MINISTRY PRINCIPLES & PRAGMATICS

theology

  • The price Jesus paid does not mean you’re worth that much to God.

    Have you heard something like this…  Look at the price God paid for you; His own son! God wouldn’t sacrifice his son for something worthless would he?! Therefore we must be immensely valuable to God! The crux of the idea… Continue reading

    The price Jesus paid does not mean you’re worth that much to God.

  • Repost: ‘Doing Theology’ is smashing

    Exegesis (using sound biblical context of God’s unfolding plan) gives us certain theological ideas; Sin, Death, Love, Atonement, Creation, Humanity, Suffering, Eternity, Jesus, Life, Responsibility, Sovereignty, Power, Spirit, Law, Satan, Time, Guilt, Sex… these are all just topics that you… Continue reading

    Repost: ‘Doing Theology’ is smashing

  • Repost: Abstract and Concrete Ideas in Church

    We came across this idea a few years ago… that most churches (ours included) were generally pretty good at communicating two sorts of things… Abstract Theology, and Concrete Details about Church. (Abstract means concepts and ideas, whereas Concrete means times,… Continue reading

    Repost: Abstract and Concrete Ideas in Church

  • Do you think of justification as an insurance policy?

    An insurance policy and justification both have a pretty similar outcome. Both start with me being in the wrong and both end with me in a returned-state; perfected. The debt is paid off, the car/holiness is restored as though it… Continue reading

    Do you think of justification as an insurance policy?

  • Reblog: Empty bucket theology

    Some people have complete ideas in their heads, some people have fuzzy ideas in their heads, and some people have “empty buckets” when it comes to certain ideas. All of these people have things they need to change… “Complete theological… Continue reading

    Reblog: Empty bucket theology

  • The dangers of “desert island” theology

    Desert-island theology is when you try to reduce a theological question down to its basic elements. This can be a really helpful activity for thinking clearly, however it need to be taken back into context. Some examples: What is marriage?… Continue reading

    The dangers of “desert island” theology

  • A theology of Attention

    In the new age of digital media, where a movie can be copied/transmitted/watched for next to no cost, we begin to see what was always the underlying commodity: Attention. Peoples’ attention. Apparently I have your attention now, though I might… Continue reading

    A theology of Attention

  • Unfortunately, behaviours dictate theology

    It would be nice if people developed their personal beliefs from the Bible, and only from the Bible. But that’s just not the world we live in. The reality is that people have experiences, they make choices, they have behaviours… Continue reading

    Unfortunately, behaviours dictate theology

  • Contentment isn’t gained, it’s realised

    If you’re waiting for something to happen before you’re content, you’ll be waiting a long time. If you expect that you’ll be content when you have that ‘thing’ that you think you really need, that expectation will never go away.… Continue reading

    Contentment isn’t gained, it’s realised

  • Remember you’re dealing with two worlds

    Both worlds are connected, both worlds influence each other. God is sovereign over both, and he created both. But even so, be careful not to confuse these worlds or imagine links between them that aren’t there. I’m talking about the… Continue reading

    Remember you’re dealing with two worlds

  • MTS, the doctrine of election and the gold rush

    Have you ever considered the similarity between the line, “There’s gold in them tha’ hills” and Jesus saying to Paul, “I have many people in this city” (Acts 19:10). During the Australian gold rush periods, thousands of people left their… Continue reading

    MTS, the doctrine of election and the gold rush

  • Don’t mistake newlessness for growthlessness

    Its really exciting hearing something new; that feeling of having your brain blown and being knocked off your feet as you realise how Jesus transforms your view of the world. We should always thank God for those moments, and look… Continue reading

  • Dual church membership #1 – Nothing about it

    So I’m going to share some thoughts on the topic of dual church membership; the idea of trying to be part of two local expressions of Jesus’ family at the same time. I’ll do it over a few posts tagged… Continue reading

  • What’s wrong with fortune cookies, birthday wishes & santa?

    Jealously. That’s why they’re wrong. Because God is a Jealous God. When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? (Is 8:19) Do not follow other gods, the… Continue reading

  • The wrong end of the “election” stick

    I get why people find the doctrine of election hard. But I think they make it harder than it is, because they start from the wrong end of the stick. The doctrine of election tells us more about God, than… Continue reading