Martyn Iles, Q and A and what it tells us about Australia today
Posted on April 12, 2021
Filed under Culture wars, Opinion
“The Sydney Morning Herald thought this week’s Q and A was a significant cultural moment – so who are we to disagree?! They compared it with another one in 2008 where the shibboleth question for our culture, that of homosexuality, came up. It was indeed a revealing programme – telling us a great deal about where Australian culture, politics and religion are at – and where we are heading. …
It was the appearance of Martyn Iles that was too much for some people – even before he had been on the show. …”
– David Robertson writes at AP (the national Journal of the Presbyterian Church of Australia) and gives thanks for Martyn Iles.
Related:
Excerpts from the programme may be seen here. Or the whole thing on the Q and A website (9th April 2021).
Romans Crash Course
Posted on April 12, 2021
Filed under Resources, Theology
From Lionel Windsor at Moore College:
“This is a 75 minute video course in Paul’s letter to the Romans designed for small group leaders, children’s leaders, and anyone else who wants to get a handle on this incredibly rich biblical letter.”
– Watch here.
Fred Nile to retire from NSW Parliament — names Lyle Shelton as successor
Posted on April 12, 2021
Filed under People
From a Christian Democratic Party Media Release, April 11, 2021:
“Christian Democratic Party Founder, the Reverend Honourable Fred Nile MLC today announced that after 40 years in the NSW Parliament, he will retire this November from the Legislative Council.
Rev Nile has recommended to the CDP’s State Board, and it has unanimously agreed, that Lyle Shelton, former Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby, will be his successor subject to the agreement of the CDP’s State Council.…”
– Full media release (PDF file).
Cults pursue online converts
Posted on April 12, 2021
Filed under Resources
“You get an Instagram message from someone you don’t know who seems keen to make Christian friends.
You receive a Facebook request to ‘like’ a group that looks Christian and posts Bible verses; people you know have ‘liked’ it, so you do the same. …
Seems harmless, right? It might be so, of course, but…”
– Here’s a very interesting article from Judy Adamson at SydneyAnglicans.net.
PM and Premier join in prayer for the Royal Family
Posted on April 11, 2021
Filed under Sydney Diocese
“It was to have been a normal Sunday at St Andrew’s Cathedral, but then news broke, late on Friday night, of the death of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The service was expanded, not as a memorial service, but as an opportunity to pray for the Royal Family and express sympathy, love and respect on the Duke’s passing…”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell reports on this morning’s service at the Cathedral.
Photo: Bianca De Marchi, NCA Newswire via SydneyAnglicans.net
Positive persuasive evangelistic campaigns
Posted on April 11, 2021
Filed under Resources
From Dominic Steele at The Pastor’s Heart:
“What makes an effective evangelistic campaign? What messages will engage non Christian audiences with the truth of the gospel? This week we speak with three key evangelists about the best way to reach the lost.
We discuss positive evangelism, maximising mission opportunities, integrating online and offline campaigns, and ideas for a large scale campaign.”
Mourning Prince Philip (updated)
Posted on April 9, 2021
Filed under People, Sydney Diocese
From SydneyAnglicans.net –
The Commonwealth is in mourning after the death of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh.
“The passing of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh is an immense sadness and our thoughts immediately turn to Her Majesty, the Queen and the Royal Family in their grief,” said Bishop Peter Hayward, the Administrator of Sydney Diocese, in a statement soon after the news was announced.
“A marriage of over 70 years standing and a life of service to the Commonwealth through war and peace, is a testament to Prince Philip’s loving care and strong sense of duty. We are praying for Her Majesty, the Queen and her family, that they may know the comfort of Christ at this difficult time. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Ps 91:1”
An official memorial service is not likely until funeral arrangements have been finalised in London. However, the Governor-General, the Prime Minster and the Premier will be attending St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney tomorrow morning, taking the opportunity to pray for Her Majesty, the Queen, and the Royal family.
Photo: The condolence book and portrait standing in the Cathedral.
The service will be livestreamed from the cathedral and will be led by the Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel and Bishop Hayward will preach.
Update:
The Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, has written these prayers which you may wish to use in church tomorrow. (PDF file via SydneyAnglicans.net)
The ‘Wrong Man’ to accuse of a hate incident
Posted on April 9, 2021
Filed under Culture wars
From Christian Concern in the UK:
Former police officer Harry Miller writes about his important legal case against the police for recording non-crime hate incidents. Harry explains why the police picked ‘the wrong man’ when they found him guilty without trial of a non-crime hate incident.
“Since October 2020, The College of Policing has authorised the police to record the details of school children accused of wrong-speak. Questioning gender ideology, supporting a traditional position on marriage, criticising the hijab, laughing at the wrong Charlie Hebdo cartoon, or even preaching the gospel during lunch is now subject to rubber stamping by the Thought Police…”
Evangelists in No Man’s Land: On Not Losing the Gospel in the Culture Wars
Posted on April 9, 2021
Filed under Encouragement
“Ah, the culture wars. Never was so much owed by so many to so few. For every keyboard warrior who wastes a good half day on Facebook or Twitter, there are a thousand regular people who just want to get on with life.
And yet, as Christians it can be hard to work out if we should be getting involved. Should we be taking sides, or can we just sit on the sidelines and remain neutral? …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Tom Habib writes to encourage Christians to not lost sight of what’s most important.
Continued prayers urged for Nominees for Archbishop of Sydney
Posted on April 8, 2021
Filed under People, Sydney Diocese
The election Synod to elect the next Archbishop of Sydney begins on Tuesday 4th May 2021.
Please uphold in prayer each of the men who have been nominated, and also pray for the whole synod process, that it might be honouring to the Lord and for the good of his people.
Those nominated are:
The Rt Rev Chris Edwards.
The Rt Rev Peter Hayward.
The Rt Rev Dr Michael Stead.
For your convenience, we’ll add links above to websites set up by those commending them for the office, when we become aware of them.
Photo courtesy SydneyAnglicans.net.
Church Society response to the 31:8 Lessons Learned Review
Posted on April 8, 2021
Filed under Church of England
Church Society in the UK has released this Open letter to their members concerning Church Society’s response to the recent 31:8 Lessons Learned Review (concerning Jonathan Fletcher).
See also: Glen Scrivener speaks with Lee Furney, one of 27 victims who spoke to the independent review.
Spate of kidnappings in Nigeria
Posted on April 7, 2021
Filed under World news
“Insecurity has continued to spread across the states with rampant killings, banditry and kidnapping.
Eight people were killed and no fewer than 32 were abducted in various incidents.
In Kaduna, bandits killed eight and abducted 25, including four women members of the Anglican Church. …”
– The Nation on the latest kidnappings in Nigeria.
Unprecedented times?
Posted on April 6, 2021
Filed under Opinion
“About 10 years ago I was in the north of Nigeria, in a region dominated by the Islamic group, Boko Haram.
I was locked away in a church compound guarded by the army, training a group of local evangelists. Just down the road a bomb was set off outside another church.
These local Christians knew that by trying to share the gospel with their Muslim neighbours, they faced the very real threat of death.
Yet on my last day there they prayed for me, and for Christians in Australia.
They prayed that God would make us ready to face opposition because, they reasoned, we had never had to face any real opposition in the past and they were not at all sure that we would persevere in the faith now the tide was turning against us. It was a great and insightful prayer. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Moore College Vice-Principal Simon Gillham helps put things in much-needed perspective.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…