As we approach Christmas season, remembering Christ’s birth, let us also consider the implications of the narrative. To say that Jesus was Incarnate Deity, might seem logically problematic for two reasons. Firstly, to say that Christ is both God and man would seem logically contradictory. After all, God is infinite, able to accomplish all that…
When I planted a church and was confronted by other Christians who wondered “why we need another church in town,” what they were really challenging was the authority I had to invade their town with another church. “Who gave you the authority to plant this church?” they asked me. What they failed to realize is…
It is far too common to fall into the trap of thinking that we don’t need to plant new churches. Church planting is a lot of work, takes financial resources, and confronts our selfish, inward-looking, comforts of being part of an established church. However, there are 3 Reasons Planting Churches is of Infinite Value[1] (see…
In 2008 I planted a church in a small, rural town that already had a few churches. Some good Christians in the community were opposed to our new church. A few revealed their insecurities and confronted me asking, ‘why do we need another church in town?’ It was an easy question to answer for both…
Once, while Jesus was in Jerusalem, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of…
Once, Jesus told a story about a widow who pesters a corrupt judge until he gives her justice. Jesus did this to show his disciples, “that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). “Therefore,” the preacher concludes, “this parable teaches us that God is like that corrupt judge. If he does not…
What does it mean to be a transcultural community? South African pastor One Mokgatle defines “Transcultural” as “a community that reflects, embraces and enjoys the diversity of its context, but by the power of the gospel transcends it and creates one new community in Christ”. When we planted Regeneration Church in the city of Monash,…
Living in a harried, busy city kind of life means little time to spend with our children. In between work, school and enrichment classes, our lives are spent mostly on the road driving somewhere or stuck in a traffic jam. The short window of time to interact is often filled with practical stuff like homework…
“The truth of the Gospel is the principle article of all Christian doctrine…. Most necessary is it that we know this article well, teach it to others, and beat it into their heads continually.” Martin Luther. It may seem strange that Christians need to continually be reminded of the gospel. After all, shouldn’t we…
We sit down to read Luke’s Christmas Story and we think we already know it: there’s Joseph and Mary, searching the streets of Bethlehem for a place to have their baby. There’s the mean inn-keeper saying, “no room for you here!” Then there’s the starlight shining on a cozy little stable. Mary gives birth, and…