Missional Living (Page 9)
The 8 Keys To Gospel Ministry In Housing Schemes (1)
PART I: Live In If we really want to make an impact for Christ in the many housing schemes up and down our nations then we must be prepared to move into the area. This is the GOLDEN rule. There are no exceptions for our leaders. Ministry will fail dismally, particularly if the leader(s) is(are) not…
Lord Carey v Lords Spiritual: FIGHT!
I have had an overwhelming response to an article I wrote this week on the government’s proposed benefit caps. As I stated in the article the initial proposal was defeated in the Lords thanks in no small part to the vocal opposition of a group of Bishops led by the Bishops of Ripon & Leeds, the Right Reverend John Packer. This, in turn, has sparked a mini debate…
Are Benefits Caps Evil?
It’s fair. It’s popular. It’s moral to ensure that families in which people are unemployed but able to work should not get more in benefits than the average family can earn. Or It’s arbitrary. It takes no account of the differences in rents and standards of living in different parts of the country. It’s immoral to force vulnerable families…
Steve Timmis on Church Planting
Steve Timmis is coming to Edinburgh next week to do a Gospel Coaching series for a group of pastors and planters in the city. He is coming in his capacity as the new director of A29 Western Europe and I am really looking forward to it. He has got lots of great things to say and to teach us about how to be better planters in whichever context we find ourselves. Take a look…
10 Honest Questions Ministries Need to ask Donors/Volunteers
I have been reading a new book which I hope to be reviewing shortly on how Christians should work in the realm of community renewal. I found the following questions very helpful from a church perspective when considering if and when we should receive outside ‘teams’ of young people who…
Everything you could ever want by John Stott (and then some)!
See here for an amazing number of resources by John.
Christian Men: Take Up Your Cross in Housing Schemes!
by Andy Constable One of the biggest problems in schemes across Scotland is the breakdown of male leadership. We have many young men without role models. We have lots of men living off the state to provide for their income instead of working. We have many men being bossed around by their…
What Kind of Leaders do Housing Schemes Need?
Before we kick off let’s take ‘Bible believing’, ‘gospel loving’ and ‘evangelical’ as axioms 🙂 If we are to make any progress in housing schemes then we must be encouraging and growing the following types of leaders: 1. They must be able to see what other people cannot see. Where normal people see a problem, a visionary leader…
Why Confrontation is Crucial for the Christian
by Andy Constable One of my biggest struggles in ministry is having ‘confrontational’ conversations with people. I find it almost unnatural to broach difficult conversations and offer biblical rebuke. In particular I find it hard to confront people on their sin issues. This is an area…
How Social Media is Changing the Way we do Youth Ministry
“I’d die if I didn’t have my BlackBerry.” Recent comment from young person According to the news, a UK survey shows that TV is being pushed aside by mobile internet devices in the lives of young people. Among 7-16 year olds, 61% have a mobile phone with internet access, and use that phone for an…