Themelios 50.1

If you’re into that kind of thing, the latest version of Themelios is now accessible.

The article you don’t want to read

I suspect a title like that makes many of you want to read it! For what it’s worth, it is a good and helpful article too. ‘What can we learn from death and how can we pursue its instruction? Consider a few (of the many) lessons death brings and the ways we can intentionally let death instruct our hearts.’

Doing Open-Airs Well

I have been involved in Open Air work most of my life. I have even done them in the very city Rich talks about here (possible even with some of the same people he does them with too). But I think more of us should consider Open Air work. Those of us that do it already need to recognise that they can be done well, but also badly, and seek to make the best of the opportunity.

3 Misconceptions Parents Might Have About Their Children’s Salvation

‘As a parent of three children—now all in their teen years—I remember being afraid about their future spiritual lives. When will they trust and follow the Lord? Will they drift from the faith? How can I help point them toward the Savior [sic], but not in a pushy way so they’re just following my instructions? I can still feel the anxiety as I thought about their souls. Over the years, in his kindness, the Lord has helped me. He has used truths about salvation to calm my parentally anxious heart and stabilize my thinking. Here are three misconceptions about salvation that parents may need the Lord to correct.’

A Strange Aversion to White Guy Monologues

This is a fantastic reflection on preaching and contextualisation in a particular mission context. The lessons it draws from its context are easily applicable to a much wider set of contexts (including my own).

Let the bible interpret the bible

‘The Bible is full of little details and comments that don’t seem to mean very much. You can feel all at sea and wonder what’s going on. Perhaps it’s tempting to think ‘this is a cultural reference I don’t understand.’ That could be true. However, I’d like to suggest a different approach to Bible reading. Maybe we could allow the Bible to interpret the Bible.’

From the archive: It’s alright to just be pals

‘If you find having a mentor a really valuable thing, I’m not knocking that. It’s a perfectly fine thing to have if you want it. But I wonder whether… we are sometimes just looking for a pseudo-spiritual reason to hang out with a friend? It is fine to just be mates with someone. As far as I can see, the best sort of mentoring and support might just happen when we hang out with mates upon whom we have no specific expectations. They are just the people we spend time with and chew the fat with as pals and equals, not necessarily as mentor and mentee.’