Kent Dobson, who succeeded Rob Bell as pastor of influential Mars Hill Bible Church, has recently announced his decision to step down.
He had begun, he says, with a desire to follow Paul by offering the traditional gospel in culturally-relevant dress. But he had come to question not only the packaging as traditionally offered by the church, but also the message.
…“I have always been and I’m still drawn to the very edges of religion and faith and God.
In the run-up to Christmas, the Church of England hoped to place a 60-second advert – a presentation of the Lord’s Prayer – in cinemas around the UK.
But Digital Cinema Media – the advertising agency responsible for advertising in 80% of the cinemas across the country – has decided that it won’t be showing the advert after all. It has a policy, it says, of ‘not accepting political or religious advertising’. It added that ‘some adverts could cause offence to those of different faiths or of no faith.’…
This is not the time for theological pontification about the appalling terrorist attacks that killed or injured nearly 500 people in Paris less than two days ago.
Mike Evans, who has lived and ministered in France since 1963, suggests that Christians should respond in the following ways:-
Families have lost loved ones. Many individuals have suffered life-changing injuries. Pray for the churches in the Paris area, as they reach out to the victims of these horrific attacks. …
In ‘The Screwtape Letters’ C. S. Lewis brilliantly conveys important truths about Christian life and experience by imagining what advice a senior ‘devil’ might offer to a junior one.
A while ago, Andy Naselli posted a one-sentence summary of each of these letters (note that the ‘patient’ becomes a Christian between letters 1 and 2:-
From Jeremy Taylor, Works, Vol 5:-
Text – Philippians 2:19-30
When the BAFTAs and the Oscars are held, there are awards for best film, best director, best screenplay, best music, best costume design, best make-up and hair, best leading actor and actress, best grip, best best boy, and, of course, best supporting act.
As Christians, we are used to speaking in glowing terms of heroes of the faith such as Abraham, Moses, David, Paul, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Billy Graham. But we’re here tonight to consider two nominations for ‘best supporting act’. …
What does it mean to adopt a simpler lifestyle? Richard Foster suggests a number of aspects:-
1. Simplicity means unity of heart and singleness of purpose. Our one desire is to obey Christ in all things. Our one purpose is to glorify him in all things. We have only one use for money – to advance his kingdom. Jesus taught us to have a ‘single’ eye, Mt 6:22.
2. Simplicity means joy in God’s good creation. …
Peter Lewis (The Glory of Christ, 400) reminds us that the doctrine of Christ’s return affects everything in the Christian life. It:-
In mapping the path of piety (that is to say, godliness), the Puritans focused on four particular areas:-
