Ian Forest-Jones

Welcome. G’day!

I am very happy that you have found your way to my online portfolio/blog/website. While I would much prefer that we met over a coffee and some raisin toast at a local café to discuss our interesting ideas, this virtual meeting-place will just have to do.

So, make yourself comfortable wherever you are, grab your favourite hot drink, and peruse the contents of this site at your leisure. Please be sure to leave any questions or comments that you might have in the “Comments” sections of each post, when available. I’d love to hear from you!

Know Your Neighbour Before You Love Them

In our pluralist and multicultural society, it is important to know the basic assumptions and values of the people around us before we attempt to reach out to them with the Gospel. This seminar will explore the categories and basic doctrines of the world’s major religions, as well as discuss opportunities for fulfilling God’s mission to the ‘other-churched’.

2011 Black Stump Festival Bible Study (session 1 of 3)

The apostle John felt so deeply for his followers that he wanted them to drink deeply of the Spirit, to have a transforming experience and life with God. Yet his communities struggled and divided. If God is life, what difference does this make?

2011 Black Stump Festival Bible Study (session 2 of 3)

For the apostle John, right thinking about God and Christ is necessary for life in the Christian community. Only then can we respond faithfully to the challenges that confront our beliefs and values. If God is light, what difference does this make?

2011 Black Stump Festival Bible Study (session 3 of 3)

For the apostle John, love of and from God is the basis of our experience and our community. That love is shown in action, not merely words: God’s love shown in Jesus and our love shown in how we treat our brothers and sisters in community. If God is love, what difference does this make?

Getting the Spirit Wrong

There is no question that believers receive the Holy Spirit, yet this raises many questions, many of which, sadly, divide believers unnecessarily. What may we learn from the experience of the apostle John and his community that will keep us in faith and unity?

Being in Fellowship with God

The apostle John felt so deeply for his followers that he wanted them to drink deeply of the Spirit, have a transforming experience and life with God. Yet his communities struggled and divided. How can we know that we have fellowship with God, since that is of prime importance?

The World is As We’ve Made It

Celebrity is as celebrity does and our vacuous popular culture wouldn't have it any other way.

Practising A Biblical Worldview

The Bible is our primary source for Christian faith and practice, but how exactly do we live out a biblical worldview?

A Word to My Bruthas!

I have two 'hobbies' that have taken over my life these days: running and motorcycling. They are not for me simply hobbies; they are a lifestyle choice, although they don't really go together very typically, do they? I witnessed two events this past weekend which highlight how people can act contrary to their expected character.