Brian Harris

Dr Brian Harris, is based in Perth Australia. After decades of church pastoring and 17 years leading a theological college, he now directs the Avenir Leadership Institute, a future-focused consultancy which helps to shape the kinds of leaders the world needs. Brian is the author of seven books, the latest of which are: Why Christianity is Probably True (Paternoster, 2020) and Stirrers and Saints: Forming Spiritual Leaders of Skill, Depth and Character (Paternoster, 2024).

Articles by Brian Harris

6 Apr, 2026 15:45 EDT

Oceania Bible & Theology Church & Missions

Holding out hope in dark times: a little can do a lot

By Brian Harris

In the midst of crisis, when powerful people play war games and masses suffer because of it, it is easy to feel impotent, a victim of circumstance. But there is hope. We need to look for, and recount, alternate stories that evidence hope. The quiet, "widows mite", stories of faithfulness and breakthrough in ordinary everyday living are needed, especially now.
31 Dec, 2025 16:20 EST

Oceania Church & Missions Society & Culture

A thought for the new year: those who don’t move, don’t notice their chains

By Brian Harris

Are the chains that bind you holding you back from greater potential or holding you firm in loving embrace? Until we move we tend not to notice that we even have chains. The beginning of a new year is an opportune time to test whether we should stay comfortably where we are or if we need to rattle our chains to grow into who God intends us to be in Christ.
17 Dec, 2025 15:45 EST

Oceania Church & Missions Bible & Theology

Seeing others through the eyes of Jesus

By Brian Harris

"Immigrants are flooding in. They are taking our country over. It’s an absolute disgrace" is a common sentiment in many nations these days. Such attitudes are easily remedied by proximity, by being a good neighbor. Jesus emulates this in his encounter with the Samaritan woman.
25 Nov, 2025 08:00 EST

Oceania Church & Missions

To judge or not to judge, now that is a question

By Brian Harris

Humans have a natural propensity to being judgmental. It is related to the knowledge of good and evil that we acquired. Is there a difference between judging and judgment? Yes there is, and its important that we explore it.
3 Nov, 2025 13:00 EST

Oceania Church & Missions Bible & Theology

To be human means to deal with both our divine and demonic tendencies

By Brian Harris

It is a remarkable thing to be human, to be made from God’s breath and in God’s image. In each human being you see the fingerprints of both the divine and the demonic. Put together our worst and our best tendencies, and everything in the middle, and we appear as confusing creatures.
15 Sep, 2025 14:40 EDT

Oceania Bible & Theology Church & Missions

Seven disciplines to ensure your words become gifts

By Brian Harris

The proverb, “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never harm you” has been proven wrong too many times as words have traumatized people, whether or not the speaker/writer intended to. The internet has lifted restraint on our communications and words are being easily weaponized. Here are seven disciplines to help followers of Jesus to use their words with Kingdom-minded intention.
10 Sep, 2025 14:50 EDT

Oceania Health Church & Missions

A lesson in cold dark nights on the side of Everest

By Brian Harris

As challenges increase in the world, knowing that facing struggle does not mean that life is out of control or terrible can provide great hope. It is hopeful to remember that a cold dark night on the side of Everest isn't a destination, it is a means to an end. Similarly, the stuff that life throws at us is a pathway to growth in Christ for the follower of Jesus.
25 Aug, 2025 15:00 EDT

Oceania Church & Missions

Eugene Peterson suggested that we be unbusy, subversive, and apocalyptic as we fulfil our calling

By Brian Harris

According to the late Eugene Peterson, an unbusy person may be highly productive but his or her attitude is such that there is always time to care for others and develop fruit that will last. This is both a subversive act in our day and age and a testimony to our apocalyptic hope.
2 Jul, 2025 23:00 EDT

Oceania Society & Culture

A time to be quiet and a time to speak and how to tell the time

By Brian Harris

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven... a time to be quiet and a time to speak. The writer of Ecclesiastes notes the times, but how should we know what the time is? Here are ten indicators for each to help discern when it is a time for quiet and listening, or a time for speaking and influencing.
26 May, 2025 14:30 EDT

Oceania Family & Children

Adam raised a Cain when our children break our hearts

By Brian Harris

There may come a point in a parent's life when their child has disappeared and the relationship is strained to breaking point, but there is always hope in the love of God. Read on and find ten things to help when struggling with a difficult child.
27 Apr, 2025 02:00 EDT

Oceania Society & Culture Church & Missions

When the elephants fight the grass suffers is an apt analogy for today's geopolitical situation

By Brian Harris

A well known Swahili proverbs observes, "when elephants fight, the grass suffers". It is a direct analogy to the human condition when our leaders enter into geopolitical conflict and the ordinary people suffer the most. It can seem overwhelming but here are some basic things followers of Jesus can do to help minimize the damage.
6 Mar, 2025 16:30 EST

Oceania Church & Missions Society & Culture

On Being a Progressive Conservative, or a Conservative Progressive

By Brian Harris

Christianity is becoming increasingly and unfortunately polarized. Conservative and progressive perspectives can be harmonized when correctly understood. This is for the benefit of our faith now and in the future. The pastoral perspective in this opinion explains how.

Brian Harris

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