Small Things – Christianity Explored

In a previous post I wrote,

Every now and again, no more frequently than that, God makes little things happen that make ministry sustainable. He sends encouragements that take me out of my despondency and stop me from wallowing in self pity! I thought it’d be a good thing to mention them when they happen. And so I’m hoping that this becomes a regular feature.

Passing over the fact that I’ve started quoting myself in blog posts and instead continuing the theme of small things that God sends my way with unerring regularity, I thought I’d tell you about Christianity Explored. We’re only two weeks in and so we’re only just getting going. But there’s already a relaxed vibe, genuine engagement with the issues and a developing relational warmth. Is it any surprise that Tuesday nights are fast becoming my favourite night of the week! It’s not a large course (though it’s the largest we’ve had for a while). We were eleven last time, which is a good number for us. And we’re holding it for the first time in our new church centre, which is exciting. We feel almost professional with our own round tables, flat screen TV, kitchen area and contemporary conference room feel!

Having it at Falcon Mews means that I haven’t had to host it whilst trying to get the kids to bed, waiting for Rosslyn to get back from work. And I don’t have to ‘impose’ on anyone else who can host it instead of us. We start with a delicious meal cooked by someone in the congregation. After about 40 minutes we’ll deal with any questions arising from the previous week’s ‘homework’. Last time someone wanted help understanding Jesus’ response to the question about fasting in chapter two. We then looked at the designated Bible passage, which was Mark’s account of Jesus calming of the storm (though not the disciples’ anxiety) in Mark 4:35-41. We answered the set questions but also had a good discussion concerning the contemporary application to us. It felt inadequate to suggest that this passage was simply teaching that Jesus is powerful enough to rule over creation. There’s so much more to it than that. We had to think about what that actually means if we follow him. And so we talked about Jesus’ view that if we have him in our lives (like the disciples had him in the boat) then no matter what creation throws at us (as it threw the fearsome storm at them) we can face reality without fear when we put our faith in Christ. You can’t pass over that (even if the course book doesn’t mention it). We watched the DVD of Rico’s talk (the recently re-packaged one with him in a flattering dark suit!). This works well for us because it allows people to interact with whatever Rico has said without risk of feeling that they might offend him. It’s also less work for me! The discussion rarely stays on the suggested topics and, within reason, we don’t mind that. As usual I say far too much in response to any question, which is why I’ve put two less talkative people in charge of the table groups. But I get up at the end and respond to anything the groups feel has been inadequately dealt with. We wash up and people linger, chatting before heading home to allow their thoughts to drift to what they’ve learnt as they close their eyes in sleep.

It’s an extra evening in the already busy schedule but I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s just so encouraging to see people who wouldn’t describe themselves as Christians willing to engage with the gospel. They’re willing to listen because they have open minds. And they want to close them on something substantial. And Christianity Explored provides them with something of substance to chew on; namely the great news concerning Jesus Christ (Mark 1:1).

Read Full Post »

Four Reasons to go to Dallas!

I’m now mid-flight, rammed in economy between two very delightful people. There are a little under two hours to Detroit, where I change for Dallas. I’ve watched two terrific films; Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol and Moneyball. I’d never get round to watching either at home; they don’t pass the film night criteria for a QNI (Quiet Night In) with Rosslyn.

In my last post I outline some of the reason not to go to Dallas. It’s only fair that I give the other side of the argument. So how do I defend the decision against the imaginary detractors? Here are the four reasons that swayed the argument in my favour!

