Making your ‘Christmas Talk’ better

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“How to preach Christmas that engages and connects.

We’ve pulled in three experts to help us prepare for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We share talk structures, attention hooks, and illustrations that connect with guests who didn’t come for a sermon but need a Saviour.

Sam Chan talks about tailoring length, tone, and imagery for each.

Andrew Barry frames Christmas with a pastoral lens: some in the room are celebrating their first Christmas in Christ, others their last — and how this shapes content and cadence, putting joy and gravity side by side.

Adrian Russell talks about speaking into tragedy at Christmas, by preaching peace that is more than a feeling—reconciliation with God that makes real.

For Christmas morning, we share passages and closes that put God’s face turned toward us and the cross in view, with invitations that are personal and memorable.”

– This is a good reminder of the opportunities at Christmas – and especially in church Christmas gatherings.

Don’t overlook the ministry of Church Greeters

“In a world where houses double as impenetrable castles and most shopping is done online, serving as a greeter is countercultural. Greeters reflect an otherworldly gospel. They hold the church doors open for everyone, regardless of status—welcoming all, whether rich or poor, to the gathering of God’s people. Greeters reflect the unity believers have in Christ, a unity that transcends all worldly bonds. …”

– At The Gospel Coalition (US), Zac Lusk reminds of this important ministry.

This coming weekend, it’s quite possible that new people will come to church, seeking comfort after the attack at Bondi. A friendly, welcoming face at the door might make all the difference.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel on love in the face of terror at Bondi

From the Pastor’s Heart – a very timely edition –

“Sydney’s Anglican Archbishop Kanishka Raffel calls on Sydney to embrace our Jewish neighbours in love, friendship and support and to reject antisemitism, violence and hatred.

Archbishop Raffel says this is the way of Jesus.

Minister of Bondi Anglican Martin Morgan says they sheltered people in the church last night, who were terrified, running for their lives.

In a The Pastor’s Heart special, Archbishop Raffel is joined by minister of Bondi Anglican Church Martin Morgan and Messianic Jew Ben Pakula (also an Anglican Minister) in praying for those family and friends and the Bondi community, impacted by the gunman opening fire – leaving 16 dead including a 10 year old girl.”

– Watch or listen here.

And the page linked also includes the prayers made available by St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney.

How to fight your Phone Idolatry

“Smartphones are physical objects we take everywhere; they’re rarely more than an arm’s length away. When was the last time you went out for errands without your phone? Left for an overnight trip without your phone? We shudder at the thought.

We go through our days with near-constant attachment to these mobile devices. In every in-between moment of waking life—in line for a coffee, sitting in a waiting room, walking from point A to point B, stopped at a red light—we instinctively pull out our phone and scroll, text, check notifications, aimlessly toggle between apps.

It’s not just a nervous habit. It’s a liturgical impulse: muscle-memory habits of devotion. When was the last time you sat still in a pause moment and meandered in thought or daydreamed, rather than grabbing for your phone? Most of us don’t do that anymore.…”

– Brett McCracken writes at The Gospel Coalition.

Tears, Questions and Hope — When a senior pastor takes their own life

From The Pastor’s Heart, a painful but important discussion:

“In the last few months two senior evangelical leaders have taken their own lives.

The Archbishop’s letter said ‘It is with deep sadness that I write to inform you of the death of a colleague and friend … who took his own life on Tuesday and our hearts are heavy at this time as we come before God with our tears, questions and  … hope in the promise of resurrection.’

We react with a range of questions: Should I have known? Could I have done more? What do I say to the church? What do I say to the world, but most importantly where is God?

Keith Condie, from Anglican Deaconess Ministry’s Mental Health and Pastoral Care Institute and Trinette Stanley, Mental Health Educator with Anglicare, are our guests.”

– Watch or listen here.

Related:

Lifeline.

Corinth Archaeological Site with photos

Moore College’s Dr Lionel Windsor is continuing to post fascinating photos –

“In July 2025, I visited ancient Corinth with my wife Bron and daughter Ellie. We went to see archaeological remains associated with the Apostle Paul.

Here are some photos of the site and museum exhibits. They help to provide context for New Testament texts associated with Corinth. Enjoy!”

– See them at Forget the Channel.

The Idols of the Eyes

Phillip Jensen’s website is featuring two talks from the Queen’s Birthday Conference 2019.

