Latest Posts
Will your work survive according to 1Corinthians 3:9-16?
What is 1Cor 3:13 warning us about? A day when our ministry will be tested by fire? What does it mean that our gold ministry will last, while our straw ministry will burn? What is it all referring to? Not only for the future, but also for today? What exactly is God’s word warning us…
When Goal Driven Ministry doesn’t make sense
Will your work survive according to 1Cor 3? View the most recent article Recently Lionel Windsor wrote on the necessity to ‘Watch out’ as we use ‘Secular Wisdom to Achieve Ministry Goals’. But it left me frustrated for several reasons. However, responding to each idea is tricky since Lionel’s essay is itself a response to…
Paul wasn’t worried about being ‘eloquent’
I think some of our translations have done us a disservice in 1Cor 1:17 and 2:1-15 by using terms like eloquence which shift the focus of Paul’s argument from the content of his message to the method in which he spoke it. While Paul’s point certainly implies something about his method of speaking, his focus…
Second Council of Erina 2023 – Impassibility
Some personal thoughts coming out of the second ‘Trinity Symposium’ at EV Church. Similar to last time, these are my personal reflections – not a summary of what was presented or discussed. It was a great discussion, and I absolutely love that these events happen! A personal highlight was Mark Thompson’s lecture on how we…
Data, trends & prayers
I’m often asked for examples or templates of what our church and staff set as goals and targets. I’m always hesitant to provide this because it needs to be understood in light of a certain theological and philosophical framework. First, let’s be clear on the purpose of even doing this in the first place. The…
ChatGPT and our cry for help
If you’re in pastoral ministry, you might know the Pastor’s prayer; with a Sunday sermon looming and more jobs to do that humanly possible, the pastor sits in front of his screen and prays, “Lord, help. Please help.” There is something so intrinsically right and good about this prayer. It represents a proper posture before…
Is ChatGPT a Ministry Tool?
Yes. The big question is how can we use it for ministry, and to what extent should we use it? Here’s some meaningful ways you could use it right now: 1. Ministry Event Planning Go to ChatGPT and type in this: When I do this, I get a basic table of actions that need to…
The Council of Erina 2022
Yesterday I was privileged to attend ‘The Trinity Symposium’ held at EV Church. I thought I’d try and distill some of what (I think) was being said here. (And please, the “Council of Erina” thing is just a joke!!) It’s worth also knowing that one of the driving questions being brought to the event was…
Making sense of the triune God
There’s a lovely, yet complex, simplicity to the Christian doctrine of God as trinity; There is one divine nature (being), and there are three divine persons; the Father, the Son and the Spirit. One being (not three beings). Three persons (not one person). While every illustration is flawed, here’s a small one… Consider a single…
Church online through the one who promised, “I am with you always”
Jesus’ last words in Matthew 28 are an amazing comfort… Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them…
Why people won’t watch your ‘online church’…
Yes… we all agree this whole COVID-19 lockdown provides a unique opportunity for gospel work. Jesus is supreme, and nothing will hold back his kingdom growing. I deeply believe people will come to faith and grow in their faith during this time. And many churches (including my own) have significantly changed to become media organisations…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
MINISTRY PRINCIPLES & PRAGMATICS 