Posts under ‘Ministry’

Tomorrow I will be having my first ‘annual review’ with two of the leaders in the church where I minister. It is useful to pause and take stock from time to time, so here are three reflections on how the year has gone…

Prayerlessness. I am saddened by how poor my prayer life has [...]

I have just returned from a holiday in a well-known wine-growing region of France, but that is not why I am enthusiastic about vine-work. Rather, it is because I have just finished reading The Trellis and the Vine.

The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift That Changes Everything
Others are far more able to give [...]

In some ways this is one of the hardest chapters to summarise because it ranges over several topics, yet I also found it one of the most challenging yet. The chapter is structured around the 3 temptations of Jesus after his baptism, and explores the idea of Affirming the Will of God.
I found the [...]

It has been a while since I have had time to do any non-essential reading, and so it is rather ironic that the title of this chapter is Retreating from Activity.
As ever, looking to the model of Jesus, Fernando points out how regularly Jesus took time out, especially before particularly significant moments in His ministry, [...]

This third chapter is called ‘Affirmed by God.’ Fernando argues that:
“The ministry is so challenging that when we think of it, the primary focus always needs to be on what God does for us. Otherwise when problems come and we are faced with our own inadequacy, we could react in harmful ways.”
I would [...]

I had the daunting privilege of preaching on this subject last night. I will post an audio link when it is available, but in the meantime, here is a wonderful and very moving set of interviews with a good friend of mine who has a wonderful testimony of God’s comfort through the pain of [...]

Having highlighted our need to identify with the people we are ministering to, Fernando secondly emphasises the importance of ministering not in our own strength but in God’s power through His Spirit. As before he roots this in the ministry of Jesus, and also relies on the account of the early church in Acts.
Fernando [...]

In deference to my reader in Suffolk (you know who you are!), rather than just plugging this book I thought I would add the odd comment/summary as I read through it over the next days (weeks? months?!).

Chapter 1 is all about ‘Identifying with people’ – and in particular the people you minister amongst. The [...]