||Article|| As you read this, I would like you to imagine how things might be different today if the ideas here were widespread in churches 30-40 years ago. It is unfortunately common for churches to be slow to respond properly to difficult social issues – too often the response has been silence, reactionary, or capitulation. Nevertheless, “late” is better than “never” and churches are increasingly taking these kinds of ideas on board.
Discipleship
The Christian faith frequently conflicts with current ideas. Given this has happened since Christianity’s inception, this should neither surprise nor dismay us. Rather, we should establish its difficult teachings in our hearts and minds so we can preserve them, present them, and faithfully pass them on.
This Sunday will be the first time our church has gathered together since March 15. That’s eleven Sundays ago. The time has come when we may reopen the doors of our churches and sit again on each other’s couches, and return to face-to-face fellowship.
The excellent book The Trellis and the Vine finishes on a note that is strikingly relevant for our present context.
Last weekend four of our young men were baptised at our church camp. What follows are the questions that were asked, with some comments the significance they carry.
A major goal of First John is to help us have assurance in our faith.
Grumbling and unbelief are the two sins that Israel committed in their wilderness journey that we must take care not to fall into.
Israel’s journey through the wilderness in Exodus and Numbers can be likened to the Christian life.
Chris Northcott 