Ordinary People / Gewone Mense
Join us as we reflect on theology. The Good News of Jesus Christ is intended for ordinary people like you and me.
Ascension Day
A reflection on Revelation 12 by prof Kobus de Smidt. We should not be so surprised and upset about the never-ending struggle in our world and the turmoil across the globe. We should not be so worried about all the depressing and concerning news reports we see and hear every…
A picture guide to good preaching
Pastor Frank Cronje, the previous principal of Auckland Park Theological Seminary (then it was still a theological college and not a seminary) met with my dad in the early 1970s and asked him to become a full-time lecturer and “to teach the AFM church how to preach”. This was oom…
Artificial Intelligence and the future of the pastor
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming one of the most disruptive technologies of all time, with the potential to changing life as we know it. This discussion aims to explore the profound impact AI is having on employment, society and human cognition. It will then look at the unique job…
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight
The majority of all South African voters were happy with the initial formation of the GNU (government of national unity). I think it is safe to say that neither the ANC nor the DA’s first choice was to enter into the GNU agreement. We have public statements that confirm this…
2025 – The God Factor
As we leave the New Year’s festivities behind, we find ourselves facing a world that increasingly appears ‘crazy’ in many respects. The pace of change and its global scale are unprecedented in human history. Feeling overwhelmed by fear and anxiety is not an unreasonable reaction. From a rationalistic (relying solely…
A war against the truth of the Bible
People resist the message of the Bible, and for years there has been a relentless battle against it. Original article: ats.ac.za/blog/a-war-against-the-truth-of-the-bible/
Authority and Power in a power crazy world
People tell us that there are pastors who consult sangomas to help them obtain authority and power. We do not know if this is true. Listen to Prof Francois Möller’s address about authority and power of God in your life. It is a Christ-centered perspective with significant implications. We trust…
Compelling reasons for school leavers and their parents to consider a Bachelor of Theology degree
Making the decision about tertiary studies and choosing which degree to pursue, is a very stressful time for a family. The cost of tertiary education is substantial, and parents are understandably eager to ensure their children are well-prepared for the future. To these young people, parents and grandparents, I would…
When the “tectonic plates” moved
Most of us have a few pivotal moments that change the course of our lives: metaphorically, when the "tectonic plates" break free and travel several kilometers in just a few seconds. For me it happened years ago, when as an undergraduate student, I heard of a seminar on the Second…
Election 2024
To vote or not to vote…and who to vote for on the 29th of May 2024? When I grew up it was often said that you should not talk about church or politics. I think it was a way to say that as Christians we should live in harmony and…
A Christian firstly wins in his spirit (prof Jan Hattingh)
When the believer speaks in tongues while the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him/her, they must speak loudly, clearly and thoughtfully. They must experience the conversation and the content vividly so that they can understand and start to “live” the content. Paul wrote that he who speaks in a…
Herlewing by die Sinoville Gemeente in Pretoria
Herlewing is gebeure wat God deur die werking van die Heilige Gees skep op grond van wat Jesus klaar gedoen het en nog steeds doen. Hierdie is ’n kernwaarheid wat ons eers moet besef voordat ons kan glo aan herlewing en ons daarvoor kan beywer. Hierdie artikel is gebaseer op…
Revival in the Sinoville congregation in Pretoria
Revival is an event that God himself creates through the working of the Holy Spirit and it is based on what Jesus has already done and still does. This is a core truth that we must first realise before we can believe and pursue it. This article is about the…
God-stories in the lives of ordinary people
Hoekendijk argued that “over the garden fence” or “at the coffee table” communication does not have to penetrate through an ideological barrier to be relevant – it comes, so to speak, under the radar. It is real-life God-stories delivered over the garden fence or at the coffee table, stories that…
If the church of our Lord Jesus cannot help, then who will?
We are created to live a meaningful life and to make a difference in our world – without it we wither away in this world, and in the world to come, we will be judged accordingly (see Luke 19:11-27). Original essay: www.ats.ac.za/blog/if-the-church-of-our-lord-jesus-cannot-help-then-who-will (Read by AI services)
Sanctified in Thy Truth (The dictum of Auckland Park Theological Seminary)
The dictum of Auckland Park Theological Seminary (ATS) is “Sanctified in Thy truth”. It dates back to around 1949 when Dr FP Möller (senior) created the first hand drawing of the logo. Original article: ats.ac.za/blog/sanctified-in-thy-truth/
The cross, the fulfilment of the manger (Prof Kobus de Smidt)
That is the message of Christmas. God wants his people to experience hope and to share it with the world: the hope that has world-transforming power and which God revealed the first Christmas morning. It is more than just anticipation of what God will do in future. The new heaven…
Leef deur die Gees. Rom 8:14-39 (Prof Jan Hattingh)
Hierdie Gees getuig saam met ons gees dat ons kinders van God is. (Rom 8:14) Opgeneem 15 Okt 2023 te Auckland Park.
Forgiveness: a Christ-centered perspective (by Prof FP Möller)
That which is central to forgiveness cannot in the first instance be determined by semantics, but rather what God has done in Christ to move towards us in brokenness and sin whilst inviting our repentant response. Original article: ats.ac.za/blog/forgiveness-a-christ-centered-perspective/
Being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues (by Prof Jan Hattingh)
The question this article focusses on is: Is baptism with the Holy Spirit accompanied by speaking in tongues? A second question that necessarily accompanies the previous one is: what is the sense of speaking in tongues? The answer to these two questions may highlight the wonder and power of baptism…