Article

How to Spot a Healthy Church
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Jonathan Bond

What does a church look like that is truly growing and knowing God’s grace upon it?

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Serving in a Smaller Church
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Jonathan Bond

The best place for you to serve is where the Lord wants you, not where the biggest church is.

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The Answer to the Loneliness Epidemic
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John Stevens

The birth of Jesus is a foretaste and anticipation of God’s dwelling with his people. God is with us: then, now, and forever.

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How to Receive Criticism and Respond Well
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Lewis Allen

Receiving criticism is part of pastoral ministry and is the Lord’s appointed means of change as you respond well to it.

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The Glorious Future
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Jonathan Thomas, John Russell, Raymond Brown, Colin Adams, Steve Robinson

The church of Christ has a glorious future! At the 2021 Leaders' Conferences, local pastors each encouraged us with this truth.

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How Innocence/Guilt and Honour/Shame Cultures Collide
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Andy Paterson

[Part 21] In cross-cultural evangelism we need to understand someone's cultural paradigm. Here is how the two dominating paradigms interact.

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In Praise of Smaller Churches
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Jonathan Bond

Nearly half of all FIEC churches have 35 or fewer members. It may seem that these fellowships are failing but in fact many are healthy and thriving.

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Brave by Faith (Book Review)
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Rachel Sloan

Alistair Begg shows us how discovering the message of the book of Daniel enables us to stand firm and live bravely.

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Finding My Father (Book Review)
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Elinor Magowan

Blair Linne’s personal story of fatherlessness is compelling, instructive, and insightful. A must-read to help you disciple those that are hurting.

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Cultural Paradigms in Evangelism
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Andy Paterson

[Part 20] We must be careful to understand where someone is coming from when engaging in cross-cultural evangelism.

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How Should I Respond to Criticism?
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Elinor Magowan

Ministry wives can be acutely aware of criticism of their husbands - and themselves - that may escalate into conflict. How should they respond?

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Getting Out of a Church Rut
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Ray Evans

Serious issues in church life that go unaddressed can end up getting you stuck in a rut. How do you change things for the better?

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How to Welcome Students into Your Church Family
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Sophie Cornes

As students begin a new academic year, what are some of the ways the local church can help them feel welcome and part of the family?

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How Can I Be Content as a Ministry Wife?
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Elinor Magowan

There are many challenges that threaten our contentment as ministry wives. When we encounter difficulties, Paul directs us to Christ.

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The 5 Cs of Church Revitalisation
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Steve Robinson

The story of a revitalised church in Liverpool which has now multiplied to four church plants has important lessons for churches in need of some help.

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Answer Questions Like and With Jesus
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Andy Paterson

[Part 19] The best way to respond to many questions we face in evangelism is with a question. And then to point the questioner to the ultimate answer.

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Speaking Jesus at Reading Festival
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Richard Baxter

What do you do when 90,000 festival-goers descend on your town? Find out how a local church took the opportunity to show love and share the gospel.

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Is it Worth the Effort?
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Elinor Magowan

During seasons when the pressure of ministry is keenly felt, the privileges of ministry can escape you. Considering your purpose can help you hold on.

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Pursuing Biblical Generosity
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Jonty Allcock

In a culture which isn’t very good at talking about generosity, a church in London ran a week of activity to think about what it means to be generous.

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Servant-Hearted Team Meetings
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Ray Evans

There is more to effective team meetings than simply good time keeping. Leaders must have a servant heart.

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Reach, Views, and Clicks (How to Interpret Video and Social Media Data)
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Joel Murray

Online has become a significant part of church life. What do all the numbers mean and how can they help develop our ministry?

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Do I Have What It Takes to Be a Ministry Wife?
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Elinor Magowan

Feelings of inadequacy and inability can cause huge pressure in the lives of ministry wives. Considering calling and character can help.

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A COVID-19 Risk Assessment Template
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Phil Topham

Download a template Risk Assessment which churches can use to help them to decide on how to safely start meeting again after lockdown.

