Monthly Archives: June 2011

Messy church and the crucial adults to kids ratio

Posted on June 29, 2011 by

We’ve just enjoyed our fifth Messy Church and it was quite possibly the best so far.  The reason for its success is fairly simple.  There were 32 kids and 26 adults in church.  In the past we’ve been as disparate … Continue reading →

| Leave a comment

Leadership and growth by appraisal

Posted on June 28, 2011 by

I’ve been a vicar for just over two years and have recently completed my MDR (Ministry Development Review) and am now in an 18-month leadership training programme both of which involve feedback and appraisal from key members of the church. … Continue reading →

Posted in church leadership | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Why does Christ commend himself if self praise is no praise?

Posted on June 27, 2011 by

Anyone who said “I am the bread of life” or “I am the good shepherd” would normally be considered to be self-inflated and proud, or worse, a madman.  So why does Christ do it?  Charles Spurgeon writes in his sermon … Continue reading →

Posted in The nature of the giver | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Trevor Phillips on Christians in modern society

Posted on June 23, 2011 by

The dust is settling on the report in the Sunday Telegraph which quoted “equalities boss” Trevor Phillips on the relationship between Christians and modern society. There’s been discussion elsewhere on the internet about whether or not Christians are more militant, … Continue reading →

Posted in Other matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anti-homogenous church in the Sermon on the Mount

Posted on June 22, 2011 by

Have you ever noticed that circles of friends, interest groups and religious bodies, including churches, are mostly made up of people who look like each other or act like each other?   White middle-class churches, black churches, Asian churches are obvious … Continue reading →

Posted in Heterogenous Church | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

TV and living a Christ-Centred life.

Posted on June 21, 2011 by

For over fifteen years of marriage, my wife and I didn’t have a TV.  We were not being especially godly, we just never got round to having one.  Since October last year we’ve had a licence and an aerial.  I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Other matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Curates. Beware of the step!

Posted on June 20, 2011 by

I’m interested to know what advice new incumbents [or pastors] might give to curates [or assistant ministers] whilst the experience of stepping up from the number two position to number one in church life is still fresh. I have been … Continue reading →

Posted in church leadership | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The changing face of Transforming Grace

Posted on June 16, 2011 by

I changed the header photo on Transforming Grace twice this week. It thought it might be fun to remind anyone who’s been reading this blog for the past few years of the various photos I’ve used to make a first … Continue reading →

Posted in Other matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

9 marks of our being Christ’s true bride.

Posted on June 15, 2011 by

Many Christians struggle with the question of assurance.  They look at their deeds, actions, performance, thought life and ask, “Am I really a Christian?”  Ebenezer Erskine gives 9 Marks of true faith, and they are all centred on Christ. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Means of Grace | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Doctrine Who

Posted on June 14, 2011 by

We’ve got a new character in church to help us learn who Jesus is and what he has done, Doctrine Who. This was the idea of my elder son, the Joker. We were doing the first of nine big words … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Trinity | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment