"A short but insightful read that can change lives forever – Anthony proves again that deep truths don’t have to be complex."
Dave Ferguson
President, Exponential
"Anthony is the real deal, a leader full of keen insights into how to unlock the gift and calling God has placed in you. Read this, then get hold of a bunch for your friends."
Carl Beech
The Message, CVM
"Anthony Delaney is a gifted communicator and leader. He has an infectious passion for God and is making an outstanding impact in his community."
Dr. Krish Kandiah
Founding Director, Home For Good
“Delaney is 'above all' a follower of Jesus: he has successfully utilised his engaging, measured manner to grow Manchester's Ivy Church to more than four times its size since he joined as leader five years ago. So significant today is the congregation, that events are now held several times a week at venues across the city, including Cineworld, a warehouse and even a nightclub...”
The Independent
From 6 page colour feature on Ivy Church. Read it here
“Anthony Delaney is one of those amazing leaders who loves Jesus, loves the mission and is truly authentic in his faith. I love how Anthony is impacting his community and putting into place a network of reproducing churches to reach the UK. I'm truly inspired by his get-it-done attitude while totally depending on God.”
Dave Ferguson
NewThing USA, Exponential
“Anthony is a rare kind of man. He’s a great leader but he’s honest about his weaknesses. He’s a charismatic personality, but he’s surprisingly self-effacing. He comes from an ordinary background but has never settled for mediocrity. He’s a strong man with a tender heart.”
Mike Breen
3DM Global Team Leader
“So many people talk leadership theory but are not leading in significant ways. What Anthony brought to the TLG managers was so directly from his personal leadership experience. We were inspired to bring who we are to the leadership opportunities we have, to overcome opposition and build passionate teams who are focused on achieving goals. Inspirational and practical – a great combination!”
The word disciple occurs 269 times in the New Testament. “Christian” is found three times. The New Testament is a book about disciples, by disciples, and for disciples of Jesus Christ, who made it clear that to follow him means we must become his disciple. But the church has made it possible for the vast majority of those in its ranks to be ‘Christians’ without becoming disciples of Jesus.
The churches of the Western world have not made discipleship a condition of being a Christian, so churches are filled with ‘undiscipled disciples’ – though of course in reality there is no such thing.
How often have I loved to preach or read about Jesus coming and walking across the storm to the disciples in their little boat when they cried out for help to him. It gives me such comfort for whatever I might struggle with when I read that he cares and he knows, that he came in their hour of need saying, “Do not be afraid it is!” I snuggle up in bed reassured that he calms the storm. And I love to sing, “My lighthouse! You will carry ME safe to shooooooore…”
Why do I love that? Because as with so many songs we like in church, it’s all about ME.
(Through Covid) None of us got it all right, none of us got it all wrong either. None of us got trained for this – but we had to be led by the Holy Spirit
We have come out of such a difficult time in the nation and the church. We’ve had so many questions we’ve felt so out of our depth. What might God be saying about the church going forward?
A pilot in thick cloud has to now fly on instruments. What’s on the panel ahead of you that will mean you reach the intended destination rather than make a dent in a mountainside?
When I first read it, I got excited and highlighted the passage, but it’s good to get confirmation. It was something I wrote by faith in my journal, but I couldn’t shake that I should share it with you
Some say, ‘I wish the church could just get on with preaching the gospel’.
But racism is a denial of the gospel of Jesus Christ – from beginning, to middle and through to the end.
Why would Paul name two men getting it wrong then apparently write ‘so the answer is don’t let women teach?’ Writing something which for 2000 years since has been used – by men – to clobber women into submission at worst, or relegate them to help in Sunday school at best?Could it be because we’ve read the rest of scripture through the lens of these two verses, rather than the other way round?
