Johnny Douglas https://www.johnnydouglas.org Threads from along the way Wed, 04 Nov 2020 10:20:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.4 141626683 uncertainty & our buildings? https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2020/06/18/uncertainty-our-buildings/ https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2020/06/18/uncertainty-our-buildings/#respond Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:37:22 +0000 https://www.johnnydouglas.org/?p=11864 Uncertainty is the country that COVID-19 has invited us into. It’s been a human tail-spin, a very painful curiosity, and from what I’ve observed, a rare cocktail of service, suffering, and selfishness. We are in one of those watershed moments when life will never be quite the same again. We’d do well to make peace with this unfamiliar territory, even as patience with this time and its associated challenges is waning.

Uncertainty is the place we are located and it has jolted us with its prescient truthfulness. Covid-19 is training us to let go of any illusion that we are in control. God is God and we are not. Our limitations are never more plain to see. This cultural moment has revealed the inadequacy of our ecclesiology: the majority come-and-huddle posture has been exposed. Our gathered life was always meant to resource our scattered life. Yet we’ve fashioned it into something other.

In his first live-streamed service after church buildings had closed, Archbishop Justin said that if we look inwards we ‘will only reveal the limits of our own resources and lead to deeper fear and selfishness’ whereas ‘to console others, we must find our own consolation in God’. It is through ongoing personal renewal that we ‘will find the means to console the frightened, the fearful and all those around us, in whom alarm is rising’. During this uncertain time, as we are called on to take care of others and of ourselves, we must seek out fresh rhythms that help us lean into God and find new wisdom in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Uncertainty is the place we can’t easily move on from. Yet the silver lining may be that uncertainty is okay, and imperfection is acceptable; more than this, it’s welcome and needed. It’s in our weakness that we know God’s all-sufficient strength. I may prefer the reassuring habitual patterns of parish life and ministry, yet that’s not what we are served up in these days. And as for our buildings: all the talk of ‘getting back to’ is grossly wrong, and a profound denial of what has and is being faced.

The mission of God is vastly more important than our stewardship of buildings alone. It’s not a temple spirituality that evangelical Christianity exalts, yet our discomfort without our holy places raises many questions about the adequacy of our most holy faith. Why do we lack confidence in the spirituality of the road, and of what’s being offered from our kitchen tables, studies and living rooms? I believe the Holy Spirit longs to partner with our imaginations, our discontent, frustrations and uncertainty to imagine a new way of being the people of God without a building-centred approach.

Our buildings have been hushed and may remain so for some time to come. Church doors were closed firmly and unilaterally. At that moment we thought it might be for a few weeks. I hoped for a reunion Sunday, and still ache for the privilege of the gathered proximity of church family. It’s not possible yet …nor maybe for quite some time. So in the closed doors is there a gift, a learning, a kairos moment for us all? We have a rare moment in history if we can line up the logistics. Submerged under the surface is the once in a lifetime opportunity to reset the habits of local Christian communities from a holy huddle to a scattered presence.

One of my favourite moments in our recent PCC meeting was the conversation around the question “What do we think God’s Holy Spirit is saying to the church?” None of the fifteen responses spoke of buildings and none spoke of just doing what we’ve always done before. Buildings that enable and enhance the human experience are wonderful. And yet they are rare.

Uncertainty has given us the gift of new ways of seeing … Oswald Chambers said it well: “Beware of going back to what you once were when God wants you to be something that you have never been!” What binds us to our buildings and what future beckons us as we shuffle slowly forward? Indeed there are many answers to be found in the future-normal. In the constraints and closures, there’s been creativity, resilience and capacity galore. But what about the opportunities of this kairos moment? Surely this is the time to courageously ask the questions often deftly avoided.

