Rob Densmore

Pauline studies, Christian ethics and Just War. PhD candidate, Theological Ethics, University of Edinburgh. {Previous life: Church Leader, Afghan vet, Naval Flight Officer, combat journalist}

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A kind of deconstruction ...

As my wife and I transition for a season out of church leadership, I'm trying to understand all that has happened. All that has gone on, all that needs to be learned, all that needs to be forgotten. I'm so thankful for this past season, as hard and traumatic as it has been. No doubt there are things to share about the experience of coming out of the Church of England - less a political move than a mission focused moved. Ironic, given the climate the C of E faces, with doctrinal and financial issues coming down the pike ...

There is so much to add to this, but not the headspace to lay out it out right ... I'll keep this going with updates.

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To read about St Saviours vision and mission, click here.

Thank you for your prayers in this season - and we encourage everyone to keep praying as we step out into the next.

Godspeed,

Rob Densmore

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One of the statements of St Saviours vision is 'Living in the fullness of God'. Belinda Thomas explores what this means in the life of the church, using the parable of the prodigal son. [Belinda Thomas speaks on John 1:16]

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This is Vision Sunday at St Saviours. It focuses on God's calling for this church, in this season, in this place. Join us as we come together as a church family to live out the 5 statements that make up our calling. [Rob Densmore talks on 2 Corinthians 3:7-18]

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If we don't tell the whole story of creation, it will be nothing more than a story: flat and fictional. But God never intended His story to be separate from your story. And so creation is also about you. What is God creating in you today? [Rob Densmore speaks on Genesis 1:1-27]

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Of nearly all the messages that Jesus Christ left with us, why is 'love your neighbour' one of the most important? It is at once tied into how we confront those around us, and more deeply tied to how we think of ourselves. Do we actually love ourselves? What does Jesus have to say about this part of our faith? [Edward Leigh-Wood speaks on Matthew 22:34-40]

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What is our calling in the wider church? Is it to embrace our titles, our rank, our position? Or is it about embracing our need for Jesus Christ? Because it is from this place of need - that the overpowering goodness of the Holy Spirit flows. [Pioneer minister Trevor James speaks on Luke 18:9-17]

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When did evangelism become something we 'do' to other people? When we look closely at how Jesus and the disciples modelled this, we quickly realise that evangelism requires deep relationship building ... and personal sacrifice. As evangelists, we are in this for the long term - and we have a lot to learn along the way. [Cam Densmore speaks on John 21:1-14]

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Encounter. Engage. Evangelize.

When did evangelism become something we 'do' to other people? When we look closely at how Jesus and the disciples modelled this, we quickly

When did evangelism become something we 'do' to other people? When we look closely at how Jesus and the disciples modelled this, we quickly realise that evangelism requires deep relationship building ... and personal sacrifice. As evangelists, we are in this for the long term - and we have a lot to learn along the way. [Cam Densmore speaks on John 21:1-14]

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War, peace, Paul and the church

The Apostle Paul knew power. He knew military power, and the power of Empire. And he knew how convincing it would be to say that Christians

The Apostle Paul knew power. He knew military power, and the power of Empire. And he knew how convincing it would be to say that Christians had the backing of princes and kings. But of course he never says this and the power that we are left with today - the power to change lives, the power to heal, the power to be saved - all comes directly from one source. He is a person; He is God. And He is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. [Rob Densmore speaks on Romans 13:1-7]

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Grace, thanks and glory

The calling of the clay is to be shaped by the potter's hands. In that place, we find that God can truly shape us into who we are meant to b

The calling of the clay is to be shaped by the potter's hands. In that place, we find that God can truly shape us into who we are meant to be. He can also reveal His glory through us when we have committed to being shaped by Him. [Dave Parr speaks on 2 Corinthians 4:7-15]

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How can death be a good thing? The Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Romans knowing full well that 'freedom' and 'death' are not ideas that normally go hand in hand. But in fact, the death that Paul talks about is only made possible by Jesus Christ - and it is death to the cosmic force that leads us to hurt ourselves and others. The important thing is that we can choose to really live - by dying in Jesus Christ. (Rosi Lewis on Romans 6:3-14)

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Have you ever been skeptical of the Holy Spirit? Maybe you've been a Christian for a while or maybe you've never been to church before at all. The Spirit is actually crucial to experiencing faith - and not just faith, but life in the fullness that God has promised us. He's not magic, He's actually real. And He wants nothing less than to show you the glory of God. (Rachel Howlett on Romans 8:18-27)

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If you're coming at this faith thing from the outside, you may think that Christians have it all together (or at least think they do). But the truth is the cross brings crisis into all of our lives. Jesus Chris introduces discontinuity into everything we're used to. And this is good. You need it. Dependency on Christ means freedom from everything else that is holding you back and weighing you down. (Rob Densmore on Romans 12:1-8)

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God's love is intricately bound up in your life. In fact, His love for us is bigger than we could ever imagine? But sometimes, we need to look closer to be reminded of this truth. It's all about knowing where to look. Who was there in the very beginning? Who was breathing His life into you before you were conceived? Whose image are you made in? (Belinda Thomas preaches on Romans 5:1-21)

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The law kills. That's what the Apostle Paul says. But how is this possible? It happens to be a question of lordship. Everyone, Christian or not, has a lord and we spend our lives investing our relationship towards that lordship - and following the 'rules' in that relationship. So what does Jesus have to say about this? His faith is the only thing that saves - and it is absolutely for you. [Rob Densmore preaches on Romans 3:19-26].

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David and Shelley Stokes are Christian missionaries who have committed their life's work to working alongside native communities in Argentina. The Stokes are now soon to retire from their calling, but not before David leaves one final challenge for the church. John 12:20-33