The 2010 Evangelical Ministry Assembly is booking fast! We're about 75% full which means if you want to come, you need to book soon. We're really pleased with the way the programme is shaping up and can now release details of seminar leaders (in some cases each leader will be joined by one or two others).

Connecting with….atheists

This increasingly important topic will be dealt with by David Robertson. David is the minister of St Peter's Dundee (McCheyne's church) and also leads up Solas – the Centre for Public Christianity in Scotland. He has written movingly on McCheyne – and more recently has written the excellent little volume The Dawkins Letters. 

Connecting with….women

Carrie Sandom is Associate Minister for women at St John's Tunbridge Wells and until recently was at Christchurch Mayfair. Carrie helps lead the PT Cornhill women's stream and leads our Women in Ministry conference. She will address issues related to communicating with women. Is this something that men even need to worry about? Doesn't preaching cross every barrier? Or are we naive to think that our preaching must be targeted. Carrie will help us through these questions.

Connecting with….kids

Trevor Pearce is the youth worker at All Souls Langham Place and he helps lead the FIEC Contagious youth event. Trevor will help us through the minefield that is communicating with young people. Do we need to be hip to reach the young? Or can we simply ignore the issues that connecting with kids raise? Can children sit through a sermon for example? If so, how can we help them do it well?

Connecting with….muslim people

Increasingly, many of our cities and towns have a large muslim presence. Do we ignore it? How do we engage without comprising the gospel? Is a vision to reach muslim people just pie-in-the-sky. To lead this seminar we welcome two experienced men who are working amongst muslim people in Oxford and East London. We hope you will understand that we will not release their names here. 

To book on the EMA please visit the microsite. Other main session speakers are Liam Goligher, Vaughan Roberts, Tim Keller and David F Wells. 

Most of the time the Christian press reports how Christians are restricted in speaking out about those things that Christians believe in. But it does, occasionally, go the other way too. Here is an interesting case from Northern Ireland, reported widely in the news last week, but which probably deserves a little more press. 

Our best reviewed conferences are also the hardest to fill! I don't know why that is, perhaps because the thought of a few days away of intensive ministry and training seems a little daunting. I can understand that. But, invariably, those who come to the practical ministry seminars go away full of joy and saying how much they've been helped by both the group work and flexible pastoral time together. We've got some places free for our next Practical Ministry Seminar in May (23-26 May). Why not think about a last minute booking? As with all our conferences, we do not want cost to be an issue, so please contact us if cost would preclude you coming. 

To get you in the mood, here's a review by a first timer from last year, Tim Silk.

What was helpful for me was the way the various ingredients were experienced together. It was great fun! The food was amazing! The people were almost normal! The focus was a robust declaration of Isaiah’s message in a broken world; and there was time to pray together. The conversation flowed between the Bible, our lives, and the different missional contexts in which we found ourselves. This was further facilitated by the evenings where we were taught from the Bible about the nature of following Jesus today. 

This led on naturally to the consideration of various challenges we all faced. It was particularly helpful to be part of a group of leaders at a similar stage as it allowed us to help each other back to the heart of gospel ministry. It was a great investment of time and resources, because it allowed each of the encouraging ingredients to be experienced simultaneously, and allowed time to consider the issues. Whilst the planned input was really very helpful personally, it was the unplanned time available to talk through ministry challenges with others who had been there before that made it for me.

 

I heard one of the Jensens (forget which one now) once say about churches…"they're just rain shelters." Amen. Well, perhaps slightly more, but that is the essence of it. Trouble is, of course, many of church buildings are historic buildings as well, so everyone wants their piece of them. And try to move the pews just a few inches…..boy! 

I wish we were free of all that stuff. I love architecture and great buildings and have failed in a recent campaign to have an historic building near us preserved (I noticed yesterday that the Poplar Labour Exchange – for that is the building) finally had demolition work started on it. Shame. However, in the tension that must be felt between history and function, function rules as far as I am concerned for church buildings.

I'm not sure I can prove this – but I wonder if churches get a harder time than necessary? Above is a picture of LSO St Lukes. The building is a Hawksmoor and John James creation, Grade I listed, but it fell into disrepair and the roof was removed some time ago. It basically became a shell. And then (and probably only then) was permission granted to do some radical work inside. Mrs R and I went there for a concert recently (for it is now a concert venue) and it is incredible. I love it! It would, by the way, also be a great church space, though the chances of any church being given approval to do something like this are fairly slim.