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High-Quality Team-Based Decision Making
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Ray Evans

If senior leaders can create an open environment for their teams to make better decisions, their churches can really benefit.

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The Habit of Time Management
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Ray Evans

Good discipline in time-keeping is needed for church leaders to avoid wasting time in church ministry. Seek to make good time-keeping a habit.

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Anticipating the Questions
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[Part 18] We need to be ready to respond to questions others have about faith. Considering the issues we might face can help prepare ourselves.

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Software for Effective Ministry
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Justin Gill

As hybrid and remote working becomes more commonplace, what are the best software options for church staff teams and volunteers to work effectively?

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How Can Churches Care for Creation?
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Alan Young

As delegates from around the world gather in Scotland to discuss climate change, how should churches respond?

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Users, Sessions, Pageviews (How to Interpret Website Data)
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Joel Murray

Views, channels, and visits can give great insight into who you are reaching with your website. Here’s how to move from numbers to knowledge.

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Illustrating the Culture
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Andy Paterson

[Part 17] The gospel story intersects with many of the issues that are facing our friends and family, offering opportunities for evangelism.

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3 Ways to Make the Most of Every Opportunity
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Andy Paterson

[Part 16] When opportunities for evangelism arise, how should we respond to make the most of them?

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Vital Questions about the Character of Leaders
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Ray Evans

Character is more important than gifting in Christian leadership. We may know this instinctively, but how should it shape church practice?

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Health & Safety After Lockdown
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Manny Kemp

The legal coronavirus restrictions that churches in England have gotten used to have been removed. Is it now back to pre-pandemic business as usual?

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Gospel Intentionality
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Andy Paterson

[Part 15] Every believer should give thought to how evangelism extends to and shapes every area of their lives. And be intentional about acting on it.

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God of All Things (Book Review)
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Adrian Reynolds

Andrew Wilson has written a simple but profound book that will do you the world of good.

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Spirit-Led, Relational Leadership
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Johnny Prime

At the Local Leaders’ Conferences this year we considered how good leadership is relational leadership.

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Does Election Kill Evangelism?
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Andy Paterson

[Part 14] Why should we bother sharing the gospel if those who are going to be saved are already chosen?

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Caring for the Chronic Post-Covid
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Ray Evans

How leaders can care for their churches post-pandemic by considering the difference between acute and chronic.

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Who is in Charge of Evangelism?
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Andy Paterson

[Part 13] What is the decisive factor in evangelism? What does the Bible teach about it?

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Creation Care (Book Review)
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Alan Young

Douglas and Jonathan Moo provide a thrilling, challenging, and inspiring invitation to explore the place of the natural world in God’s purposes.

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14 Years of Faith and God’s Provision in Broadstone
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Joel Murray

Fourteen years in the making, and in the midst of a global pandemic, a church in Dorset has moved into its new, purpose-built home.

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Mortgages, Savings, and Insurance for the Kingdom
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Paul Houghton

How can churches use Kingdom Bank to help steward their money for the good of the kingdom?

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How to Lead Your Church in World Mission
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Jeremy Nash

How can church leaders seek to do more as a local church to extend God’s kingdom across the world?

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Moving to Multiple Services
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Ray Evans

What are the issues that come with starting a second service and how can we implement the move well?

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Tasty Speaking
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Andy Paterson

[Part 12] Key to the New Testament model of everyday evangelism is explaining distinctive living with distinctive speaking.

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Solving the ‘80% Full Problem'
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Ray Evans

What should leaders do when church growth exceeds their building space and begins to limit gospel ministry?

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Deliciously Distinctive Living
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Andy Paterson

[Part 11] As Christians spend their time scattered in their communities, distinctive living is key to evangelism.

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How to Help Church Members Back into Ministry
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Andy Hunter

How can we gently and patiently help the people in our churches suffering from spiritual atrophy back into ministry after a long lockdown?

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Get Out of the Christian Ghetto
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Andy Paterson

[Part 10] Filling the week with church activities & avoiding any influences from the world causes a problem when it comes to evangelism.

