Category: Theology

Context, Discipleship, Mission, Theology, Youth ministry, Youthwork and Theology

If people are good – why doesn’t the church believe it? (A theology of Humankind: part 3)

This is the 3rd piece in my series on reflecting on the nature of Humanity, inspired by Rutger Bregmans latest book, Human kind (2020) which has helped to affirm for me what I had often experienced as a youth and c community worker, the reality that, basically when you get to know people, and meet people, they, in the main are usually pretty decent, and shock, horror, … Continue reading If people are good – why doesn’t the church believe it? (A theology of Humankind: part 3)

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Book Reviews, Context, Discipleship, Mission, Theology, Youth ministry

A Theology of Human Kind-ness (part 1)

I’m barely jumping on a bandwagon here, but maybe quietly over the last 4 weeks, 6 million copies of a non fiction book have been sold across the globe. If it wasn’t for the vast amount of literature written by black authors it would sit high in the NYT best seller list. And when you get to ride trains again it will be up there … Continue reading A Theology of Human Kind-ness (part 1)

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Discipleship, Theology

Celebrating Easter with gritted teeth.

I woke up with the question that though good Friday and Holy Saturday felt weird this year, both of the resonate much more closely with the pervading feelings of many at this time. or put it another way, Im saying ‘Christ is Risen’ through gritted teeth, when 5000 of our friends and relatives have died in the last 2 months. And that’s just in the … Continue reading Celebrating Easter with gritted teeth.

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Discipleship, Mission, Theodrama, Theology

The curtain torn, like never before

‘At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened.’ (Matthew 27:51) At that moment the curtain was torn, in two, from top to bottom. For so long the desire for the curtain to be torn open has been from bottom to top. The challenge upwards. But … Continue reading The curtain torn, like never before

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Book Reviews, Discipleship, Theology, Youth ministry

What if parents actually read the books Christian youth ministry encouraged young people to read?

I thought I’d imagine a parent writing a letter to the local vicar about the newly published book ‘Under Construction’ (2019) by Neil O Boyle, national director YFC, its a brand new book, and a number of young people might be about to read it. Dear Reverend/Pastor, Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, you may not know me, but I am … Continue reading What if parents actually read the books Christian youth ministry encouraged young people to read?

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Context, Detached youthwork, Discipleship, Mission, Theodrama, Theology

Should discipleship be ‘action’ first?

Does anyone still use that phrase ; its always the 20% of people in churches that seem to do 80% of all the work? It got banded around for quite a while, though I’ve not heard it recently. It was, at best a passive aggressive way of encouraging people who only sat on pews every week to make more contributions in the life of churches. … Continue reading Should discipleship be ‘action’ first?

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Mission, Theodrama, Theology

Can church be developed and defined from its action?

Regular readers will know that this is something that i have teased at this quite a a while ago, amongst a variety of other pieces. I just thought it might be good to give it a rethink. I’m realising more and more that the broader church had a habit of wanting to redefine and re- strategise it purpose, often adopting marketing and business methodologies, or … Continue reading Can church be developed and defined from its action?

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Mission, Theology

Mission: Developing gifts on our doorstep

Notes from todays sermon, at Headland Baptist Church, Hartlepool.. Todays subject is on Fruitfulness on the frontline, and based around the subject of mission, and about mission, about fruitfulness on the frontline. 22 year ago I took part in a gap year called Oasis Frontline, and they sent me to Hartlepool back then, so talking about mission on the frontline seems to have come full … Continue reading Mission: Developing gifts on our doorstep

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Discipleship, Mission, Theology, Youth ministry

And I Would do anything for God..(but i wont get bored)

In his book ‘Faith Formation in a Secular Age’ (2017)  Andrew Root suggests that the biggest motivation in society, that has infected the church – especially in youth ministry , is what seems the influence of the avoidance of boredom. And in the church this looks like: Must make this event exciting – or no one will come along Our new youthworker must be excited … Continue reading And I Would do anything for God..(but i wont get bored)

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Discipleship, Mission, Theology

Accepting rest amid the storm

There are 2 types of tired: one requires rest and the other requires peace (anon) Yesterday morning, it was Easter Sunday and I had got up for the Sunrise service on the Headland, Hartlepool, in north east England. And. Whilst it was stunning this reflection is about some of the sermon during that, and also something I read when I returned, picking up my Bible … Continue reading Accepting rest amid the storm

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