So yes, we want rain shelters – or, in truth, something a little more sophisticated. But we must battle authorities to get them. And perhaps this is one of the times where it is just slighly easier being a non-conformist. Many a time our buildings don't have the same kind of architectural or historical cachet associated with them so we can get away with more radical modelling.

At Cornhill we've just moved from preaching classes to evangelistic preaching classes necessitating a slight change in emphasis and feedback – it's not nearly as straightforward as you might think. In particular, the temptation to go all over the place rather than concentrate on the Bible passage (and not have confidence in the Bible passage) is very great. I confess to finding Ramesh Richard's approach (in Preparing Evangelistic Sermons) a little formulaic – but there is some real wisdom here:

A sacred compulsion to preach evangelistically cannot downplay the internal authenticity needed to confirm and affirm that you are faithful to the text of Scripture. Sacred compulsion may give you competence before unbelievers, but spiritual confidence in the text comes from using a text as intended. If the author could have attracted unbelievers in his audience to Jesus, you too can preach….to attract them to Jesus' salvation. However, be very careful that you are not circumventing the author with interpretive gymnastics buttressed by raised volume, ardent fervour, and entertaining delivery when the textual, theological or audience foundations are weak.

In other words, stick to the text! For example, consider Matthew 14.22-33 – Jesus walking on the water. Where does the text take us? It takes us to the identity of Jesus – IT IS I. He is truly the Son of God (v33). You can believe it or doubt it. As Peter did – and as Peter discovered the consequences when he tried to walk towards Jesus. Jesus the Saviour is the Son of God. There is your gospel message (needs some work, I admit). And the gospel call, if that is what you want to call it, is surely to see who Jesus is, what he does (less of a theme) and respond appropriately. You don't need to bolt on a tract at the end of a sermon. 

Perhaps our worry is that if we haven't mentioned creation, fall, covenant, incarnation, atonement, resurrection (or something like that list), we haven't preached the gospel. But that seems a slightly naive understanding of the richness of the gospel and the power of the word. At root, we need to have a better confidence in the word of life that Christ has given us.

More like this:

• Simplicity and love in preaching

We've just started taking applications and doing interviews for Cornhill 2011/12. The PT Cornhill course continues to address a unique need – practical preaching and teaching training. Of course, we believe preaching is a spiritual task – but the call to every preacher is to be an unashamed workman; it is naive to suggest that training has no part to play – and that is where Cornhill can serve the local church. This year Cornhill is twenty years old, each year training some 50 men and women for ministry in the church. Perhaps there is someone in your church who could benefit from it? Here's a short (30 second) trailer we have made for the New Word Alive bookstall. It is brief but contains the essence of what PT Cornhill is all about. You can apply online now. 

PT Cornhill 30 second trailer from The Proclamation Trust on Vimeo.

I suppose today there should be some suitable April Fool joke – just enough truth to be almost believable, but shocking all the same. You know the sort of thing – Adrian is made Bishop of Ely, Christopher retains National Badminton Mixed Doubles Title – that sort of thing. But truth is that I'm too tired and emotionally drained to come up with anything really good in that line. I feel a bit more like Hamlet:

When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but battalions

That’s when I need to read James. I find the opening verses both a challenge and a help. Here’s the challenge:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

It’s a hard word, isn’t it? I can just about endure trials, or be patient during trials, but consider them joy? Forget it. Too hard. Too painful. Too stress-inducing. Too spiritual! I know that Romans 8.28 is true, but – please – can I think about that when I come out the other side? Sure, I know that when I look back I’ll see that it was all for my sanctification. But not now, okay?

It’s a hard word – and as you can see – a word in season, a word I need. So that’s why I need James’ help too, not just the challenge:

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

These verses are a kind of birthday card text – the one you always put in a greetings card. And I’m sure they are great verses – but I don’t think they’re simply about wisdom. The context links them directly to the openers on joy and trials. The wisdom in view is not about care plans for my elderly in-laws (though I do need wisdom for that). The wisdom in view is knowing that these trials are for my ultimate good. And boy, is that wisdom I need!

I’m no April Fool. I need wisdom. And so this is my prayer.

