Center for Pastor Theologians Journal 12, 1 (2025)

The Center for Pastor Theologians Journal (formerly the Bulletin of Ecclesial Theology) is published bi-annually by the Center for Pastor Theologians.

The latest volume carries the below essays on a theology of the word.

These have arisen from the reflections of the community on a theology of the Word and preaching, in which three themes have taken on a central importance in their thinking: (1) The word of God is always God’s word; (2) the preacher as hearer of God’s word; (3) the community of hearers.

The essays are available from here, or the whole journal can be downloaded as a pdf from here.

Coleman Ford

“The Gospel Terrifies Me”: The Role of Scripture in Augustine’s Vision for Pastoral Virtue in Select Sermones ad populam

Aaron Friesen

Aimee Semple McPherson and the “This Is That” Character of Pentecostal Preaching

T. Michael W. Halcomb

Defining, Understanding, and Quantifying Love

Joel Lawrence

Pastors and the Church Struggle(s)

Benj Petroelje

Preaching and the Cross

Book Reviews

C.H. Spurgeon on ‘Secular’ Work

On reading through Chris Wright’s commentary on Exodus, he cites an enjoyable portion of a sermon preached by Charles Haddon Spurgeon in 1874, on Paul’s teaching that, in every area of life, we serve Jesus (Colossians 3:24).

As Chris Wright notes, ‘Spurgeon draws heavily on the imagery of the tabernacle and priesthood and applies it to the Bezalels and Oholiabs [see Exodus 31] of today’s world – however humble their calling and labor’.

‘To a man who lives unto God, nothing is secular – everything is sacred! He puts on his workday garment, and it is a vestment to him; he sits down to his meal, and it is a sacrament; he goes forth to his labor, and exercises the office of the priesthood; his breath is incense, and his life a sacrifice; he sleeps on the bosom of God, and lives and moves in the divine presence! To draw a hard and fast line and say, “This is sacred and this is secular,” is, to my mind, diametrically opposed to the teaching of Christ and the spirit of the gospel!

Paul has said, “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself.” … The Lord has cleansed your houses, my brothers and sisters; He has cleansed your bed chambers, your tables, your shops; He has made the bells upon your horses holiness to the Lord! He has made the common pots and pans of your kitchens to be as the bowls before the altar if you know what you are, and live according to your high calling. You housemaids, you cooks, you nurses, you plowmen, you housewives, you traders, you sailors – your labor is holy if you serve the Lord Christ in it, if by living unto Him as you ought to live! The sacred has absorbed the secular! The overarching temple of the Lord covers all your houses and your fields! My brothers and sisters, this ennobles life! … This ensures us a reward for all we do!’

Charles H. Spurgeon, ‘All for Jesus! Sermon #1205,’ Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 20, cited in Christopher J.H. Wright, Exodus, The Story of God Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2021), 544.

Theos Report on Creating a Neighbourhood Health Service

The latest report from Theos has recently been published:

Marianne Rozario with contribution from Esther Platt, Creating a Neighbourhood Health Service: The Role of Churches and Faith Groups in Social Prescribing (London: Theos, 2025).

Here’s a quick summary:

‘The NHS and social care services in England are stretched to breaking point, grappling with record-high demand for GP appointments and secondary care services. Yet, one in five GP appointments are not for medical reasons, but rather requests for help with issues like loneliness, housing, or debt.

‘Lord Darzi’s 2024 report paints a stark picture of the NHS’s current state but also offers a vision for its future: a shift towards neighbourhood-level care, preventing ill-health and tackling health inequalities, a vision echoed by Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP’s ambition to turn the NHS into a “neighbourhood health service.”

‘Social prescribing – connecting people to community-based activities to benefit their wellbeing – can be part of that preventative solution. Churches and faith groups not only contribute significantly to social prescribing offering networks and resources, but with their focus on community, relationship and holistic wellbeing, they can play a foundational role in preventative healthcare.

‘Our research found that faith groups across the country already host a wealth of friendly, welcoming, and “referrable” activities. These groups act as “anchors of the community” with the ability to network and convene, provide resources, buildings and volunteers, and offer pastoral and spiritual care.

‘However, there are barriers preventing a more integrated approach between faith and health including communication and administrative challenges. Therefore, this report outlines a model of relationship-building through active networking, engaged collaboration, and forward planning, unlocking the full potential of faith-based support.

‘Ultimately, this report highlights the contribution of faith groups in social prescribing and puts forward recommendations for proactive collaboration between faith groups, the NHS and wider healthcare networks at the level of “neighbourhoods”, “places” and “systems”.

A summary blog of the report can be found here.

A pdf of the full report is available here.

A guide for faith leaders looking to engage more deeply with social prescribing, and especially looking to build connections with social prescribing link workers is available here.

A guide for Social Prescribing Link Workers looking to work more effectively with churches and faith groups in order to support the wellbeing of individual is available here.

Mission Frontiers 47, 2 (March–April 2025)

The March–April 2025 issue of Mission Frontiers, published by Frontier Ventures, contains a number of articles devoted to the topic of ‘Spiritual Formation at the Edges’.

Here’s the issue blurb, which sets the scene:

‘In this issue, we dive into formation at the edges of mission. The process of spiritual formation is the same whether we are in our home culture or across the world. Though the timing and experiences will vary, the call to be with Jesus in community in suffering leading to loving our neighbor is the same for all God’s children.’

The issue is available here, from where individual articles can be downloaded, and the entire issue can be downloaded as a pdf here.

Rebecca McLaughlin on Easter

Every month, The Good Book Company make available digital versions of one of their books at no charge. This month (March 2025) it’s Is Easter Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask about the Resurrection Story by Rebecca McLaughlin, a short but excellent exploration of the reality and significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection, which is available in exchange for an email address here.

Centre for Public Christianity (March 2025)

Among other items, the Centre for Public Christianity has posted a ‘Life and Faith’ interview (here) with Rod Dreher on his most-recent book:

‘Life & Faith kicks off 2025 with an eye-opening interview with journalist Rod Dreher, author of Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age. In this wide-ranging chat, Rod talks about the budding religion of technology worship, the experience of art and beauty as a gateway to enchantment, the possibly malign spiritual forces at work in our world, and his increasing conviction that the world is not what you think it is.’

Christian History Magazine on Oswald Chambers

The latest issue of Christian History Magazine is devoted to Oswald Chambers.

From the blurb:

‘My Utmost for His Highest is one of the most enduring and best-selling Christian devotionals of all time. It has been in print for a century, translated into 39 languages, and has sold more than 13 million copies worldwide. You have probably heard of it. But what do you know about Oswald Chambers, the devotional’s author?

‘In this issue of Christian History, meet the Scottish poet, artist, intellectual, and minister whose approachable and sincere faith allowed him to speak effectively to the spiritual challenges of the modern world. Oswald Chambers’s preaching and teaching took him all over the globe, even to the Egyptian warfront of World War I as a YMCA chaplain. You will also meet the woman behind My Utmost: Gertrude “Biddy” Chambers, Oswald’s wife and partner in ministry. This gifted stenographer, typist, administrator, and teacher preserved and presented her husband’s wisdom to audiences worldwide, launching a publishing empire and Oswald’s world-renowned devotional.

‘Discover the dynamic, faith-filled, and inspirational story of Oswald and Biddy Chambers– two believers who truly gave their utmost for His highest.’

The whole magazine is available as a 3.5 MB pdf here.