When you go walking in India, there is always so much to see. This week, after a trip of 40+ hours, Barby and I walked around a large block of Kammanahalli, here in Bangalore. It was India in microcosm. At one point, this sign outside an auto-mechanic’s shop caught my eye.

I had a little smile to myself. Imagine if the working hours for the ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’ Jesus were only Mon-Fri, 8am-7pm; Sat 8am-4pm; and never on Sundays. Yikes. That would cut out most of the activity considered to be Christian. No evening church meetings. No early morning personal devotions. No Sunday worship.

It took me back to when I came alive to the ‘theology of work’ movement. I was a young principal at Carey Baptist College where Derek, at the heart of this global movement, was a senior member of the faculty. I learned a lot from him – and learned to run with his ideas, one of which was never to forget, even at a seminary, the ‘other 99%’ who will never be pastors. They need to be trained for mission as well – and that is what we did. ‘Calling’ must become real for all God’s people. Derek introduced me to the two modes of the church, ‘gathered’ and ‘scattered’. It has shaped my language and convictions ever since. We had people like Pete & Shirley Hammond (editor, The Word in Life Study Bible) in our home and gurus like Paul Stevens (formerly, Regent College, Vancouver) come to teach at the college.

This post was sparked, in part, by me becoming aware of a resource from this same movement. Go to the Theology of Work website and find – completely free – The Theology of Work Bible Commentary. Bookmark it. On the way to every preaching opportunity, click on the appropriate section and deepen your connection with the ‘other 99%’.

This post was sparked, in part, by me becoming aware that an old resource, one I’d accessed for more than 15 years, had been updated. Just two nights ago. I had thought it had been discontinued – and so great is my rejoicing! Go to denverseminary.edu – click on ‘Resources’ in the drop down menu. Click on ‘Denver Journal’ and then click on ‘Current Series – volume 21, 2018’. Two resources will appear: Annotated Old Testament Bibliography – 2018 and New Testament Exegesis Bibliography – 2018.

At the beginning of both of these bibliographies, there is a long stream of more academic titles which will be of interest to some of you. But persist – because eventually you come to a list of the best commentaries on each book of the Bible. A list that is updated each and every year. Totally trustworthy. I would not dream of buying a commentary – or even using one – without consulting these lists. So many commentaries are so average and all the preacher-pastors I know live busy lives. Invest in the best with the time you have and the best is in these lists. Bookmark them. On the way to every preaching opportunity, click on the appropriate biblical book and deepen your engagement with the Word.

This post was sparked, in part, by me becoming aware that a resource, initiated by Langham Partnership New Zealand, is now almost ten years old: kiwimadepreaching.com. Quietly, slowly, perseveringly (under Geoff New’s guidance), a remarkable resource has evolved. It is kinda like an indigenous preaching movement, with all the contributors being from New Zealand. Any country, or language group, could collaborate to do something similar. If you click on the site and find the icon, on the right, with the four corners (text-preacher-world-listener). Click on any one of those corners and there will appear article after article on that theme. Dozens of them. Practical, probing reflections. They may be written by Kiwis, but they are not just for Kiwis. Bookmark it. On the way to every preaching opportunity, click on an appropriate corner and browse, broadening your understanding and skills in this ministry.

Ohh, and on that same walk around the large block in Kammanahalli, another glimpse of everyday life in India…

nice chatting

Paul