Our church wants a plurality of elders, but we don’t know where to start
This is a common question, particularly among smaller churches (which, let’s be honest, is most of us). Some good advice in beginning to establish plural eldership in your church.
The world’s hatred is not a guarantee that you are following Jesus
This should be obvious enough, but many of us don’t believe it. We think that the hatred of the world is proof that we are doing something right. But it is based on faulty reasoning and there are lots of reasons the world might hate us and they don’t all start and end with our obedience to Christ.
Why didn’t my pastor tell me about that?
‘Many churches offer a rather light diet of Christian theology, teaching, and biblical instruction. And therefore the average church member—even after maybe twenty years—has only received a smattering of Christian teaching, most of which does not seriously probe the challenging aspects of the Christian faith.’
Bible apps, Zoom prayers and swimming pool baptisms
I don’t usually link to articles in secular papers, but I couldn’t resist this one about the Liverpool FC goalkeeper – Alison Becker – and his faith.
Respect everyone made in the image of God
‘Every person we’ll ever encounter is someone who requires our respect, for all people bear the dignity of being made in the image of God.’
10 things you should know about justification by faith
Does what it says on the tin this one.
From the archive: Asylum seekers bring great gospel opportunities; the gospel must move us to care about their plight
‘The asylum system provides us with great opportunities to share the gospel with those from countries that it (humanly speaking) could never penetrate. One of my friends from a Muslim-majority country said to me that the Islamic regime at large in his country, though it is bad for the nation, was one of the best things that could have happened. As far as he was concerned, his people could see the reality of the religion they peddled and saw how barren it was. Many are open to the gospel when they arrive, not because they’ve heard it, but they’ve already rejected what they were previously forced to imbibe and are looking for something more compelling.’