As a first year MTS (Ministry Training Strategy) apprentice at my church, St Paul’s Anglican in Sydney’s north-west, I get to help make disciple-making disciples as my full-time job. One of my main ministries and highlights of the week is meeting up with different women in my congregation to read the Bible together and pray for each other, with each other. I also meet up with my trainer, Bon, who pastorally cares for me and teaches me from God’s word as I seek to do the same for others.
In this 'Briefing' classic from the archives, Paul Grimmond changes the way we think about work.
Sandy Grant's reads of the week include a program to help you share the gospel at work, things that encourages church visitors, the idol of sports for parents, plus a reflection on a proposed anti-bullying program.
We know that prayer should form the backbone of Christian ministry, but often we fail to put this knowledge into practice. Peter Tong presents four helpful thoughts on prayer to encourage us to make it our foundation stone.
For a year, Sam McGeown met with a young Japanese man named Tadashi and tried to introduce him to Jesus. This is what happened as a result.
Church weekends away can often be uncomfortable and awkward. But as Dave Phillips argues, there’s value in spending time away together: the key is preparing well.
Sandy Grant's links on the start of the US election, growth groups, expository preaching, and attitudes towards finances.
Sandy Grant's links of the weeks include discussion on anti-bullying schemes in schools, quiet time with God on loud days, the passing of a Christian Aboriginal, death and the prosperity gospel, Jesus and women, and praying for Richard Dawkins.
Back in October, Santa themes began to decorate some stores. It’s now hard to miss the rush of the silly season and the requisite purchasing push to remind us to spend so that people can be fulfilled. The madness compounds and money tightens while wallets still splurge. All that to say—capitalism rages.
In this "Briefing" classic from the archives, Tony Payne looks at the how and why of running church services.