God’s ‘Authentic Intelligence’ — Easter 2026 message from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel

Posted on April 1, 2026 
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“Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has issued a timely warning against relying on Artificial Intelligence for spiritual direction, urging Australians to look instead to the ‘Authentic Intelligence’ of the Easter message. …”

– Read this report from Russell Powell.

– Share the video with your friends – or show it in church this weekend!

– Read the full text below – or download it as a PDF file.

– And don’t forget that Daylight Saving ends on Sunday morning.

Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney 2026 Easter Message

Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. (NIV)
John 20:19b-20

One of the most surprising things I have heard recently is the news that some people are using artificial intelligence to talk to God.

At least, they think they are talking to God.

This isn’t just searching an online Bible for answers — people are asking AI to generate spiritual guidance for their lives.

But at Easter, we celebrate something infinitely greater: God speaking to us in person.

When Jesus appeared to his disciples on the first Easter day, they were ‘locked away’ fearing those who put Jesus to death. But Jesus appears in the midst of them, speaking ‘Peace’.

It was an everyday greeting, but this was not everyday peace. It was the peace that had been bought by his pierced hands and side.

They were overjoyed to see him, not only because he had conquered death, but because his death purchased peace with God, and drove away all their fear.

AI can certainly be useful, though not without risks. But when it comes to the most important things in life, God has come to us and brought us peace through his Son.

This Easter, remember that for two thousand years we have had God’s Authentic Intelligence. Communication from God – in Jesus! You can ‘chat’ with God and hear his voice through the words of Jesus in whom, the Bible says, are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

So, why not use this season to go offline and pick up a Bible. Some questions only God can answer.

Kanishka Raffel
Archbishop of Sydney
Easter 2026

Evidence for the resurrection of Jesus — papers

Posted on April 1, 2026 
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Associate Professor Neil Foster writes –

“Following my previous post [about a breakfast seminar run by the Newcastle Christian Lawyers Fellowship this morning], here is the paper I am presenting on evaluation of the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus applying principles of the law of evidence applied in the courts …

In that paper I mention a brilliant paper on the same broad area by former Justice of Appeal Ken Handley; for those who haven’t seen it, here it is for download …”

– Download both papers from Law and Religion Australia.

Getting Authority and Care Right – Peter Orr on Today’s Pastor

Posted on April 1, 2026 
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From The Pastor’s Heart –

“ ‘Authority’ and ‘care’-  the two big words New Testament lecturer Peter Orr says belong together at the heart of real shepherding.

Lecturer at Sydney’s Moore Theological College, Peter Orr, has told the Nexus Conference, that one of the great confusions of our moment is confusion about the role of the pastor.

He asks whether in circles like ours, with a strong and right emphasis on every-member ministry, we accidentally downplayed the distinctiveness of the pastor?

What does it mean to say that a pastor has real authority, but that it is derived, limited and for care? How to avoid harshness, being too soft and lazy.”

– Watch here.

Daylight Saving in NSW ends Sunday 5th April 2026

Posted on April 1, 2026 
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Just a reminder – in NSW, Daylight saving ends at 3:00am AEDT on Easter Sunday 5th April 2026.

Peter & Christine Jensen – Moore College 100 Ministry Stories

Posted on March 31, 2026 
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From Moore College’s 100 Ministry Stories, Ed Loane speaks with Peter and Christine Jensen –

“From Sunday school classmates to a lifetime of gospel partnership, Peter and Christine Jensen’s story is deeply intertwined with the life of Moore College. Converted through the ministry of the 1959 Billy Graham Crusade, their faith was shaped through church community, theological training, and a shared commitment to proclaiming Christ.

Peter’s years at Moore College were marked by the influence of teachers such as Broughton Knox and Donald Robinson, whose commitment to Scripture shaped his lifelong ministry as a pastor, teacher, and later Archbishop of Sydney. Christine served faithfully alongside him, investing deeply in student wives, women’s ministry, and the prayer life of the College community.

Together, their ministry reflects the impact of Moore College not only in Sydney but around the world— training leaders, strengthening churches, and equipping generations to know and proclaim the Word of God.”

– Most encouraging. Watch here.

