Wielding the power of music for good or ill
Matt MacGregor
Date posted: 12 Nov 2026
What does a wise musician look like? Maybe you long to be a wise musician. Perhaps you wish that your church had more wise musicians. But what does that look like?
You might think, at this point, to look to Proverbs, God’s great one-stop warehouse of wisdom. But in its 31 chapters, spanning the full breadth of human experience, you will find very little. Just one verse: “Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart” (Proverbs 25v20 NIV).
What one song taught me about mission, gifts and the worldwide church
Matthew Howes
Date posted: 11 Nov 2026
Have you ever seen someone’s jaw drop? There are only a few occasions when I’ve seen that literally happen. Once was on a walk with friends, when a beautiful view suddenly opened up before us. The second time was during a church service.
We had invited a friend of ours who was struggling with housing issues. In the past, we had invited her and her family many times to come to church, and they had always politely said no. Then, finally, they agreed to come.
Football's revolving door: What are the lessons for churches?
Graham Daniels
Date posted: 10 Nov 2026
Head Coach Michael Carrick says he won't walk away from Manchester United – but as professional football enters another international break, the question is whether United's owners will give him the choice.
Sunday's extraordinary 4-4 draw with Aston Villa leaves United in the relegation zone, with just one league victory all season. Commentator Roy Keane compared Carrick's explanations to those of a politician, while supporters directed their anger towards the club's owners.
pastoral care
Is your church realising its potential?
Steve Midgley
Date posted: 10 Nov 2026
It’s frustrating when something isn’t fulfilling its potential.
A football team full of expensive new signings which fails to deliver results. A kitchen stocked with exotic ingredients that only gets used for the blandest of meals. A state-of-the-art computer whose owner isn’t even close to utilising all its many functions. Great cost has been incurred, great possibilities exist, but the potential simply isn’t being realised.
What is ‘knowledge’?
Jen Charteris
Date posted: 10 Nov 2026
“It’s epistemology, Jim, but not as we know it.”
Perhaps you’re thinking “I recognise that cultural reference: ‘It’s life, Jim…’"? Star Trek, wasn’t it? Or you may be thinking “Remind me, what even is epistemology?”
everyday evangelism
Five principles for sharing the gospel with Muslim friends
Andy Bannister
Date posted: 9 Nov 2026
The number of Muslims is growing rapidly in the UK. This raises all kinds of political issues; but no matter what position we hold on those issues, we still need to share the good news of Jesus with Muslims we meet at work, at university, in our neighbourhoods.
So, based on almost 30 years of engaging with Muslims, let me share some principles to help you.
Remembering their sacrifice: Stories of war and the love of Christ
Aneal Appadoo
Date posted: 8 Nov 2026
As an Anglican minister, on Remembrance Sunday I welcome just under 100 people from our community through our church doors for a short service, including members of the local cubs and scout troops.
After the service, around 200 gather for a simple act of remembrance around our local war memorial, where head teachers, local business owners, and community members stand shoulder to shoulder to keep two minutes of silence, to honour those who gave their lives that we might live.
How a dying soldier led a Jewish doctor to Jesus
Charles Gardner
Date posted: 8 Nov 2026
A Jewish army surgeon was amazed by the courage of a young soldier badly wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War (1861-65).
Dr Max Rossvally was forced to amputate both a leg and arm in a bid to save 17-year-old Charlie Coulson's life. But the Drummer Boy – too young for frontline duty – refused chloroform or brandy to dull the pain. He chose instead to trust in Jesus, his Lord and Saviour.
What does the Budget mean for your stewardship?
Pod Bhogal
Date posted: 7 Nov 2026
The Chancellor's latest Budget included important changes for those who wish to steward their savings.
There was a U-turn on plans to reduce the cash ISA allowance, while tax on savings interest is set to increase from April 2027.
Eastern Orthodoxy & evangelicals
Evangelicals, Eastern Orthodoxy and the Bible
Ken Brownell
Date posted: 6 Nov 2026
One of the key areas of disagreement and misunderstanding between evangelicals and the Eastern Orthodox is in relation to the Bible.
