Evangelical worship
In their latest 28 minute chat, Phillip Jensen and Kel Richards discuss ‘Evangelical worship’.
Is our theology reflected in what we do in church?
See the video at phillipjensen.com. Stimulating, as always, and a good antidote to much of the ritual and mysticism that’s common in churches.
Francis Schaeffer centenary
Over at Between Two Worlds, Justin Taylor marks the centenary of the birth of Francis Schaeffer on January 30th 1912.
Alister Chapman on John Stott
From Oak Hill College in London: “Dr Alister Chapman teaches history at Westmont College in California. Alister has spent the past 10 years studying the teaching and life of John Stott. He recently came to Oak Hill to talk about John Stott’s role as a leader in evangelical Christianity and was interviewed by Peter Sanlon…”
– see the 20 minute interview here.
Baptising in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
“I have found writing this blog series to be quite demanding. It has been demanding partly because it proposes something that is likely to be unacceptable to many. …”
– Barry Newman has begun a new series of articles and outlines where he thinks it will go. Should be interesting!
Archbishop of Canterbury’s Holocaust Memorial Day Message
See the Archbishop’s message here – or read the text.
Moore College approved as Self-Accrediting Institution
Moore College has been approved as a self-accrediting institution, which is great news. In announcing it, the considerable work of Alan Höhne in achieving this status is acknowledged. Read more here.
Richard Johnson’s Address to the Inhabitants of New South Wales
(This is a re-post from 2011.)
This Australia Day, pause to give thanks for the Rev. Richard Johnson, Chaplain to the First Fleet and first Chaplain to the Colony of New South Wales.
In 1792, Johnson wrote a tract designed to be distributed widely in the Colony. He gives his reasons for doing so:
“My Beloved,
I do not think it necessary to make an apology for putting this Address into your hands; or to enter into a long detail of the reasons which induced me to write it.
One reason may suffice. I find I cannot express my regard for you, so often, or so fully, as I wish, in any other way.
On our first arrival in this distant part of the world, and for some time afterwards, our numbers were comparatively small; and while they resided nearly upon one spot, I could not only preach to them on the Lord’s day, but also converse with them, and admonish them, more privately.
But since that period, we have gradually increased in number every year (notwithstanding the great mortality we have sometimes known) by the multitudes that have been sent hither after us. The colony already begins to spread, and will probably spread more and more every year, both by new settlements formed in different places under the crown, and by a number of individuals continually becoming settlers. Thus the extent of what I call my parish, and consequently of my parochial duty, is enlarging daily. On the other hand, my health is not so good, nor my constitution so strong, as formerly. And therefore I feel it impracticable, and impossible for me, either to preach, or to converse with you so freely, as my inclination and affection would prompt me to do.
I have therefore thought it might be proper for me, and I hope it may prove useful to you, to write such an address as I now present you with…”
Johnson’s warm pastoral tone, and his urgent call to trust Christ and to turn from sin, are clearly evident in this Address. Download An Address to The Inhabitants of The Colonies Established in New South Wales and Norfolk Island as a PDF file here. It would be a good way to spend part of Australia Day.
Carl Trueman reviews The Iron Lady
“Yet the greatness of the film lies not in its depiction of Mrs Thatcher’s life; indeed, it is not really a conventional biopic at all. It lies rather in its portrait of the merciless cruelty of old age and the omnipresent tragedy of mortality that lies at the heart of the human condition…”
– At Reformation21. Worth pondering.
Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn on Gambling Reform
Stuart Robinson, Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, has circulated this letter to his clergy –
“Australians need a Government that has the courage to pursue hard decisions…”
“Much of the media coverage this week has focused on the politics of the Government’s decision to sever their deal with Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie.
Trust is certainly an important factor in leadership, but we must not forget that the Government’s job is to regulate the gambling industry to limit its impact on families and communities devastated by gambling addiction. Read more