What makes a sermon good?
The last post asked if preaching has a future. I guess many would answer – ‘depends on the preaching. There is no future for shabby preaching, but good preaching, bring it on.’ Fair enough, but what is a ‘good’ sermon? I came up with these seven ideas (I like the ‘one for each day of the week’ concept) – and am interested in others that you would add to the list (perhaps we’ll get to one for each day of the year!) Lest you think, ‘but I am not a preacher, so have nothing to say on this topic’ – it is as important that we...
Read MoreDoes Preaching have a Future?
What do you feel when the preacher steps up to preach… a surge of enthusiasm? a sense of expectancy? a bit of a sigh and an inner comment ‘hope this doesn’t last too long’? In a twitter age, do 30 minute monologues have a future? I wrote this article in 2013, and it has been published both in Ministry Today and in the book that marked the 50th anniversary of Vose Seminary Vose Seminary at 50: From ‘Preach the Word to ‘Come, Grow’. I’d be interested in your thoughts, and depending on response, I might develop some of the ideas in some other blog...
Read MoreManaging Monday with John Calvin
French theologian John Calvin (1509-1564) is one of the most influential theologians of all time, and the key figure in the system of Christian theology known as Calvinism. His thinking continues to fuel numerous theological debates… you can’t really be a theologian without bumping into his views. We will enjoy some pithy insights from him over the next few Mondays… Although the stars do not speak, even in being silent they cry out – John Calvin We should ask God to increase our hope when it is small, awaken it when it is dormant, confirm it when it is wavering,...
Read MorePentecost Sunday: Happy Birthday Church…
Vose student Audrey Francis has contributed to this blog a few times. She wrote this prayer for Pentecost Sunday, which I share with you… A Prayer at Pentecost Lord of the cross and empty tomb, Surround us afresh with the power of your Holy Spirit that we may be bold to risk your way. Surround us afresh with the fire of your Holy Spirit that the desire to communicate your Gospel may burn within us. Surround us afresh with the wind of your Holy Spirit that we may show the abundant and joyful life you have given us. Surround us afresh with the peace of your...
Read MoreEvangelism and attentiveness…
On the weekend I led a seminar on evangelism for the good folk at Kingsway Methodist Church. It has been a little while since I have led a seminar on this topic, and I decided to think through some issues in a slightly different way. After reflecting on the importance of pre evangelism, and the many obstacles that prevent people from making a meaningful response to Jesus, I asked those present to think of 5 people they knew who haven’t yet said ‘yes’ to Jesus, and to write their names down. I thought this was important, as it is so easy to lapse into theories that have...
Read MoreWhat spurs us into action? Reflections on Lamdin’s book, Finding Your Leadership Style
I’ve recently been grading some student reviews of Keith Lamdin’s 2012 book, Finding Your Leadership Style: A Guide for Ministers. In spite of the sub title (a guide for ministers) I think Lamdin’s work has a wider relevance, and thought it worth highlighting some of his key insights. After defining leadership as ‘one humans capacity to influence another’, Lamdin suggests that three factors are usually at work before we spring into leadership action: discontent, vision and courage. The first ingredient, discontent, is interesting as the obvious implication is...
Read MoreManaging Monday with Paul Tournier: Take 2
Last week we looked at a few key quotes from noted Swiss physician Paul Tournier (1898-1986), who significantly impacted the way we think about the relationship between psychosocial, spiritual and physical health. His books continue to be used in pastoral care courses. Here are a few more Tournier quotes… Acceptance of one’s life has nothing to do with resignation; it does not mean running away from the struggle. On the contrary, it means accepting it as it comes, with all the handicaps of heredity, of suffering, of psychological complexities and injustices. – Paul...
Read MoreOn the shoulders of giants: A tribute to Noel Vose
Vose Seminary has had only three principals in its fifty plus year history, Brian Harris since 2004, John Olley from 1991-2003 and its founding principal, after whom the seminary is named, Noel Vose, from 1963-1991. This Monday May 2nd, in the early hours of the morning, Noel slipped into the presence of Jesus – an event he had been looking forward to for more than a little while. He was 94 years of age – and what a 94 years he lived. The old saying goes that we are dwarfs who stand on the shoulders of giants. If what we do in the present seems impressive it is because of the...
Read MoreWhat does a healthy church look like?
We’ve had a few posts on churchless faith and the journey towards becoming de-churched. Underneath has been the assumption that the church has in some way disappointed and failed to be what she should be. And in most cases if you ask those who have given up on the church ‘why?’ they would cite a litany of errors and flaws. Perhaps we should ask what it would take for people to give an approving nod, and to say, ‘well if church is like that, count me in’. Or to put it differently, what does a healthy church look like? I’ll list a dozen signs that I think indicate health, but would be...
Read MoreManaging Monday with Paul Tournier
Paul Tournier (1898-1986) was a Swiss physician and author whose books significantly impacted the way we think about pastoral care. It has been claimed that he was the most famous Christian physician of the twentieth century, and his work continues to influence the way spiritual and psychosocial aspects of patient care are considered. Some of his better known books include: The Healing of Persons Escape from Loneliness The Meaning of Persons The Strong and the Weak Guilt and Grace To Understand Each Other A Place for You The Naming of Persons Creative Suffering and he wrote many others as...
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