Five Bible inputs to grow, grow, grow
“At one recent conference Rico Tice spoke about reading the Bible on four different levels. I am going to borrow his framework and develop it in my own way. So here are five Bible inputs that will help you grow upwards in Christ. …”
– At Unashamed Workman, Colin Adams shares some great ideas about Christian growth.
Australian Christian Lobby headquarters in Canberra rammed by burning van
“The headquarters of the Australian Christian Lobby… has been rammed by a burning van …
The ABC understands the van was carrying gas bottles and that the driver of the vehicle was taken to Canberra Hospital for treatment.”
– Report from ABC News,
Update: ‘Police rule out targeted attack‘ – SBS. Image via Lyle Shelton.
Changes at Matthias Media and Youthworks
In Sydney news, Ian Carmichael is taking on the role of CEO of Matthias Media while Tony Payne works on his PhD; and Zac Veron, who is resigning as Youthworks CEO in March, is heading to St David’s Arncliffe.
The Archbishop’s Christmas message 2016
“From politics to personal life, what more do we want for Christmas than people who will tell us the truth?”
Here is the text of Archbishop Davies’ message: Read more
Christian in a Muslim Culture: The Intriguing Insights of an Egyptian Bishop
“Bishop Mouneer Anis, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Egypt, and Presiding Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East, delivered the ninth annual ‘Moule Memorial Lecture’ on 8 June 2016 in Cambridge. …
The topic of Mouneer’s lecture was “My Experience of Christian and Muslim Relations in Egypt”. As the title suggests, the bishop drew on personal experiences to speak about living as a Christian minority in a Muslim culture.”
– At The Australian Church Record, Steve Tong shares some insights from the lecture.
The Christmas of Cultural Christianity
“Christmas is the high point of Cultural Christianity. It creates joy and confusion; joy to our culture and confusion to Christians.
Cultural Christianity is a reality that would be helpful for both Christians and non-Christians to accept if not embrace. It is seen in the famous atheist Richard Dawkins’ love of singing Christmas carols. …”
– Phillip Jensen observes the difference between Cultural Christianity and Christian Christianity.
That’s Christmas!
That's Christmas! from St Helen’s Church on Vimeo.
We’ve linked to this video before – from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate. It’s well-worth a re-run, and features input from Dr. Paul Barnett.
From around the Anglican Church of Australia — 16 December 2016
Here are a few items from around the Anglican Church of Australia this week.
- Christmas Pastoral Letter from the Stuart Robinson, Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn.
- Archbishop of Perth not returning to his duties before retiring early.
- Archbishop of Melbourne releases video message for Christmas.
- New book on Samuel Marsden by David Pettett launched in Sydney.
- Moore College offers new Women’s ministry study option.
(Image courtesy Anglican Church of Australia.)
The value of teaching Books more than once
The latest from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate:
“Why is it valuable to teach through Bible books more than once? What are some advantages of teaching books numerous times? Why do people often object to teaching books of the Bible more than once? Doesn’t St Helen’s just teach the same couple of books each year? How can we get better at repeating books in our regular Bible-teaching programmes?
In this month’s Preaching Matters, Charlie Skrine talks about his experiences of teaching books several times, and why it is important for the church.”
A Tentmaker for Derby? And other news from the Northwest
“Are you equipped for a tentmaking ministry and keen to see the gospel move forward in the Kimberley region of the North West?
The town of Derby, about a two-and-a-half hour drive north of Broome, is an opportunity waiting for someone to take hold of with both hands. It is the third largest town in the Kimberley, but we haven’t had any significant Anglican ministry there for a good number of years. …”
– Read the details on the last page of the December 2016 edition of Northwest Network (600kb PDF file), from the Diocese of North West Australia. Plenty of food for prayer.
Reformation Themes: The Bible Alone and Faith Alone – from Paul Barnett
Bishop Paul Barnett has written two encouraging reflections on key Reformation themes. Read them at the links below.
Reformation Theme: The Bible Alone.
“2017 will be the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. On 31st October 1517 an unknown monk in a small town nailed 95 debating points to a church door. It was a common academic practice to invite debate but these ‘theses’ went viral and Martin Luther became famous overnight. …”
Reformation Theme: Faith Alone.
“The young Martin Luder – that was the family name – had been a law student in the major university town, Erfurt. Against his father’s will he became an Augustinian monk.
But he was a poor tortured soul who felt himself under the wrath of God. He engaged in punishing fasts and endless confessionals. As a mendicant monk he begged his way 1000 miles from Erfurt to Rome as a pilgrimage.
But he was clever. The order appointed him Professor of Bible at the new university in the little, ‘nowhere place’, Wittenberg. In preparing his lectures on Romans and the Psalms he made a great discovery. …”
The Parish of Peakhurst / Lugarno – a snapshot from 1974
This 1974 newsreel about the Anglican Parish of Peakhurst – Lugarno will bring back memories for many of our readers.
A bloke called Barry and the Jesus bikes parked around Melbourne
“For the past few years, mysterious bikes have been appearing across Melbourne’s CBD carrying signs preaching that ‘Jesus died for our sins’…”
– The Age has this story about the sign-carrying bicycles left in strategic spots around Melbourne.
(Larger version of the photo.)
Healthy churches around the world
The latest 9Marks Journal is out. Editor Jonathan Leeman writes,
“The Journal topic of healthy churches around the world was Dever’s idea. I was doubtful at first. But – goodness – was I wrong!
This might be one of my favourite Journals to date. It’s sort of like Tim Keesee’s wonderful book, Dispatches from the Front: Stories of Gospel Advance in the World’s Diffcult Places. The difference is, the authors provide frontline reports on the state of churches. How are churches doing in Brazil, Iran, Cameroon, Albania, China, Singapore?
Are they preaching the Bible? Proclaiming a biblical gospel or watered-down substitute? Pursuing corporate and individual holiness? Pursuing evangelism? Practicing church membership?
The planting and growing of healthy churches is how we will best fulfil the Great Commission”
– Download the current issue from 9Marks.
Risen — Articulate 4 from the ACR
The Australian Church Record is continuing to republish Archdeacon T. C. Hammond’s encouraging notes on The Thirty Nine Articles.
“A weary world gropes for security and struggles against insidious and often victorious evil. Remedial measures are entered upon with high hopes. Recurrent malignancy seems to mock our best endeavours. Jesus Christ is the answer to our heart yearnings. He conquered death and is coming again in judgment.”
– Read the full post, originally published in The Australian Church Record, April 28, 1955.
Related: The Thirty Nine Articles.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…