Definite atonement
David Gibson / Jonathan Gibson
Date posted: 1 Mar 2014
Paul Levy interviews David and Jonathan Gibson for EN about the new book they have edited on the purpose of Christ’s death
en: You have edited a book over 700 pages long on an obscure doctrine known as defi-nite (‘limited’) atonement? How did it come about?
DG/JG: Some of the traditional ‘Calvinistic’ approaches to the doctrine of definite atonement can be a bit forced and too hasty in trying to prove the doctrine; some are more biblicist than biblical and don’t see the doctrine as a biblico-systematic conclusion. There also exists a lot of caricatures of the doctrine from opponents, which reveal that it has not been properly understood. So we felt there was a need for an in-depth, comprehensive, but careful treatment, one which looked at the doctrine from a number of perspectives – historical, biblical, theological and pastoral. We assembled a line-up of leading scholars to produce a volume written at a rigorous level. We also wanted the book to have a warmth and winsomeness that might diffuse some of the heat associated with definite atonement and allow the glory of this truth to sparkle and shine. We didn’t want to win an argument; we wanted to help the convinced and win the unconvinced.
Anniversaries ‘14
Joy Horn
Date posted: 1 Jan 2014
Joy Horn with notable dates for the year ahead
EVENTS
Early in the year 664, the Synod of Whitby was held, summoned by the king of Northumbria. As a result, the ‘Celtic churches’, established through monks of Iona and Lindisfarne, accepted the practices of the ‘Roman churches’. This brought administrative advantages and theological dangers.
Origins of black preaching
Bishop Samuel Thomas
Date posted: 1 Feb 2014
Bishop Samuel Thomas of the New Testament church of God explains the history
Black preaching, according to Cleophus J. LaRue, has a theological and a sociological influence that runs deeper than mere preaching technique.
Worth anything ... worth everything
Steve Cossack
Date posted: 1 Feb 2014
Steve Cossack, caretaker of Bridge Chapel, Liverpool, tells his story
Football and the Beatles have made Liverpool famous throughout the world.
Growing a rural church
Chris Sinkinson
Date posted: 1 Feb 2014
Chris Sinkinson reports from deepest Hampshire
Town centre churches tend to get all the attention!
Five points of encouragement
John Piper
Date posted: 1 Jan 2014
John Piper explains how the doctrines of grace encourage and stimulate his Christian faith
The five points of Calvinism are not unimportant.
Bishops: double-speak on Pilling
Wallace Benn
Date posted: 1 Mar 2014
Wallace Benn comments on the recent consultation
‘No church can live in integrity if it proclaims loyalty to Scripture, but then ignores Scripture when faced with new proposals for her life.’ (Bishop Keith Sinclair)
Mission - quo vadis?
Thorsten Prill
Date posted: 1 Aug 2012
In June 2005 Jonathan Stephen, principal of the Wales Evangelical School of Theology, published an article entitled ‘The Current Crisis in Evangelicalism’ in EN.
Stephen looked at a number of postmodern heresies which posed a severe threat to Bible-centred Christianity. Among these heresies in contemporary evangelicalism identified were Open Theism, the New Perspective on Paul, and the Emerging Church, as well as the rejection of the doctrine of penal substitution. Seven years on, these postmodern theologies have undoubtedly gained influence. However, they no longer pose a threat to evangelical churches in Europe and North America alone. There is another group in the evangelical constituency that is also affected: mission organisations and their partners overseas.
Keswick to reach non Christians
John Risbridger
Date posted: 1 Dec 2013
As the Convention encourages Christians to bring their unbelieving friends, we speak to John Risbridger, Keswick’s Chairman
EN: You took over as Chairman of the Keswick Convention in May 2012. Now you are established in the role, what is your vision for Keswick over the next 5-10 years?
JR: The team of trustees are all still committed to the same things Keswick has valued for decades. Our vision remains the spiritual renewal of God’s people for his mission in the world. So we want to provide high-quality Bible teaching that draws evangelical Christians from across a wide background of different churches to worship and grow together and to encourage a strong commitment to mission in all its forms, both in the UK and across the world.
A remarkable Chinese leader
Tony Lambert
Date posted: 1 Jan 2014
Tony Lambert reflects on the life of Pastor Samuel Lamb who went to be with the Lord in recent months
Pastor Samuel Lamb died in Guangzhou (Canton) in south China in early August 2013.
