Asking the Right Questions in Discipleship

The work of discipleship is both easy and hard. It is clear and messy. Straightforward and yet deeper than we imagine. It's possible to say that person is sorted now only to find yourself dealing with the unthinkable. Easy to tick a box too early and assume growth. But the fact that we are lifelong …

Subtle Problems still need Subtle Prayers

Whenever we go to the hospital we immediately realise two things, there are many sick people out there and many with more serious conditions than us. It's easy to feel whatever is ailing us is nothing compared to what our neighbour is going through. Haven't you had that feeling when people are sharing prayer points? …

The Price of the Ungrateful Heart

They say the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. Well, that's until you get there. It's so easy to imagine that your life would be far much better if you got that job, that promotion, a bigger salary, a life partner or a better one for those married, a child, …

Faithful Preaching that Doesn’t Bore to Death

When I started expository preaching someone told me I was teaching and not preaching. Now when you get a feedback like that in an African context you know that was one boring lecture. Just think about that lesson you didn't like in college or highschool and imagine having it just before lunch with a teacher …

The Ministry of Critics

When we think God has called us to the ministry we think of words like the Gospel, the lost and those needing discipleship. We imagine walking together to establish the kingdom either where Christ is not known or clarifying the Gospel where there exists confusion. I don't think any of us comes along to be …

The Idol of the People Pleaser

You meet this guy who always shows up when he's needed. He never wants to fail people. If anything he'll go out of his way to serve others. You think, if everyone was like him how far would this ministry go. Why can't people be this committed? But then you realise something, he doesn't take …

When Technology Harms Discipleship

Years ago before social media, televangelists and online ministries people would walk to a pastor's home for advice. If they didn't think it was such a serious matter they'd share with a friend or a few in the fellowship. But life has changed. We now live on one end of the city and go to …

The Tragedy of Good Men

The power of the Gospel is clearly revealed when a man who lived an evil life turns around to follow Jesus. This is why we love apostle Paul's story. We love hearing those kinds of testimonies that say I was a completely different person before I met Jesus. I was a drunkard, a murderer, a …

Burn the old Bridge

If we keep looking over our past Imagining what would have beenWondering if we are missing outLonging for what this body cravesSoon we'll forget the chains of the old slave masterWe've got to burn that bridge so we never look back If we keep playing with the fireEntertaining that old man of sinFeeding him when …

Praying for our own Discipleship

So often when we talk about prayer we think material things and don't get me wrong there's a place for that. We pray about jobs, financial needs and health matters. It's a beautiful declaration of our dependence to our heavenly Father. We should pray for material things. But it's striking that we would see our …