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 MoreThe un-wasted, future-focused life
Last Friday – the last day of the Ministry Training Course week – we began with an eternal perspective as Harrison preached through the later chapters of Acts and brought out Paul’s single-mindedness, heavenly focus and willingness to be the grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies to bring fruit. I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I…
Read MoreScripture interpreting Scripture: MTC January 2016
That was one of the big things that came out of the ministry training course week for the new apprentices last week. Whether it was interpreting the prophetic books or doing a Bible overview or examining doctrines or thinking about faithful Bible teaching or looking for how to accurately apply the truths of God’s Word, we kept finding again and again that, as Wanyeki Mahiaini put it: “The book that…
Read MoreTotal Gospel: MTC December 2015
Tim Keller puts it like this: ‘We never “get beyond the gospel” in our Christian life to something more “advanced.” The gospel is not the first “step” in a “stairway” of truths, rather, it is more like the “hub” in a “wheel” of truth. The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s of Christianity, but it is the A to Z of Christianity. The gospel is not just the minimum required…
Read MoreFaithfulness in Gospel Mission
The more important thing than hermeneutics is reading. In other words grappling with Scripture is primarily an exercise of attentiveness to One who speaks through a text. (John Webster, Kantzer Lectures, 2007) Thanking God for the last week of the Ministry Training Course and good times listening at the feet of Jesus. Here are some notes, resources and links for the sessions: 1st year apprentices: How to lead an inductive Bible study Understanding and…
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