Sinner • Saint • Husband to @mornawhite • Father to Noah, James & Faith • Hope Church Bingham • Adoption Advocate • 1689 • @20schemes • All for the Master
Ian Hamilton’s advice to those seeking to enter the ministry, “are you ready to die? Are you ready not for badges of celebrity praise, but spiritual scars and servant faithfulness.”
Hey, small church pastor in Edinburgh (or nearby),
If you're a pastor of a small church—under 100 in weekly attendance—and you'd like a Sunday morning off, I'm offering to preach this Sunday.
You can't pay me anything, but I come bearing gifts. I'll provide a full year of Logos Pro from Logos Bible Software, who are partnering with me to serve and encourage small churches. I'll also bring a swag bag with some books.
The median size of a Church of England congregation is 37 people, according to the 2022 Statistics for Mission report. (In the U.S., the median church is around 60–65 people.) I don't have separate numbers for Scotland, though I know it's a separate—and wonderful—country.
The point is this: a small church is actually a normal church.
It's important to remember that small churches are being used by God in big ways. That's exactly what we'd expect when Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to yeast working through the dough.
Small things often lead to big change.
I love opportunities like this because they remind me of that truth. And afterward, I enjoy telling the story of another faithful church making a kingdom impact in its community.
I'm in Edinburgh on holiday, and I don't have a car, so I'm hoping for something within a reasonable distance of the city center.
If you'd like a guest preacher this Sunday, send me a DM on X/Twitter. (Sorry—I need to keep this organized through one inbox, and my DMs are open.)
Grace and peace,
Ed Stetzer
With Israel very much in the news these days, can you comment on the position of the nation of Israel, with specific reference to the Abrahamic covenant, the land promise, other Old Testament promises... https://t.co/ZMz92Q51l8
“The distinctive ministry of the Spirit is to impart a holy love for God deep within our sinful hearts. Only God the Spirit can do such a miraculous work.” — Sanlon
“We must first believe that God is, and that God is what He declares Himself to be, before we can seek Him, adore Him, and devote our affections to Him.” — Stephen Charnock
I wrote this short post for @BrokenWharfe on “The Importance of Confessionalism Amidst Cultural Decline.”
“Recovering Confessionalism is not a distraction from ministering the gospel in our current cultural convulsions. It is a necessary bulwark for it.” https://t.co/PvPf5ACwBJ
Hope Church FC 6-4 Mission
Great game from the lads. Really put bodies on the line and played for each other with some tidy play.
Goals
Logan ⚽️⚽️
Giuseppe ⚽️⚽️
Denim ⚽️
Ando⚽️
Assists
Mark ✅
Gareth ✅
Denim ✅
Giuseppe ✅
Logan ✅
Man of the match
Hendo 🏆
"Adoption is surely a grand proof that the Lord’s people shall be kept and preserved; that there shall be an unbroken family of God in heaven." - Charles Spurgeon
Thomas Watson said that true repentance is a spiritual medicine that has six special ingredients;
1. Sight of sin
2. Sorrow for sin
3. Confession of sin
4. Shame for sin
5. Hatred for sin
6. Turning from sin
“Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Christ the Lord. Amen.“