We’ve started a new year of special weekly training sessions with the second year apprentices, extending and stretching on faithful Bible handling, gospel theology, servant leadership, engaging other cultures and practical ministry skills. Here are some resources from the first few sessions: Bible overviews – an introduction Biblical Theology (2nd Year Curriculum) session 2 – Abraham Hebrews 2 iServe Africa Webmaster
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 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 iServe Africa Webmaster
Read MoreStanding in Christ: Imara 2017
Last week was our April Ministry Training Week. It was Easter week and the approaching celebration of the sufferings and victorious resurrection of our Lord and Saviour brought a sharpness and shone a bright light on our time together. Fidel opened up the neglected book of Lamentations for us, we walked through the last chapters of Romans and the letter to the Ephesians, chewing on all sorts of meaty issues…
Read MoreWhen it seemed like your defeat
When you prayed beneath the trees, it was for me, O Lord; when you cried upon your knees, how could it be, O Lord? When in blood and sweat and tears you dismissed your final fears, when you faced the soldiers’ spears, you stood for me, O Lord. When their triumph looked complete, it was for me, O Lord, when it seemed like your defeat, they could not see, O…
Read MoreThe hole in our holiness
“No matter what you profess, if you show disregard for Christ by giving yourself over to sin – impenitently and habitually – then heaven is not your home” (DeYoung, The Hole in Our Holiness, p. 14) Reviewed by Kelvin Macharia: Is it even possible to please God with our righteousness? It sounds like an ocean being amused by water in a cup. And doesn’t Scripture say that “…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags?” Why bother to fight a losing…
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