Why The Church Must Be Clear On Its Message

We Must Point Everyone to Jesus I am fully convinced that every single person I will ever meet would be better off with Jesus Christ at the centre of their life. This is not a religion I am a fan or follower of – I know the transforming relationship with God that he alone offers will provide forgiveness, healing, guidance, power, purpose, meaning and eternal security. We must share this by pointing to Jesus (not ourselves, our churches or programs) because he is the only Son of God, heaven’s greatest gift to humanity. Do you believe this? I am talking to church leaders here. In 1995 I spent most of the night before I was ordained in the Church of England trying to discourage someone else from taking that step into church leadership too – why? Because over the few days retreat beforehand (which was meant to be spent in silence) he clearly stated that he did not believe Jesus is the Son of God, or that people need a Saviour. I couldn’t imagine what he thought the ‘job’ entailed […]

SERMON NOTES for Sunday 2 Feb 2025 – SHAPE (Personality)

Psalm 139:13-14 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” — Personality: Understanding How God Made Me  – God made each of us unique, and He loves variety!   – Personality tests can help us understand ourselves and others.   Recommended Test: DISC – see ivychurch.org/SHAPE  Other Personality Tools you may have heard of?    – The Big Five   – Myers-Briggs (e.g., Extrovert vs. Introvert)   – These tools provide insights but don’t define you—God does!   — Lessons from Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) – Cain and Abel both gave offerings to God.   – Abel gave his F________ and B___________ with faith and love.   – Cain gave “some” of what he had produced (different attitude).   Key Takeaways:  – Abel loved to G__________ and his offering was accepted because HOW he gave, not WHAT he gave.  – Cain lived to G______   and his jealousy and bitterness led to anger, but God warned him:  “Sin is crouching at your door…you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:7).   — Generosity Is Not a P_______________________  […]

FIND YOUR PLACE ON THE WALL: Lessons in Leadership from Nehemiah 3

As church leaders, we must guard against distractions, detractors and disunity. The person working next to you is never the enemy. Our calling is to build God’s Kingdom together, strengthening the foundations, clearing away rubble, and constructing something stronger than before.

Running your Race: Lessons on Spiritual Growth from Parkrun and Paul

In Christianity spiritual growth is not meant to be a solo endeavour – though there have definitely been times I wish it was because people are hard to love and I can be heard to live with!

From Crowd Building To Disciple Making – Maturity Through Mission & Multiplication

It’s Time to Grow Up.  
Ephesians 4:14-15 says none of us are meant to stay as spiritual infants. I’ve met people in churches who’ve told me they’ve been Christians for 30 years – when the truth is they’ve actually been Christian for one year, 30 times!

Every Disciple Is Meant To Have A Deliverance Ministry!

One woman slept nightly with her pet python sprawled across her body. Eventually, the snake stopped eating so she was worried about it. A vet discovered the snake was curling itself around her to size her up, and starving itself as preparation to devour her!

LEADING IN A YEAR OF EXPANSION

Heaven’s desire and decree is for 2025 to be a year of EXPANSION as the Lord is calling us to stretch wider, dig deeper, and expand beyond what we have yet experienced or ever imagined.
Here’s how I want this vision to inspire and shape my own leadership in 2025 and I invite you to consider it too.