Archive for September 2018
Church Refugees
This book by Josh Packard and Ashleigh Hope detail research done in the USA in 2013-2014 interviewing nearly 100 people who, reluctantly, have left the church but not their Christian faith. The results are not what you’d expect, and the book ends by usefully offering a number of constructive insights and ideas to church leaders…
Read MoreWhy WOULD anyone sing in Church these days?
This blog post by Jonathan Aigner provides very helpful insights into the ways contemporary worship music has eroded congregational singing.
Read MoreUnderstanding Sexual Abuse
This book by Tim Hein, a minister in the Uniting Church in Australia draws on his own and his wife’s experiences of sexual abuse to offer empathy, and practical guidance, to survivors of sexual abuse and those seeking to minister to survivors.
Read MoreNurturing Hope
This is Lynne Baab’s latest (2018!), very readable, book offering key principles and practices to help pastoral carers navigate through the challenges people encounter today.
Read MoreEmpowering the Next Generation: Young Adults in the Church
This resource is Hamish Galloway’s study leave report from 2015. It draws from wisdom in Deuteronomy to examine the notion of generativity as a way of older generations investing in younger ones to grow an empowering plan for passing on Christian faith, leadership and community.
Read MoreBreaking Calabashes
This book by Rosemary Dewerse explores four practices for meaningfully engaging all people from all cultures in your faith community. Easy-to-read with stories and reflective questions, it also has a discussion guide for an interactive book club.
Read MoreSermon given in 1935 by Rev. D. C. Herron
Rev Herron’s sermon on the labourers in the Vineyard reflects contemporary issues of unemployment, and the struggle of returned soldiers to re-integrate. Sermons and lectures from our Collection of Minister’s Personal Papers provide insight into biblical interpretation in Aotearoa New Zealand over the last 150 years. What has changed? What remains the same? A starting…
Read MoreYou Are What You Love
This book by James K. Smith, author of ‘Desiring the Kingdom’ offers a more entry-level version of the idea that who and what we worship fundamentally shapes our heart. Including practices for individuals and communities, this book explores the formative potential of worship as a holy habit. Good for big-picture thinking around our worship services.…
Read MoreThe Bible Project
A fantastic, growing, library of short animated videos that summarise the main themes, message, characters, and/or plot lines of the books of the Bible, and key theological and historical concepts (and not just in English). Great for home groups, youth groups, and family services.
Read MoreStepping Stones of Formation
This excellent online portal has been put together by the Presbyterian Youth Ministries. Focusing on the long term discipleship of young people, it offers recommended links to resources arranged under four categories: belief, practices, justice, and life.
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