1.       It’s a break from the normal

Isn’t a change supposed to be as good as a rest? I can’t afford to take a rest. There’s too much to do at CCB at the moment. And so a change is a welcome intervention! I’m not bored of ministry at CCB. God has been very good to us and there have been lots of encouragements amidst the turbulence of the last six months. Moving into the office and sharing a ministry life with the apprentices has been a real joy. Seeing the numbers of people who’ve professed faith for the first time has been the highlight. But I’ve been doing it non-stop for ten years now. And this definitely changes the routine.  It’s an opportunity to do something different. I preach to our crowd almost every week. And I love it. I’ve especially loved preaching my way through Exodus with the morning crowd. And the week has a typical shape to it. It can feel a little ‘samey’ (if that’s a word). Monday is recovery day. Tuesday is staff meeting and the administration and ministry contact that falls out of that. Wednesday is Apprenticeship Workshop day over in Wimbledon and Co-Mission meetings. Thursday involves reading the Bible with one or two lads and specific church planting training for our Brixton bound apprentice. Hopefully I get to the text in some meaningful way before the close of play. Friday is finish sermon day but is wonderfully interrupted by a trip up to town to read with one of the lads who’s been converted. Saturday is a welcome day off. Sunday starts early and finishes late, which is why Monday is unproductive! This is a break from that well-worn routine. And I’m really looking forward to it! But it also gets me out of my comfort zone. This kind of disruption to the normal forces me to depend on the Lord. It prompts me pray in unexpected places and times. and that’s no bad thing.

2.       It’s a chance to see another ministry

It exposes me to something different. I’ve never been to Dallas before. I haven’t got to know a whole heap of American Christians. They can’t all be like the nut jobs they’re depicted as in mainstream American media. I used to work with one of them and he was brilliant. I’d like to meet a whole load more like him and find out what Christian discipleship looks like in the States. I’m really looking forward to sitting down with the Minister, Bill Lovell and chewing the fat. We may compare notes about the experience of church planting. And it’ll be fascinating to hear his testimony of how God helped him and his family deal with the theological and political wrangling in ECUSA. But mainly I’m looking forward to talking to a guy who’s been in ministry for a whole heap longer than I have but who thought enough of my preaching to fly me half way across the world to talk to his congregation. He’s worked with some really good guys (Tom Oates and David Short) as well as pastoring the main Episcopal Church in Dallas before planting Christ Church Carrollton. I’ll be taken notes in our conversations! One of the great joys of going to Madagascar back in November was the questions I had to ask myself about my own Christian life. I’d operated with a level of sacrificial service that I thought was acceptable and sustainable. Seeing the guys in Madritsara and what they had to cope with forced me to reconsider what cost looked like in our own context of comfortable middle class Balham. I could also do with some new stories. And I’m confident that the clash of cultures is going to give me more than enough stories for the next five years in ministry!

3.       It’s a treat

Let’s call a spade a spade. There is something enjoyably indulgent about this trip. That doesn’t mean it’s bad but it does mean there needs to be good reasons to justify it! I wouldn’t be doing this if I hadn’t been asked to and paid for. It feels like a timely gift from God to get away and I’m very grateful for it. Apart from a couple of trips in the last 20 years to New York, I’ve not been to America. And I’m pretty sure that the rest of the States isn’t like Manhattan. And so I’m really looking forward to what Carrollton and Frisco (where I’m staying with a family) looks like. The kids are looking forward to the presents I’ll bring back. CCB are waiting with baited breath to see whether I can resist the cowboy boots and stetson. Rosslyn just wants me back! I’m looking forward to uninterrupted sun for five days!

4.       It’s an opportunity for ministry

Though Rufus and Flora discovered via Google Earth that the house I’m staying at has a swimming pool, I am going there to work. Honest. I’ve worked hard on 1 Corinthians over the last ten years. I was introduced to it at Theological College with Dr Paul Woodbridge. I’ve preached my way through it twice at CCB. It’s been the book in Knowing God this year. And I’ve given seven talks on the opening chapters in another context. I’m beginning to get to grips with it! And I think it’s got some really important things to say to young church plants who are finding their way in a secular culture. I’ll never write a book out of this because Vaughan Roberts cornered the market with his. But it’s a chance to help a group of Christian brothers and sisters think through the implications of these passages for their own church planting endeavours in another corner of God’s kingdom. And if there’s any way that I can help with that, then that’s terrific.

It’s probably worth saying that Rosslyn and I didn’t linger long over the decision to go. Though she’d prefer to be on the plane, she’s happy that I am. We both felt that the benefits far outweighed the costs. I’ll let you know. But I’m pretty confident I’ll be proved right!

Read Full Post »

Three Reasons not to go to Dallas!

