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This weekend I read an article that startled me, because of how accurately it described the often well intentioned (yet naive) actions of Christians that claim and genuinely long to be biblical but aren’t trained well enough theologically. I used to be part of a movement of churches where the error of “Biblicism One” (as described below) was often committed. I am the first to admit that I have done this many times, and in the movement I was from there was a genuine attempt to be as biblical as possible. However, no matter how good the intentions, there is potential for great error. Carson shows this.
What I learn from this is that the claims that ordinary unschooled people can always correctly interpret the bible are false. There is a great need in the church for scholars and formally trained people to help the saints in their reading of the scriptures.
This except is taken from this article here by DA Carson and Tim Keller at the Gospel Coalition website.
Biblicism One and Biblicism Two Read the rest of this entry »
Singapore, South East Asia
Since I had been about 19 years of age I knew that I would be in full time ministry in some shape or form, and I thought that there was a strong likelihood that I would plant a church at some stage. From the moment of coming full time as an elder at New Covenant Church Bryanston in 2004 we knew that we would plant or lead a church somewhere within about 5 – 7 years.
As time drew on Tarryn and I started to talk and pray more about where it was that God would lead us. We loved South Africa Read the rest of this entry »
The local church that I was a part of for nearly 20 years (before we were sent to plant RHC) had a strong focus on church planting and ‘making disciples of all nations’ through this means. Over the 30 years that the church has been in existence, it has sent dozens of it’s pastors around the world to plant churches. Many have asked how it has been possible to raise up so many leaders who can church plant.
The church believes that people should be trained for ministry in the local church. Of all the people who planted, I don’t think one ever went to seminary. That is not to say that seminary isn’t good, but that we had a belief that the best place for people to be trained in ministry was on the job in a real local church. (It obviously is advantageous to ensure that people are doing some kind of theological training while they are serving in the local church).
New Covenant Church Bryanston
When someone was earmarked for ministry, they were normally exposed to a number of different of areas in the life of the local church. Read the rest of this entry »
RHC is now nearly 2 and a half years old, and I feel it would be a good time to start to put down my thoughts on how God has worked to establish this local church in Singapore.
I do this with a sense of caution though. Every person’s story is unique, therefore trying to imitate anyone’s methods outside of the clear principles of scripture is likely to be a recipe for disaster. Church planters are men of conviction who believe the gospel and desire to preach it so as to transform the community in which the gospel is preached. The way that get’s done is unique for everyone.
Having said that, wisdom says that we learn from the experiences of others, what they did well and what they didn’t do well. Here’s hoping that our story will be of encouragement to you, and that there will be some practical things you can glean as well.
I will start right at the very beginning, while we were still living in sunny South Africa.
Redemption Hill Church now has a blog up now on the site. It’ll be filled with news, articles, introducing people and ministries, as well as testimonies. You can check it out here. Enjoy!
My friend Casper put me onto this post by Tim Challies this morning, and in the light of our prayer for Dave and Kascha Reed in Cambodia who moved to Cambodia to plant a church there a few years ago, thought we should bear this in mind as we pray for them:
“This is a remarkable letter sent from Adoniram Judson to John Hasseltine, the father of Ann, the woman he wished to marry. In this letter he asks John for Ann’s hand, but, as he intends to head to Burma to serve as a missionary, he is forthright in his request. It is a remarkable letter. Here is an excerpt:
… I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world? Whether you can consent to see her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life? Whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of perishing immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?
John consented even to this and Adoniram and Ann were soon married and lived out their days in Burma. Six years passed before they saw their first convert; by the time Adoniram died, there were 8,000 believers gathered in sixty-three churches”.
Let’s keep praying for Dave and Kascha who are sowing the seeds of the gospel in a nation so desperate for it.
