Dr Paul Allen

English: Readin the Bible. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) We assume every Christian has a Bible that looks like this one — worn down, marked up, and paired with a journal stuffed with multicolored spiritual reflections. But that’s often not true. Many Christians find it difficult to get into a daily habit of Bible reading . There are four common causes of Bible neglect in the Christian life , like: “I don’t read my Bible because . . . · . . . it seems so irrelevant to my life .” · . . . I don’t have time.” · . . . I go to church every Sunday.” · . . . I find it confusing.” What follows is a slightly edited (and abridged) transcript of his answers. Reason 1: “I don’t read my Bible because it seems irrelevant to my life.” This is a very common hang-up. Many Christians neglect the Bible because it doesn’t seem relevant in an average day of life and work. So why do I need to read my Bible every day? Pastor John’s response. One thing I know in response to this question, another thing I do...

Cover of Revival "...but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."...Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem , and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.— Acts 6:4 , 7 The church is afflicted by dry rot . This is best explained when the psychology of nonexpectation takes over and spiritual rigidity sets in, which is an inability to visualize anything better, a lack of desire for improvement. There are many who respond by arguing, "I know lots of churches that would like to grow, and they do their best to get the crowds in. They want to grow and have contests to make their worship services and kids and youth ministry larger."  That is true, but they are trying to get people to come and share their rut. They want people to help them celebrate the rote and finally join in the rot. Because the Holy Spirit is not given a chance to work in our services, no...

Haberfield, St_Davids_Uniting_Church (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Two Australian denominations have been given reports that reveal decay and a need for change that questions the viability of their current structures. The Anglican Church is painfully aware that its network of dioceses (regions) is not viable following its General Synod (national church parliament) last week, while a recent Uniting Church census also underscores decline. “With 90 per cent of Australia’s population now living within 100km of the coastline and that trend continuing to strengthen, it presents enormous challenges for Australia’s inland dioceses,” says the Viability and Structures Task Force report paper for the Anglican General Synod. For example, the Murray Diocese in South Australia has 1300 people in church attendance; Bunbury in Western Australia has 1600; and the Northern Territory and North West Australia , which did not report their figures, probably have considerably fewer. To support a Bish...

Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber to be an example of a charismatic religious leader. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) I’m just not getting fed at church.  The music doesn't really connect with me. I wish the preacher would use more stories or illustrations. Have you heard those statements before? Or maybe, like me, you’ve even said them yourself — or something like them? After all, isn’t that the purpose of our weekly corporate worship gatherings — to be fed? Sadly our preferences too often shape our perceptions of worship, and blind us to its corporate-ness. It is important, even essential, that we get from God in worship through the word, singing, and prayer. But it’s not the only thing. Hebrews 10:24–25 gives us another purpose in our gathering: one another. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works , not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing n...

This set of images was gathered by User:Dcoetzee from the National Portrait Gallery, London website using a special tool. All images in this batch have been evaluated manually for evidence that the artist probably died before 1939, or that the work is anonymous or pseudonymous and was probably published before 1923. Author floruit in 1846, presumed dead by 1923. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) What are some of the idols we might battle on Sundays ? Here are a few that come to mind. Musical Excellence It’s easy to be distracted by sloppy playing, unsophisticated songs, an out of tune guitar, a vocalist who sings sharp, a drummer who drops a beat, or a mix that’s out of balance. That’s why skilled musicianship is commended in the Bible ( Psalm 33:3).  But rather than just internally criticize what’s going on, I can thank God he uses the weak things of this world to confound the wise ( 1 Corinthians 1:20–31). I can remind myself that Jesus perfects all our offerings of worship t...

Medieval book illustration of Christ Exorcising the Gerasenes demonic (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Although we cannot see him, God is present by his Spirit when we gather corporately on Sunday mornings. Imagine this, we get to meet with the Creator of the universe when we gather together as his people. The One who spoke and worlds were formed, the One who breathed and life was born. He is always with us, but when we gather as his people, he meets us in a special way. God tells us that when “two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20). Ray Ortlund, talking about this verse, says the Lord isn’t saying, “If you show up, so will I.” He is saying, “If you gather to be with me, I’m already there, waiting for you, ready and eager to be with you.” When we gather for corporate worship, God our Father is already waiting for us, eager to be with us, to bless us, to remind us of his great love for us, all because of Jesus our Savior. He is a generous King, ...

Jesus washes the disciples' feet (Photo credit: teawithlizzie ) What happens when you get into a room to discuss life and the gospel?Talking. Lots of talking. And questions. More questions than you can imagine. Why? Because we need each other, and sometimes life can be confusing and include insurmountable circumstances. During my time in settings like this, I’m reminded of the importance of discipleship. Discipleship can take on many forms. It can be as simple as inviting someone into your kitchen for fellowship to organizing a normally scheduled lunch. However it looks, it involves honesty, seeking advice, and Scripture, and someone willing to do all of the above. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes writes, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). He is writing about the vanity of trying to work alone ...

A number of people lately have been intrigued to meet a French theologian, and have asked me to tell them the story of how I, a French atheist, became a Christian scholar. Even the theologians and apologists I met recently at the  ETS  Conference in Baltimore (where by God ’s grace I was delivering my first scholarly paper) seemed to care (understandably) more about my conversion from atheism than my immediate theology paper! Therefore, it seemed fitting to type it up properly, to have a clean telling of that story of God breaking into my life, ready to be shared with people who ask. So here it is (and please let me know if you spot spelling mistakes or awkward sentences, I’m still French after all!)   FROM   RELIGIOUS   ATHEISM   TO   SECULAR   ATHEISM I grew up in a wonderfully loving family in France, near Paris . I was the second of 3 children. We were nominally Roman Catholic , and would regularly attend mass, but this religious expr...