The Longing
Stuff that didn't quite make it into The Briefing
Repentance
D Broughton Knox / February 2003
It is always interesting to hear the first sermon a minister preaches in his parish, as this is often a key to what he regards as his most important message. And so it is of special interest to note what Jesus preached in his opening sermons.
We read in Mark 1:14, “Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel’”. Or, as Matthew puts it, “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say ‘Repent, for the kingdom is at hand’” (Matt
Let the word do it
D Broughton Knox / February 2003
Church attendance is one of the duties of those who profess to obey Christ, and is a God-ordained means for growth in the christian life. Accordingly, a clergyman often finds himself urging reluctant members to attend more regularly.
From another point of view, however, church attendance is a by-product and not the main objective of the minister's task. It is the consequence of recognition by an individual of the lordship of Christ in his life. Such recognition is the gift of God, wrought through his Word and his Spirit (Matt 16:17).
“Let
Duty of a minister
D Broughton Knox / February 2003
The Christian church is a fellowship and it is a reflection of the heavenly fellowship. This fact is the standard to test certain theories and activities connected with the church. For example, our church services—are they run in a mechanical way, or do we recognize one another's presence as we sing or pray? Take another example: how should a denominational organization be structured? It is plain that central organization can only be justified if it is a strengthening of the fellowship of the congregation, and this means that centralized
Interchange: Christian men reply to Elle
The Briefing / February 2003
Feedback on the controversial article ‘The Prince and the Porker’ (Briefing #293).
Candy or Depardieu?
If Ms McPhearson's experience of her husband's and her friend's husband's view of female bodies is true, she and her friend both have my deepest, male sympathies. But let's be honest with ourselves! Is it only men that are guilty of this crime? As a “fat and ugly” (not my words) bachelor, I daily live with the fact that I won't find a wife until I lose weight—a fact told to me not only by a Christian woman but by a Christian woman who is