Gordon MacDonald – Life Changing Churches. #iDisciple #WCAUK.

  We really believe that we head up societies of people which have the power to change lives.   Rufus Jones (Quaker) – in Friend Of Life ‘The greatest miracle we know in our world is the way a person who has failed, like the rest of us – suddenly becomes a saint – and therefore a transmitter.’   Does my church have the capacity to create saints? Are we committed to producing saints? Am I one? People grow by imitation!   Col 1:27 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Colossians is core discipleship teaching. Mature here = telios (perfect!)   If Paul had a business card what would he put on it? Evangelist? No – ‘Perfect Disciple Member.’   When you approach people, hold a crown just above their head so they can grow into it. That’s what Paul did.   Question to ask ; How does this help people mature?   Col 2:6-7 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, […]

James Galloway – A church full of Armour Bearers

Gen 1 Gods word brings creativity and vision – then in John 1 we see his word made flesh! And he makes a promise – ‘I will build my church’ So why is the average church in Britain in retreat ? Gen 3 – we have to cultivate the ground. The standard way of building church – gather a few people around a vision. Then a vision statement. Then they cross their fingers and hope the church gets it . The future of this church is not in the hands of the leaders so much as the lead. 1 Sam 14 Jonathan steps out from the rest of the people who are under the pomegranate tree and sets out on an adventure with an adventure Answer? I’m with you heart and soul The 2 of them set out and got a victory But the 600 with them were watching And eventually joined in. Saul eventually said ‘forget the ephod let’s get into it.’ 600 immobilised warriors got out from the shade abd engaged in the mission. They were looking for […]

J. John puts down Darwin the dog (humanely)

    I met with my friend @canonjjohn this week and was interviewed by him on my life story for UCB TV. The guy is a force of nature! Always a great encouragement. I subscribe to regular updates in my email from him (available free from the Philo trust) and was amused, informed and challenged by this one that arrived today – New Year, New Atheism, New Challenges 12 Jan 2013 It’s rather a scary thought that we are already over one eighth of the way through the twenty-first century. And even though year seems to follow year at an increasingly rapid rate, our culture changes even more speedily. One feature of the last decade that shows no sign of going away has been the rise of the ‘New Atheism’. It’s easy to dismiss the New Atheism as no more than a warmed-up version of old-fashioned humanism and in terms of substance there is little new. What is truly novel and troubling is the movement’s aggressive and bitter hostility to religious faith in general and Christianity in particular. A fascinating revelation […]

2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: 4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 25,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 6 Film Festivals Click here to see the complete report.

Andy Hawthorne at Ivy MCR

Jesus means Saviour Christmas was going to save people from their sins that act as a barrier between us and God. Heaven is a place for perfect people – which is a big problem for me and you! God could have been born anyway but he chose the worst place available so we could never say ‘You don’t know how bad it is.’ They brought him Gold Frankincense Myrrh Imagine at the baby shower you get a coffin! This baby was born to die. That was the most important thing about his life. Not his teaching – amazing though it was. Not his miracles – and he’s still doing them by the way . But as he died he became our Saviour. He took the wrath of God on himself. Pays the price of our freedom – It is finished Good news Of great joy For all people It’s good news! Is it news to you? It brings great joy. No matter what we go through. It’s the only truly universal religion – relevant to the millionaire or the slum […]

Steve Cockram: Ivy leaders morning

Leaders Define Culture! Next stage for us at Ivy is how to multiply through discipleship People choosing not to serve as a volunteer – but because they want to be with you. 1 Cor 4:14 I became your father Imitate me Follow my son Timothy My way of life agrees with my teaching In that culture the child did what their father or mother did. Very few people could operate as truly a father or mother – they had many ‘teachers.’ Wrong q – how do I get more people to help me Right q – how do I get more people to pattern their lives after Jesus as I do – imperfect though I am. All sheep looks like a shepherd from behind. As I follow Christ – look back – who is following me? How did Jesus make disciples? He calibrated invitation to be with him With the challenge to do something Challenge therefore; Are we so focused on growing church instead of focusing on growing disciples – then Jesus will grow the church. None of us are […]

How can say we belong to Him when all our longings are for more belongings?

      This is the Ivy Grow Group Notes for this week. I rounded off the Colossians series last night but only spoke on one verse of it so not really much point in me going over that again…   Well what an amazing day yesterday was at Ivy MCR Here are a few highlights from the things I personally witnessed, and I’m sure Ivy Fallowfield was great as always; 1030am service at Kingsway – I had more than a few people come and tell me, ‘We’re getting full again…’ There were some spare seats – but the received wisdom I’ve found to be true is that when your meeting room is 80% full, you’re full! SO… Do we need to hire another screen? When? What’s the answer? Please THANK GOD for growth and PRAY for wisdom and provision. 4pm at Ivy Sharston This service is getting more than 70 people a week already. Emily Bowyer did a great talk on ‘TOUCH’ and then an outbreak of hugging happened! SUCH a great time! . One new first time visitor […]

Ivy MCR GG notes on Colossians 3

Dead and Alive  – Colossians 3   Read Col 3:1-3 If your version starts with ‘If’ in verse 1, I think the versions that start with ‘Since’ make more sense, following the flow of argument from the previous chapter. ‘SINCE you have been raised with Christ…’ Discuss:  You only get raised with Christ if you died with Him first! Do you know or are you aware of anyone who had a ‘near death’ experience, a close shave with death etc (like Fabrice Muamba for instance) and got a second chance at life? Anyone in the GG had that kind of experience personally? How would you live after you experienced such an incident? How might your perspective, priorities and plans change? Read Col 3;1-17 Paul is probably referring to baptism here as a symbolic experience of ‘putting to death’ the old life and passing from death to life. The early church actually gave baptismal candidates a new set of clothes to symbolise the new life they were entering. Discuss:  This is a very dramatic picture If you were baptised as an […]