A crisis is a very good time in which to reorientate towards lasting cultural change. Covid-19 mustn’t be understood as merely an interruption: for it’s so very much more; it’s a disruption that is taking us to a very different place. There’s no going back to what we knew before COVID-19. That world and way of being no longer exists except in the rearview mirror of memory and sentimentality. James Hopewell helpfully asks, “in a loss or disintegration, what is the characteristic response and reintegration that is sought?” Our choices as Christian leaders invite us to serve and shape our communities in kingdom ways.

A clergy colleague Nikki has said, “We cannot go back to a uniform approach to church buildings draining the life from the church. Let’s invest in some, reinvent others, and dare to let some quietly stay closed forever.” As Margaret Wheatley says “our role as leaders is to create islands of sanity for others” and that can be testing. Wisdom, discernment and courage will be required. We have a rare moment in history if we can line up the logistics. Submerged under the surface is the once in a lifetime opportunity to reset the habits of local Christian communities from a holy huddle to a scattered presence.

A clergy friend Richard says it well: “We have lost the ‘muscle memory’ of being a ‘scattered’ people.” I’d go further and say I’m not sure we ever cracked the scattered witness piece in the first place … In the uncertainty is the opportunity for us to respond as people of peace, households of light, bringing presence, help and enduring gospel hope to all around. If we lean ever deeper into God’s love, choosing faith instead of fear, we may find that new opportunities abound. In quieter moments of private reflection, I think “Let’s kill building-idolatry in this unique cultural moment!” Will Christian communities continue to spend more money and time serving buildings than on the mission and ministry of Jesus in service of others? Faith, not fabric is our primary concern as leaders and stewards of God’s resources.

Our choices as Christian leaders invite us to serve and shape our communities in kingdom ways. The boomerang choice to just return to where we came from seems so inadequate and unsatisfactory. Covid-19 could become the foundation of a realistic, visionary and generative future. Uncertainty invites our trust. Uncertainty is what God has always wanted from His people, for trust is the highest form of love, and people remain God’s greatest love.

]]> https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2020/06/18/uncertainty-our-buildings/feed/ 0 11864 resources https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2019/09/12/resources/ https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2019/09/12/resources/#respond Thu, 12 Sep 2019 09:45:11 +0000 http://www.johnnydouglas.org/?p=11206 Lifegroup resources

In person gathering leaflet:

Church news & teaching outlines with audio recordings

9th August- Defiant joy: living 2nd August- Defiant joy: dying 26th July- Defiant joy: suffering. 19th July – Defiant joy: knowing Jesus!  12th July Defiant joy – our salvation! 5th July Defiant Joy – the goodness of God! 14th June – Choices of Esther, 7th June – Calling of Esther, 17th May Kingdom growth pt5 Kingdom people, 10th May, Weeding & harvest? pt4 Kingdom people, 3rd May What kind of soil? pt3 Kingdom people, 26th April Seeking the Kingdom pt-2 resources, 19th April Thy Kingdom come pt-1 resources, 12th April Easter Day, Holy Week 2020 resources, 5th April Walking with Jesus: Palm Sunday, 29th March Peace resources, 22nd March Homecoming resources, 15th March JWD  Philippians 4:13, 8th March Philippians 4:10-23, 1st March – Philippians 3:20-4v9, 23rd February –Philippians 3:12-19 16th February Philippians 3:1-11, 9th February Philippians 2-19-30,2nd February: Philippians 2-1-11  26th January 2020, Philippians 1;21-30. 19th January 2020, Philippians 1:12-20, 12th January 2020, Philippians 1:1-11, 5th January 2020, Obedience: the invitation of Jesus22nd December Hope Afresh message, 15th December Clean Up Advent message, 8th December Wake Up Advent message, 1st December – Hallelujah!:- the best is yet to come! 24th November – Salvation Acts 9 pt11, 10th November Overcoming 2 Chronicles 36, 3rd November Giants 1 Samuel 17 pt8, 27th October – The way through the wilderness20th October – The provided sacrifice, 13th October God’s do’s & dont’s from Exodus 20, 6th October –What would Jesus say? – Safeguarding Sunday, 29th September – God in calling, 22nd September –God in provision, 15th September – God in relationship, 8th Sept – God in creation: in the begining – ‘From Genesis to Hallelujah’