The Arrogance of the Immoral

Posted on March 31, 2026 
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From Phillip Jensen –

“Because of sin, immorality is universal. Sometimes it is so blatant that everybody can see it. But what happens if everybody can see it except for the church?

In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul is dealing not only with immorality, but also with arrogance.”

– Hear Peter and Phillip Jensen discuss at Two Ways News.

No conflict, no drama

Posted on March 30, 2026 
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“George Bernard Shaw is quoted as saying: ‘No conflict, no drama.’

Conflict drives our stories. The hero engages in single combat with the villain. Two suitors vie for the attention of an attractive and intelligent woman. The detective’s wits are pitted against the cunning of the criminal. Scripture, likewise, is full of stories, drama, and conflict. Whether it’s God vs idols, Jesus vs the Pharisees, Paul vs the false teachers, or the Spirit vs the flesh, the Bible is replete with military, emotional, ideological, relational, and intellectual conflict, often all at once!

As preachers, we can help our churches by bringing out these conflicts of Scripture in our preaching. Doing so aids the clarity of our preaching – it helps the Christian to know not just what Jesus is for, but also what He’s against. It also drives interest, as hearers wish to see how these conflicts will be resolved. …”

– At The Expository Preaching Trust, Michael Leong shares some helpful thoughts on preaching.

Why I returned to the Middle East

Posted on March 29, 2026 
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“As I stepped onto the plane, it was noticeably empty. It seemed many regular travelers had decided to stay back that day. Probably because I was heading to the Middle East.

I’ve lived in this region for almost two years, having moved here for the opportunity to serve in evangelism and discipleship among university students. …”

–At The Gospel Coalition, an unnamed believer shares his or her reasons for going back.

“ My reflections aren’t only relevant to those living in this region or serving in cross-cultural ministry.”

Image courtesy adsbexchange.com showing air traffic, 29 March 2026.

Global Anglican Council official list

Posted on March 28, 2026 
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From John Sandeman at The Other Cheek –

“The official list of the Global Anglican Council, set up to lead in a reset Anglican Communion, was released by the Gafcon General Secretary, Paul Donison, overnight. It differs from the list published by The Other Cheek recently – which included people who are likely to join the council but have not yet. The Other Cheek apologises for this error.

It includes …”

– See the list here.

Photo: Image: In the livestream from the Advent Cable Network Nigeria, Gafcon General Secretary Paul Denison announces the Global Anglican Council.

Canadian Christian fined for posting ‘There are only Two Sexes’

Posted on March 28, 2026 
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“A former Canadian school board trustee — an outspoken Christian — is facing nearly $1 million in fines for expressing on social media his belief that there are only two sexes, male and female. …

All of this began back in October 2017, when Neufeld posted on his personal Facebook page that the district’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) program was rooted not in biology but was a ‘social construct’. …”

– AT AP, the Presbyterian online journal, Guido Kettniss shares his latest compilation of news from around the world.

Bible Society in the UK withdraws The Quiet Revival report

Posted on March 27, 2026 
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Paul Williams, Chief Executive Officer of The Bible Society in the UK has published a statement explaining that the YouGov data used to inform Bible Society’s The Quiet Revival report was faulty –

“Earlier this month YouGov informed Bible Society that the 2024 survey sample on which our report The Quiet Revival was based was faulty, and it can no longer be regarded as a reliable source of information about the spiritual landscape in Britain.

We recognise that this news may feel discouraging and we share that sense of disappointment.

Over a 15-month period, Bible Society repeatedly sought and received assurances from YouGov, regarding both the robustness of the methodology and the reliability of the report’s conclusions. It was only at the beginning of March that YouGov confirmed that it failed to activate key quality control technologies that protect the sample from a wide range of errors and this undermines the reliability of the results.

We are therefore deeply disappointed that YouGov not only made an error but also that it only discovered this so recently. …”

– Read the full statement and see his video message.

See also:

The Quiet Revival: FAQs – What went wrong with The Quiet Revival research?

and

The Quiet Revival one year on: what’s the story? – where you can download their new report, The Quiet Revival one year on: what’s the story? (scroll down on that page.)

Despite the statistical problems identified, it remains true that many churches in the UK – and in Sydney – are seeing increased numbers of younger men seeking answers about Jesus.

Related:

The Pastor’s Heart – Riding the young adult revival – November 2025.

