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.
Your group has just finished a study on Acts 8:26-38, the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. In a single conversation, the latter goes from a stranger to being baptized as a believer. It’s an exciting part of the book of Acts—until the study leader asks the awkward (if obvious) question that comes from the passage.
Like many churches, we got quite a few visitors at our Christmas carols and Christmas Day service. This year we tried something new: we made available some free books for people to take if they were interested. One was a simple Christmas-themed evangelistic book (A Very Different Christmas, published by the Good Book Company), and the second was The Book of Books (from Matthias Media).
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.
Prayer is a bit like apple pie, motherhood, and long weekends: everyone is for them! I mean, is there anyone who doesn’t enthusiastically embrace these fine institutions?
Do you mentally switch off when you come across a strange placename in the Bible? Here is a guide to Admah and Zeboiim that will help you better understand Hosea.
At times, group leaders realize they need to speak with a study member about a particular concern or problem. Let’s call this a ‘pastoral conversation’.
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.
“Wouldn’t it just be easier to be gay?” “Of course it would be easier. But once you know the truth…”
Why not consider reading them?