Who Wrote James? Click here for sermon recordings and transcripts from the letter of James. James is an intensely practical book, that urges us to live out our faith in Jesus in every area of our lives; our words, our business dealings, the way we manage our diaries, and more. Even the way our heavenly citizenship shapes the way we gather on Sundays as God’s people comes under the microscope! And while those kinds of gatherings have been put on pause at the moment, spending time in Jams together means that when we can meet together again, if there are things we need to change or sharpen up, because of what God says to us through his Word, we’ll be well-placed to be able to do that. But who was James? There are at least four men named James in the New Testament, and Acts 1:13 mentions three of the…
Live Streaming Advice for Churches Among the many challenges I’m sure you’re wrestling with in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, is how to keep teaching and shepherding your flock as people self isolate, and when meeting together becomes impossible. I’ve had lots of requests this past week for advice and tips on streaming services or sermons online, and so have been sending the following info out. If this is something you’re looking for some information on, the following info may be useful for you or someone in your church who can investigate streaming. As it happens, I had recently bought some equipment to help with streaming training events, and we already had a variety of other gear, so our situation might be a bit different to how you might begin. So here are some useful links, some tips for a basic setup using a mobile phone, and then a…
Learning to Pray by Leaving our Building The Dundonald Church “Factory” being demolished. For the last 16 years, I’ve planted and led churches that gather on Sundays in hired facilities. I’ve become well accustomed to the rigours of setting up on freezing cold mornings, packing down in the dark, lost equipment, double-bookings, frustrations with other hirers (why can’t they put their rubbish in the bins), and disappointments with landlords (why didn’t they tell us the power and water would be disconnected?).And yet, I’m very thankful for the opportunity to join Dundonald Church, which owns its building, just as the church moves out of the building for two years! Let me be clear, I certainly don’t think that churches that gather in borrowed buildings are inherently better or worse than those that meet in spaces they own. But leaving our building has energised my prayers in a number of ways.Leaving our…
Leading Prayers at Christmas Services Download PDF One of the most exciting aspects of church Christmas events is the large number of newcomers who come among us. While we want every Sunday to be a good Sunday to bring friends and family so they can hear the gospel of Jesus, at Christmas time many more guests who are unfamiliar with church and the Christian faith will join us. This means those of us who lead in various ways in our services must be extra careful to use language that is inclusive and not alienating, and we need to work hard to minimise misunderstanding. This includes those who lead our prayers!Here are 10 tips that will help us pray helpfully and in a way that commends prayer to newcomers.Speak in plain language. This is a good discipline for any time, to work out how to communicate deep truths in accessible language! …
Thinking about Church DNA & Culture Download Completed Flowchart Download Blank Flowchart Download this Article Church DNA Arguably one of the most neglected aspects in the planning of many church plants, is consideration of the DNA that the planter transplants, and therefore the culture of the church that develops. To identify and shape our church culture with the aim of most effectively making disciples of Jesus, I have found it helpful to think about theological positions, beliefs, practices, ministry patterns, etc, as either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd order issues. This approach is helpful in planning church plants, where decisions need to be made about almost every aspect of church life, but also in established churches where the culture can include ministry patterns that are not directed by mission, but from some other motivation. These notes are to help you use the Church DNA & Culture Flowchart Worksheet. There is also…