Service for Las Vegas
“A special service will be held at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney on Thursday, October 5, in commemoration of those affected by the Las Vegas massacre at the weekend. …“
– Details from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Wanniassa to Holbrook: City-to-Country Mission
“In July St Matthews, Wanniassa, ran a mission to Holbrook. Praise God for an abundance of opportunities to share the saving news of Jesus with kids, teens and adults. The program allowed the team to make connections with all people through door-knocking, a Trivia/Games night and a Big Brekky, in addition to the usual host, social and church settings. …”
– Good news for Holbrook – from the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn website.
Labor MP Chris Hayes seeks safeguards for religious freedoms
“Labor MP Chris Hayes has spoken out to defend those who fear same-sex marriage could curb religious freedoms, arguing that the issue of protection must be addressed to ensure ‘laws do not violate one’s genuinely held beliefs and conscience’.
Mr Hayes, the chief opposition whip, said he ‘appreciated’ arguments that enacting same-sex marriage could ‘impact on religious freedoms, teaching of doctrine, and the functioning of faith-based organisations such as schools, aged-care and welfare agencies.’…”
– Story from The Australian (subscription).
Mr Hayes’ statement may be read here (PDF).
“ … I appreciate the fears of religious institutions that enacting same sex marriage could impact on religious freedoms, teaching of doctrine, and the functioning of faith based organisations such as schools, aged care and welfare agencies. These are legitimate concerns and matters I believe have to be addressed in order to ensure laws do not act to violate one’s genuinely held beliefs and conscience.
However, it is not just the issue of same sex marriage that may impinge on religious freedom. Therefore, I believe steps should be taken to protect religious liberty. …”
Photo: Chris Hayes’s website.
‘I should have thought that one through’
“Asked … if gay sex was sinful, [Archbishop of Canterbury Justin] Welby said: ‘You know very well that is a question I can’t give a straight answer to. Sorry, badly phrased there. I should have thought that one through.’…”
– Story from The Guardian.
Related: a warning from Albert Mohler:
“This is a moment of decision, and every evangelical believer, congregation, denomination, and institution will have to answer. There will be no place to hide.
The forces driving this revolution in morality will not allow evasion or equivocation. Every pastor, every church, and every Christian organization will soon be forced to declare an allegiance to the Scriptures and to the Bible’s teachings on marriage and sexual morality, or to affirm loyalty to the sexual revolution.
That revolution did not start with same-sex marriage, and it will not end there. But marriage is the most urgent issue of the day, and the moment of decision has arrived.”
– from Which Way, Evangelicals? There is Nowhere to Hide, June 10, 2015.
“The Conversation” and impacts of same sex marriage
“Two pieces in the Australian online forum ‘The Conversation’ today make misleading statements about the possible impacts of the recognition of same-sex marriage in Australia, and warrant some response.
One article suggests that there is no doubt that churches will still be able to decline to solemnise same-sex marriages. The other is a ‘fact check’ on assertions about the mandatory nature of ‘safe schools‘ programs following such a change. In my view both pieces are likely to mislead. …”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Associate Professor Neil Foster responds to two articles published in The Conversation today. (The first article was also republished by the ABC.)
Reformation talks from the Presbyterian Church of Australia
It’s Reformation 500 month – October 2017 – and the Presbyterian Church of Australia has released three downloadable videos you could watch for your own benefit, or in Bible Study groups.
“The Presbyterian Church of Australia offers this package of three church history videos to assist your church – particularly in its small-group ministries – to help celebrate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses, and the subsequent Protestant Reformation … 31 October 1517.
There are three consecutive video sessions (each lasting about 50 min) followed by suggested discussion questions. Ideally, they’ll be of most benefit during the last two weeks of October and the first of November, but they’ll be available for as long as they are being used. …”
– from Moderator-General John P Wilson.
- Martin Luther – (1) the struggle in his heart: Romans 1:7-17.
- Martin Luther – (2) the struggle against his church: 2 Timothy 3:10-17.
- John Calvin – developing the church’s theology: Acts 2:38-47; 1 Timothy 3:14-16.
Principles of Complementarian Ministry
“This is the outline for a brief presentation I gave at the MTS Mission Minded conference On 1 Oct 2017. The presentation was part of an elective panel discussion with Jane Tooher (director of the Priscilla and Aquila Centre at Moore College), Phil Wheeler (director of Evangelism and New Churches) and myself, titled ‘Complementarian Ministry in Light of Eternity’.”
– ACL Vice President Dr Lionel Windsor shares this resource you may find helpful.
The Reformation and your church
“It’s the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, and right now there’s no shortage of material being published on the topic. Why might this 9Marks Journal possibly add to the pile?
We asked our contributors to consider the Reformation’s relevance specifically to the local church and the pastor. Why should pastors care? Take a look at D. A. Carson’s piece. What does it have to do with expositional preaching, evangelism, church discipline, church authority more broadly, the ordinances, even pastoral counselling? There are articles on each of these topics, too…”
– Download the latest 9Marks Journal, in a variety of formats. Many encouraging articles.
Our Strong Right Arm
“Have you ever noticed how naturally we take pride in our own achievement and rejoice in what our own strong right arm has been able to perform?
In matters religious, just as in all others, the tendency is for us to put the emphasis on what we ourselves do. …”
– Leon Morris, from the vaults of The Australian Church Record, October 27, 1955.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…