Here is a copy of an email I sent to our church family today. Dear ::first_name:: I know last week, I said I wouldn’t be doing a weekly update, however, I felt really compelled to share with you my one question I ask myself the most often. Discipleship or probably a better word apprenticeship is the process of not only doing ‘stuff’ for Jesus (a … Continue reading The one question I ask myself the most often
How do you write a belief statement for a local church? For me there were at least three guiding principles when I penned the belief statement below: Generosity: So much of what we as a local church believe, is shared by millions and millions of Chrisitan across the denominational spectrum and with brothers and sisters who have followed Jesus throughout history. We’re not trying to … Continue reading Visulising belief
This article was first published on our church website Read “… and they continued steadfastly (devoted themselves) …” (NKJV) Think If you were to evaluate my taste in films (something that my friends have done with much amusement!), you would find a strong emphasis on the underdog overcoming all the odds. Despite it’s goriness, I love the film Braveheart. There is something quite compelling about … Continue reading Acts 2: A people of Devotion
Last week, whilst on holiday, I read: Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age. It was such a helpful book in helping me to understand and appreciate the vastly different world my teenage daughters are growing up in. Seriously, I would recommend all church leaders, teachers, pastoral teams and youth leaders read this book. Continue reading If you’re over 30, read THIS book!
1 Cor 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (ESV) I still remember the early days with fondness, when Lorna and I started dating and she met my university friends. At the time Lorna was living at home with her parents in Norfolk and I was living and working in Sheffield. One Friday evening, Lorna … Continue reading EATING FOOD TO THE GLORY OF GOD
This article was first published on our church website READ In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18) THINK In … Continue reading Acts 2: Being Charismatic
Ok, imagine the scene, the editor of the New York Times wants to do a double-page spread on a famous religious leader. She decides to choose one of Jesus’ close circle. The goal is to paint a picture of the real life of a 1st century leader amongst one of the great religious upheavals history has ever seen. She types into Google the 12 apostles and picks … Continue reading In Praise of the Ordinary
C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, wrote: “There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. I have heard people admit that they are bad-tempered, or that they cannot keep their heads about girls … Continue reading Leaders Grow Down
This Article was first published on our church website here THINK A couple of weeks ago, I wrote the opening article in this new series of devotionals which I called Convincing Proofs. https://www.wearekingsgate.org/acts-ch-1-convincing-proofs/ Today I want to revisit the that subject because in many ways this whole chapter is really about ensuring that Jesus’ disciples were set up and ready for their mission to be people … Continue reading More Proof
This article was first published on our church webite here READ “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs … Continue reading Acts 1: Convincing Proofs
