Imagine going to a dinner party, and receiving a bread roll and butter, but no knife to use! I know that the Word of God is living and active and, in a sense, acts as a knife (c.f. Hebrews 4:12-13). But I wonder if I may be permitted to change the metaphor slightly. If you have ever tried to spread butter without a knife, it is messy. Yes, it can still be done, but the knife enables one to do so with more precision, greater impact and increased effectiveness. Apart from the obvious health benefits, the butter can be spread further.

This blog marks a return to blogging for me on this site, and with it I intend to write a series delving into the selected insights highlighted by the recent synod report about the next proposed phase of the Diocesan Mission. My interest in this series will focus on lessons that can and should be learnt from this review.

Many of the findings are interesting. Some are a little surprising. Certainly, there is even cause for some alarm as we think and pray about the future of the Gospel in our city. To what extent are we growing? What impact did Connect09 have on the levels of new people coming to our churches? How is progress in the critical multi cultural area? And, if God uses His people to proclaim the Gospel to the nations, to what extent are people in our churches doing so?

These are just some of the questions that this important report illuminates, and of which I will delve into in the coming weeks.

But why should we bother at all? Well, because of the Apostle Paul’s model to become all things to all men, so that by all possible means some may be saved (1 Corinthians 9:22). And Jesus instructed his disciples to preach the kingdom of God in a way that was effective (c.f Luke 9:1-5).

God’s Common Grace enables us, even as sinful human people, to discern much. And surely we long to be both faithful, and as effective as possible for the kingdom of God before Jesus returns.

Next week – as a network of churches, are we growing? And does it matter?

Feature photo: alan