http://www.elam.com/articles/202-arrests,-33-still-in-prison.

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