An animated guide to the Psalms
The team at The Bible Project have released a very effective guide to understanding The Psalms.
It’s a nine minute video – here.
Horror of Paris attacks reflect theological identity and ambition of ISIS
“Having unilaterally disarmed itself against understanding any theological argument because it has been at war with any kind of theological authority, the modern secular west now faces a theological enemy that it cannot understand.”
– Albert Mohler’s The Briefing broadcast, Monday 16 November 2015, looks at the theological underpinnings of the attacks in Paris on the weekend.
The 20 minute episode is most enlightening. There’s also a transcript.
Principles for how Christians should relate to those of other faiths
“Since September 11, 2001 the question how Christians and Muslims relate to each other has been more urgent. This question is part of the larger issue of how Christians are called to live in a pluralistic world…”
– John Piper penned these twenty principles back in 2002, and they have been highlighted today by Justin Taylor at his blog. Worth spending the time to work through.
A fresh look at the relationship between every Christian and evangelism
Lionel Windsor at Moore College has a new book out – Gospel Speech.
Read about it at his website.
‘We are at war’, but ours is not against flesh and blood
“In the Archbishop of Canterbury’s short and moving statement in response to the Paris attacks, the terrorists, their beliefs and actions are described as ‘evil’, ‘wicked’ and a ‘demonic curse’ which Christians are called to oppose. What does he mean by these words, and how are Christians practically to engage in this opposition? …
Whether the Archbishop is referring to this or not, it’s important once again to remind ourselves of what the Bible teaches about spiritual warfare…”
– Andrew Symes writes at Anglican Mainstream.
Sam Allberry interviewed on The White Horse Inn
Sam Allberry, author of the book Is God Anti-Gay? was interviewed by Michael Horton on The White Horse Inn broadcast in late September.
“How does the issue of sexual preference relate to our identity as Christians, and how are we to talk about our differences with others in a world that is increasingly accepting of homosexuality and same-sex marriage?”
Worth hearing.
Good Governance Workshop 26 November
A Call for Christian extremists
“The effects of extremism have been on display all weekend. Even this morning they are splashed across every television screen, every news site, the front page of every newspaper. The attacks in Paris have shown us extremism at its most brutal and bloody, the kind that celebrates death, destruction and mayhem.
But did you know that the Bible calls Christians to extremism as well? It calls Christians to be zealots in a cause, to go to great lengths to carry out extreme deeds in the name of Jesus. We see this in Paul’s little letter to Titus where we are reminded of Jesus Christ ‘who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works’ (Titus 2:14)…”
– Tim Challies calls on Christians to examine their own levels of ‘extremism’.
Related:
At Lapido Media, Mark Durie speaks of the religious and cultural background to the Paris attacks.
“ISIS believes that killing disbelievers is a moral act, in accordance, for example, with Sura 9:5 of the Qur’an…”
‘Profound forgiveness. Profound mercy. Profound grace.’
– Archbishop Mouneer Anis, Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East, responds to the Paris attacks.
UNSW Campus Bible Study 40th Anniversary
Campus Bible Study at the University of New South Wales held a 40th anniversary thanksgiving and reunion event on October 31st.
There is much cause for thanksgiving to the Lord for a ministry that has been such a blessing to so many around the world.
Video from the day has now been posted at phillipjensen.com.
Sydney Anglicans Pray for Paris
A special public service of sorrow and prayer for Paris, in the wake of the Black Friday attacks, will be held in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney on Sunday 15th November at 3pm.
“It is difficult to comprehend the barbarity of such attacks” said the Archbishop of Sydney Dr Glenn Davies “but we mourn with those who mourn and weep with those who weep.”
“We pray that God in his unfailing love will comfort the people of Paris, especially those who have been injured and the families and friends who have lost loved ones.”
Premier Mike Baird will attend the service and representatives of the French Government will also be in attendance.
A French flag is already flying at half-mast at the Cathedral.
– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.
Update: Bible Society Australia has published prayers by Dominic Steele and by Steve Cree.
Pastor, learn to say no!
Good advice from Richard Underwood at the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches – via Unashamed Workman.
First they came for the Catholics…
“The proposed action for sexual orientation vilification against a Roman Catholic bishop for teaching what the Roman Catholic church believes about marriage, which I noted at an early stage in a previous post, is now becoming broader…”
– Associate Professor Neil Foster expands on his previous posts about the anti-discrimination case brought against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hobart.
Related: Bishops face discrimination case – The Australian.
“All Australia’s Catholic bishops have been drawn into a national test case for freedom of religion and speech after Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commission found they have a case to answer over humiliating gay, lesbian and transgender Australians by distributing a booklet supporting traditional marriage.”
Don’t forget Charles Simeon
“I first became aware of the extraordinary influence of Charles Simeon on the Church of England when I was an undergraduate at King’s College Cambridge where he was once vice-provost. Sadly, at the end of the 20th century he had largely been forgotten in that college. It would be an even greater sadness, however, if he were to be forgotten by the Church of England as a whole, especially evangelicals…”
– Tom Watts, at Church Society’s blog, reckons we must not forget Charles Simeon.
(Charles Simeon was a key figure behind the decision to send a Chaplain on the First Fleet – and also in the founding of the Church Missionary Society and in evangelical witness at universities in the UK and abroad.)
10 Serious Problems with ‘Jesus Calling’
“Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling is a phenomenon that shows no signs of slowing down. According to publisher Thomas Nelson, it “continues to grow in units sold each year since it was released [and] has surpassed 15 million copies sold.” Nelson is involved in an expansive new marketing campaign that involves a new web site and daily radio devotionals.
ECPA reports that ‘Thomas Nelson began its partnership with the Salem Media group to provide 60-second daily messages on Eric Metaxas’ show, which is carried on more than 100 stations nationwide and worldwide on SiriusXM Radio. The Jesus Calling radio devotional reaches more than 500,000 people each day through these segments.’ With 15 million copies sold, it has marched its way into rare company.
Yet it is a deeply troubling book. I am going to point out 10 serious problems with Jesus Calling in the hope that you will consider and heed these warnings…”
– Read the serious issues Tim Challies identifies. Is Jesus Calling big in Australia? This Australian bookshop lists it among their ‘Best-Selling Books’.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…