As I write this, I’m at Heathrow’s terminal four. The flight to the States is a couple of hours away. I’m checked in and I’m good to go. I’ve even bought a couple of great gifts for the kids of the family that I’m staying with. But I didn’t sleep brilliantly last night. Rosslyn and I stayed up late chatting about some of the issues that are preoccupying us at the moment. And I had to get up early to finish off providing feedback on one of the sermons to be preached in my absence this Sunday. The journey out of SW12 was chaotic and the route the taxi driver took was anarchic. But I’m here now. And in a little over an hour I’ll be off to Detriot and then on to Dallas. But why? Why am I going?

Interestingly that’s not been a question that’s been asked in the Perkins household. Rosslyn knows what difference these sorts of trips make to my mental and spiritual well-being. She just wishes that she could find a way of getting some for herself! But it may be a question others ask. After all, they’re paying my wage and they’d be entitled to seek some sort of justification. They’re expecting me to pray for them, prepare sermons, organise church and equip them for the work of ministry. They don’t pay me to swan off half way round the world on a personal whim. And they have a point.

There are lots of reasons not to go. Here are the three that spring to mind.

First it’s a hassle. It would be easier not to go. It’s always a headache going away.  I’ve had to be really organised to fit stuff in and stuff around the time away. I’ve been preoccupied at home as I think  through what I’ve needed to do in preparation. I’m useless at making the kinds of decisions required to pack easily and quickly. I get strangely discomforted by travel arrangements and the uncertainty they induce. I absolutely hate leaving the family behind. The kids get fed up with how tightly I squeeze them in the days running up to departure! I don’t have to go. It would be easier not to. But I was asked which was nice. And it’s all being paid for, which is even nicer! But I didn’t have to go. I choose not to do things all the time. So, why not this time? Was the allure of Dallas just too tempting? There’s something in that.

Secondly, it’s a distraction. It’s not as though there isn’t stuff to do at home! Church is pretty busy at the moment. We’ve just completed a week of mission events. We have a new Christianity Explored course starting in a week. There are a few personal care issues flying around. We’re about to talk to the church about our financial plans and hopes for the year ahead. And I’m heading the organisation of Revive, our annual Co-Mission Bible Festival. There’s loads of ministry to be done in the church that pays my wage. So isn’t this trip merely diverting my attention away from the sheep that God has given me to care for? That’s a possibility. But I take holidays and leave the church in the competent hands of others all the time. This isn’t that much different.

Thirdly, it’s an inconvenience. It impacts others and they have to fill in the gaps left by my absence. The Apprentices are preaching at the weekend. And I don’t doubt that they’ll do a great job. Rosie, our Co-Mission Administrator won’t be able to get hold of me if she wants decisions about Revive. Rosslyn has some fairly key discussions and decisions pending at the moment. We have to sort out alternative arrangements to ensure that the kids are cared for. That usually means others stepping up to the plate and collecting them, feeding them and amusing them till Rosslyn gets back from work. It’s not ideal, though it is rare. And to top it all, it’s the Diamond Jubilee weekend. I’m missing our street party, and I’ve wanted one of those for years. Rosslyn and the kids are going to watch the River Pageant and then go to some thing in Hyde Park (I wasn’t paying much attention).

Just three of the reason that came to mind when, sat eating my porridge this morning, I wondered why on earth I’d agreed to go. The people of Christ Church Carrollton may be pleased to learn that I didn’t struggle to think of better reasons to join them!

Read Full Post »

Is Christianity Good for the World?

That’s the question of this year’s Balham’s Big Question.

We’ve posed it online here, on various social media sites and in person on the streets of Balham.

But how has it got to this? Honestly, how on earth have we got to a situation where people are genuinely asking the question ‘is Christianity good for the world?’ To us Christians, it’s inconceivable that anyone should be in any doubt about the answer. After all, when Mark began his gospel he started with these words, ‘the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ – the Son of God’ (Mark 1:1). Mark wasn’t unsure. He was convinced that Jesus Christ is good news. That’s what the word ‘gospel’ means. Jesus Christ has always been and will always be very good news for the world.

But in our neck of the woods, the good news has become the bad news. At least that’s the perception. And we’d like to change that. We’re putting on a week of mission events as one of the things that CCB can do to help the people of the Balham area hear the good news of Jesus Christ. We want to do so with events that they can access, in language that they can understand and in venues with which they’re familiar.