APCM 2019 Minutes, Annual report – Financial Statements, APCM Report for 2020 APCM. Agenda 2020 APCM Agenda 2019, Pastoral Apprentice STPH Application form Easter Day Sunday AM teaching 21st April 2019 Luke 10 teaching 31st March 2019, APCM Vestry Accounts 2018, 

Pastoral letters & church family comms 

9th August Defiant Joy Youth Church, Children & Family, 2nd August Defiant Joy Youth Church , Children & Family, 26th July Defiant Joy Youth Church , Children & Family, 19th July Defiant Joy Youth resources, Childrens & family resources,  12th July Defiant Joy Youth, Children & Family, 5th July Defiant Joy Youth and Family Worship, 14th June – Children and Families Gentleness resource 14th June – Youth Church, 7th June – Youth Resources 7th June – Children & Family  Youth seed resources & childrens fruit of the spirit resources, Youth Weeding, Children And Families: peace, Youth Soil, Children Joy, Youth Love, Childrens Love, Youth Church – Kingdom, Children & Family Kingdom, Easter Day Youth Church, Easter Day Children & Family resources, Covid-19 community resources,  Knitting patterns, Youth Church – Palm Sunday, Children & Family – Palm Sunday, Youth resources – Peace, Childrens resources – peace, St Peters Family Worship 22nd March, Heritage Society Anniversary notes, Corona No-Panic Helpguide,  Convid-19 help form, Local History story, V2 75th heritage event March 2020, Church Leadership overview, January 2020, Pastoral letter & Annexe update, +Stephen Oxford, Election letter from Archbishops,News update by Grimshaws, Christmas Card invite 2019, Inside left, July 2019 Pastoral letter, June 2019 Church Family news, May 2019 Church Family News, September 2018 Pastoral letter, Pastoral Letter May 2018, Overflow changes letter June 2018, Future and vision together St Paul’s

Wider resources

A missional life Kent Street Pastors, October 2019.   Self-discipline teaching handout LST October 2019

Books & notes

]]> https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2019/09/12/resources/feed/ 0 11206 recent reading… https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2018/07/28/recent-reading/ https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2018/07/28/recent-reading/#respond Sat, 28 Jul 2018 10:47:37 +0000 http://www.johnnydouglas.org/?p=11369 Decent amounts of reading make for a great holiday tradition for me. Here’s what I’ve read recently…. and here’s the headlines if they’re of interest to you?! Yes some of you have asked, so here’s the titles, how I rated it out of 5, a simple one sentence summary and a favourite sentence quote. Just a takeaway…

Sandcastle Kings, Rich Wilkerson Jr 2.5* A surprising rummage in Luke 7 around longings, lack and the lordship of Jesus Christ. p45 “In scripture two things amaze Jesus. Great faith and lack of faith. When Jesus looks at your life, what does he see?”

Why on Earth did anyone become a Christian in the first three centuries? Larry Hurtado 3* Research-rich, challenge-full, geo-historic academic survey of the cost of early discipleship to Jesus. p113, “…if what you desired was greater social acceptance, early Christianity was hardly a sensible route to take!”

Radical leadership, Michael Green 3.5* Biblical, wide-ranging but ultimately a very bitty offering. p34 “Christ’s back is broad enough to carry all our worries and he will because literally, ‘it matters to him about you.’ Our part is to cast the burden firmly and intentionally on Jesus.”

42 seconds, Carl Medearis 3.5* A pacey four part approach to winsome missional living. “We’re starting to build a friendship. Everytime I’m there, I bring up something about Jesus.” ps disappointingly the title had almost nothing to do with the contents!

The road to growth less travelled, David Runcorn 4* Engaging and subversive exploration in contemplation, rootedness and missional pathways. p10 “The outer life of the church must always be lived in careful partnership with its hidden vocation.”