The topic? The Idols of the Eyes.

Challenging.

Ethics with AI and Preaching

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“What are the dangers when pastors let AI assist… or sometimes author? …

Stephen Driscoll works in Campus Ministry in Canberra.  He’s the author of Made in Our Image: God, artificial intelligence and you.

Stephen argues that writing is thinking, and when we automate the writing we risk automating away the deep thinking and wrestling with God’s word that forms the preacher’s heart. …”

– Watch here.

Related:

John Piper asks ChatGPT to write a Prayer.

The Man of Promise — In whom do you trust?

From Phillip Jensen:

“Dear friends,

We come to the last of our series in the opening chapters of Genesis. We have certainly enjoyed rethinking the great themes that these chapters contain and hope that you have similarly enjoyed our discussions.

As we’re coming towards the end of the year, we are thinking about next year’s programmes. We would love to hear of any part of the Bible you would want us to work through, or any particular issues you would like us to address. …”

– Hear Philip Jensen and Peter Jensen at Two Ways News.

Expository Preaching Trust Calendar 2026

The Expository Preaching Trust has published their Calendar for 2026.

There are many opportunities for preachers to find help and encouragement,

Speakers include Simon Manchester and David Cook.

Details here.

Repeat the Sounding Joy: Advent devotionals with Christopher Ash — Part 1

From Tyndale House, Cambridge:

“In this four-part series for Advent, Tony Watkins talks to Christopher Ash, Writer in Residence at Tyndale House, Cambridge, about Luke chapters 1 and 2. These chapters are the focus of Christopher’s book of Advent devotions, Repeat the Sounding Joy (pub. Good Book Company).

In this first episode, Christopher and Tony discuss the birth of John the Baptist.…”

– Watch here.

Advent account a salutary reminder in self-centred times

“The Prayer Book Bible readings and Collect for Advent Sunday are a powerful reminder that the Jewish Messiah who was crucified in Roman Judea will one day return to the judge the world.

The reading from Matthew’s Gospel stresses the humility of Jesus when he entered Jerusalem on a donkey in fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah 9:9…”

– Julian Mann writes at The Conservative Woman. (Published in 2024.)

A Fresh Look at Romans

“Commentaries on Romans often begin with a short justification as to why the author thinks we need yet another commentary on Romans. Rosner does not need to justify his contribution, as his volume is a genuinely fresh approach to the letter. His book is not a commentary, and it does not cover every detail, but it gives readers a comprehensive overview of the letter.

For preachers and bible study leaders, this kind of theological overview can often be as helpful as a commentary which is stronger at the detailed, exegetical level. This volume will be helpful for any reader who wants to grow in their knowledge of Romans.…”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Peter Orr reviews Brian Rosner’s Strengthened by the Gospel.

The Birth of Multiculturalism

From Phillip Jensen:

“The Australian government glories in the development of multiculturalism. However, Australian society is now straining to maintain social harmony. Consequently, the government is trying to regulate freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of religion. For while migration can enrich a country, the concept of a nation celebrating and encouraging many cultures is a recipe for failure.

In the Bible, the creation of multiculturalism was God’s judgement at the Tower of Babel. In this episode of Two Ways News, we turn back to that great event recorded in Genesis 11.”

– Hear Phillip and Peter Jensen at Two Ways News.

Meals, missionaries, and the ‘Israel of God’: fresh light on the crisis in Galatia

From Dr. Lionel Windsor:

“Galatians is a letter with sharp edges. It addresses fundamental doctrinal issues. Yet behind Paul’s forceful rhetoric lies a very human, very concrete social situation. It’s a situation that sheds light on the theological debates about justification, circumcision, and Paul’s relationship to the law. My academic study, published as Chapter 16 in the book Paul in His Jewish and Graeco-Roman Context, offers a fresh account of this concrete situation.

I argue that the crisis in Galatia needs to be understood in light of early Christian missionary practices, hospitality, and the dynamics of table fellowship.

This new angle helps illuminate a passage at the end of the letter that has long been contested: Paul’s blessing of ‘as many as will conform to this rule … and mercy also upon the Israel of God’ (Gal. 6:16). …”

– If you are preaching through Galatians, or simply want to understand the Galatians better, do check out this latest post at Forget the Channel.

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