John Piper asks ChatGPT to write a Prayer

Posted on April 26, 2025 
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Tim Challies shares:

“This is just a short clip from the TGC conference, but I think it’s helpful.

Piper shares a prayer ChatGPT wrote and explains why it would be appalling to pray it.”

– Watch the two and a half minute video here.

Book review: ‘Scrolling Ourselves to Death’

Posted on April 25, 2025 
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“While I was going through Bible College, my ministry supervisor encouraged me to read Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business (Penguin, 1985). It quickly became a personal favourite, and I’ve lost count as to how many people I have recommended it to.

Even before the invention of the internet it was a brilliant analysis as to how media ecologies—to use a phrase coined by Postman—were changing the way we thought through and debated issues. …”

– At AP, the Australian Presbyterian online journal, Mark Powell reviews Scrolling Ourselves to Death – a 21st century successor to Neil Postman’s work.

Related:

Podcast: Are We Scrolling Ourselves to Death? (Brett McCracken and Ivan Mesa) – Crossway.

In Memoriam: Pope Francis — Message from the Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council

Posted on April 24, 2025 
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“On behalf of the Gafcon movement and the Anglican Church of Rwanda, I extend my heartfelt condolences to those closest to Pope Francis, and to the many Roman Catholics within our regions whom we know and hold in deep respect.

His life of quiet humility and steadfast service to the poor and marginalised leaves a lasting witness in our world.

We join with others around the world in giving thanks for his life and praying for comfort for all who mourn his passing.

The Most Rev’d Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
Thursday 24th April 2025.”

– from GAFCON, via e-mail.

Being a Christian Entrepreneur — An Interview with Mr Neil Smith

Posted on April 24, 2025 
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For the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, Charles Raven interviews Christian businessman Neil Smith.

There are some fascinating insights into the challenges of doing business as a Christian – as well as insights into what works and what doesn’t work in investment and development.

In 2016 Neil founded The Relay Trust – a charity set up to enable the training of grassroots Christian leaders in the poorest Anglican provinces of Africa – currently training about 8,000 people a month in partnership with the GSFA. (Charles Raven is The Relay Trust’s CEO.)

– Watch here. 36 minutes.

Australian Church Record Journal — Easter 2025

Posted on April 24, 2025 
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The latest issue of The Australian Church Record Journal is now available for you to download –

“Dear friends,

At Easter, we’re reminded of the central task of preaching the gospel—God’s message about Jesus for his glory and our salvation. But this isn’t just a seasonal call; as Paul charged Timothy, preaching is an ongoing task, in season and out (2 Tim 4:2).

In this edition of the ACR, we focus on the preaching task with:

• Survey results from Sydney Anglican rectors on Sunday preaching frequency
• Reflections by Charles Cleworth on the survey and the biblical call to preach
• Nathan Walter on the necessity of expository preaching
• James Russell’s essay on John Stott’s influence on Sydney preaching
• An interview with Alistair Begg on his preaching ministry
• Historical insights on J. C. Ryle by Andrew Atherstone
• The continuation of a discussion between Andrew Heard and Lionel Windsor
• A thought-provoking piece by Seumas Macdonald on a theology of church decline
• Plus, book reviews, interviews with Dave Jensen and Jeanette Chin, and more.

We hope this edition encourages and equips you to keep preaching the word faithfully.

God bless,
Mike Leite
Editorial Director, ACR.”

– Download your copy – and do share the link with others.

King’s Birthday Conference 2025

Posted on April 23, 2025 
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Two Ways Ministries’ 2025 King’s Birthday Conference is coming up at Moore College on Monday 9th June.

“From Feminism to motherhood, from animal rights to toxic masculinity, from racism to euthanasia, Australia is in an ethical turmoil on many issues. Christians often feel in the crossfire of these culture wars. Do Christian ethics apply to non-Christians?

This year at the King’s Birthday Conference, Phillip Jensen is going to look at how becoming a Christian takes us back to the universal morality of Creation.”

– See the details, and register.

The Pope and how we are right with God — Rachel Ciano and Leonardo de Chirico

Posted on April 22, 2025 
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From The Pastor’s Heart – a special programme:

“The death of Pope Francis marks a pivotal moment for Roman Catholics.

What does this transition mean for the future of Catholicism and how should Protestants respond?

… Francis’s final public act—granting indulgences during Easter—epitomises the theological chasm between Catholic and Protestant understandings of salvation.

His distinctive Marian devotion and frequent requests for prayers further highlight fundamental differences in how salvation is understood. …

Leonardo di Chirico is pastor of the Church Brecca di Roma and director of the Reformanda Initiative.

Rachel Ciano lectures in Christianity and History at Sydney Missionary and Bible College, and is part of the faculty at the Rome Scholars and Leaders Network, hosted by The Reformanda Initiative.”

– Watch or listen here.

The meaning of “sex” – in the UK and Australia

Posted on April 22, 2025 
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“A high profile decision from the UK Supreme Court this week, For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16 (16 April 2025) (‘FWS’), holds that the word ‘sex’ as used in the UK anti-discrimination legislation the Equality Act 2010 (UK) (‘the EA 2010’), means biological sex, and that the term does not change its meaning in relation to those who have obtained a gender recognition certificate (‘GRC’) under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (UK) (‘the GRA 2004’).

