Ignorance or historical censorship?

“In teaching about William Cowper to groups of people under the age of 30, I have tried to place him in his historical context.

To my amazement, I have discovered an almost complete lack of knowledge of colonial history.

The names and events of governors Arthur, Bligh or Macquarie, or issues like emancipation, or the exploration of the continent – the crossing of the Blue Mountains, the inland explorers or the journeys of Matthew Flinders – or even the gold rushes, were basically unknown…”

– Phillip Jensen writes about the importance of history. (Also at SydneyAnglicans.net)

Encouragement and example in Evangelism

What is the gospel?

In characteristic style, Chappo gets straight to the point –

“It does not focus upon us, not should it draw attention to us. It focusses on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what the gospel is about. The gospel is not about us. The gospel is not even about us and our needs. It not even about us and our needs and those being met in Christ. It is none of those!

The gospel is about Jesus Christ our Lord. That is the gospel. I’m not talking about how you engage people in listening to the gospel – you might do that in a hundred and one different ways. But when I have gospelled you, it is about the Lord Jesus Christ that I have spoken from beginning to end.

It is about him. OK?”

– from a talk given in the UK in 2004. (See the last link on this page – “The Training an Evangelist Needs – 2 Cor 4v5”.)

While you’re there, read about the very exciting A Passion for Life initiative – “a [UK] nationwide initiative that is drawing together local evangelical churches to plan a fantastic variety of missional initiatives culminating in Easter 2010”.

And see their terrific collection of videos — a selection of testimonies and apologetics.

Mobile edition available

If you have access to the ACL website on a mobile device, we’ve now enabled a lightweight mobile version for your convenience.

To continue to see the website in the standard format, there should be a link at the bottom of each page.

Talking about Mary

“You would have to be living on another planet not to notice the avalanche of publicity about Mary MacKillop at the moment. …

However, when talking with people from a Catholic background, rather than raising … concerns straight away, it would be better to take another approach. …”

– Mark Gilbert makes some helpful suggestions on how to start a conversation with your Romans Catholic friends – at SydneyAnglicans.net.

How will they hear without a preacher?

“Preaching has fallen on hard times. So suggests a report out of Durham University’s College of Preachers. The British university’s CODEC research center, which aims to explore ‘the interfaces between the Bible, the digital environment and contemporary culture,’ conducted the study to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the College of Preachers. The report is not very encouraging…”

– from Al Mohler’s latest column.

Biblical Baptism revisited

Barry Newman picks up the theme of Baptism in the latest posts on his blog –

“Over September 1 to September 13 2009 I created a series of blogs on the subject entitled “Biblical Baptism”. The material has been discussed by various people in different venues and I have tried to listen carefully to the comments made. What follows is an attempt to further contribute to the debate…”

– Read Barry’s blog here.

Find the Bible boring?

John Piper has some words of exhortation in this video excerpt from a sermon on Philippians 2:14-16.

(Or see the whole thing.)

Mother of three seeks backing of C of E General Synod for North American Anglicans

“A mother-of-three children from Eastbourne is officially to ask the Church of England’s Parliament (General Synod) to support Anglicans in the USA and Canada who are unwilling to conform to what they perceive to be their churches’ reaction of historic Anglican teaching and practice. …

She said: ‘It is my desire to give Synod an opportunity to hear about the unfair treatment of people who have continued to maintain the Anglican faith in doctrine, practice and worship, and to express their continuing fellowship with them as loyal Anglicans.’…”

– Report via Anglican Mainstream. (Photo: Church of England website.)

More Catechesis, Please

“Packer’s last crusade in this world,” the Rev. Dr. J.I. Packer affirms, is recovering catechesis — systematic instruction in the Christian fundamentals — to meet the challenges of an increasingly pagan age.

– Amen to Dr Packer as reported by The Living Church. (Image: Oak Hill College.)

Air Conditioning Hell: How Liberalism happens

Tempted to be embarrassed by the biblical doctrine of hell?

“Though some lampoon the stereotypical “hell-fire and brimstone” preaching of an older evangelical generation, the fact is that most church members may never have heard a sermon on hell — even in an evangelical congregation. Has hell gone dormant among evangelicals as well?

Interestingly, the doctrine of hell serves very well as a test case for the slide into theological liberalism. The pattern of this slide looks something like this…”

– Read this article by Al Mohler in the current 9Marks eJournal. (Photo: Together for the Gospel.)

New Westminster files cross-appeal

“The diocese of New Westminster has filed a cross-appeal of a November decision in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

The cross-appeal was filed in response to an appeal filed by the trustees of four Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) congregations in late December. …”

— report from The Anglican Journal of the Anglican Church of Canada.

Related: New Westminster news page.

Shepherd to the great outdoors

“What does a 62-year-old former Sydney schoolboy do when put in charge of the world’s largest, by area, Anglican diocese – stretching from Dongara to the top of Western Australia, taking in the Kimberley and the Pilbara, the miners, the fishermen, the public servants, the Aborigines, the flotsam of Australia’s remaining great frontier?

David Mulready is aware of the perils of such a life  … There is not much money and few clergy are ready to take on the frontier life. For the 155,000 people in the diocese, there are 23 Anglican clergy…”

– This piece on Bishop David Mulready, by Malcolm Brown in The Sydney Morning Herald, is a timely reminder to keep the people of the North West in your prayers. (Photo: DNWA.)

Related: Ministry Opportunities in the Diocese of North West Australia.

What’s happening to InterVarsity?

Take the time to read this important piece by J. Mack Stiles. It’s a strong reminder for churches and parachurch organisations to remain crystal clear on the gospel —

“For the better part of 30 years I have been a ‘company man.’ My life has been devoted to student ministry through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as a campus staff worker. All four of my books are published by IVP. The eleven Urbana missions conferences I attended shaped my life as a student and as a staff worker. … I love IV, and I long for its success. …

But, as Phillip Jensen says, the generation that assumes the gospel is the generation most responsible for the loss of the gospel.”

Read it here – from the current 9Marks eJournal.

Hearing God’s Voice, Speaking God’s Words

Of interest to readers within striking distance of Ireland — Dr Peter O’Brien is speaking on Ephesians at The Castle on March 6th. Details here.

(Photo: Ramon Williams.)

Preaching without notes

“I’m a convert to preaching without any notes.

I know it’s not for everyone, but I reckon more preachers could do it if they wanted to.

I’ve preached evangelistically without notes for years, by memorising certain talks that I knew I would get to repeat many times. But I’ve not thought it ‘worth it’ to preach all the time without notes. Until now. …”

– At Read Better, Preach Better, Moore College’s Con Campbell shares his experience in preaching without notes.

← Previous Page — Next Page →