Author Archive
Posted on June 9, 2010 - by Stephen Murray
Cape Town the Global City
Here’s something you probably didn’t know: According to the Global World Cities Ranking, Cape Town is the 16th (level with 5 other cities) most prominent city in the world where English is the Lingua Franca (English is not necessarily the most widely spoken language in each of these cases but it is the language on which each of these cities run. So for example more people speak Afrikaans as a first language in Cape Town than English). Here’s the top 33:
1st New York, London
3rd Sydney,
4th Toronto, Chicago,
6th Dublin, Los Angeles, Auckland
9th Melbourne, Johannesburg, Atlanta,
12th Dallas, Boston
14th Miami, Houston,
16th Montreal, Brisbane, Denver, Vancouver, Cape Town, Minneapolis, Seattle,
23rd Perth, Philadelphia, Portland, Lagos
27th Detroit, Manchester, Wellington, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Calgary, Columbus
It’s nice knowing you live in a city that stands out on the global stage. It also convinces me more that Cape Town is a thoroughly important place for the task of church planting.
As a side note…I wonder what the World Cup will do to these rankings – if anything.
Posted on May 27, 2010 - by Stephen Murray
VOX Intensive
This is something exciting that I’ll be involved in next week…
VOX Intensive:
One of our key identities at VOX City Church is that of ‘learner’. We aim to be a community that is constantly coming before God and his word and attempting to learn how we might better serve him in our city. In view of this value we’re holding a 3 day intensive where we will, in community, enter into a deliberate time of learning, discussion and experience centered on values that are core to us at VOX: Gospel, Community, Mission and City.
We want to encourage people to join us if they are able to as we cover these key areas in this learning environment. You can join us for either all or part of the intensive. However spaces for the intensive are limited so please RSVP asap.
Programme for the Intensive:
Wed 2nd June:
10am-1pm Urban Force Event at Common Ground Church (need to register separately for this).
2:30pm – 3:30pm Gospel in Three Perspectives (VOX Offices)
3:30pm – 4:30pm The Gospel Grid (VOX Offices)
6:30pm – 9pm Attend one of the VOX Missional Communities (Green Point, Rondebosch, Claremont, Woodstock).
Thurs 3rd June:
9am – 10am Debrief of Day One (VOX Offices)
10am – 11am Context: Overview of Cape Town (VOX Offices)
11:30am – 1pm Engaging with Story (VOX Offices)
2pm – 4pm Context: Getting a Feel for the City (Leave from VOX Offices)
5pm-8:30pm Township Experience (Gugulethu)
9pm-11pm Long Street Night Experience (Long Street)
Friday 4th June:
10:30am-12pm Debrief Day Two (VOX Offices)
1pm – 3pm What is a Missional Community (VOX Offices)
3pm – 4:30pm VOX City Church DNA (VOX Offices)
7:30pm-9:30 VOX City Church Vision Night (Baran’s 36 Burg Street)
Please let us know if you plan to attend any of the sessions by emailing us at info@voxcc.com
Posted on May 6, 2010 - by Stephen Murray
This City
“This City Visual Art Exhibition” puts on display the works of a number of artists from a wide range of disciplines.
The title doesn’t so much refer to a particular subject or topic but rather headlines a collective of artists who have been gathered for this short, eclectic show – artists, who may not normally put their work up side by side, are sharing the same space to show the diversity of this beautiful city and its amazing people.
There will be also be some live music down at &Union.
St Stephen’s Church, 110 Bree Street, Cape Town (map)
Friday: 6pm – 10pm
Saturday: 10am – 2pm
Saturday: 6pm – 10pm
Artists:
Further; Lester Atkinson; Janna Prinsloo; Mike Scott; Steven van Niekerk; Roxi Bredenkamp; Brett Atherstone; Joanna Court; Frank Moodie; Brigitte Spring-Parfitt; Susan Hall; Grethe Bredenkamp; Nick Mills; Viv King; Roxanne Amos; Claire Jones; Andrew Breitenberg; Sam Beningfield; Cyrelda Victor; Leon Oosthuizen; Zeke du Plessis; Maria Schoeman; Leanne van den Heever; Louw van Eeden; Craig Lewis; Lindsey Boucher; Karen Uys; Linka Prosch; Natalie Florentino; Taryn Reynolds; Nicola Davidson; Dayna-Gay Tate; Marko Petrik
Posted on May 3, 2010 - by Stephen Murray
More Joy
More on joy. Some quotes, old and new on the grand theme of joy (emphasis mine):
“Joy, in the full Christian sense of the word, is a supreme contentment, a supreme peace, a supreme concentration on the source of joy, and a supreme happiness at the way things are for one.” – JI Packer
“The main mark of a justified Christians is joy.” – John Stott
“The gospel is not a way to get to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. It’s a way of overcoming every obstacle to everlasting joy in God.” – John Piper
The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever – Westminster Catechism
Posted on April 30, 2010 - by Stephen Murray
9 Reasons we Don’t Experience Joy
1. We don’t understand the depth of our sin.
2. We don’t understand the breadth of God’s love.
3. We don’t understand the cost of Christ’s death in our place.
4. We only understand intellectually, not at a heart level.
5. We don’t nurture our affections for Christ through spiritual disciplines.
6. We don’t understand the glory of the hope of the new creation.
7. We don’t understand the now/not yet tension when we try and live consistently with the hope that we have.
8. We spoil our appetite for this hope by pursuing other hopes this side of the new creation.
9. We have not pleaded with Christ in prayer to pour his love into our hearts through the Spirit.
Posted on April 28, 2010 - by Stephen Murray
Seeing your City with God’s Eyes
I spend most weekday mornings in the inner city of Cape Town. It’s probably my single most favourite place in South Africa, maybe the world. Where else can you experience the buzz and excitement of a vibrant city and at the same time be at the foot of a majestic mountain? I spend a lot of time in coffee shops enjoying the mix of people, the sounds, the tastes and the general feel that seems to emanate from this diverse city. There’s so much to love here.
