1 God and His Master Plan
Carlisle diocese teaching days 2008
A day course with three addresses setting out God's great plan to save and heal the world
The course is available in a set of 3 CDs , see resource, CDs
Click here to download or listen to each of the 3 addresses separately and to download and print the one booklet which accompanies all 3 addresses
1-1 Believing in God 64 mins.
The Christian Church has a great tradition of apologetics- ie. giving reasons to support our beliefs. In spite of Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion), belief in God is supported by creation and the natural order, the history of faith in the Bible; the evidence of Jesus Christ and his resurrection; the worldwide phenomenon of religion, and the confirmation in our present experience
See also ATM3 Dow on Dawkins (below)
1-2 The Plan to Bless the Nations 46 mins
God states to Abraham his purpose to bless all the peoples on earth through Abraham's descendants. With Israel unable to fulfil its destiny, the purpose is focussed down on a single servant of God, Jesus. Jesus' baptism signifies the new way of being God's people. 'The local church is the hope of the world' (Bill Hybels); these are the people who live by Jesus' authority and seek his kingdom on earth.
1-3 A Church Which Brings Blessing 68 mins.
The authority of Jesus to bless the nations takes hold through communities of his disciples who seek to be obedient to his teaching. They share a common life, own the power of the Name of Jesus, and as their priority seek the Kingdom of God on earth. They are God's priestly people to bless the communities around them.
2 Being a Christian in the 21st Century
Church Stretton parish weekend 2012
A parish weekend at home with four addresses with very challenging titles
2-1 What Can We Believe in an Age of Aggressive Secularism 65 mins.
First we need to understand our society. I give seven principal marks. St. John uses Jesus' dialogue with Pilate to show that followers of Jesus belong to the true reality, the true kingdom that is from heaven with Jesus. This is the kingdom where ultimate authority lies with God and King Jesus. In a minority situation, believers must hold firm.
Click here to download or listen to the address, and to read or download and print the full text
2-2 What can We Expect to Achieve in a Society That Largely Ignores Us? 46 mins
In the well-known picture of the vine and the branches in John 15 Jesus teaches how a church that is centred on him will make an impact; it will bear fruit for Jesus in world that needs him.
Click here to download or listen to the address, and to read or download and print the full text
2-3 How Can We Go About Mission in a Post-Christian Society? 72 mins.
Effective mission today is not bad news, but good news; not just words, but works; not doctrine, but stories; not instruction, but parable; not ritual, but worship; not commands, but interpretation; not condemnation, but blessing; not power, but service.
Click here to download or listen to the address, and to read or download and print the full text
2-4 What Sort of People Do We Need to Be to Carry Out That Mission? 58 mins.
'Without faith it is impossible to please God'. Hebrews chapter 11 teaches us that the key to effective work for God is faith: faith that is expressed in belief, in hope and in action.
Click here to download or listen to the address, and to read or download and print the full text
3 Dow on Dawkins Windermere June 2008
A refutation of Dawkins' arguments in The God Delusion. See also AAM1-1
No audio file. Click here to read or to download and print the full text.
5 Taking the Authority That Jesus Gives Us Murree, Pakistan October 2018
Address to the International Conference for Mission and Evangelism convened by the Bishop of Lahore. Conference Theme: Living as a Victorious Church in the Changing World
summary We recognise Christ's authority. We have been sure that he has given us the Great Commission to go into all the world and make his disciples. We believe he has taught us to pray for the Kingdom of God on earth. However, there are areas where we have been very unsure of his authority; we have not taught new disciples to do all that Jesus did, such as healing the sick. In prayer we have not used the authority he has given us to tell the mountains to move. In order to fulfil the mission Jesus has entrusted to us and to live as Victorious Church, it is time for his Church to take the full authority he has given us.
No audio file. Click here to read or to download and print the full text