For evangelicals, the Bible is at the heart of their understanding of the church and what it means to be a Christian. The Bible was of central importance to the Reformation, with “sola Scriptura” – Scripture alone – as one of the famous solas that have come to define classic Protestantism. Not surprisingly, the Bible is at the heart of Protestant worship, with the central place given to the sermon, as well as in spiritual formation, pastoral care and evangelism. Particularly in Reformed or Calvinistic Protestantism, there is an emphasis on always reforming the church according to the Word of God.
When shepherds fail: Can we trust church leaders again?
Alistair Chalmers
Date posted: 5 Nov 2026
Another scandal. Another Christian leader exposed. Another congregation left devastated.
Sadly, these headlines have become all too familiar. Whether it's financial misconduct, sexual immorality, spiritual abuse or the misuse of authority, the damage caused by failures in Christian leadership extends far beyond the individuals involved.
Should AI be used in sermons? Bible college leaders weigh in
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 5 Nov 2026
How do we define a sermon?
“Calvin says a sermon only becomes the Word of God if the Holy Spirit is added to what is spoken,” James Burnett, Principal of Belfast School of Theology, points out. With that in mind, are AI-generated sermons ever acceptable?
What is your phone doing to your soul?
Glynn Harrison
Date posted: 4 Nov 2026
You reach for your phone without deciding to. You open it to follow the Bible reading in church and find yourself checking your WhatsApp instead. You open a new message and surface 20 minutes later from a blur of “breaking news”, videos of performing sheep, and a fog of inconsequential information about other people’s lives.
And yes, you find it hard to visit the loo without checking your phone at the same time…
Is your sermon trying to do too much?
Phil Moon
Date posted: 3 Nov 2026
I normally take notes when someone else is preaching. It helps me concentrate and remember what is said – especially the good bits.
And, borne out of years trying to help others develop as preachers (and wanting to encourage others to do the same for me), I still tend to write down a few comments which I hope might help the preacher. Recently, I jotted down "grapeshot?"
How can we enjoy God more?
Michael Reeves
Date posted: 2 Nov 2026
When you think of “enjoying God”, what comes to mind?
Does it seem like a nice idea, but difficult to attain – something reserved for a select few? Does the key seem to be right behaviour, such that enjoying God means reading the Bible more, praying more, doing more acts of Christian service, or giving more? Does enjoying God ever feel like an impossible goal to add on to other expectations in life and in ministry?
Three key questions every church leader should ask
Matt Waldock
Date posted: 2 Nov 2026
Questions unlock the heart.
It is notable that Satan begins the unravelling of the good creation with a question, "Did God actually say ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’" (Genesis 3v1). Perhaps more significantly, God uses two questions in the aftermath of the Fall to begin the inquest and judgement: "Where are you?" (Genesis 3v9), and, "Who told you that you were naked?" (Genesis 3v11).
Middlesbrough: Behind the headlines, God is at work
Ian Williamson
Date posted: 31 Oct 2026
In the words of TV and radio presenter Jeff Stelling, “Middlesbrough is a darn fine place to live”.
He famously proclaimed this in his defence of the town after it had been named the worst place to live in Britain. In his passionate praise of Middlesbrough, Stelling waxed lyrical about the positives of the area, pointing to famous landmarks such as Roseberry Topping and the Transporter Bridge, as well as some of the remarkable people associated with the town, including Chris Rea and Brian Clough. He argued that those who spoke so disparagingly about Middlesbrough had obviously never really been there. In this article, I intend to do much the same as him.
‘Be an optimist; I think that’s the Biblical worldview'
Jake Owen
Date posted: 29 Oct 2026
Jake Owen interviews Peter Baker, who is shortly not only stepping down as senior pastor at Lansdowne Church (affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches) in Bournemouth but also retiring from full-time ministry after 43 years.
During that time, he has also served congregations in Southampton, Romford and Cardiff, and written a commentary on Mark’s Gospel. In 2027, he will be taking on the role of part-time National Director of the Wales Leadership Forum (WLF), an organisation set up to support pastors and their churches across the country. He describes to Owen the different initiatives run by the WLF, and shares advice to those starting out their pastoral ministry.