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Rest and Renewal: Sabbaticals for Pastors
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Johnny Prime

What is a sabbatical? Why are they needed? How should they be taken?

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How to Support Evangelistic Work
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Andy Paterson

[Part 9] The New Testament highlights two practical ways that every believer is able to support evangelism: giving and praying.

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Evangelists and Evangelism in the New Testament
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Andy Paterson

[Part 8] What does the Bible have to say about the distinction between the work of an evangelist and the responsibility of every believer?

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Being the Bad Guys (Book Review)
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Trevor Archer

Stephen McAlpine’s book helps Christians consider the new reality of being seen as “bad guys”, and how to be the best bad guys we can be.

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Gentle Leaders
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Adrian Reynolds

The stories of two Second World War US Generals perfectly illustrate a leadership quality listed in the Bible.

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If Only (Book Review)
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Rachel Sloan

For those who have experienced life’s disappointments, Jennie Pollock helps cultivate godly contentment.

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World Mission for Small Groups
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Janet Brown

A new resource will help excite and challenge your small groups to get involved in world mission.

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Primer 11: A Little Lower than the Angels
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What it means to be made in the image of God – and why it matters.

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Be Ready to Respond
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Andy Paterson

[Part 7] The Biblical pattern for evangelism is far more natural than many of us would believe.

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Finding the Right Hills to Die On (Book Review)
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Adrian Reynolds

Gavin Ortlund’s book on theological triage is an important one for UK church leaders at all kinds of levels.

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Programmes and Professionals
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Andy Paterson

[Part 6] Is our job in evangelism to persuade someone to attend an event, or is there more to it than that?

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Turning Online Viewers into Jesus Followers
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Joel Murray

How can we engage with people listening in on our online services in order to bring them to Christ?

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Pray for Your Pastor’s Wife
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Elinor Magowan

In such a demanding season for a pastor’s wife, your prayers for her are valuable and will bless the whole church.

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We’re All Evangelists – Aren’t We?
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Andy Paterson

[Part 5] We are all called to evangelise, but we are not all evangelists. So, what marks someone out as an ‘evangelist’?

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Help! I’m Married to my Pastor (Book Review)
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Elinor Magowan

Jani Ortlund shares her experiences and reflections as a pastor’s wife to encourage those who follow in her footsteps.

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God's Glory Among the Nations
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Andy Paterson

[Part 4] The command in Psalm 96 not only tells us what and how to declare in evangelism, but also where.

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8 Ways to Support Your Church Treasurer
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Manny Kemp

Church treasurers have specific challenges that can often go unnoticed. How should churches respond to these?

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How to Declare the Glory of God
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Andy Paterson

[Part 3] Declaring the glory of God in Jesus is vital in evangelism. How does the Bible say we are do it?

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Declare His Glory
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Andy Paterson

[Part 2] Evangelism was part of God’s plan even for Israel in the Old Testament. What did it mean that they should “declare his glory”?

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The Easter Playlist
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Joel Murray

In the lead up to Easter, use this Spotify playlist of songs which speak of Jesus’ death and resurrection for your worship.

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The Chapel Channel
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Joel Murray

How five small village chapels worked together to provide online ministry for their congregations during the coronavirus lockdown.

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5 Reasons Why Zoom Prayer Meetings Might be Here to Stay
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Dan Green

Will Zoom continue to play a key role in church life once the Covid crisis is over?

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Are You Ready for Evangelism?
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Andy Paterson

[Part 1] It’s easy to feel uncomfortable and even guilty in the face of evangelism. Is this how it’s meant to be?

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Putting Easter On Trial (Who Moved the Stone?)
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Joel Murray

If you’re looking for a creative Easter outreach event, Johnny Prime has written a courtroom drama which could be the perfect fit.

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Gifts for Visiting Preachers (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly)
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Trevor Archer

Most pastors will remember good and bad experiences of visiting churches to preach. How should churches show their gratefulness to visiting preachers?

