- forget to pray
- try to embarrass everyone as often as possible: put people on the spot, ask people to pray without warning, tell jokes at other people's expense...
- pretend the Members have spent as long as you in preparing for the Study
- deluge the Members with an unrelenting flood of background information
- ask questions that don't make any sense, don't involve any thinking, or can't be answered from the passage
- try to avoid interacting with the Members' answers to your questions
- run out of time for application
- be as critical as possible
- be as hypocritical as possible
- take so long over the Study that the Members lose the will to live...
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Ten top tips for making a mess of a Bible Study
Having just returned from camp, here's a summary (from personal experience)...
Friday, 24 April 2009
Loving each other amidst differences
Bearing in mind the fragmentation and factionalism to which evangelicalism is (increasingly) prone, I think this brief article from John Piper is a timely one that should be staple-gunned to every evangelical keyboard and telephone in the land. For those who prefer a summary, the gist of it is as follows...
We should be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
So:
(1) Let's avoid gossiping.
(2) Let's identify evidences of grace in each other and speak them to each other and about each other.
(3) Let's speak criticism directly to each other if we feel the need to speak to others about it.
(4) Let's look for, and assume, the best motive in the other's viewpoint, especially when we disagree.
(5) Think often of the magnificent things we have in common.
(6) Let's be more amazed that we forgiven than that we are right. And in that way, let's shape our relationships by the gospel.
And leaders must work talk/write/argue/debate/refine together.
We should be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
So:
(1) Let's avoid gossiping.
(2) Let's identify evidences of grace in each other and speak them to each other and about each other.
(3) Let's speak criticism directly to each other if we feel the need to speak to others about it.
(4) Let's look for, and assume, the best motive in the other's viewpoint, especially when we disagree.
(5) Think often of the magnificent things we have in common.
(6) Let's be more amazed that we forgiven than that we are right. And in that way, let's shape our relationships by the gospel.
And leaders must work talk/write/argue/debate/refine together.
Monday, 20 April 2009
The Big Lunch - Sunday 19th July
This looks interesting. It's an idea from Tim Smit (of Eden Project fame) and others - to get neighbours sitting down to eat together in the street. I'm thinking it could be a great way for Christians to get to know their neighbours better. Or something.
Anyway, we're pondering whether to encourage our church to get involved. A street party in every street in Trull?
Anyway, we're pondering whether to encourage our church to get involved. A street party in every street in Trull?
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
'anxious about the validity of their prayers...'
There's something about this story that causes me to give thanks for Hebrews 10 v 22: 'let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...'
Monday, 2 February 2009
Ideas for 'A Passion for Life'
With A Passion for Life looming, we've been encouraging people to come up with ideas. In other words, to brainstorm. Here's the list so far...
- a holiday club for older people in/around Trull
- a performance of the Messiah from scratch
- talk/s on Christian parenting, with examples of difficult situations when raising young children/teens and solutions - we can invite non-Christian friends to come
- a church service at Exmouth beach or Sidmouth beach
- a local walk
- Songs of Praise in the park
- provide an All Saints minibus to ferry people around to church or to functions
- six nations rugby event on a big screen with a half-time talk
- young people Ball (with after dinner mini-talk)
- a golf day (or series of golf days), with speaker in bar afterwards
- tea at the Castle Hotel, with speaker
- produce a passion play-type thing
- holiday club for whole families
- Question Time - with a Bishop, a scientist, a politician, and a musician or artist
- a comedy event
- Christmas Day lunch for all in village who will be on their own for lunch
- Men’s Breakfast
- youth Alpha?
- a Ladies’ night or lunch @ Buff - pamper session
- adverts in the Somerset Gazette
- Gardeners Question Time
- to use BCP’s ‘A Commination’ at one of our services
- family fun day
- a passion for football: a football match or five-a-side tournament
- something on local history
- see if Starbucks in Taunton (or wherever) could be booked for a ‘Christianity Explored’ course
From the Curate's Desk
In case anyone is interested in what the good citizens of Trull found in their February edition of the Parish Magazine...
What will make this month special for you? Do you have plans, or hopes, or resolutions still left unbroken? Is there anything this February you hope to look back on with pleasure and pride? After the celebrations in December and the resolutions of January, February can seem like a month in search of an identity. Lent this year does not begin until right at the end of the month (Ash Wednesday is on the 25th). For many, the key date not to forget is the 14th - but the flowers, chocolates and cards are quickly gone.