Community and growth, Jean Vanier 4* An enduring if lengthy classic about shared, loving responsibility and it’s character, meaning and reach in God’s heart for our world. p84 “The pains of community are situated between the joy of this communion and friendship with Jesus and the joy of giving life to others: the mission.”

Leading congregational change, Herrington, Bonem & Furr, 4* Interdisciplinary insight in the nurture of congregational flourishing with the highlights being preparation, urgency, mission and change. p11 “Are the things we are doing the most faithful and effective means of reaching our community with the gospel.”

Leading by story, Roberts & Sims 4* Substantive exploration into our storied world: its ecology, purpose and reach. p201 “May you have a story-worthy experience of leading by story.”

Demolishing strongholds, Johnny Hunt 4.5* An unvarnished pastoral intervention on the stereotypical strongholds in the male psyche. p65 “Distractions can easily lead to attractions that cause us to veer off course.”

This is our time, Trevin Wax 5* Jesus-exalting, culture-understanding and challenge-speaking to the heartland of habit, purpose and formation. p26,58 “Knowledge is the drug and ‘feeling right’ is the high. And what goes missing is…. wisdom……..Faithfulness requires us to see the world’s longings and lies in light of the gospel.”

Subversive sabbath, AJ Swoboda 5* A beautiful substantive invitation into the rest and delight of God. p8 “Sabbath baptises our week into the grace and mercy of God.”

The Spirit driven church, Terje Hegertun 5* A chewy academic ecclesial worldview in partnership with God’s spirit’s activity. A robust and energetic celebration. p162 “The church is always more than it seems from the outside.”

Don’t follow your heart, Jon Bloom 5* Heart-challenging, faith-deepening, discipleship-forged biblical meditations. p38 “Stressed vines produce good wines….God produces rich, complex, intense faith in His children. Because when it comes to faith God loves good wine.”

A wilderness of mirrors, Mark Meynell 5*Remarkably researched, excellently crafted cultural analysis on lost trust and the possibility of gospel hope. p107 “Reality has a maddening habit of puncturing what we presumed were the hermetically sealed walls of our constructed realities.”

Facing leviathan, Mark Sayers 5* Truly pioneering and wonderfully inspiring cultural analysis holding Jonah and Hitler alongside others in the mix of faithful biblical leadership. Brilliant and bracing stuff. p201 “Sacrificial love wrapped up in grace, is what save. The power with which God triumphs over the abyss, sin, chaos and death is a power made perfect in weakness.”

God dreams, Mancini & Bird 5* Tactics, strategy and blue-sky vision explored and engineered brilliantly. p10 “The church of God doesn’t have a mission as much as the mission of God has a church.”

The burden is light, Jon Tyson 5* Deft, challenging and visionary biographic theology. p53 “The Father’s approval gave Jesus the security to avoid an addiction to success and scandalously give His life away in love.”

The gospel comes with a house key, Rosaria Butterfield 5* An inescapably biblical vision for transformative Christian hospitality, deeply rooted and with a generous side of whimsy. Radical, refreshing and revolutionary. p40 “In post-Christian communities, your words can be only as strong as your relationships. Your best weapon is an open door, a set table, a fresh pot of coffee and a box of kleenex for the tears that spill.”

A gospel of hope, Walter Brueggemann 5*A rich, fresh expansive kingdom vision of the world shot through with the generousity, hospitality and forgiveness of the King! Immense compilation good of the Brueggemann’s best writing. p96 “Hope is indeed a communal activity, for none can hope alone. The intention of holy agency is to form communities of obedient action that rely upon and respond to divine intention.”

Shrink, Tim Suttle 5* A subversive kingdom cocktail for church health and community flourishing. p35& 44, “Sometimes the promise of greatness is all it takes to destroy the good in us…… If I am not vulnerable, I am not leading!”