Rico’s recommendation
Pod Bhogal
Date posted: 1 Oct 2013
Evangelist Rico Tice suggests one resource which will help churches involved with A Passion For Life 2014
Pod Bhogal talks to Rico Tice, author of the Christianity Explored course about the importance of one-to-one personal work in evangelism, Seeker Bible studies and Uncover, UCCF’s latest gospel project which is now being adopted by local churches.
Man on a mission
In May, the FIEC announced Andy Paterson as their new Director of Mission. EN asked him about his vision for this new role.
EN: Director of Mission is an unusual title for the FIEC. What does it mean?
Letter from America
Moody on Moody
Josh Moody
Date posted: 1 Dec 2013
In coming issues, this column will profile significant American ministries.
In this month’s column, Josh interviews Dr. Paul Nyquist, president of Moody Bible Institute.
Music
Free church
Richard Simpkin
Date posted: 1 Dec 2013
First of all, something huge to give thanks for.
A third year cellist from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama put his trust in Jesus this week. Thank you for praying in the light of the mission I wrote about last month, and praise the Lord for his grace.
Uncover for Passion for Life 2014
Richard Cunningham
Date posted: 1 Sep 2013
Pod Bhogal talks to Richard Cunningham about reaching students and resourcing churches
Pod Bhogal, UCCF’s Head of Communications, talks to Richard Cunningham, UCCF’s Director, about the Uncover Gospel Project, the impact it has had in the student world and its potential for helping ordinary Christians — in a local church context — to introduce their friends to Jesus.
The Third Degree
Filling up at Forum
Pod Bhogal
Date posted: 1 Oct 2013
1,300 Christian Union
Leaders, UCCF staff and
Relay Workers attended
Forum 2013 —UCCF’s
national training event for
Christian Union Leaders.
The five-day residential training event (September 2-6) —which has grown from
300 students to over 1,000 since 2003 —
remains one the most important components of UCCF’s CU Leadership Training
Programme.
Evangelism out in the open
Andy Banton
Date posted: 1 Jul 2013
Andy Banton celebrates a great anniversary for the Open-Air Mission
It is sometimes said that you can make statistics say anything.
ENGAGING OUR CITIES
Jonny Dyer
Date posted: 1 Jul 2013
In 1800, 2% of the world’s population lived in cities.
By 1900 that figure was 12%. Today 52% of us are city dwellers and by 2050 it is estimated that will rise to 70%.
God is your life
Peter Baker
Date posted: 1 Jul 2013
When a pastor moves churches it gives him time to reflect
Peter Baker was senior pastor at Highfields Church, Cardiff, for 18 years.
The Third Degree
Stafford CU online
Pod Bhogal
Date posted: 1 Aug 2013
The University of Staffordshire
Christian Union has started
streaming evangelistic
meetings live on the internet
for students to enjoy from
the comfort of their own hall
of residence.
The Christian Union — which is made up
of just 12 students — decided to live stream
CU meetings because of the high tech and
internet
savvy
nature
of
Staffordshire
University students.
Youth Leaders
A Barnabas spirit...
Dave Fenton
Date posted: 1 Aug 2013
We’re all quite good at
structure these days.
We have our aims, objectives, values and
mission statements and, generally, these have
improved the way we do things. There is
more
training around, particularly
in all
these fields, but I wonder if our training
stretches to, or even includes, the way we
deal with people.
Bible, boomers and below
Chris Wright
Date posted: 1 Jun 2013
‘Hey, Dad, the sermon today was 1 hour 7 minutes and 20 seconds long. All in Portuguese.’
My gap-year daughter was on her regular Sunday collect-call home from her short-term mission placement in Brazil. ‘So I spent the time memorising the books of the Bible. Do you want to know what they are? Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus….’ My first thought was: ‘I’m paying for this call while you rattle off all the books of the Bible’. My second was: ‘Isn’t it great that my teenage daughter wants to knows her way around the Bible?’
Dr. William Lees, 1924 - 2013
Ray Porter
Date posted: 1 Jun 2013
Bill Lees died on March 14 in Reading where he had lived since 1966.
His earlier ministry in Malaysia had continued to be a major part of his life so that it was appropriate that the main address at his Thanksgiving Service was by Dr. Philip Lyn from Skyline Church, Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia.
