A joy to be at a wonderful Baptist Assembly in Dundee: highly inspirational for the work of the Kingdom. So valuable to be there and part of a network of Christians committed to our common values.
So inspirational to have Chris Duffett, evangelist and president of the baptist union of Great Britain, with us. As Stephen Holmes remarked to me, Chris really has reinvented Street evangelism! But more than that - Chris embodies the vital essence that there is no Christian truth without love for people. Love is the imperative that, if missing, causes all else to be defiled. Sterile truth is no truth at all.
If you haven't seen his book, 'Big Hearted', you can get it on kindle. A really easy but really important read.
Tuesday 30 October 2012
Wednesday 17 October 2012
ειρηνην διωκετε μετα παντων και τον αγιασμον ου χωρις ουδεις οψεται τον κυριον Hebrews 12.14
'Pursue after peace with all; and being holy - without which no-one will see the Lord'
I hadn't noticed this, before. I'm reading Bryan Stone's seminal work, 'Evangelism after Christendom', where he points out the importance of having our eye on the goal. And of course, the goal is is the Peace, the שלומ, that comes in with the Kingdom of God. Of which we, as disciples of Jesus, are the harbingers and instruments of its revelation and invasion of this present time and Age.
Evangelism is a holy thing. It is the bearing of a presence, not merely a message. It begins with holiness and a fresh vision of Jesus. Start there. Born in His presence, become a bearer of Peace. Then you will have something worth sharing in words too.
I hadn't noticed this, before. I'm reading Bryan Stone's seminal work, 'Evangelism after Christendom', where he points out the importance of having our eye on the goal. And of course, the goal is is the Peace, the שלומ, that comes in with the Kingdom of God. Of which we, as disciples of Jesus, are the harbingers and instruments of its revelation and invasion of this present time and Age.
Evangelism is a holy thing. It is the bearing of a presence, not merely a message. It begins with holiness and a fresh vision of Jesus. Start there. Born in His presence, become a bearer of Peace. Then you will have something worth sharing in words too.
Monday 8 October 2012
Sounding Board
This weekend, it was good to be with the leadership of the Garioch Church, again to meet with them as part of their 'sounding board'. A great idea - to have a group of outsiders to the fellowship come to be used as a 'sounding board' over against what has been happening, what is being undertaken and what is being planned. To allow voices to come from the outside, whereby God might speak into the context of a local church.
This is a brave move to take, for any leadership group. And a good one too. It ensures that there is opportunity for God to use a voice that speaks with love and challenge. To be commended for any local church to implement.
This is a brave move to take, for any leadership group. And a good one too. It ensures that there is opportunity for God to use a voice that speaks with love and challenge. To be commended for any local church to implement.
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