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Christmas Dinners Needing a Home
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Ralph Cunnington

How one church in Manchester adapted their Christmas outreach plans to serve the vulnerable in their community.

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Responding to the Ethics of the Covid Vaccine
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John Stevens

As church leaders we want to encourage people to consider the Covid vaccine on the basis of truth and to have a robust theology of God’s common grace.

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Making Difficult Decisions
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Ray Evans

What is the senior church leader’s role in difficult decision making?

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Understanding Decision Making
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Ray Evans

We must trust in God’s providence as we prayerfully make decisions in our churches.

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God's Will and Our Decisions
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Ray Evans

How can God's revealed and secret will help church leaders when life seems to be full of more decisions than ever?

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Small is Beautiful
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Ray Evans

The idea that 'small is beautiful' rings true in many areas, not least in our churches. What are the challenges and benefits of a smaller church?

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Be a Gospel Optimist in 2021
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Adrian Reynolds

After a year of uncertainty, let’s recommit ourselves to being gospel optimists in 2021.

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Staying Calm and Keeping Perspective: Places of Worship Closure in Scotland
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Andy Hunter

Considerations to help temper frustrations as church buildings in Scotland are ordered to close.

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More Than a Return to Normal
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John Stevens

Christmas 2020 will be far from normal. Yet the message of Christmas promises not a return to normality, but a glory that is to come.

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The Slowness of God
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Andy Hunter

After nearly a year of lockdown and restrictions, how can we wait well for God to act?

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Digital is a New Chapter in a 2,000-Year-Old Mission
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Joel Murray

How can digital technology help churches fulfil the Great Commission?

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A Winter Risk Assessment Review
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Manny Kemp

A Covid Risk Assessment has become an important part of church ministry and should be reviewed as the pandemic develops.

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Shepherding the 30%
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Andy Paterson

If one in three Christians have stopped attending church online during the pandemic, what can pastor-shepherds do to bring them back?

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The King Has Arrived (Album Review)
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Adrian Reynolds

Using a time-travelling toaster, join Michael Tinker to learn about the Christmas story from those who were there – including some funky angels.

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How an App Can Help Your Church Pray
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Joel Murray

In a world where the smartphone dominates, PrayerMate is a great way to embrace digital technology to help the prayer life of your church.

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Fixated (Book Review)
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Rachel Sloan

Tim Chester’s Advent devotional book encourages us to look away from Christmas distractions and become fixated on Jesus.

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Diagnosed by Covid
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Andy Paterson

Many have had a fear of, and some experience of, a COVID-19 diagnosis in 2020. But maybe COVID-19 is leading to a different kind of diagnosis.

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What Should You Pay Your Pastor?
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Adrian Reynolds

An answer to one of the questions we are asked the most, starting with the scriptures.

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Behind the Wire: Remembrance Sunday
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Gareth Bartlett

The Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association (SASRA) has produced resources to help churches remember on Remembrance Sunday.

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Six Ways to Mark Reformation Day in Your Church
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Adrian Reynolds

As the anniversary of Martin Luther’s nailing of the 95 theses approaches, here are some ways you could point your church towards the Reformation.

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How to Care for Your Women’s Worker in Lockdown
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Rachel Sloan

How can we ensure the women’s workers in our churches are supported and cared for?

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Held (Book Review)
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Elinor Magowan

In this book Abbey Wedgeworth reflects on God’s comfort and care in the sorrow of miscarriage.

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Lessons of a Lockdown Season
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Rachel Sloan

Rachel Sloan shares the lessons she has learnt as God used the pandemic to remind her of valuable truths.

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Pandemic Lessons Learnt in Mississippi
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Mark Howson

Although joint mission between UK and Mississippi churches was put on hold this summer, the desire for mission hasn’t faltered.

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The Challenges and Joys of a Lockdown Women’s Worker
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Rachel Sloan

Rachel Sloan shares the challenges and joys of women’s work through her experiences during lockdown.

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Calling Your Pastor
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Ten suggested steps for a church to follow when looking to appoint a new pastor.

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