TransformD is the newest programme in iServe Africa. It is a six-month residential aimed at transforming the lives of high school leavers between the ages of 18 and 21 years into Christ-centred individuals who are: Devoted to the Word Disciples of Christ Disciplined in following Christ Dependable in Christian ministry Deployable to do good works among others Interested in joining yourself or sending your child or a young person you care about? Basic…
Read More4 patterns of master-slave relations
Here are 4 different models of interaction between masters (leaders) and slaves (employees): Oppressive master and submissive slave This tends to be the pattern in settled traditional societies and modern totalitarian societies. Hierarchy is strong – the pyramid model. Those at ‘the top’ very much see themselves as ‘above’ others and those at the bottom know their place and submit. Leaders are dictators who cannot be questioned, ‘big men’ who…
Read MoreKanisa ni nini?
It’s an important question. If we are looking for a faithful church to be part of. If we are looking towards being involved in pastoral ministry. If we are wanting to be good members and servants of our church week by week. We need to know how to approach this thing which is the centrepiece of God’s eternal plan, the bride of Christ, the agent of mission, the great means…
Read MoreFaithful in gospel mission: MTC 1 2017
It has been great to have two weeks together, particularly preparing the new group of apprentices as they go out into challenging mission placements all over Kenya (and beyond). Second Timothy was one of our main texts for the fortnight and our expositors drew out very clearly for us that what the Lord is seeking is not creativity but faithfulness. We don’t need to invent a clever new strategy to…
Read MoreColossians: Christ alone
It’s been great to get into Colossians in the current (ongoing) ministry training course. I thought I’d gather here a few helpful resources on the letter as a whole: ESV Study Bible full intro to Colossians Global Study Bible short intro to Colossians NIV Study Bible intro to Colossians Bible Project Colossians (YouTube) But actually, good as these resources are, I’ve found over the last week that there’s nothing like…
Read MoreKaribuni! Thanksgiving and commissioning 2017
As we enter our tenth year of ministry apprenticeships, join us to give thanks for what the Lord has done in many lives and to send out more servants into His harvest field. Conversation KE
Read MoreIsaiah’s introduction to Isaiah
Dale Ralph Davis begins his commentary on Judges by explaining why he’s not going to give his own introduction: “…an excellent piece of work has already been done by the author of the book, and I am not capable of writing a better one. Indeed, I have a growing conviction that we would find far more fun and profit in Bible study if we gave more heed to the introductions…
Read MoreSecond year classes term 2 [1]
It’s been a good half term looking at gospel-driven sanctification, the letter of 1 Corinthians and thinking about other religions. Here are some of the notes and resources: Sanctification: Union with Christ Sanctification: Adoption Sanctification: Lordship, Law & Obedience Sanctification: Faith Sanctification: Spirit How to think about other religions Intro to Islam Intro to Buddhism The Trellis & the Vine Contextualisation Covenant theology Fasting Conversation KE
Read MoreCaptured by a better vision
Tim Chester, Captured by a better vision: Living porn-free, IVP, 2010, 169 pages. Reviewed by Kelvin Macharia: When it comes to sexual purity, the struggle is real. All around us we find sexually suggestive material, from the TV adverts to magazines and billboards. And social media, though helpful in some ways, has only made things worse with its ever inviting sexually suggestive images. Perhaps the biggest threat of my generation…
Read More12 marks of humility
In a church staff meeting many years ago it was quite a common thing for the senior pastor to go around and ask us all to name a mark of humility. He felt (rightly) it was good practice for us to rehearse the hallmarks of gospel-wrought humility and have them at the front of our minds. It was always a convicting and spurring exercise. Here they are as best I…
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