Meditating on Scripture
You could argue that Psalm 1 is the original ‘two ways to live’. In it the Psalmist sets out two paths that we can take in life. One path leads ultimately to destruction, while the other leads to blessing. And blessing here isn’t just about happiness, but it’s about flourishing and life and wholeness. So what […]
A year of surprising growth
Adriana Kerkstra reflects on 2020 as a ministry trainee: Last year in September I wrote a short blog post before starting my first year as a ministry trainee. I wrote, “There will probably be tough times and disappointments because, well, we’re on earth rather than in heaven”. Sweet, innocent me. Little did I know what […]
Internships in Coronavirus Times
Ralph Cunnington is the Senior Pastor at City Church Manchester, We’ve all been learning new skills, flexing and pivoting over these past six months and it’s certainly meant changes for the way City Church runs our intern programme. Our new interns – Martin, Laura and Martha – were thrown in the deep end having to […]
A Time To Train
Rob Mullock is Minister for Training at Christ Church Fulwood, Sheffield. Cutting through the Covid-confusion What is God doing through coronavirus? There is a bewildering array of possible answers on offer in the blogosphere. “It is nothing new!” “It is something extraordinary!” “An enforced sabbath!” “A judgment!” “A gracious means of spiritual awakening, with more […]
Stolen Water Is Sweet
With the start of a new academic year fast approaching, many of us are beginning to set some goals. No doubt we’re praying, planning, dreaming and desiring things for the year ahead – and many of those things will be good! Big picture, I’m certainly yearning for people to come to Christ, for others to […]
Book Review: God’s Leader
What are you like at assembling flat-pack furniture? It’s not my forte, but I like to help – so I take a turn at knocking the nails in, with a fair degree of enthusiasm and a certain misplaced optimism. When the nail is halfway in, we pause. Is it straight? Mostly the answer is a qualified […]
Because People Need Jesus
This talk was originally given in the first main session of our 2020 Maximise Conference – the first in the series called ‘Motives for Ministry from Matthew’. Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and illness. When he saw […]
Because You Only Have One Life
This talk was originally given in the final main session of our 2020 Maximise Conference – the closing talk in the series called ‘Motives for Ministry from Matthew’. (Matthew 25:14-30 cf. Lk.19:11-27) We have been hearing multiple reasons from the scriptures to maximise our gospel ministry – for while God’s mercy calls us in his […]
Minimise your Bible teaching
9:38 exists to encourage Christians to consider ‘word ministry’. We pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out many workers into his harvest. And our prayer is not just for ones or twos, nor even for tens, but for hundreds and thousands. Many, many gospel workers. So James 3:1 is a surprising verse. […]
MTs in lockdown
Here are four stories from March and April 2020 from ministry trainees in different parts of the country and different contexts sharing what their experience of gospel ministry in lockdown. Lots to learn I’m Sam, a Ministry Trainee at Redeemer Winchester. As a trainee, my normal week consists of coffee shop meet-ups, student Bible study […]
Isolation & Imitation
We all need a role model – someone who shows us how to live life well. Ultimately, our role model is Jesus, of course. But the Bible encourages us to have godly people to look to as well. So, in this season where Covid-19 is grabbing headlines at every turn, where can we look? Maybe […]
Handling Criticism
Criticism is part of ministry life. Not the most pleasant part. And, hopefully, not the most dominant. But it’s there, as anyone who has been in ministry for a few years can attest. Sometimes it’s the gentle rebuke of a loving friend; on other occasions, the disgruntled moans of a member of the church – […]