All Archive content articles – Page 58
-
Archive content
A New Kind Of Evangelism
What styles of outreach are effective in the UK today? Rob Frost looks at a range of activities that churches are using to communicate the message of Christ.
-
Archive content
Prophetic Evangelism
What happens when God speaks to people who don’t know him? Mark Stibbe explores how the gift of prophecy can be used with potent effects in evangelism.
-
Archive content
I'm An Evangelical: Get Me Out of Here!
Ever thought of a few days of retreat? For some the whole experience is so different from normal life it can take a while to get over the initial shock... As a Pastor from the south of England found out recently.
-
Archive content
Emerging Options
A growing range of ministries claim to be 'emerging church' including: youth church, prayer monasteries, church in an office, pub or coffee shop. Some argue that emerging church is just the latest evangelical obsession. We've had cells, seeker friendly services, gold teeth – is emerging church another passing trend or might it help turn the tide on church decline? Steve Adams investigates.
-
Archive content
Easter Opportunity
Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ provides an unusual opportunity to share the gospel this Easter. John Buckeridge highlights 20 ways to harness its gospel potential. Mel Gibson in his own words describes his motives for making this extraordinary movie.
-
Archive content
Where To Draw The Line?
Concluding our six-part series on the Spring Harvest 2005 theme, Steve Chalke focuses on the occasions when Daniel learned to compromise and others when he chose to stand his ground - vital principles for you and me who also live in a an alien and sometimes hostile culture.
-
Archive content
Don’t Over-Spiritualise
Paul Scanlon calls on Christians to stop over spiritualising everyday problems. Sometimes a situation doesn't need lots of agonised prayer, bad plumbing is bad plumbing whether the plumber is a Christian or not! We just need to use our God given common sense!
-
Archive content
Discipling A TV Nation
Is the discipleship agenda for your church being set at 8.00am each day on Sky channel 671? Dave Roberts examines the impact of TV Bible teacher Joyce Meyer.
-
Archive content
A Different Kind Of Hero
Is Mark Greene charmed by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?
-
Archive content
Old Missions Strategy Cut Down
The way we used to do world mission is disappearing faster than the Amazonian rainforest. Andy Peck identifies six new mission strategies that are delivering growth. But are you and your church adopting, or even aware of, this new evangelistic thinking?
-
Archive content
Enterprise Culture
Charitable work isn't just about handouts, but developing businesses that are viable on their own. Steve Chalke looks at a business launched by Christians in Doncaster that is now on the road to independence.
-
Archive content
Cross Purposes
What should we believe happened when Jesus died? Steve Chalke expands his understanding of the meaning of the death of Jesus covered in his book, 'The Lost Message of Jesus', and suggests that our view of the cross has a bearing on how we communicate its value.
-
Archive content
Gun Crime
As the number of gun related incidents rises in UK cities, Christians from Manchester, Birmingham and London have united to take action. Gill Troup investigates some innovative approaches to a growing problem.
-
Archive content
Crusading For Conscience
Mark Greene is intrigued by Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven.
-
Archive content
In Good Company
Mark Greene meets Anthony Collins, a lawyer who broke all the rules and created the best law firm in Birmingham with a 'pray and serve' ethos.
-
Archive content
Community Strategy
What sets the agenda for your community involvement? How can you be sure you don't waste your time on dead-end projects? Many churches are finding that the local council’s Community Strategy gives them a head start on engaging with where the needs are. And lives are quite literally changed around.
-
Archive content
College Knowledge
John Buckeridge thought Bible College wasn't for him - so what changed?Resisting God is tiring as well as dangerous. For 18 months or more I had felt increasingly sure that God wanted me to go and study at a theological college, but this thought frightened and appalled me. I was scared that I wouldn't be able to cope with the academic studies, would struggle with the spiritual disciplines, and end up drowning in debt. So I resisted.
I felt so unsettled that I left my job drawing maps for the Ordnance Survey and took a job at a supermarket. Eventually, I realised that if I was going to continue to regard myself as a follower of Jesus, I'd have to do some following. But my prejudice and ignorance about theological colleges meant that the prospect of enrolling at one was about as appealing to me as contracting mumps or having a green heart tattooed on my left buttock!
Having sent off for, and received information from various colleges, I applied for the one I considered might be the 'least worst' option. At my interview I was deliberately abrasive and negative when asked to describe how I thought I'd cope with the studies. I expressed my doubts and fears and left the tutors in no doubt that I thought I'd be likely to drop out early on. Hence my surprise when they accepted me. I was even more surprised when the County Council approved my application for a full grant. But the biggest surprise of all was waiting for me at the college.
Having been there for about a fortnight, I realised that I was actually enjoying the lectures, while meeting and making new friends with students from a wide range of denominational backgrounds was stimulating and fun. The daily rhythm of chapel services, prayer and reading was building and stretching my faith The essays still seemed daunting, but I started to relax into what God had obviously wanted me to do. I stopped resisting. That said, I knew I'd never make a Hebrew or Greek scholar – in fact the only college prize I won in three years was for,Best contribution to the social life at the college!
I'd been prejudiced and ignorant about what Bible/theological colleges were really about. If I had continued to rebel against God's call I would have missed out on a life changing three years of fun, friendship and faith stretching that were pivotal to what God subsequently called me into.
Whatever age or stage of life you may be in, I encourage you to read the special supplement on training in this issue. Ignorance isn't bliss and maybe you might have some prejudices about what goes on in a theological college, I used to. I hope reading what college staff and students have to say about the quality and range of training options available today, will give you a broader understanding and a deeper appreciation of what a precious resource these places of learning and growth are. -
Archive content
Da Vinci Code Response
Mark Greene reveals the profoundly anti-Christian agenda in the mega-selling thriller The Da Vinci Code.