Finland’s Supreme Court acquits Parliamentarian on Bible Tweet, Convicts her for “insult” in 20-year-old church pamphlet on separate charge

Posted on March 27, 2026 
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“In a narrow 3–2 decision, the Finnish Supreme Court has found parliamentarian Päivi Räsänen guilty of ‘hate speech’ on one charge relating to the expression of her beliefs on marriage and sexual ethics in a twenty-year-old church pamphlet.

Räsänen has been criminally convicted for publishing the 2004 pamphlet for her church, alongside Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola.

The conviction is for ‘making and keeping available to the public a text that insults a group’. The Supreme Court unanimously acquitted Räsänen for her 2019 Bible verse tweet. …”

– Report and image from ADF International.

Radical Kinship – Plenary sessions from the 2026 P&A Annual Conference

Posted on March 27, 2026 
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Simon Flinders (Archdeacon to the Archbishop of Sydney) spoke at the recent Priscilla and Aquila Centre Annual Conference at Moore College. The theme was Radical Kinship – Men and Women in God’s Family.

Videos of the Plenary Sessions have now been published by Moore College –

Plenary Session 1.
Discipleship as new love – Jesus’ invitation to radically rethink “family”.

In a culture that elevates family as the ultimate source of identity and fulfilment, Jesus offers a radically different vision. In this talk, Simon Flinders explores how discipleship to Christ reorders our deepest loves and loyalties. With clarity and care, he shows that belonging to God’s family is not secondary, but central to the gospel—and a gift that reshapes every other relationship.

Plenary Session 2.
Church as family – The apostles’ invitation to live as siblings.

In a world where church can easily be seen as an event or institution, the New Testament presents something far richer. In this talk, Simon Flinders shows that the church is not like a family—it is family. Drawing on the language of adoption and new birth, he explores the depth of our shared identity in Christ and the practical implications for how we love, serve, and care for one another as brothers and sisters in God’s household.

MISSING: Twelve Primates – The Real Story of the Installation

Posted on March 26, 2026 
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From Anglican Futures –

“The Anglican Communion is made up of forty-two autonomous provinces who are meant to work together. They are aided in this by four ‘Instruments of Communion’, of which the Archbishop of Canterbury is one. It is no secret that for decades the Anglican Communion has been riven with disagreement over the authority of the Scriptures and the inability of the Instruments of Communion to maintain discipline and uphold Anglican doctrine.

Today, at the Installation of the Most Revd Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, the extent and seriousness of that division was laid bare. All the pomp and ceremony could not hide the fact that the leaders of twelve of those forty-two provinces had refused to attend the service.

More importantly, those twelve provinces represented the leadership of the vast majority of Gafcon and the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA) and by any reckoning the majority of the world’s Anglicans. Those who stayed away were…”

– Anglican Futures points out that most of the world’s Anglicans were not represented. Indeed, many of the world’s Anglicans may be unaware of the increasingly irrelevant event in Canterbury.

Related:

All Gafcon and at least most GSFA Primates passed the test of staying away from Archbishop of Canterbury consecration – John Sandeman at The Other Cheek.

Photo: Neil Turner / Lambeth Palace.

Installation Sermon by Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally

Posted on March 26, 2026 
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Sarah Mullally has been installed as the latest Archbishop of Canterbury. Her sermon has been published on her website –

“‘For nothing will be impossible with God’. (Luke 1.37)

May I speak in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I am delighted to be with you today. Over the last week I have walked the ancient pilgrim path from St Paul’s Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral. Each day my heart and spirits were lifted immeasurably by the people young and old we encountered, even though my aching feet and limbs tell a different story. …”

– Read it here. Most interesting to see what is not the focus.

And from our Presbyterian friends –

The Essence of Christianity – David Burke.

“Every now and then someone pops up on media and declares the essence of Christianity to be …. (fill in the blanks with your favourite cliché).

We don’t need to guess at the essence of Christianity. The Bible tells us.

Writing to Corinth, Paul reminds readers of the gospel which they had believed and by which they were being saved if they stuck with it:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures … (1 Cor 15:3-4, ESV). …”

See also:

The Installation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, brought to you by… – Anglican Futures.

Photo courtesy Lambeth Palace.

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