We’ve got a Question Time tonight at which people can pitch their questions and hear some answers from our panelists Andrew Nicholls, Leonie Mason and Nick Tucker. We’ve got a Men’s Curry Night on Friday at which I’ll give a talk entitled ‘Is Jesus just for girls?’ (The answer is no – but I’m planning to have a bit more to say than that). We had a women’s evening last Monday with their ‘Girls’ Night In’. I’ve blogged about that here.  On Sunday we have a guest service in the morning when I’ll speak on ‘Christianity: a faith for people who don’t do religion’. And Sunday night we’ll reveal the results of Balham’s Big Survey and Dan Strange will answer the question ‘Is Christianity good for the world?’

We’re pleased with what we’ve ended up with. We’re hopeful that this will work. But please pray so that our efforts to help our friends, neighbours and colleagues are not in vain? We’d love to help them see that the answer to the question ‘is Christianity good for the world?’ is emphatically yes.

Read Full Post »

Mission Encouragements – II

Monday night was the Girls’ Night In. I didn’t go. Wasn’t allowed to, what with not being female and that. But at half ten that night I got the full debrief when all I wanted to do was watch the highlights of the Quins Northampton game from the weekend. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as keen as the next man for women’s evangelistic events. But there’s a time and a place for everything! And this was neither.

Joking aside. And, yes, it was a joke. Monday night’s women’s event went off like a storm.

The event was billed as an evening on which to take time out, relax and find sanctuary. Guests were greeted with an stunning array of beautifully crafted canapés (a rapidly diminishing number of which still reside in our fridge). Different women in the congregation offered a variety of pampering treatments ranging from make-up, hand massage, nail treatments and the like. (They may be boring accountants, teachers and nurses by day, but by night they clearly transform into talented beauticians!) But the focus of the evening was a talk by Julie Marriner. During the traumatic pregnancy, delivery and now upbringing of her youngest daughter Hope-Tia , Julie found her ultimate sanctuary in God. By all accounts she spoke openly and with heart rending honesty about Hope’s life. But Julie and the family will continue to face a number of heart-wrenching decisions as they respond to Hope’s very serious heart defect.  But in the midst of this ongoing turmoil, Julie is adamant that we have a God in whom we can always find refuge.

Commenting on the event one recent newcomer to CCB wrote this in an e-mail to her small group,

Those of you that were around last Wednesday know that I was planning to ask my flatmate to come along. She said yes and then told me how excited she was about it. Then yesterday I think she got cold feet and said that she wouldn’t stay very long but would still come along, so I prayed about it. Anyway, we arrived and it was just a haven of loveliness! She felt really welcome and said how friendly everyone was. The food and drinks were beautiful too! So after being there for about 15 minutes she decided that she definitely wanted to stay longer and hear the talk - hooray! The talk really moved her and we had quite a long chat about Christianity and our faith afterwards (previously unexplored territory!)

Anyway, she really enjoyed the evening and on the journey home even said she might try and go to the Bedford on Wednesday night and also said she’d like to come along to CCB.

Before the event, when they were still facing the anxious uncertainty of whether it would work, I tried to convince the girls who organised the event that if only one non-Christian came then it was worth all the effort. I still believe that. But how good was God!! Isn’t that terrific. We’ve got more events to come; the Question Time at the Bedford tonight, the Men’s Curry Night on Friday, the guest service on Sunday morning and Balham’s Big Question on Sunday evening. We’ll keep you posted. But we’re praying that God continues to exceed our expectations and do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Read Full Post »

Half Night of Prayer

Brilliant. Simply brilliant. One of the best things we’ve done since launching CCB eight years ago. We should do it more often. And we probably will.

Last night was a half night of prayer. We’ve done it once before. Years ago and though we were smaller back then, even then it wasn’t well attended. But last night was terrific.

