Random reflections

Well, the message on Sunday was well received on the whole. We had a Q & A at the end and there were some good questions, with some interesting conversations afterwards too. It seems that dealing with these types of issues "works" if that's the right way to put it, because very often people do have questions that a lot of the time they just ignore, or try to anyway. Bringing them out into the open and seeking to address them seems a much more positive way of dealing with then.

On another matter, it is interesting to see discussion becoming a little more pointed on Facebook, Christian blogs etc about who to vote for this coming Thursday. For all the debates, hustings etc. it seems to me that the decisions are becoming predictable; those Christians most likely to emphasise personal morality, "family" issues and freedom of expression for Christians are most likely to vote Conservative (although I'm not convinced as yet that they will really make a major difference in these areas), while those who would stress justice, the needs of the poor and oppressed and the envirnonment are more likely to vote Labour or Lib Dem (although the former's record in these areas is far from faultless, and the latter do remain an unknown quantity in terms of government). In a few days time, we'll know, I guess.

Thinking required...

Tomorrow we are starting a new series at WCF, based around our purpose statement, which is:

To experience, demonstrate and proclaim

• The love of the Father
• The grace of Jesus
• The friendship of the Holy Spirit

I'm hopeful that it will be a positive series in all kinds of ways. My immediate worry, though,is that to start it off I'm going to be speaking about the Trinity tomorrow. Not the easiest of subjects for a whole church Sunday morning slot, but nevertheless incredibly important. But in a church which, in all honesty doesn't really do doctrinal preaching in a big way, this feels like quite a challenge. Oh well, watch this space.

It ain't what you say...

At the moment at church we're working through a series on the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation. Every week I've been wondering if this week, what we're looking at might be a slightly "easier" message to bring, but 5 weeks in and each week has been challenging at a deep and sometimes uncomfortable level.


One interesting thing, whatever I'm speaking on, is when people comment on the way I've preached, both at WCF and when I'm speaking at other churches. And I guess that, while there is undoubtedly a basic Leveson style that is just how I am when I'm preaching, there are variations in delivery too. The interesting thing is that these genuinely aren't premeditated in any way. It's not like I decide in advance that today will be more passionate or whatever. Reflecting on it a little, I'd like to think that what determines not only what I say but how I say it, is the Bible passage in front of me. Because at the end of the day my task as preacher isn't first and foremost to bring strategic direction to the church (might be my task as leader but they're not necessarily the same), or even to bring a prophetic word (it might happen, and hopefully what's said will have a prophetic edge) but above all, to act as a kind of microphone that makes the Bible speak more loudly and clearly to those who are listening. No doubt there are all kinds of issues with that understanding of the task, but if you start to deviate too much you end up with the preacher's spiritual thoughts. And that's a high risk strategy, at least where I'm concerned!