Please don’t label me. Good idea 29 Nov 09

: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Weekly Reflections; Created: 26 November 2009

Please don’t label me. Good idea

New billboards have been set up in the UK to coincide with Universal Children's Day. The slogan: "Please don't label me. Let me grow up and choose for myself".

The new billboards have been put up by the creators of the Atheist Bus Campaign. Richard Dawkins, the Vice President of the British Humanist Association, is quoted as saying that children should not be labelled. "Nobody would seriously describe a tiny child as a "Marxist child" or an "Anarchist child" or a "Post-modernist child". Yet children are routinely labelled with the religion of their parents," he said.

Presumably the billboard campaign is directed at infant baptism and other religious ceremonies that purport to give a child a religious identity without their say so. It is perhaps an attempt to promote one of the myths about bringing up children. Maybe a myth of the tabula rasa, the idea that children can maintain an innocent and neutral mind until they are old enough to think for themselves. Like the idea of the neutral upbringing: that the child can be influence-free until it is mature. Or the myth of value-free education. In reality it is a trick to discourage parents from passing on their values and beliefs to their children.

Christ the King: Can you rely on him? 22 Nov 09

: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Weekly Reflections; Created: 19 November 2009

Christ the King

It is difficult living in a world with multiple authorities. It is not only a matter of who to obey, but also who to trust. Many of us have learnt that most human authorities are unreliable, so we have learnt to rely on ourselves as well. But this learned behaviour tends to interfere with our trust and following of Christ.

Many Christians (and churches) combine reliance on Jesus with reliance on themselves. But in practice it either turns Jesus into a helper not a Lord or imagines us as a kind of self-managed helper to God. It is quite difficult to be merely a servant. Merely a learner-apprentice (what the word disciple means).

The Coming of Christ the King: Advent Studies 2009

: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Studies for Groups and Individuals; Created: 12 November 2009

The Coming of Christ the King

"The Coming of Christ the King" is available as a downloadable pdf file, ready to be printed as a small booklet. Click here to view, right click to save to your computer

These Advent studies follow the key ideas in Jesus’ explanation of his life and mission that he gave his disciples after his resurrection (Luke 24). They will help us see how the coming of Christ the King was foretold in the Old Testament and its fulfillment explained in the New Testament.

These studies start the week before Advent so as to include Christ the King Sunday.

The Open Hand: Christian Giving 15 Nov 09

: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Weekly Reflections; Created: 11 November 2009

The Open Hand

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. Ps145.15,16

Giving! It must be one of the most sensitive issues in church life. Appeals for money can stir up congregations like an intruder in an ant nest. "The church is always after money," some say. Even the core members can start feeling defensive when money is the topic. But discussions about giving do not have to start arguments. They could start a revival. Christian giving is a blessing.

Giving is one of God's favourite subjects. It is also an exciting subject. There are riches in this subject that are much greater than money. Giving takes us to the heart of being a Christian. It also brings us up against a very powerful idol.

The End of Death

: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Death and Resurrection of Christ; Created: 04 November 2009

The End of Death (Genesis 1-3 1 Corinthians 15)

[This sermon is also available in MP3 format here.]

I want to ask a question about one of the things that is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15.13-14.

“If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain." NRSV

What is so important about the resurrection that without it the message is useless or vain? Why is it, that if the resurrection did not happen, the gospel is of no use whatsoever? Why is the resurrection the central thing?

Anti-climax? 1 Nov 09

: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Weekly Reflections; Created: 28 October 2009

Anti-climax?

The so called “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem has become a famous story – re-enacted each Palm Sunday with much noise and celebration. But it has also become self-contained. A kind of isolated episode not really connected with anything.

One of the reasons is that it appears to be a kind of anti-climax. Jesus arrives in Jerusalem after all the fanfare, and then looks around and goes back to Bethany. He doesn’t do anything when he gets there. And even the next day there is no great event. He has a little demo in the Temple and stops proceedings for a while, but nothing changes and then he goes back to Bethany again.

Growing Churches & Multiplying Disciples in the Mega-City

: Written by: Dale Appleby; Category: Evangelism and Mission; Created: 26 October 2009

Growing Churches & Multiplying Disciples in the Mega-City: Are we up to it?

"Growing Churches & Multiplying Disciples in the Mega-City" is available as a downloadable pdf file, ready to be printed as a small booklet. Click here to view, right click to save to your computer

One of the questions I have often pondered is how the church can grow in a mega-city? There are plenty of people for sure. In some ways the modern city is like the first city of refuge, Babel, in that it is a place where people congregate for their security and livelihood. But mega-cities are at the same time scattered places. Distance, the tyranny of traffic, the isolation of high rise apartments, and the ubiquitous security defences tend to separate rather then bring people together.

How could the church grow in such an environment? With difficulty, is the short answer. The external and internal constraints are great. But before I get too far ahead of myself, some will ask why does the church need to grow? And which church are we talking about?

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