After reading Simon Flinder’s response to Gavin Parkin’s article (‘A truly reformed pastor’, Briefing #365), it occurred to me that Gavin has misunderstood Baxter’s approach to ministry in Kidderminster. Baxter didn’t leave his flock to evangelize; he evangelized his flock. Baxter understood his flock to be the whole town of Kidderminster. This is foundationally different to the way we see church today. Baxter even says he was blessed not to have any dissenters in his town, therefore his ministry responsibilities were clear. (more…)
Tag Archives: Interchange
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This is not real church
Interchange
I suspect I might be the ‘elderly relative’ referred to in the article by Tony Payne on ‘This is not real church’. But even if I’m not, I want to comment on the change of ‘doing church’ over the years and the cut-down New Testament church of today. (more…)
A truly reformed pastor
Interchange
In Briefing #365, Gavin Perkins wrote an Up Front piece which argued that “the good pastor is actually primarily an evangelist”. He argued for this on the basis that Jesus’ parable in Luke 15 talks about a shepherd who leaves the 99 in order to find the one who is lost, and on the basis that Jesus saw the helpless crowds in Matthew 9 as “sheep without a shepherd”. He also reminded us of the example of our hero Richard Baxter in this regard (author of The Reformed Pastor). (more…)
ShareThis
Interchange
Just wanted to say how impressed we were that you have an option to share old articles in your library via Facebook. Although personally I think Facebook is a tool of Satan, my wife loves it, and being able to quickly share articles for discussion and use in the church is a great benefit. Thanks for your technological insight. (more…)
The gospel and the quiet time
Interchange
Paul Grimmond’s article on ‘The gospel and the quiet time’ was fabulous. I have noticed over the past few years that The Briefing encourages us in the week between Christmas and New Years of the need to start again in our Bible reading and praying (i.e. in time to get in on our New Years’ resolution list). Paul’s article does this very graciously. (I’ve got to admit, this is actually the best way to win me over; I don’t usually respond well to the ‘firm rebuke’.) So thank you, Paul! (more…)
‘Just how sovereign is God?’ and ‘Doing little things well’
Interchange
A couple of things ‘got me started’ in Up Front (January 2009). Jean Williams (‘Just how sovereign is God?’) wrote a timely reminder of how vital it is to immerse oneself in the knowledge that God is sovereign, and I agree with most of what was written. I did find myself wondering, however, if there was a more nuanced way of understanding God’s sovereignty over the ‘big history’ events and over “the small, everyday occurrences of life”. God’s ultimate purposes cannot be thwarted, but God’s sovereignty does not necessarily mean that every event in our lives is pre-ordained (as seems to be suggested by the quote from Spurgeon with which the article begins). God’s sovereignty does mean, however, that he is able to work all things together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28). This applies equally to the ‘big’ and the ‘little’ things of life. Sometimes we mess up: we sin, we fall short, we rebel against his will, we find ourselves in a quandary, or out of fuel miles from a petrol station with young children in the car. We become ill (whether from a cold or cancer). Tragedy strikes. I take comfort not in knowing that God necessarily meant such things to be, but that he is able to make even these things work together for his glory and my eternal good. (more…)
‘God, sin and Christ’ and ‘Preaching to the sinners’
Interchange
I found thearticles by Martin Foord and Simon Manchester in December’s Briefing very helpful. It’s always good to be reminded of the seriousness of sin both in our own relationship with God and in speaking to others. However, shortly afterwards, I read two other articles by Jim Packer and Ray Comfort that made me wonder if there was something missing from what Martin and Simon had said. (more…)
10 ways to discourage your husband in ministry
Interchange
I was blown away by ‘10 ways to discourage your husband in ministry’. As I sat to peruse The Briefing (a useful and godly delaying tactic instead of tackling the housework), I began reading point 10: ‘Keep your home messy’. It was like an arrow to the heart. I had never looked upon my shortcomings as a housewife in that way. As I surveyed each horizontal surface laden with clutter, I was horrified and challenged. Thank you for such a blunt and thought-provoking article. (more…)
We need more shack time
Interchange
I appreciated Paul Grimmond’s critique of The Shack: it is needed. You might want to check out William P Young’s connections to C Baxter Kruger and his Perichoresis Ministries, especially given their November speaking tour of Australia. Kruger’s fascinating re-frame of the gospel is the next ‘evangelical’ gospel aberration requiring a vigorous response, I suspect. The novel is marinated in his theological perspective—a perspective which is intensely appealing. (more…)
Is church for evangelism?
Interchange
I wonder if Tony Payne has created a reductionist focus in pointing the church to act like a “fellowship of the redeemed” when it gathers (Briefing #362, ‘Is church for evangelism?’). In the descriptive ministry of Jesus, he turned effortlessly to the mix of his listeners (Luke 12). Paul could ask his readers to “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Cor 13:5). (more…)
10 ways to discourage your husband in ministry
Interchange
Thank you to Carmelina and Karen for their excellent article ‘10 ways to discourage your husband in ministry’. Speaking in the negative gave so much more scope for explaining what encouragement looks like—and it also gave us a chance to laugh at ourselves. I appreciated it. Thank you! (more…)
Is the gospel still for the Jews?
Interchange
Yesterday evening I had a terrific time at a University Christian Union giving some insights into why and how Christian students can/should share Yeshua with their Jewish friends. It was a well-attended evening seminar. (more…)
10 ways to discourage your husband in ministry
Interchange
‘10 ways to discourage your husband in ministry’ was one of the most profoundly discouraging articles I have read in my 17 years of being a ‘ministry wife’. At first, I wondered if I’d lost my sense of humour. But I found many others were equally discouraged. (more…)
Is the gospel still first for the Jew?
Interchange
I have just got round to reading the September issue of The Briefing and Martin Pakula’s article ‘Is the gospel still first for the Jew?’ in which he refers to “the London Missionary Society (later known as the Church Missionary Society)”. This is quite wrong. (more…)