We took the decision to have a half night of prayer because we’ve got a mission week of events coming up. We did it because we wanted to make sure that our confidence for the mission rests in the goodness of God and not the brilliance of our event programme. (It really is very good!) Over the years we’ve refined what we try to do and how we try to do it when planning our mission events. And we’ve got quite good at it. There’s a very real danger that we’ll be really rather pleased with ourselves and trust in the nature of the events to draw a crowd, in the skills of those who speak and in the administrative abilities of those who plan the events rather than in God. And so we needed to do something that expressed our determination to trust Him. What better way that to pray? It also means that God gets the glory. If things go well; people come, things go smoothly, the gospel is preached and people respond in repentance and faith then God gets the credit. And rightly so.If we don’t pray I can’t see why He’d take the risk and bless our efforts. If we’re going to rob Him of His glory, why would he grant us success?

If we were students, as some if us once were, we’d have made it a full night of prayer. But since most of us have to get up in the morning and do some work, we made a concession and called it quits at midnight! By that stage I’d temporarily lost the faculty of sight. But wonderfully it was restored before I got on my scooter to return home. Once there, I simply couldn’t sleep. In the past I’ve had sleepless nights of worry and anxiety about the administration of forthcoming mission events. But this time I couldn’t sleep because I was still excitedly paying for the people I want to invite and I want our family to invite to various events. I’ll post the details of our mission in a while so you can see for yourself why I’m excited!

Last night’s prayer was so good for the following reasons

1. Lots of people came; sure we peaked from 8-9pm and from 9-10pm, that was to be expected but lots of people made a special effort to be there and join in

2. Lots of people prayed; it was wonderful to hear people who I don’t normally get to hear praying speaking to our heavenly Father. It can be really nerve-wracking to pray in a large group which includes people who you don’t know very well. But people did. And it was thrilling to hear others pour out their hearts to the Lord in dependence as they expressed their requests.

3. Lots of stuff got prayed for; I produced a fifty minute guide of what to pray for in ten minute chunks but people let their imagination go and prayed creatively in response to the suggestions. I’m sure that there’s stuff that we forgot to pray for. But when someone prayed that the bouncy castles at the kids’ party, Balham’s Big Bounce, wouldn’t deflate I knew that people were engaged with the issues!

4. Lots of people got prayed for; we prayed for those speaking, those organising and those we’re inviting and wonderfully we all had lots of people who matter to us for whom we prayed. That’s as it should be. We so easily forget to pray for the people whom we long to see engaging with the big issues of life. When I wrote down a list of people I’d love to see at our various events it was huge. It made me realise just how many connections we have with people as a result of involvement with local schools, groups and so on.

5. Lots of people stayed; we all love to be comfortable, Jesus’ call to self-sacrifice is uncomfortable and yet many heeded it. We went right past our bed time. And there are people at work right now more tired than they would otherwise choose to be because they decided that this was a way to take up Jesus’ cross at this time. That’s so encouraging.

6. Lots of people prayed more than they otherwise would have done; I think it’s in Don Carson’s book on prayer where he says that we won’t pray if we don’t plan to pray. He’s right. About most things usually. But the half night of prayer gave people an opportunity to pray for longer than they would otherwise do. And to do so with others. And that’s good if it represents our heart’s desire to be dependent on our Father. It’s less good if it represents our self-righteous desire to be seen to be praying. But I didn’t detect that.

All in all, last night was so encouraging. There’s a sense in which I’m less concerned about how the mission goes now. Obviously I want the whole of Balham to hear the gospel, repent and believe. But to see our church community in prayerful dependence before the God of mission was wonderful. And long may it last.

Read Full Post »

Question Time

At CCB, after the sermon, we usually provide an opportunity to ask questions, to explore the implications, to make a comment or to offer prophetic insight for evaluation. In the evening, where we feel the time pressures less acutely, this often leads to fruitful discussion and exchange. In the morning, it’s a little bit more rushed. We don’t want to stitch up the crèche helpers too often!

Someone asked me a while ago whether I’d say something about how to ask a question. The person concerned thought that some questionable motives and practices had crept it. She very kindly kept her observations about the quality of the answers to herself! I thought it was a fair request. And so I said that I’d give it some thought. That was weeks ago. But I’ve now given it some. And this is how far I’ve got.

But before I do, let me say why I think this time is so important.

1.       Questions are good for clarification. The preacher may not have been at his clearest. Or the listener may have suffered from mental drift. But it’s an opportunity to go back over significant stuff. It allows people to be clear on what’s been said.