This morning we had perfect weather in the city, sun was shining, no wind, not too hot, not too cool – just perfect. I went for a walk down St George’s Mall (think outdoor paved street – not suburban shopping mall). Somewhere along the walk I had an epiphany (as you do on days with extraordinarily good weather): I don’t see the city the way God sees it. Let me explain…
Here’s my view (the crass version): The city exists for me, it exists to fulfill my desires – and they’re numerous. My desire to feel like I’m at the centre of an important city at an important time (basically the desire to feel important). My desire to feel hipster – this city is full of them/us? My desire to feel in community – there are people everywhere. My desire simply for fun – it’s a seriously cool place to hang out. The city exists for me.
God’s view of the city: The city exists for God’s glory and his purposes. Now a quick walk down the streets and you might be mistaken for thinking that the city exists for the exact opposite. So there’s huge economic inequality, racial tension, broken sexuality, anything but what you’d expect to bring glory to God.
I think the pre-fall trajectory of scripture suggests to me that God’s intention is that this city and all the creativity that comes from the hands of men should be for the glory of God and the furtherance of his purposes. In terms of God’s plans for the world I don’t think that trajectory changes after the fall – the difference now is that we mess everything up by our open rebellion against God. For me then to see things through God’s eyes is to put on pre-fall goggles and see what he wants for this city and not what I want from it.
Seeing the city through God’s eyes means seeing the economic inequality and wanting to be involved in addressing it. Seeing the city through God’s eyes means seeing the racial tension and wanting to be an agent of peace. Seeing the city through God’s eyes means seeing the broken sexuality and wanting to be a healer. It means seeing all the good things in the city and rejoicing in God’s common grace so obviously evident here. It means seeing what should be instead of seeing only what I selfishly want.
I want to see this city through God’s eyes – I want my desires to be changed.
Posted on December 11, 2009 - by Stephen Murray
The Incarnation
In the build up to Christmas I thought I’d have a go at two sermons on the doctrine of the incarnation. In the first sermon I explored a little bit of just exactly what the incarnation is and why its so important, in the second sermon I looked at how the incarnation completely changes the way we live and turns our world upside down.
Posted on November 20, 2009 - by Stephen Murray
And can it be…
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? – Charles Wesley 1738
I needed the gospel to dwell richly in me this afternoon and as I tried to get my mind and heart focused on the beauty of what God has done in Christ the words of this song floated into my head. I caused his pain and I pursued him to death yet in that very act he died for me. I need this truth desperately. I need it branded upon my heart in such a way that it makes it emotionally impossible for me to pursue other idols and lusts in this world. I need it to be impressed on my heart in such a way that my will is overcome with grief at the thought of disobedience. I need Christ to have such a hold on my heart that it is caged up to the point that it acknowledges only one reality: I am the recipient of amazing love!
Posted on November 12, 2009 - by Stephen Murray
The Gospel Works
This last Sunday morning I taught Colossians 1:1-8 at St Stephen’s Church in Claremont, Cape Town. I used Paul’s well-known triad of ‘faith, love & hope’ to explore a very real existential question that exists for many of us in the Christian faith, and that is: Does the Gospel really work?
You can download the full audio here.
Posted on October 26, 2009 - by Stephen Murray
New York Trip: Part VIII
It’s all over (although my jet-lag isn’t quite yet)! We left the States on the 21st of October at around noon and arrived in Cape Town on the 23rd, around noon (local time). We’ve spent the weekend trying to get our internal clocks back on track.
The final week of the intensive went off well. We were all a little jaded and starting to think about getting home. It was quite sad to say goodbye to the other planters and their wives not knowing when we’ll ever see each other again. We had a send-off lunch with the RCPC staff and then each one went their separate way.
Our way took us to one more stop before the long trip home: St Louis, Missouri. I was in St Louis in February 08 visiting friends and the Journey Church which is one of the more influential churches in the Acts29 Network. On my previous visit I was really impressed with the Journey and the setup they had in St Louis so I really wanted Robin to see it and experience their community a little. So we spent 5 days catching up with friends and attending functions at the Journey. I had the chance to meet Darrin Patrick, the lead pastor, and spend some time getting to know him and talk about church planting both in the States and in South Africa. It was a worthwhile time of building relationships and getting further learning on the subject. We also had the chance to attend the Midwest regional Acts29 quarterly. By this time of our trip I was completely conferenced out and so I was expecting to doze off during most of the quarterly but they had Jeff Vanderstelt out from Soma Communities and he did 2 brilliant sessions that kept me wide awake.
So here’s my thoughts on the whole trip: God seems to be doing something huge through both the ministries of Redeemer Presbyterian and the Acts 29 Network – when you’re around these guys you really get the sense that something big is afoot in the world of church planting. And so in many ways Robin and I are completely humbled by the fact that we get to play a small part in this global movement. We were truly blessed by our time and I can confidently say that we were both affected and changed deeply by it. We come back to Cape Town with new eyes on a number of important issues. We’re also really grateful for the many friends we made along the way and are looking forward to building those relationships in the future.
I’d like to thank everyone, both at home and in the States, who helped make this trip possible. We are enormously thankful to God for all of you.
Stephen Murray
A church planter based in Cape Town. Husband to Robin and father of Genevieve. I am captivated by the hope of the gospel and I constantly dream about seeing it at work in my city. Dream with me.
