A poverty-stricken student reaches the end of her financial resources and writes home, appealing for money. If we were so rude as to open her letter (or if we were to receive it!), what would we find? What sort of letter would it be? How would she persuade her parents to hand over the cash? What sort of techniques would she employ?
Archives: everyday-ministry
Dispensing with evangelism
Everyday Ministry
Evangelism is the Christian equivalent of paying tax: we dread it, we try to avoid it and we would prefer that everyone except us was obliged to do it. But somehow, despite our fear and resentment, we sense that it is a right and proper thing to do and, just as it warms your heart to see that tax refund smiling at you from the letterbox, it is so good to see someone converted and bubbling over with the new-found joy of new life in Christ.
Minor or Major?
Everyday Ministry
The key to church music
As far as we can tell, music has always had a place in the lives of Christians, particularly in our corporate experience as the people of God. There is a wealth of evidence for this in the Old Testament; it is not so obvious in the New Testament, but passages such as Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 suggest that singing was part of normal Christian activity. Today, music still has a place in most Christian gatherings.
Choosing Songs
Everyday Ministry
It can be a last-minute job. While the chairs are being set up, the songleader frantically rummages through the songbooks in search of that one with the chorus that goes “Da da dumty dum”. But last minute arrangements are thoughtless arrangements. We need to sit back and think about what we sing and why we sing it.
Welcoming the newcomer
Everyday Ministry
This is the second in our two-part series of articles devoted to the practicalities of welcoming people into our churches. (Read part 1.) It has been adapted from The Usher’s and Greeter’s Information Manual, written by Rick Lewers for use in his church. You might like to use this series as the basis for a workshop for those who are involved in welcoming people to your church.
The ministry of welcoming
Everyday Ministry
Churches that are growing are doing so because of God’s generosity. But that should not stop us from thinking hard and long about what we do in church, how it affects our fellowship and how it appears to outsiders. What sort of attitudes will God want us to have towards the people with whom we gather once a week?
Teaching children about God
Everyday Ministry
Wouldn’t it be great if someone said to you as a parent, “Do this, this and this and you will have mature, well adjusted children who are Christians as well!”? One of the things we long for as parents, is to know that if we do something, then we will be assured of the correct response by our children. Unfortunately, children aren’t like that, not even in the same family. Not only is this true in regard to their behaviour, but particularly so in their responses to our teaching about God. We long to see our children as Christians, taking the claims of Jesus for themselves, living godly lives and calling on God as their Father in Heaven. But we cannot orchestrate this development.
Evangelizing Roman Catholics
Everyday Ministry
Jacko, a conscientious Christian, boarded his morning train to Uni and spotted Patrick (a Roman Catholic) sitting at the end of the carriage. It was Patrick’s book, peeping out of his backpack, which gave him away: an immaculate Jerusalem Bible, its pristine pages devoid of sweat from foraging fingers.
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.
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.
Heroes
Everyday Ministry, Sola Panel
There are some questions that make us think about our priorities and values. You know, the “What three things would you take with you into the bomb shelter?” sort of question.
An apologetic armoury
Everyday Ministry, Sola Panel
In our last issue, we looked at two approaches to apologetics—the Presuppositional and Evidential methods—typified by Francis Schaeffer and Josh McDowell. We saw that both approaches have their problems, while being useful in different contexts. (more…)
How Certain Can You Be?
Everyday Ministry
When your friend asks you to prove the existence of God, ask him to prove that his wife loves him.
Proving the existence of God is a strange task, along the lines of proving that my wife loves me. However, we are called upon to do it from time to time by our non-Christian friends. “How can you be so certain?” they ask. “What if you’re just imagining it all? How can you prove to me that this God of yours exists?”
Two Ways to Apologize
Everyday Ministry, Sola Panel
Defining terms
Evangelism—telling people the good news of what God has done in Christ and calling on them to repent and put their trust in him. Evangelism involves both giving information and making invitation. (more…)
Does sin disqualify you for ministry?
Everyday Ministry
Everybody liked Dennis. He was a capable, friendly man who went about his job as church treasurer cheerfully and without fuss.