Who leads your church? No, who really does? I was reminded this week that church members are required to obey their leaders (Hebrews 13). But who, in reality, is leading the church? This issue arose as I discussed an article I'd written with a much wiser older colleague (of the Lucas variety). In the article, I argue for strong leadership from the pastor when it comes to issues of singing (you'll have to wait for our 2011/12 resource guide for the full article, I'm afraid). Dick wondered whether the previous generation's battle of pastor vs choir had simply been replaced by pastor vs drummer. Possibly. In fact, almost certainly in some places.

But I wonder if the issue is deeper and is, at its heart, the question of who leads. So here are some illustrations, none of which (it won't surprise you to know) are made up:

• a church member who contributes a large proportion of the church's income threatens to withdraw support unless he gets his way. Who's the leader now?
• a church member who should really be a leader but is not (because he's too difficult) hijacks a church vote through loud and aggressive arguments. Who's the leader now?
• a bullish worship leader chooses the songs he wants rather than accepting the authority of the pastor. Who's the leader now?
• a cliquey group make plans without the wardens/elders knowledge and then propose them in an unexpected coup. Who's the leader now?

And so it could go on. What gives rise to these situations? The answer must be two fold:

• it may be a problem with church members who are unwilling to recognise their leaders' authority
• it may be a problem with church leaders who do not display servant hearted leadership or lack the courage to be leaders

In both cases, as it happens, the resolution of the issue lies with a leader. And, ironically, both require the leader to lead – either by tackling graciously the problem in the member or by tackling robustly the sin in his own heart. Both resolutions are required of most leaders most of the time. So, in your church, who's the leader now?

Sometimes the arguments of Scripture are really quite straightforward, even when (on first reading) they seem quite daunting. Here's the next part of Hebrews where the writer is showing how great Jesus is by aligning him with the priesthood of Melchizedek rather than the priestly line of Aaron (the tribe of Levi). His argument is really very nice. The lesser pays tithes to the greater – and ultimately everyone in Israel paid tithes to Melchizedek. Therefore, he is the greatest OT priest. This is the argument of Hebrews 7.4-10. I quickly sketched out a picture because the last time I taught this (in true Rolf Harris) style, I got a whiteboard and drew these pictures to explain my point.

Can you see what it is yet?

I love living in London – and one of the best reasons is that it is the home of the British Museum. Look – I've got to be honest, when I was young I thought the BM was the dullest place in the Universe (second only, possibly, to The Royal Opera House, somewhere else I now love). But now I'm older and wiser and – importantly – spiritually alive, I realise that the British Museum is a feast for a believer.

OT great Walter Kaiser wrote an interesting article back in 2005 about the 15 greatest biblical archaeological finds (it's still online here). Most are in Israel, one or two are squirrelled away (e.g. some of the more fragile papyrii). But a surprising number of the finds are in the BM. Yep! You can go and see them. I believe the Bible to be true because of faith in the Scriptures. But to see archaelogical finds that confirm its veracity, sometimes against all the historical odds, is amazing. (As an aside there has been a recent BBC series about how the Bible's history is all poppycock).

If you can't get to London (or even if you can and want some help) there is an excellent Day One travel guide. These little guides are superb and this one, in particular, stands out. It's written by Brian Edwards and Clive Anderson who know what they're talking about. (They also do guided tours – more information here). I'm on my sixth or seventh; I keep giving them away as I want people to go and see the stuff too!

Yes, faith is what gives us confidence in the Scriptures (see for example Hebrews 11.3) (try explaining that to an unbeliever!). But, in God's goodness and graciousness our faith is confirmed and helped by such things as archaeological discoveries. Each year we send our Cornhill students to visit the BM for precisely this reason. Amazingly, their preaching is helped too! Go and see the Cyrus Cylinder and then try and preach Ezra 1 without mentioning it! You can't! (I loved it so much, I bought a copy. The Cyrus Cylinder is currently on tour, but if you pop into my office you can always see the other one!).

OK, I'm getting boring now. But if you stop by London for any reason, let me encourage you to visit the BM and take a tour.*

[As an interesting aside, Professor Donald Wiseman died last year (read his obituary here). Donald was linked for a time with the British Museum and his influence can sometimes be seen in the wall plaques desscrbing certain finds in biblical terms. Sadly, my friend Clive Anderson tells me, these are gradually being removed and biblical references erased.]

* Do watch out for tours being conducted by Jehovah's Witnesses. Stick to Day One tours or buy the guide from the bookshop and have a DIY tour.