2.       Questions are good for accountability. It prevents the preacher from dropping a theological or pastoral grenade and then running for cover. If he’s going to say something challenging or controversial then he has to be man enough to face up to the flak that he may provoke.

3.       It’s good for application. It demonstrates willingness to newcomers and to one another to work hard at understanding the content and implications of God’s word. It shows that we’re a church that tries to live by the Bible.

4.       It’s good for debate. It provokes discussion; especially in the area of assumptions, objections or implications. I suspect that much useful conversation takes place at the end of church, or in the pub or on the way home.

There are, of course, potential pitfalls to this practice.

1.       It exposes the preacher and puts him under the spot light. He has to think on his feet, which if he’s tired (and who isn’t after 30 minutes of preaching) doesn’t come easily. But he can encourage others in the congregation to answer and it probably means he works harder in preparation!

2.       It doesn’t allow God’s word to sink in. And let’s be honest, if we’ve been challenged or rebuked our initial response isn’t always godly. And so we may benefit from a period of quiet calm to prayerfully reflect and respond to what God has just said to us.

3.       It relies on the congregation showing restraint, wisdom, sensitivity and maturity. And obviously at CCB, that’s a massive risk! But, on balance I’m persuaded that it’s a risk worth taking.

So how do we ask a question?

Here are three things to bear in mind when asking a question.

1. What are you asking in your question?

This has to do with the nature of the question. And the key thing is clarity. It’s worth asking whether your question is clear. In other words, can people easily understand what you’re asking? Have you phrased it in such a way that the preacher and perhaps more importantly, everyone else can understand what you’ve said and what you’re asking? In the heat of the question, we all struggle to think out loud so why not write it down. Try and be concrete, specific and brief . If you have two or three questions just go for the main one and hope that the preacher will allow you a supplementary.

2. How are you asking your question?

This has to do with the manner in which we ask a question. And the key thing is godliness. Let’s be sure that we’re being respectful of those who have spiritual authority over us, as some of those who preach do. And for those that don’t, let’s be gentle. You may profoundly disagree with the preacher. You may have good reason to do so. He may be wrong. But you can be sure that he doesn’t mean to be. He may be right but you don’t like it. That’s often the case where someone makes a comment about one of our hobby horses. We don’t like it when someone critiques our dearly held positions. But they may be right. Don’t instinctively lash out. Rather than firing from the hip, my advice is to ask a question of clarification so at least we can be sure that we’ve understood what they’re saying. I can’t remember a time when I thought that someone had been inappropriate in their manner towards me. But I’m notoriously forgetful.

3. Why are you asking your question?

This has to do with the motive for asking a question. And the key thing is motive. Our motives are hidden in our hearts. And our hearts can be deceitful. We can be asking for a whole host of reasons. And some of those may not even be known to us.  We could be asking a question for any number of reasons; to parade our superior knowledge of the issue and win the respect of others, to expose the preachers’ ignorance and undermine his authority or even to stoke up trouble and cause dissension. Or we could be asking a question for much better reasons. For example, if we don’t know the answer and we think the preacher might be able to help us, if we’ve not understood what was said and we’d like some clarification or if we’re none the wiser and we’d like to give the preacher another go.

Conclusion

I suspect that we ought to include a period of quiet reflection after the sermon in which we can ponder what we’ve just heard and perhaps frame a question that we’d like to ask. I think that’ll help others to ask questions. I’ve been encouraged that in recent weeks a number of different people have asked questions. Often we need the regulars to get the whole thing going. And we can usually rely on a handful of people to get the ball rolling

But, if your church allows you, do ask questions. It’s hugely encouraging. Preaching is sometimes a lonely business. We spend the week in the text, in the books and in the study. We deliver a monologue sometimes to a sea of blank faces. We’re never sure whether we’ve made any difference. And then when he gives the chance for the congregation to say something all we hear is the distant clanging of a lone bell, the whistling of the wind in the trees and the brushing of tumbleweed as it rolls by at the back of the auditorium! Congregational interaction is hugely encouraging.

Read Full Post »

CCB Rebranding

We're thinking of changing the name of Christ Church Balham

Read Full Post »