]]> https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2018/07/28/recent-reading/feed/ 0 11369 A snowy Sunday… https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/12/10/a-snowy-sunday/ https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/12/10/a-snowy-sunday/#respond Sun, 10 Dec 2017 20:17:06 +0000 http://www.johnnydouglas.org/?p=11350 Today #snowstoppedplay and it was a little bit gutting to have weather affect our last full Sunday at Emmanuel. Some great preaching ideas were on the slate, and lots of you asked,…so here’s my full notes and slides. The Apostle Paul’s awesome finish and motivation for Timothy was what I sought to work with this morning – life and death, meaning and calling, faith and reward impacted me in a whole new way. Here’s my my preaching notes, and my slides for this.

Tonight I’d have been sharing the preaching with Kathryn from Philippians 3, Paul’s searing focus on one thing, and my closing invite to faithfulness and fruitfulness. Again here’s my preaching notes, and my prepped slides for this. And the farewell bash, with minor amounts of gluttony is now set for Thursday night!

]]> https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/12/10/a-snowy-sunday/feed/ 0 11350 Overcoming… https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/11/29/overcoming/ https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/11/29/overcoming/#respond Wed, 29 Nov 2017 19:38:11 +0000 http://www.johnnydouglas.org/?p=11342 Today I got that Luke 12 portion that looks full into the face of worry and how practical Jesus is in speaking about this. Fear refuses to trust God. I was challenged how much the perspective of our confidence in our heavenly father, our faith and the nature of our promised future should change everything! Here’s my transcript notes, and the powerpoint slides… 

]]> https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/11/29/overcoming/feed/ 0 11342 Changes ahead… https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/09/15/changes-ahead/ https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/09/15/changes-ahead/#respond Fri, 15 Sep 2017 10:30:09 +0000 http://www.johnnydouglas.org/?p=11329 It’s a bittersweet day as this morning we announced news that I’ve been offered, and accepted the invitation to serve as the next Vicar of Swanley and Hextable in Rochester Diocese. This will mean a move for us, leaving the wonderful people of Emmanuel Church, Northwood and the wider community here, to lead and serve in mission and discipleship there.

Just as God very graciously guided us purposefully to Emmanuel in 2014, so we trust His hand in this detail. It is a bittersweet announcement. Leaving Emmanuel and the wider community will be painful yet the season and circumstances invite it for the good of all going forward. The unanimous invitation of the parish reps, patron and diocesan Bishop to serve this one church family across two locations, as well as being a New Wine hub, is an exciting and significant opportunity for us.

We have known God’s clear leading and provision in all of the details and events of the last few weeks. We are still working out the timescale for finishing here at Emmanuel with the licensing start planned for Monday 29th January in Rochester diocese as we join in with all that God is already doing in that place. Here’s to more of God’s kingdom life in all our lives – yes we all get to play! Partnering with the Holy Spirit, following Jesus best we can and having daily adventures! We’re humbled, excited & trusting for all that’s ahead!

News as shared at Emmanuel and with Swanley & Hextable

]]> https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/09/15/changes-ahead/feed/ 0 11329 words about God https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/06/10/words-about-god/ https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/06/10/words-about-god/#respond Sat, 10 Jun 2017 16:51:46 +0000 http://www.johnnydouglas.org/?p=11322 Eugene Peterson serves up another treat in his newest title. This forty-nine part delight directs us to lives of congruence and fruitfulness as disciples of Christ. These forty-nine chapters are former sermons gathered around the writings of key bible leaders. The shape and flow of these are measured, weighty and inspiring. Peterson’s gift is wisely weighted words. This book drips with wisdom and is full of life. His heartbeat for the gospel is gently and winsomely proclaimed, “Always and everywhere in Scripture our attention is brought back to the central fact: God is a person; God makes persons; God remakes persons. A person like me.”

There is sting and insight galore in the way Peterson engages to point us to Christ. “We live in a culture that knows little or nothing of a life that listens and waits, a life that attends and adores.” His pursuit of integrity and congruence are graciously unrelenting.

