Comments on: Spiritual Report on Scotland

By: David Okoro

David Okoro — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 09:01:00 +0000

I want to agree with David Murray,
My personal experience in scotland for almost two years of coming in from Nigeria, I can say that a lot need to be in our pulpit. The power and ministry of the Holy spirit shouldn’t be undermined. Our knowledge, theology and methodology can be very helpful, but without the fullness of the Holy spirit, Christ will not be revealed and ones Christ is not revealed, no savour and fragrance to attract people.
Having worshipered in about four different churches, the young people have this similar compliant, the church is boring. Need as preachers we need to cry to God to bring life to the church.

By: David Murray

David Murray — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:32:02 +0000

Fascinating insights, Mez. Great to hear about the Lord’s work – even among the Baptists!! I’d love if you could “flesh out” what you wrote in a blog post that I’d post on my blog. I’d especially like to hear more about how Americans are making an impact in the Scottish schemes. That’s just amazing. Could you write something for me and my readers?

By: mez mcconnell

mez mcconnell — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:27:41 +0000

Hey Brother.
Good article and pretty much bang on the money. There is some good stuff happening out here even among us “calvinists” (even if we are Baptists), although the spiritual bleakness is a fact.

However, when I came here 6 years ago to work in the schemes I was told it was a ‘desert’ and a ‘spiritual graveyard’. Now, whilst that may be true in more affluent circles that is not the case in many of the housing schemes. People are spiritually hungry. The problem is that the church has left town! Those that are in many of the poorer areas are either liberal or out of touch.

I see reason for great optimism once we get past the Scottish mindset of woe and doom :-). As for Americans, in my experience they have far more ability to engage with locals in schemes than with many of the cynical middle classes. In my experience the Americans have a much more ‘can do’ attitude and make many local contacts/friendships more quickly than people from many middle class areas and organisations.

Jesus is saving people in Scotland and will continue to do so as we step out in faith and maintain confidence in the gospel.

Love the blog.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:06:48 +0000

It is only by the Spirit that hearts can be reached. The Bible says, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor 2:14. Remember how Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5. “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” Romans 8:9. So we see that we need the Spirit to be able to introduce Jesus to others, and we need to pray for the Spirit to impress the truth upon the people that we are talking to.
When he said that some believe they must wait for the Spirit, he meant that they were just sitting around and did not Feel impressed to go out and evangelise. So they wait until a great feeling or movement within the church comes to them. This is a mistake because we must obey God in seeking people to reach out to. The feeling will come as we Do the work.

By: Spiritual Report on Scotland | My Digital Seminary

Spiritual Report on Scotland | My Digital Seminary — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:07:54 +0000

[...] the report here. Tags: Prayer Report, [...]

By: Spiritual Report on Scotland « My Digital Seminary

Spiritual Report on Scotland « My Digital Seminary — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:32:31 +0000

[...] the report here. Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterDiggLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. from → Culture [...]

By: Pick and Mix | Inward, Outward & Upward in Faith

Pick and Mix | Inward, Outward & Upward in Faith — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:10:12 +0000

[...] Spiritual Report on Scotland - David Murray – a Scotsman ministering in the USA was sent a number of questions by an American interested in ministering in Scotland. Not having the time to answer them himself, he asked a fellow Presbyterian to provide the answers. Bear in mind that his answers are especially focused on Presbyterian churches. The picture may be a bit brighter here and there for other churches. It’s a discouraging but unfortunately a realistic picture of where Scotland is spiritually and ecclesiastically. [...]

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 01:05:23 +0000

“but my two years in Scotland had a deeper impact on my life and faith than two decades as a Christian in America (except my conversion, of course). I see many reasons for hope.”

I have heard others who have expressed similar sentiments. Whatever else the church in Corinth teaches us, it teaches us that no society is so bad that the grace of God cannot reach it. Indeed, there is hope.

“Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:11).

By: Catherine

Catherine — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:49:39 +0000

I lived in Glasgow from 2006-2008 and attended a Church if Scotland that had by far the most vibrant and enthusiastic preaching and outreach ministries I had ever been a part of – much more so than any church I attended in the Anerican south. Sadly, since that time, The Church of Scotland as a denomination has taken steps to endorse nonbiblical teachings and practices, so that many of the strongest evangelical churches within the denomination have made decisions to leave. The C of S has shown itself for what it is – an institution more interested in its own power and preservation than in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Having said that, in my estimation, the believers in Scotland are made of much tougher stuff than Christians in America. The soil is indeed very hard, but the believers seem both united and fully aware of the challenges they face. While the Church of Scotland is struggling to fill pulpits and to attract workers to the ministry, programs like the Cornhill Training Course in Glasgow are producing skilled Bible preachers and teachers every year – many of whom enter full-time ministry and many who are equipped to serve their churches in lay positions.

Perhaps I do not have the best understanding of the big picture of Christianity in Scotland, but my two years in Scotland had a deeper impact on my life and faith than two decades as a Christian in America (except my conversion, of course). I see many reasons for hope.

By: Raj Rao

Raj Rao — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 06:45:34 +0000

Sorry – in point 2 I am referring to conversions and church growth in European countries.