The Good Book Quiz

Fighting the Monday Feeling

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man.
- Proverbs 3 v 3-4

Why Christianity Explored is good for the whole church!

Christianity Explored is an evangelistic Bible Study course with a difference. Fine-tuned by Rico Tice, minister for evangelism at All Souls Church in London, it uses Mark’s Gospel to explain the Christian gospel. It encourages the church to do evangelism as the church, and not merely as isolated individuals.

The materials for Christianity Explored come in an attractive package of DVDs with clear and well-produced study materials. Rico himself is a gifted communicator with a warm, gracious and infectious enthusiasm for the gospel and the church.

There are many reasons why Christianity Explored is such a helpful tool for our churches.

1. The church can use it together. Guests are welcomed by a fellowship of Christians who get to know and love them in a context of open-hearted friendship. We often began with a simple meal. This was the church being itself—God’s evangelistic community. The transforming work of Christ in our members’ lives and in their fellowship with each other can become evident to our guests. The gospel can be “seen” as well as “heard.”
2. The whole body is needed. Christians who are gifted in helping to explain the faith can serve together with those whose greatest gift is a welcoming and caring heart, or cheerfully serving meals. Everyone can have a vital part. The power of a transformed community is visible. That is a profound New Testament principle!
3. Genuine relationships are built. Guests become free to ask whatever they want to. If our members could not answer a question, they promised to find it for the next meeting. There was no pretence of easy (and sometimes wrong!) answers to tough questions!
4. Christ speaks in Mark’s Gospel. Christ “walks off the pages,” revealing his identity, enabling people to understand why he came, why they need him, and how to become Christians.

This kind of fellowship in evangelism stimulates our own people to search the Scriptures better themselves. It binds them together in real fellowship as they pray together, are nervous together, and as together they see God work. As the Lord draws people to himself through his Word, expectation is increased that, on an ongoing basis, the Lord will bring more people to himself. That in turn leads to greater expectation in prayer as we ask him to do just that. At least this was certainly our experience.

Christianity Explored is no more than a tool; but it is a fine tool. And since there is nothing in the world more important than exploring Christianity, it provides a most helpful way of doing just that.

I’m Glad You Asked: Why Does God allow suffering?

A question on lots of people’s lips at the moment is why God allows all the suffering and pain in the world.

What has been your response in the light of the earthquakes and tsunamis that have struck our planet over the last few months?

All responses welcome.

Bible. Beach. Brilliant.

Over a thousand people went to Bible by the Beach on the south coast last weekend.

If you’ve not been (or not heard of it before), it’s a great few days in Eastbourne: top-notch Bible teaching, a great variety of stuff happening, plenty of chance to relax, and of course fantastic singing with a choir of a thousand. And children love the programme that's provided for them (see pic).

It's also very good value-for-money: though unfortunately the budget doesn't stretch to warming up the English Channel for swimming…

May Bank Holiday 2012: Bible. Beach. Brilliant.

The Good Book Quiz

I’m Glad You Asked: (Let’s be honest, sometimes we’re not!)

Some questions that people ask are tough. And that’s why we’re putting together a resource that gives short answers to the 11 most commonly-asked questions we face.

So, if you were asked ‘How do you know that God exists?’ what would you say? Who or what would you call on as evidence? What stories, illustrations, sound bites have you found helpful?

Fighting the Monday Feeling

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
- Proverbs 2 v 6-8