tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post7224028849936137662..comments2023-10-14T16:42:53.597+01:00Comments on New Kid on the Blog: Sermon for this weekAlastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117533964126439556noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-80288462679030423382007-09-09T04:23:00.000+01:002007-09-09T04:23:00.000+01:00spirituality should always be practical!spirituality should always be practical!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-69063366593771297822007-09-06T19:37:00.000+01:002007-09-06T19:37:00.000+01:00So glad these sermons are back, Alastair...I misse...So glad these sermons are back, Alastair...I missed them while you were away!Marionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00607220451457829777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-39655308677251718552007-09-04T23:28:00.000+01:002007-09-04T23:28:00.000+01:00Another great sermon. I really missed them when yo...Another great sermon. I really missed them when you were on vacation. The Church is exciting even when a congregation is not.Dr.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02752941912945095736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-34052892598523638202007-09-04T21:15:00.000+01:002007-09-04T21:15:00.000+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-24462878076768712622007-09-04T13:41:00.000+01:002007-09-04T13:41:00.000+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08661253413210243056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-18424947367922221342007-09-04T10:39:00.000+01:002007-09-04T10:39:00.000+01:00Which is what I was getting at Jeff.You can't teac...Which is what I was getting at Jeff.<BR/><BR/>You can't teach a living faith like any other subject. It is not about facts and data that needs to memorised. It needs to be something active and alive.<BR/><BR/>You could answer a mutltiple choice exam sheet perfectly, or write a theologically impressive thesis. However if that cerebral knowledge does not become "heart knowledge" it is of little or no benefit. It's just clashing gongs... not just to us... but to others who hear it.<BR/><BR/>Love has to be behind everything we say.Nick Paynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05330676077919368541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-8452689686632150962007-09-03T13:59:00.000+01:002007-09-03T13:59:00.000+01:00I was gonna read your post but it was too boring. ...I was gonna read your post but it was too boring. I kid, I kid. <BR/><BR/>John 3:8--those who are born of the Spirit are like the wind. The institutionalized church is to blame for some of the perception of boredom because we don't let people live the exciting adventurous life of faith. instead we tell them what to do about everything and use judgmental attitudes to take away all fun, which is why the world accuses us of boredom. <BR/><BR/>It's not really an issue of whether it's boring or not, it's an issue of knowledge. I know people who say baseball is boring, I think it's captivating. But I think taht cuz I know what I'm talking about with baseball. The same is true of Christianity. If you're in it and well-informed, it's an adventure, from the outside though, it just looks like rules to end your fun.jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08661253413210243056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-59843094641697604962007-09-03T13:05:00.000+01:002007-09-03T13:05:00.000+01:00In my experience, people I come across tend to per...In my experience, people I come across tend to perceive Christianity less boring and more oppressive. It's not helped by the current global political climate. I used to get it a lot at school... my peers slowly hardened their hearts and turned against the religion they thought was being forced on to them.<BR/><BR/>In some ways maybe they were right. I don't think you can educate people in matters of faith by quite the same means as you would teach a normal school subject. Learning bible stories and teachings only goes so far... and if it is only remembered in the mind then it has failed utterly. It has to make it to the heart... for faith is not a matter of memorizing data. It is about perceiving and understanding the truth... and allowing that truth to motivate your actions.<BR/><BR/>If you look at the world, you see what it doesn't have and what it tries to recreate. How many people class themselves as "spiritual but not religious" i.e they want the experiences that come with spirituality... but not the name tag.<BR/><BR/>When teaching other people about Christ, we need to do it in a way that encourages them to engage with the Godhead... not just a manner that has them sitting back and writing notes.<BR/><BR/>It is risky... but I believe we need to be bold.<BR/><BR/>I a;ways remember at school when we went on retreat... my peers WERE at that time filled with zeal... because their belief had been given to them in a way that encouraged them to reciprocate.<BR/><BR/>Saul was definitely among the prophets on that day!Nick Paynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05330676077919368541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7902992.post-35783624134845442522007-09-03T04:39:00.000+01:002007-09-03T04:39:00.000+01:00You're a wise man, my Brother! I have been a Chris...You're a wise man, my Brother! I have been a Christian all my life . . . well . . . actually I came to know the Lord for myself at age 18. Before that I was just the Preacher's kid. In any case, I have never known the Christian faith to be boring. Not for one minute. I wish I could write those little golden nuggets of wisdom the way you do. Keep writing.The Gatekeeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16753211099571666592noreply@blogger.com