Ego will be challenged, selfishness rattled but the beauty of life with Jesus is clearly on offer for each reader. My bias is this; Peterson has been the most formative pastor-writer in my life. His brilliance, consistency and godly sting are so helpful for me. His gentle scholarship is a gift for the church. As Peterson pens it, “our lives are lived in the company of both the Shepherd and the shadow.” The call to godly attentiveness in an anxious age is what shines through from beginning to end.

]]> https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/06/10/words-about-god/feed/ 0 11322 five on Friday https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/01/13/five-on-friday-124/ https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/01/13/five-on-friday-124/#respond Fri, 13 Jan 2017 05:19:23 +0000 http://www.johnnydouglas.org/?p=11284 “Jesus said you are to love one another as I have loved you, a love that will possibly lead to the bloody, anguish gift of yourself, a love that forgives seven times seven, that keeps no record of wrong. This is the criterion, sole norm, the standard of discipleship in the New Israel of God.” Brennan Manning, The furious longing of God.
1 ways to nurture bible reading commitment 
2 church is always meant to be a little uncomfortable!
3 a great summary about the wonderful Helen Keller
4 the moment app is helpful and this article about taming your smartphone use
5 things church people want to be able to say of their leaders

]]> https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/01/13/five-on-friday-124/feed/ 0 11284 God’s Beloved https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/01/09/gods-beloved/ https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/01/09/gods-beloved/#respond Mon, 09 Jan 2017 07:34:55 +0000 http://www.johnnydouglas.org/?p=11314 During last Sunday’s talk from Luke 3 we saw that after Jesus is baptised and at prayer, the Holy Spirit descends upon Him and the Heavenly Father declares Him to be his Son as well as Servant. “Heaven was opened.” The baptism opens communication with heaven, that is, with God. Being earthbound is no longer a barrier. This is why faith in Jesus is so beautifully important. As God’s children we have instant access to him and his grace.

Jesus underwent baptism not because he sinned, as we do, and needed forgiveness, but because he identified so much with us and our condition, that he wanted to rescue us. Jesus became like us in all things but sin, so that we, too, could become like him without sin.

Our greatest threat is a way of life which day in and day out, crowds out faith, elbows God out, takes over in subtle ways, forming and shaping us in such a way that we forget who we are and what God has called us to do in this world.

This thought of our belovedness by faith transcends rational thought as we long transformation at the very core of our being. For I’m convinced that this Luke 3 moment, when the spirit of God splits the heaven and descends on Jesus is the hinge point of Jesus’ life and ministry. The weight of his destiny is in this phrase – “You are my beloved Son with you I am well pleased”.

And the voice that declared Jesus God’s beloved Son is still speaking in our souls, “You are mine. You are unique and special. I am pleased with you. I love you. I love you so much that I gave my beloved Son for you. You are my beloved son, you are my beloved daughter.”

Know yourself beloved of God. Can you receive this greeting of Jesus? It may be hard. But believing what Jesus never forgot will truly change everything. May the love of God sustain you and I in 2017?  By faith you are His beloved!

]]> https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/01/09/gods-beloved/feed/ 0 11314 five on Friday https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/01/08/five-on-friday-123/ https://www.johnnydouglas.org/2017/01/08/five-on-friday-123/#respond Sun, 08 Jan 2017 06:40:03 +0000 http://www.johnnydouglas.org/?p=11290 John Wesley, the great evangelist, said, “Give me a hundred persons who fear nothing but God, hate nothing but sin and are determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and him crucified, and I will set the world on fire with them.”
1 Samuel Lane’s worship ministry is so very helpful – enjoy this. 
2 Habit formation is vital to pastoral ministry – a TED talk perspective
3 Mary deMuth is a helpful voice and here’s her writing wisdom
4 Attractional church is not enough, it has to be about mission!
5 The ministry of presence and the Church of England described.

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