2012—the year of the London Olympics. Well, we’re
not competing for an earthly prize, but we don’t want to run or labour for
nothing! As followers of Jesus Christ, and many of us as leaders in local
churches, we need to know the truth, and proclaim it clearly. These seminars
are laid on to help us in that task, and enable us to ‘run well’. All are
welcome to these seminars, with topics that are particularly aimed at those who
preach or teach, and those in church leadership. We hope to help you keep going
faithfully and run well in 2012.
Six seminars are planned, with a variety of subjects being covered. Each seminar comprises two one hour sessions (except the seminar on 18 June) with time for questions. Coffee is served from 9.30am with the first session at 10am. There is a coffee break before the second session which finishes at 12.30pm. The Seminar on 18 June is for the whole day, from 9am to 5pm. However, it is possible to attend just the morning though you will get more from the day if you can attend it all.
Refreshments and cakes are provided, but not lunch (unless you have booked for the whole day seminar on 18 June).
The price of the seminars for this year is £8 per person (£15 for the day on 18 June, including a buffet lunch). We meet at Cowplain Evangelical Church, Durley Avenue, Cowplain PO8 8XA. To book your place on a seminar please contact us using the contact us page of this website. If you want a copy of the programme, or directions to Cowplain Evangelical Church, please download it here.
These seminars are a regular feature of SGP but we also run other events and training days. You will see the most recent information about these on the events page.
A
look into history to see why Christians withdrew from action in the secular
world, and how the momentum of that thinking has continued to influence and
shape us since. We’ll examine if that withdrawal was right, and look at some guiding
principles that should drive us into action in our current setting. We shall
try to see how we can more effective in our local region and how we may become ‘mini’
shapers of our society for good, and for God.
Colin Hart. As a maths teacher
at a Tyneside comprehensive in the late eighties, Colin got involved with John
Burn and Baroness Caroline Cox in a successful campaign to protect the teaching
of the Christian faith in schools. The experience taught them that there was a
need for a thoroughly biblical organisation to encourage Christians to be a
more effective influence on British public life and to help them think through
the issues and take necessary action. Colin left his teaching job to set up The
Christian Institute. He has been Director since its inception and is responsible
for its day-to-day running. He has been involved in many successful national campaigns
on education, marriage and religious freedom. Colin is from Sussex.
The
principles and development of his work.
A look at
Shaftesbury's life and work during the 19th century aiming to give us
help by applying lessons from his time that are relevant for us today.
Shaftesbury said that a man’s religion should enter into
every sphere of his life, and rule his conduct in every relation. When
James in the NT says that the Religion
that our Father accepts as pure involves looking after orphans and
widows, it
is helpful to look back and see how a man like Shaftesbury sought to do
that,
and why. And if a Shaftesbury was alive today, what would he find
intolerably sinful, and fight to change?
Richard Turnbull
is the
Principal of Wycliffe
Hall in Oxford where he gives leadership, as well as representing the college
externally. His main task, is to inspire the students in their calling to
Christian ministry with a passion for Jesus, the Bible and evangelism. Richard
worked for eight years as a Chartered Accountant in London and Southampton and
afterwards went on to study at Durham where his thesis was on “Evangelical
Theology and Social Reform in the Nineteenth Century.” He was also a vicar in Basingstoke.
Not only have people disagreed
about the message of this book, many, until recently, have avoided it
altogether. Those that do now preach from it are accused of ‘over-sexualising’
the text. In a society obsessed with sex and when Christians have tended to be
silent on this God-given gift, what should our approach and understanding be,
and is it time we preached this book ourselves?
Andrew Evans became
a Christian in his first week at university when he read Romans. He is married
to Gaynor and they have two children, Rosie and Tom. In 2003 Andrew was one of
the leaders of a small team who planted Christ Church Liverpool, where he
remains one of the elders.
As well as being actively involved in the North
West Partnership and the FIEC, Andrew has recently completed advanced studies
at WEST on the Song of Songs in the New Testament. Apart from this he loves
cooking (and eating), swimming, cycling and running—but not enough to be good
at any of them! He also reads widely
.
All day seminar (9am–5pm), special
prices, buffet lunch included for those who attend all day (£15 for the day; £8 for 9am–12.30pm). You can attend just the morning of this
day-long seminar, but you’ll get more out of it if you can put aside the whole
day.
We’ll be looking at a variety of issues to help us in communicating the
truth. These include: how the brain remembers, and what motivates action; how
we can apply that understanding to our preaching; the role of story and what it
takes to tell a good one; how to structure a compelling sermon—and how to
communicate that sermon so that it inspires.
Richard Garnett is with us to galvanise and equip us on this day. He currently works in
business, helping a wide range of clients in the UK and abroad where a part of
his input includes communication skills. Prior to this, he was a professional
actor for 15 years on TV, and in film, and theatre (including the West End,
Broadway and lead roles for the Royal Shakespeare Co).
But it’s because of his work with preachers at
places like Oakhill, Westminster Chapel and New Wine that we have invited him
to take this seminar. Students at Oakhill have often said that his instruction was
a highlight of the course. Come along and be helped!
One of the most common reasons for pastoral
leadership mistakes is a blindness to the significance of church size. Size has
an enormous impact on how a church functions. We tend to think of the chief
differences between churches mainly in denominational or theological terms, but
that underestimates the impact of size on how churches operate. Drawing on
lessons from Acts and elsewhere, Ray will examine how growth challenges both
leaders and people. He will offer his insights into what changes that demands
from all of us.
Ray Evans has
worked for Grace Community Church, Bedford for nearly 30 years. He is married
to Jenny and they have four grown-up children. Ray’s main responsibility is the
Bible teaching and general leadership of the church. Together with his wife he
conducts pastoral counselling, and leads Exploring Christianity and Marriage
Preparation courses. Ray became a Christian when he was 18 through the witness
of a friend at school. He loves sport and is interested in military history.
Using apologetics in regular preaching. In a culture that
either denies the truth or is not interested in it, how do we convey with
conviction the reliability and relevance of the Bible? Chris has recently
released a book with IVP, Confident
Christianity, as an introduction to apologetics and contemporary culture
and he is a leading figure in the UK’s apologetics scene. He will draw upon
useful contemporary evidence for the historical value of the gospels and there
will be opportunity to carefully think through how this evidence should be used
in preparing and delivering a sermon. With insights from contemporary
apologists, recent evidence from the shores of Galilee and engagement with new
atheist critics this seminar will certainly influence your preaching for
good.
Chris Sinkinson became
a Christian when he was a teenager. He later studied English and Philosophy at University before
continuing further studies in Biblical Studies and Theology. He has been
involved in Christian ministry with UCCF in Bath and Bournemouth, and once had
a job as an archaeologist! Chris is the pastor at Alderholt Chapel near
Fordingbridge, and a Lecturer at Moorlands Bible College where he teaches Old
Testament and Apologetics. To relax, he plays with his two young sons and enjoys
jogging.
'Missional capacity is directly related to your relational capacity.'
'Busy-ness is the
biggest killer to
missional work.'
'You need space in
your life.'
From the Seminar
'Future Church' by Mike Frost