Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

Opinions/Reflections July - December 2014

Temporary tents are no longer sufficient… 
Considering a multi-million pound building is a daunting, faith-filled challenge. How to go about it?
Reflecting on the act of preaching
John Rackley wonders what ministers and churches could be doing in the summer
Now is a time for repentance 
With tensions so high people of faith in the Middle East need to repent of our hatred and contempt for each other
In the gap between Israel and Gaza
How can Christians respond amid this violence and hatred? A response from an Arab-Israeli church leader
Why I support No More Page 3
As a society, we have legislated against any discrimination or harassment based on someone’s sex
Helping to set the captives free
An interview with a volunteer in an innovative scheme that is helping to reduce sexual reoffending
The case of the ‘missing’ prayer 
John Rackley is concerned by the absence of one sort of prayer among the different churches he has visited
Unless you become as a little child...
A lesson in sacrificial giving from a primary school child
An army of ordinary people 
Colin Sedgwick draws encouragement from the glimpse of the early church in the book of Romans
Some Unusual Advice to the Media 
J.John imagines how the devil would use the media to undermine the Christian faith
Saying a huge thank you
Great support sees redundancy averted for now, and church is growing.... but we're not out of the woods
Laughing for the Kingdom 
Baptist comedian and evangelist Tom Elliott on using your gifts creatively for God
Recognising the pennies from Heaven 
Wendy Reakes stopped gambling when she became a Christian - but it has not stopped the windfalls
Ministering to older people
With a little imagination, an ageing population provides rich and rewarding opportunities to serve
Pausing and being thankful
The custom of saying grace is dying out and that's a shame, writes Colin Sedgwick
Adoption into God's family
The invaluable support a whole fellowship can give a family which is adopting or fostering
Building your church... or His Kingdom?
Michael Shaw wonders what would happen if we applied Jubilee principles to our churches
ISIS, Mirrors and Freedom
What might a non-violent response to ISIS look like?
Do Baptist churches need leaders?
First in a new series on leadership from Baptist minister Darren Blaney
Finding again the fire of the Holy Spirit
Examining CH Spurgeon's words on the Holy Spirit, Don Attenborough says we should seek to be filled repeatedly
Moving out of our comfort zone
An encounter with an elderly newspaper man leaves Sally Claydon wondering where we can deliver the gift of Jesus
Theresa May is wrong on extremism   
And Christians should care, writes Jonty Langley
Lessons from being in the silence 
In the sometimes painfully quiet months after graduation, Ruth Clemence is discovering a renewed trust on God
What is Leadership? Part 2
Five keys to avoid wandering off on your own, not God's, agenda
‘Winning the battle for a better prayer life’
Most of us would agree that we need to lift our prayer life to a higher level, but how?
Churches and the First World War?
Exploring how we can proclaim the Christian message in First World War commemorations
What is Leadership? Part 3
Everyone can exercise leadership regardless of their title
Was all the effort and loss worth it? 
Robin Lane finds hope in a poignant question
A Mindful Response to Remembrance
It is not enough to remember the past: to honour the past we have to make a difference in the present
Collective responsibility for school assemblies 
Churches can help schools seeking to comply with the law on collective worship - or risk seeing its reform
The Four C Formula for Leadership
What criteria do people use to assess a would-be leader - and how might this enable us to become more effective?
Live courageously and speak truth to power...
... says the Establishment? Lindsay Caplen on some revealing conversations at the Lord Mayor's Banquet
Partners for the sake of the Gospel
We all have different roles, and these are best expressed when we work in partnership with each rather
Church membership: why so rigid?
There are circumstances when we should become part of different churches at the same time
Climate Change and Christian Discipleship 
Is climate change a key issue for Christians or a distraction from more pressing Gospel issues?
Cancel Christmas? Are you out of your mind? 
Andrew Kleissner's thoughts on the 'little town of Bethlehem' as we celebrate Christmas
Why we should observe Human Rights Day 
Baptists have a long heritage as human rights advocates, writes Robert Parham
The Private World of Leadership
The first person you must learn to lead is... you! The latest in the leadership blog
What does Paul say about poverty? 
The Apostle has something both unique and relevant to contribute to our thinking on economic issues
The reason for the season?
It's a material world, particularly at this time of the year - but there's only one gift that truly satisfies
    Post     Tweet