Once upon a time, so the story goes, an Eastern prince challenged his wise men to come up with a sentence that would always be true and always be appropriate. After much thought, their response was: “And this, too, shall pass away”.
Commenting on this story, Abraham Lincoln wrote, “How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!” It is in the nature of things that they shall pass away: wealth and pleasure, pain and grief, companions and fame, even life itself.
For some this will be a comforting reminder. Present sorrows and worries will come to an end, and time is indeed a great healer. For others, perhaps this is a chastening challenge. Time is an ever-rolling stream, and there truly is no time like the present.
February, too, shall pass away. 2009, so recently begun, shall also surely pass away.
Yet the wise men weren’t quite right. As Jesus put it in Matthew 24:35, “heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words will never pass away”. Amidst the shifting sands of time and fortune, his words are a solid foundation on which the wise will build. Everything else shall pass away, but our response to Jesus’ words will echo in eternity.
So give your life for something that shall last. And spend this month building for eternity.
Perhaps you would permit me to finish by making three suggestions. First, the service themes at All Saints this month are about prayer - perhaps resolve to come along one Sunday and reflect again on the God who listens. Secondly, there is a programme of Lent Courses beginning soon - is there something there that catches your eye, that might be special for you? And, thirdly, perhaps this Valentine’s Day, amidst the chocolate hearts and the big red envelopes, you might spend five minutes reading a Bible, reflecting on the enduring message of the love of God.
May this February be safe, splendid and special. And may it not pass away too quickly.
with best wishes,
Mark
What will make this month special for you? Do you have plans, or hopes, or resolutions still left unbroken? Is there anything this February you hope to look back on with pleasure and pride? After the celebrations in December and the resolutions of January, February can seem like a month in search of an identity. Lent this year does not begin until right at the end of the month (Ash Wednesday is on the 25th). For many, the key date not to forget is the 14th - but the flowers, chocolates and cards are quickly gone.
Once upon a time, so the story goes, an Eastern prince challenged his wise men to come up with a sentence that would always be true and always be appropriate. After much thought, their response was: “And this, too, shall pass away”.
Commenting on this story, Abraham Lincoln wrote, “How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!” It is in the nature of things that they shall pass away: wealth and pleasure, pain and grief, companions and fame, even life itself.
For some this will be a comforting reminder. Present sorrows and worries will come to an end, and time is indeed a great healer. For others, perhaps this is a chastening challenge. Time is an ever-rolling stream, and there truly is no time like the present.
February, too, shall pass away. 2009, so recently begun, shall also surely pass away.
Yet the wise men weren’t quite right. As Jesus put it in Matthew 24:35, “heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words will never pass away”. Amidst the shifting sands of time and fortune, his words are a solid foundation on which the wise will build. Everything else shall pass away, but our response to Jesus’ words will echo in eternity.
So give your life for something that shall last. And spend this month building for eternity.
Perhaps you would permit me to finish by making three suggestions. First, the service themes at All Saints this month are about prayer - perhaps resolve to come along one Sunday and reflect again on the God who listens. Secondly, there is a programme of Lent Courses beginning soon - is there something there that catches your eye, that might be special for you? And, thirdly, perhaps this Valentine’s Day, amidst the chocolate hearts and the big red envelopes, you might spend five minutes reading a Bible, reflecting on the enduring message of the love of God.
May this February be safe, splendid and special. And may it not pass away too quickly.
with best wishes,
Mark
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Texts to pray for our children
Courtesy of John Piper's blog, here are some things to pray for the children in our churches. If you don't have any children, feel free to join Lizzie and I in praying for ours...
from Matthew 19:13-15...
That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming.
from 2 Peter 3:9...
That they will respond in faith to Jesus' faithful, persistent call.
from Matthew 22:37-39...
That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfil the greatest commandments.
from 2 Corinthians 6:14...
That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage.
from Philippians 4:8...
That their thoughts will be pure.
from Exodus 35:39...
That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord's work.
from Matthew 28:18-20...
That when the time is right, they will GO!
The original post is here.
Monday, 8 December 2008
U=EV/ID
Academics have invented a mathematical equation for why people procrastinate.
Apparently, U=EV/ID...
U: the utility, or the desire to complete a given task
E: the expectation of success
V: the value of completion
I: the immediacy of the task
D: the personal sensitivity to delay
It must be true. I read it in the Telegraph.
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