Tag Archives: Discipleship

Not Old, Not Young, Not Done: Why the Church Needs Christians Who Still Have Plenty Left in the Tank

There is a phrase I have heard more than once in church life “I think it’s time for me to step back and let the younger people do it.” Sometimes that is exactly the right instinct. Churches need mature Christians who are willing to train others, hand over responsibility and rejoice when a younger believerContinue reading “Not Old, Not Young, Not Done: Why the Church Needs Christians Who Still Have Plenty Left in the Tank”

Should Christians Eat Halal Meat? What 1 Corinthians Teaches Us About Food, Freedom and Conscience

Can Christians eat halal meat? It sounds like a fairly modern question. Walk into a supermarket, order food from a takeaway, or eat in certain restaurants in Britain and you may discover that the meat being served is halal. For some Christians that barely registers. For others it raises an immediate concern: Has this meat beenContinue reading “Should Christians Eat Halal Meat? What 1 Corinthians Teaches Us About Food, Freedom and Conscience”

Will Christians Really Judge the World?

There are some verses in the Bible that we can read dozens of times without really stopping to think about what they mean. Then, suddenly, one phrase catches our attention and refuses to let us move on. For me, one of those phrases came up recently in a sermon I was listening to and itContinue reading “Will Christians Really Judge the World?”

A Heart Aflame for God

The phrase spiritual formation can make some conservative evangelicals slightly uneasy. It can sometimes be associated with mystical practices, vague spirituality or disciplines borrowed uncritically from Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. Yet the Bible clearly calls Christians to pursue spiritual maturity – to keep our hearts diligently, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling,Continue reading “A Heart Aflame for God”

Could Your Devotional Material Be Hindering Your Spiritual Growth?

There is a quiet irony in much of modern Christian publishing. We have more devotional material available to us than almost any generation in church history, and yet many Christians know their Bibles less well than previous generations did. That is not because devotional books are bad. Far from it. Many are rich, faithful, Christ-centred,Continue reading “Could Your Devotional Material Be Hindering Your Spiritual Growth?”

Stop Apologising for Long Bible Readings; Recovering the Lost Art of Public Scripture Reading

“I’m sorry, it’s a rather long reading this morning.” If you have spent any time in evangelical churches, you have probably heard those words. Perhaps you have spoken them yourself. The Bible reader steps to the lectern, glances apologetically at the congregation, and warns them that what follows may test their patience. A chapter fromContinue reading “Stop Apologising for Long Bible Readings; Recovering the Lost Art of Public Scripture Reading”

God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: Why They Are Friends, Not Enemies

Few doctrines generate more questions among Christians than the sovereignty of God. For some, it is a source of deep comfort. For others, it feels unsettling. Many believers hear phrases like “God is sovereign” and immediately wonder: What about free will? Are our choices real? Does human responsibility matter?

The God Who Keeps His People; Assurance, Perseverance, and the Comfort of the Gospel

There are some theological questions that arrive in the study quietly, and there are others that arrive with tears. This is one of the latter. Can a true Christian finally fall away and be lost forever? For some, the question is deeply personal. A believer battles ongoing sin and wonders whether repeated failure has exhaustedContinue reading “The God Who Keeps His People; Assurance, Perseverance, and the Comfort of the Gospel”