Looking at Christ

6 ministry thoughts from 2 hugely important verses: I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2-3) Who is Christ? He's the husband - the bridegroom to whom the church is betrothed. Such an important category. Such an important vision of Jesus. Yes, he is our prophet, priest, king, Lord, sacrifice - but he's also - wonderfully - the husband to whom we are given. He came into the world for that. His incarnation was so that he could say to us, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." He died to pay a bloody dowry for us. He is in heaven now longing for us, desiring the day of the wedding banquet. All that stuff in the Song of Songs about the husband cherishing his wife, the bride delighting

Philippians 2:22 has been one of my favourite verses for a long time but every time I go back there or hear others speak on this passage I see new things. Leadership development - the goal I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.  Paul has 'no one else like him'. Timothy is exceptional. It's ok to say that. Yes, all believers are on exactly the same level in respect to justification and status but there are differences in spiritual maturity and ability in gospel ministry. Paul says, 'I have no one else like him.' He is Paul's co-worker, yoked together with him. And Paul massively values him.  Why? What is so exceptional about Timothy? What does Paul value so highly about him? He loves the church. He has a 'genuine concern for your welfare.' He is a people person. He really wants to do you good. He exemplifies what Paul was speaking about earlier

  Acts 18:24-26 gives a window into leadership mentoring, a window into an important biblical theme, and perhaps a window into the intended audience and use of Luke-Acts. Mentoring Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, able in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in [the] spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. (Acts 18:24-25) There is a lot of potential here. He knows his Bible He’s been catechised in the way of Christ He is fervent – literally boiling – passionate, fearless, committed, all in  H e does a good job of teaching people Jesus That is a hugely promising profile. That’s the sort of profile of knowledge, heart and ministry instinct we need to be looking for to encourage into church leadership. He's not previously know to the disciples in Ephesus. He's just arrived from northern Africa. But he&

It was reported today that the UK is experiencing a more severe split over Covid than over Brexit. There is more venom towards lockdown breakers than to EU leavers. More disdain of non-clappers than remainers. A significant proportion of the country is going above and beyond Covid regulations, is anxious about returning to work or shopping, and is angry that the government is recklessly opening things up too fast.  A different significant proportion of the country admits ( anonymously ) to breaking lockdown, feels the reaction to Covid is disproportionate and is angry that the regulations are too tight.  Different perceptions of risk are inevitable and there are issues of class, culture and North-South in this polarisation but it's the degree of animosity between the two groups highlighted by the Demos report  that is particularly disturbing. It came out particularly at the time of the Dominic Cummings 'trial' and, anecdotally, many of us can attest to having witnessed a r

The idea of an older person helping in the development of a younger person is an ancient pattern seen across many cultures. In warrior societies and castes such as among the Japanese samurai and the European feudal knights there would be an 'apprenticeship' stage. Among the Maasai there are the morans - living apart from their families in the bush, learning the wisdom of the elders and strengthening themselves physically and spiritually. The ancient pattern is that a son learns the trade of his father by being next to him, day after day, seeing everything he does, working alongside him. That was true in the harvest field (2 Kings 4:18), in trades like carpentry (Matt. 13:55), it was how the Law of Yahweh was to be passed on (Deut. 6:7), it is even seen in the relationship between the eternal Father and Son (John 5:19-20). Harrison Mungai, founder of iServe Africa , has often pointed to the success of Asian businesses where there is often  high intergenerational family

“One Christian taking the initiative with another individual to help them know Christ better and obey him more fully, through studying the scriptures, prayer (for and with them), and sharing one’s life with them – and leaving the results to God.” (Sophie De Witt, One-To-One: A discipleship handbook ) A church in North London has as it's vision for the church members - "Walking with others so that they might come one step closer to Jesus." I love that. Reminds me of an Australian article I read years ago which encouraged us to "seek to leave people one bit better than you found them." Just one bit better. One step further on with Jesus.  And the Bible is our key resource in doing that (2 Tim. 3:14-17). This is where the answers are. These are the words of eternal life. This is where people see the glory of God in the face of Christ in the pages of Scripture and are rescued, liberated and transformed (2 Cor. 3:15-18).  Often 'discipling' is b