Here is a list of a few articles I have come accross which lead me to wonder about the impact of the new medias (Internet, Facebook and the like, Mobile phones…) on the ministry, Evangelism, Discipleship, and on my/our own Spiritual growth. Comments on these are welcome:
Category: Theology
Praying for preachers
This morning’s sermon was most helpful. Gwynn Williams, minister of the Welsh Evangelical Church in Cardiff encouraged us to pray for preachers, taking as his text Romans 15:29: And I am sure that when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ (AV). What shall we pray for when we pray for our ministers and preachers throughout the land? Taking Paul’s own words, Gwynn Williams suggested that:
- We should pray that they would preach the gospel of Christ. This should not be taken for granted as many good men have been known to slip.
- We should pray that they should know the blessing of the gospel of Christ. It is one thing to preach faithfully, but we should expect conversions.
- Finally, we should pray that they should come with the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Again, we can be faithful and know a measure of the blessing of the gospel of Christ, but do we come with the fulness of the blessing? Very few preachers do know that fulness in Wales today (and in Western Europe). We should pray for that special unction of the Spirit upon the preaching which will make it more powerful and change many more lives. Those who have experienced that fulness have been forever changed.
What’s striking in those words of Paul is also his assurance: I am sure, I am certain. Do we pray that preachers will know the same assurance?
How do we pray for our ministers and missionaries?
I am always amazed by the gospel
What a support to our faith is this, that God the Father, the party offended by our sins, is so well pleased with the work of redemption! And what a comfort is this, that, seeing God’s love rests on Christ, as well pleased with us, we may gather that he is well pleased with us, if we be in Christ! For his love rests in a whole Christ, in Christ Mystical, as well as Christ natural, because he loves him and us with one love. Let us, therefore, embrace Christ, and in him God’s love, and build our faith safely on such a Saviour that is furnished with so high a commission.
See here, for our comfort, a sweet agreement of all three persons: the Father gives a commission to Christ; the Spirit furnishes and sanctifies to it, and Christ himself executes the office of a Mediator. Our redemption is founded upon the joint agreement of all three persons of the Trinity.
Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed , Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2008.
That’s one way to understand human nature
This article in the Independent on Saturday 5th June 2010 presents one view of human nature: There is no one either good or bad, but circumstances make them so. But as a Christian who believes in man’s sinfulness, it is a highly frustrating read as it provides no real answer. It also shifts man’s responsibility on circumstances: It’s not my fault, it’s the circumstances, I didn’t have any choice.