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Category: Ministry & Mission
Coming Up @ the Table
Want to learn about the latest going on at the Table? https://thetabledublin.substack.com/p/this-week-at-the-table-c8b Rumour has it this Sunday involves tacos.
Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
Wanted to share a brief recap of our discussion on Sunday.
How My Brain Works – a Month in 1999
Just for the Craic. In 1999 we had three major events scheduled for the same month.A baby. A church plant. (they were scheduled for the first week). And major surgery. I still have no idea how it all worked out. One Month in 1999: Showing How My Brain Works
Christendom and the issue of Status.
Christendom and the issue of Status. – a post over on substack
Would You Go To Church Here?
It is said doctors make the worst patients. So, when I visit a church, I work at being positive and noticing the good. At the same time, I believe it is crucial to critique what we, as the church, do. In Ireland, just as in the States, the fastest growing religious group is the “Nones”. While you can find a lot out there blaming the Nones, the ex-vangelicals, or those who are deconstructing their faith, for why fewer people attend church than did previously, I believe the first place we need to look is at ourselves.
The Clergy-Laity Thing is a Problem
I have been writing a series of posts on Christendom and have shared both some of the positives as well as some of the negatives. Today we’ll start getting into some specifics. One of Christendom’s most enduring legacies is creating a professional clergy class. As someone who has been in full-time ministry for 34 years and ordained for…
3 Ways Christendom Has Been Bad for the Church
This is the fourth post in a series I’ve been writing on Christendom. The previous ones (here, here and here) were to lay some groundwork as I move into the main idea I want to dig into: the damage done to the church by aligning with the Roman Empire and, subsequently, the nation-states of Europe….
What is the Local Church’s Why?
I have just started listening to Simon Sinek’s book, Start With Why. A key question he asks is why some companies and some leaders inspire and others don’t? As he often does, he uses Apple as an example of a company that inspires people. And whether you are a fan of Apple or not (as you probably…
Interested in an Internship with the Table?
I have been looking forward to sharing this news for a while! The Table, the community of faith I am part of, is offering a 12-month church planting internship! The person accepted into this role (which is open to male and female candidates) will work closely with the Table’s leadership community and have the opportunity…
What’s A Parish-Based Micro-Church?
What Do We Mean When We Say Parish-Based Micro-Church?
Keeping Track of the Twists and Turns
This past summer, we spent some time in the States catching up with friends. One thing I enjoy about these trips is being able to meet face-to-face and hear the questions people have about what we are doing in Dublin. Often through these conversations, we discover that several people have the same questions…they just haven’t…
And we’re back…Relaunching the Blog
After a hiatus of most of a year, I’m looking forward to getting back to the blog.
No, the Buck Should Not Stop with You.
A few years ago, I was talking with an individual about working together to plant a church. While the process was exciting, we eventually decided not to move forward together. We simply had too many areas where we didn’t mesh. Two issues that made it a no-go for me were, eating together and having a…
Drawing a Crowd
I am officially on holiday!! I’m hoping to post some photos here over the next week as we will be in some scenic places. Today I wanted to repost something put up here a few years ago as I think it ties in well with the series we just completed. :: originally posted 18 December…
In the Shadow of Christendom
Today is the eighth and final post in the series I’ve been writing on sermons. (You can find the series here) For the past 1700 years or so (since Constantine), the church has operated under what is commonly called Christendom. Some characteristics of this period are: the church became an institution and frequently sought position…
A change I am Working On Currently
This is post number seven in a series I am writing about sermons. (You can find the series here) As I was leaving Ithaca, I decided that I would change how I prepared for sermons. Two stories to explain why. Story 1: Around 2009 I realised that I was not a great manager. While I…
Shifts in How I Teach
This is post number six in a series I am writing about sermons. (you can find others in this series here.) I first began speaking in churches over 30 years ago. In that time, I have made some changes. Here are a few of the major ones. How I started: Three Points in an Outline Form…
Thinking like a Scientist
This is post number five in a series I am writing about sermons. (you can find others in this series here.) Yesterday I wrote about a study on learning and overconfidence. The idea was that people who see a more polished presentation do not learn or retain any more than those who see a boring presentation….
The Sermon as Ted Talk
This is post number four in a series I am writing about sermons. (you can find others in this series here.) What is the point of the sermon? What does the average listener hope to receive from it? What does the average preacher want from it? For me, as a hearer, I want to learn something….
I Heard You The Third Time
I am writing a series on sermons. I’m reposting this one from a few years ago. (you can find others in this series here.) Confession time. I sometimes have difficultly visiting other church services. I’ll talk myself up before I go: “Don’t be critical. See what God says and don’t stress about the stuff you normally…
Plagiarising Sermons
This is post number three in a series I am writing about sermons. . (you can find others in this series here.) In 1997 the university ministry I was part of imploded. The guy overseeing university ministry in New York was fired, and they brought in a guy from the outside who was not a good…
The Power of the Pulpit
This is post number two in a series I am writing about sermons. (you can find others in this series here.) I am working on a post where I critique a modern problem with sermons. I thought it only fair that before I shared that, I critique something I did which I still regret years…
Rethinking Sermons
I’ve been thinking a lot about sermons lately. While it might seem strange to spend time thinking about for most people, preparing and delivering messages (teachings, sermons, or whatever we happened called them) was a huge part of my life from 1989 until about 2012. In 2012 we moved from Ithaca to Dublin, and sermons…
An Unexpected Option
I wrote last week about my first job offer, which wasn’t actually a job offer. I wanted to share a second story about a real opportunity that has often made me wonder what if. Because our primary focus was university ministry for our entire time in Albany, we were often asked to fill in…