Nick Clegg and Christian Conscience

Click here for an article about the Liberal Democrat leader's position on some Christian related issues

Worth reading. It would be useful to have some analysis of where the parties stand on social justice, equality and diversity.

Preaching or Discussion Groups: what's best?

Is preaching an outdated authoritarian form of communication which will soon be a thing of the past. I don’t think the apostle Paul anticipated that. However, he did expect there would be seasons when people didn’t really want to listen to biblical preaching but preferred being flattered. Sound familiar?

The apostle Paul is in prison. The church is about to face persecution. There are people teaching things that distort the gospel. The most important thing his lieutenant Timothy must do is to preach.

Preaching is fundamentally a proclamation much more than a discussion. Mostly in the Bible, that means one person talking to group bringing them news from God. This works best because it models and in fact it is, the way God speaks. There are other methods of communication which are helpful to embed the word in our lives but preaching will be the primary way that God speaks to us in the church. Preaching if done well is culturally and intellectually neutral. It carries the least obstacle for hearing and responding.

So expect God to speak when you hear preaching

The content of preaching must be the word of God, meaning the gospel word of truth, also called sound doctrine. When Paul says gospel, he doesn’t just mean a narrow message about sin and salvation but anything to do with the story from creation to new creation.

This preaching should be eminently practical with correcting wrong behaviour and encouraging and urging right behaviour.

So expect God to speak to you about how you respond.

This kind of preaching is urgently needed because Christ will return to judge all men. We want to be ready and we want others to be ready too.

So pray for, and demand practical gospel preachers.

This is a summary of a sermon on 2 Timothy 4:1-5.

You can listen here to the full sermon here...

Romans 16:1 to 27 – The Long Goodbye

Today at HHEFC we completed our series in the book of Romans with a look at Chapter 16 – an exceptionally long sign off but with lots to teach us about a real church.

We saw that the Church has all kinds of people (men, women, Jews, Gentiles, professional, slaves, new converts...) who were working hard out of deep commitment to the Lord and to each other, meeting in homes as extended families. We want to welcome all people and to put no obstacle in their way that is not a gospel issue. We want to use our homes for worship and evangelism.

NT churches formed networks with other churches. There was good information flow and there was a real fluidity and flexibility of people moving between the churches to serve where the work was. Are we generous and well-informed in connection with other churches?

For all the good that was going on they needed to be alert to danger that false teaching could bring division and put obstacles in the way. False teaching will also be self-serving.

As they worked they were confident in God’s grace and that Jesus had won the victory and that they were confident that God would finally be vindicated. So they work and pray that God would be glorified.

I hope that might be a way to describe our church. Let’s pray that it is.

Christian Institute Election Briefing

http://www.christian.org.uk/wp-content/downloads/electionbriefing2010.pdf
Worth a read even if you do not agree with Christian Institute on what is the right way to vote on the issues they highlight. It is fair to say these may not be the most important issues and certainly not the only ones on which you make your decision, but definitely worth asking your candidate questions on some of these. 

Would you welcome anyone to your home?

There’s been great media interest recently about gay rights competing and conflicting with religious freedom prompted by Christians who run a bed & breakfast refusing to allow a homosexual couple to rent a double room. Personally, I think they were wrong to do that, but I do think they should be free to decide in good conscience on this issue before God without state interference. I suppose it would be more consistent of them to refuse all couples in what Christians would consider sexually immoral relationships – I wonder what the law says about that?

The Bible mentions homosexuality only a few times but none of them are positive and affirming about homosexual practice. It never says, as some do, that “being in a loving committed relationship is all that matters.” God sets boundaries for sex within a life covenant between a man and woman. I trust God that He knows best.

However, Jesus welcomes, entertains, befriends, loves and cares for people who are not living now as He wants them to. He doesn’t tell them to sort their lives out then come to him. He calls them to come as they are and He will take their burdens and give them a new direction. I don’t think he would have turned anyone away at His B&B, but what a conversation there would be over breakfast!

Nicholas Soames voting record

I'm not particularly a supporter of Mr Soames or of the Conservative party but you have to admit, this is not a bad voting record...
Click here for a summary of his voting record on Christian Institute website

Westminster Declaration 2010

I am not normally a great fan of these kind of initiatives but I think this one has some merit, if only to stimulate some debate within and outside the church. So take a look and see what you think. Perhaps you might even want to sign it!

http://www.westminster2010.org.uk/

Interesting set of videos with converts from Islam

Click here