In the circumstances of this case, this meant that where a ‘quota’ had been established for certain governance roles requiring 50% of non-executive members to be women, that quota could not be met by including those with an ‘acquired gender’ of female due to their holding a GRC.

But the ramifications of the decision go far beyond the specific quota legislation. …”

– Associate Professor in Law Neil Foster writes at Law and Religion Australia.

Obeying God or the Government? NSW Conversion Practices Law with Neil Foster, Michael Stead & Simon Swadling

Posted on April 22, 2025 
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From The Pastor’s Heart:

“New South Wales’ Conversion Practices Ban Act has just come into effect — along with guidelines from Anti-Discrimination NSW that many Christian leaders believe overstep the legal boundaries and impact ordinary pastoral ministry.

We are joined by legal expert Associate Professor Neil Foster, South Sydney Bishop Michael Stead, and Summer Hill Anglican Assistant Minister Simon Swadling.

Together, we unpack the implications of the new law for Christian preaching, prayer, counselling, and discipleship — especially in matters of sexuality, marriage, and gender.

We discuss:

– Watch or listen here. Quite extraordinary. Important viewing.

The Failure of Resurrection Apologetics What exactly do we believe in?

Posted on April 22, 2025 
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From Phillip Jensen:

“In this episode of Two Ways News, we’re looking at the resurrection both from a historical and a theological point of view.

History and argumentation have great merit, and yet a defective presupposition that leaves us unsatisfied. Yet prophetic history not only satisfies our knowledge of historical events but also explains their meaning and purpose. Jesus said that without Moses and the prophets, people will not believe even if someone rises from the dead. This has been demonstrated over the centuries and in our age today. …”

– Peter and Phillip Jensen discuss the meaning of the Resurrection.

Where is Jesus now? And what is he doing?

Posted on April 22, 2025 
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“At Easter Christians all over the world repeat the joyous affirmation of faith: ‘Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.’ But then comes the question: ‘OK, he is risen. So where is he then? And it’s not just the question of an inquisitive child, it should be a question for every adult and for every Christian too.

The Apostles’ Creed tells us:

On the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

So, Jesus is in heaven. But where is that and what does it mean that he ‘ascended’? It’s not just non-Christians who regard this as somewhat fanciful; many Christians struggle with this idea too. …”

– David Robertson writes at AP, the Presbyterian online journal.

Classics for Easter: Handel — I Know That My Redeemer Liveth

Posted on April 21, 2025 
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“The composer Georg Frideric Handel (1685-1759) was born in Germany but settled in London in 1712, where he spent the bulk of his career, becoming a naturalised British subject in 1727. At that time he was mainly composing Italian operas but by the late 1730s their popularity was declining and he was turning to English choral works. In 1738 he completed Saul from a libretto sent to him by English landowner and patron of the arts Charles Jennens.

In July 1741 Jennens sent him a new libretto for an oratorio, drawn from the King James Bible and the Coverdale Psalter, with a few small alterations.…”

– At The Conservative Woman, Margaret Ashworth shares her love for ‘I Know That My Redeemer Liveth’.

Photo: Performance of The Messiah at Sydney Town Hall, 2023.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel on the death of Pope Francis

Posted on April 21, 2025 
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“Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Statement from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
The passing of Pope Francis

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Pope Francis, and those closest to him.

The example of the humility that characterised his life will be his lasting legacy.

On behalf of Sydney Anglicans, I extend our profound sympathy to Archbishop Fisher and the Catholic community in Sydney.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel

April 21, 2025.”

– Media release from the Diocese of Sydney.

Don’t sleep through Easter — the Resurrection of Jesus is a bolt from the blue

Posted on April 20, 2025 
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Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel preached at this morning’s Easter Day service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. He spoke from 1 Corinthians 15:12-22.

– Watch here.

A hymn for Easter Day 1775

Posted on April 20, 2025 
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Two hundred and fifty years ago, John Newton wrote this hymn for Easter Day 1775 –

Glorious things of thee are spoken – See the details at JohnNewton.org.

For more, see this article by Marylynn Rouse, CEO of The John Newton Project:

“The River Ouse meanders peacefully behind the church of St Peter and St Paul in Olney, Buckinghamshire. It bids a pleasant walk along its river banks as swans glide gracefully by while a watchful heron keeps an eye on a troop of Canada geese on the opposite side of the bank. This tranquil scene was the refuge of the local minister, newly ordained, who fled there in a state of panic.

Before coming to Olney the Reverend John Newton had published six sermons. He had just preached from the last one! A friend explained many years later, ‘he thought he had told them his whole stock, and was considerably depressed.’

Newton himself recalled: ‘I was walking one afternoon by the side of the River Ouse. I asked myself, How long has this river run? Many hundred years before I was born, and will certainly run many years after I am gone. Who supplies the fountain from whence this river comes? God. Is not the fund for my sermons equally inexhaustible?—the word of God. Yes, surely. I have never been afraid of running out since that time.’…”

– Published at Evangelicals Now (requires a free subscription).

Images with thanks to Marylynn Rouse.

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