Category Archives: Church
The welcoming church
Everyday Ministry
A welcoming God
The gospel is about a God who takes the initiative to welcome us (see Luke 15). As his representatives, and those who enjoy the benefits of having been welcomed by him, we now welcome in the same way. Welcoming must therefore be an initiative; it must be sacrificial; it must be a high priority; and it must be an obvious distinctive of our identity and mission. Welcoming is not optional.
A Problem that Needs Addressing
Interchange
The pornography of church growth
Pastoral Ministry
Dear Tony,
How are you doing? That’s what Americans keep asking me. Not ‘how am I going’, but ‘how am I doing’. I have a theory that the difference between American and Australian culture is encapsulated in those simple phrases. The US variety is dynamic, assertive, achievement-oriented. It’s all about who is trying harder, doing better. The Australian equivalent seems more laid-back—a reference to sort of wandering along, taking it easy and seeing what happens along the way.
The Relationship Between the Testaments: Church
Thought
What should Christians do when they meet together? What relationship should there be between the leaders of a congregation and the flock? What is the essence of Christian ministry? What place should ‘worship’ have in the Christian meeting?
Are You Ready, Mr Music?
Everyday Ministry
As I move from conference to convention, from houseparty to church, and as we try and select music for our own church meetings, I am consistently left with a sense of dissatisfaction about our present music.
The Search for Worship
Is the current call for a greater sense of worship a return to the faith of the New Testament, a faith which has been eroded by modern pluralism and materialism? Or is it a subtle, and therefore dangerous, distraction from the primary responsibilities of God’s people? (more…)