we be church

Book Review: Great Revivals – When God Moves in Power

As author, Colin Whittaker, explains ‘I am aware that I have only managed to dip my teacup into the boundless oceans of the Holy Spirit’s refreshing‘ the book Great Revivals is a great introduction to some of the major revivals that have occurred in the past centuries. Each chapter provides historic accounts of the various major “Awakenings” located around the world. These included 17 century revivals in places like England and New England (America) involving such figures as Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield and John Wesley. This third edition of the book has also presented Colin’s delving into more recent revival in places like China, Korea, Indonesia, Africa and Latin America.

Continue reading…

[Sore Thumbs] In the Face of Death Edition

In this edition of Sore Thumbs I wanted to highlight three testimonies from three women who have all faced death in various ways. These testimonies are amazing because despite all their difficulties they continue to rely on God and to know his love and presence.

Lucy Mason

Lucy is a personal friend of my own family and who died recently from cancer. She shares what God was doing within her last months. I think one of my best memories of Lucy was when I was a we nipper, I was holding her hand walking from a park and I had a runny nose. To my mum’s horror I preceded to wipe my nose using Lucy’s hand. “Dan!” Mum exclaimed. But Lucy was fine with it and laughed, that was the kind of lady she was, so full of grace. (you need to search “Lucy Mason” in the speaker drop down menu after following the link). Listen to her testimony

Rachel Barkey

Rachel an entrepreneur, writer, mother and wife is also suffering from terminal cancer but states that God is still her salvation. Watch her testimony which she has named “death is not dying“.

Jill McCloughry

A singer in Hillsong she gave birth to her first son who was born prematurely and soon after died, she reveals that despite our own circumstances God is still on the throne and bigger than anything. You can watch her video below.

---

Sore Thumbs is a weekly post mainly of short encouraging links that stick out. If you have come across a link or resource that you think would fit on this blog then why not email it to dlee at webchurch.com

City on a Hill – What do the Prophets Say?

I really enjoy being part of the Church, the different ages, the different races. It’s a community that is united in their love for Jesus. I also really value what the Bible says about Church in Matthew 5:14. “You are a city on a hill”. That’s pretty immense. There we have Jesus confirming what the prophets of the Old Testament predicted would happen, a multitude of people entering the community of the redeemed.

In the Old Testament this is portrayed as nations gathering to Jerusalem. Isaiah 60 is a wonderful example, I encourage you to read the whole chapter. The below videos represent this very City which is upon us now. It is for you too, by putting your faith in Jesus, that he has removed your sin!

I have heard pastors launch stats that place a point of death time on the Church, fortunately God has something else to say…

The least of you will become a thousand,
the smallest a mighty nation.
I am the LORD;
in its time I will do this swiftly.

Isaiah 60:22

Treasure Hunting on Brighton Pier

Upadate: Looking for a photo of Brighton Pier? You may want to check out this church also Church of Christ the King Brighton.

You may have read my previous posts on treasure hunting, if not let me briefly explain. Basically Treasure Hunting is a new name for having divine God scheduled adventures, something that Christians have been doing for centuries. In small teams you pray that God gives you pictures, visions (the clues) which you then write down on some paper (treasure map) and then head out looking for the people (the treasure) who match the clues. These clues can be placed in all sorts of categories including appearance, aliment, names, locations and the just plain odd. So far I have been on three treasure hunting expeditions but wanted to share the last one I went on in Brighton in a Treasure hunting seminar we did at Mobilise.

Continue reading…

Grace in Your Face that Leads You to the Cross

Do you have a grasp on the vastness of grace that God has given you? Actually, he hasn’t just given you, he has poured it out in vast amounts. Amounts that we can’t even comprehend. God certainly is Love and this is delightfully demonstrated through his salvation plan, but sometimes as those who have chosen to follow Jesus we fail to see that even taking it for granted. It’s like passively receiving a surprise double portion ice cream sunday. God’s grace is constantly in our face but we can gaze right on through it. Man, what a loss!

Realisation of God’s grace motivates you say “Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord?” 2 Samuel 7:19 This is King David’s reaction after receiving the knowledge of God’s plans for him and his descendant. The grace of God is mind blowing!

Continue reading…

webechurch on Twitter?

So has this blog has succumbed to the twitter hype? Has the self professed web enthusiast finally started using a twitter account?

You might be surprised to know I’m not a mega fan of status updates and prefer only my close friends to know what I’m up to. The web has created a world were acquaintance is forced to be friendship and I’m reticent to totally accept that. There is only so many people I can manage to have a real friendship with and I’m not being difficult. I’m being realistic.

Twitter does come in handy though, it is an excellent way of letting people know what has been published on my blog. In fact this might just be the first update… though I won’t be telling you when I brush my teeth.

So if your a twitter users why don’t you follow webechurch?

No Longer Easter but 12 Evidences for the Resurrection of Jesus

So while everyone was blogging on the resurrection I was doing something else, enjoying a weeks holiday. But it doesn’t have to be an Easter week to consider the amazing gift of freedom that’s tied up in Jesus’ death and coming back to life. I thought I would present a list of evidence for the resurrection for those not so convinced and for those looking to present the case for Jesus being alive today. Taken from John Youngs ‘the case against Christ’

Continue reading…

The Context for Using Web Technology as a Church – Tradition, Trend or Truth

There are two dangers when using web technology within the church, trend and tradition, but we need to be concerned with the truth. This post will provide a brief overview on how to recognize trend and tradition then make the case for gospel truth to be our absolute objective when we come to use web technology as churches.

As Tim Keller suggests there are three ways to live, legalistic, liberal or gospel centric, I want to suggest these three ways influence how we approach the use of web technology as churches. Most of our technological shift in the last decade has been communication based and this effects how churches are reaching people with God’s revolutionizing truth. We all sway towards tradition or trend on different issues, I know I do, but it is helpful to understand where we mostly stand so that we can line up with what the Bible actually says and have the Gospel centric view taking time to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying.

Continue reading…

[Sore Thumbs] The Presence-Shaped Edition

Tim Keller on Preaching, Cities, and Relating to Culture

At a recent event in London at Westminster Chapel Tim Keller delivered a very measured and well thought out combination of talks and seminars on the importance of churches in the city, preaching to change people in their seats and finally relating to surrounding culture the right way. I didn’t go but by the wonder of the internet Newfrontiers have published video of the talks for all to see. I have added the last one on Relating to culture to this post below.

Preaching the Gospel
Why Cities Matter
Cultural Transformation

Tim Keller – Cultural Transformation from Newfrontiers on Vimeo.

Terry Virgo on “Why Church Plant?”

Over at Terry’s blog he has written a two part series on why church planting.

Church planting, it has been observed, is the most effective form of evangelism. Some statisticians have done the sums and worked out that you get more individuals saved through church planting than from any other form of evangelism. Sadly, however, by simply adding up the numbers they are in danger of missing the point.

Terry makes a strong case for church groups to be “presence-shaped”.

When ‘He is here’ all things are possible. This is what makes God’s people unique – His presence goes with us.

Why church plant 1
Why church plant 2

Web Tech and the Church: A New Blog Series Starting.

One of my great passions is the internet and related technology and how it can support churches in their mission. Want I want to do is write some really solid posts on how churches can use the web to impact the culture and locality. Why? Well I think the climate is right we have some fantastic examples out there now of Churches engaging with culture and even the media through web technology. Some churches are beginning to ask how they too can achieve such things. So what qualifies me despite my passion to write and talk about this? Here is a bit of my background and journey related to the topic.

Continue reading…