Making Disciples
Here’s a new series of Bible Studies from Colin Marshall – Making Disciples – available from Matthias Media.
“How central should the work of disciple-making be in our daily lives and in our church culture? How do we get there? And what does it actually look like?
The 8 studies in Making Disciples will highlight the work of disciple-making as the very heart of the Bible’s vision for the life of God’s people. They will also:
• guide you as you explore and discuss key Bible passages
• show you what it might look like to be involved in this great work of God
• forge the deep biblical convictions that you will need in order to commit to disciple-making
• address the challenges and potential pitfalls around making disciples of Jesus
• help you see disciple-making as both an enormous privilege and an attainable goal.”
The Illuminated Heart — Lent Reflections from Dr Peter Jensen – Part 6
“In the penultimate video in the series, Dr Jensen explains how God illuminates our dark hearts through the proclamation of the gospel.” – From GAFCON.
T.C. Hammond on Article 19 — The Church
The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure Word of God is preached, and the sacrament be duly ministered according to Christ’s ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.
As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred; so also the Church of Rome hash erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith.
“It is worth noting that the definition here embodied is limited strictly to the Visible Church. The Language is very carefully chosen. The Article does not say ’The Church of Christ is visible,” but “The Visible Church of Christ is a congregation, etc.‘ …”
– T.C. Hammond on Article 19 of the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion – republished at The Australian Church Record.
Update on Tathra bushfire disaster from Bp Stuart Robinson – updated
As he prepares to conclude his time as Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, Stuart Robinson has posted the latest on the Tathra bushfire disaster –
“Archdeacon Carol believes around 100 homes are now being listed as having being destroyed. This means many hundreds of people are homeless. …”
Update:
The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid has opened an emergency appeal to respond to the fires in the Southern New South Wales beach town of Tathra. – Details.
J John’s Letter to the BBC
I mix with many people in many different church circles and there is a consensus that the BBC has a problem with Christianity, to the extent that it is taken for granted that there is an ‘anti-Christian bias’.
I realise there are problems with this phrase, not least because it implies a deliberate and organised discriminatory policy which I’m not sure is actually the situation. Nevertheless, for convenience I will let it stand. …”
– Evangelist Canon J. John has written this Open Letter to the BBC, arguing that the BBC’s portrayal of Christianity is unfair and inadequate. (via Anglican Mainstream.)
Help a delegate attend GAFCON 2018 in Jerusalem!
Thinking of making a donation to help someone attend GAFCON 2018?
For encouragement, see this earlier video from GAFCON General Secretary Dr. Peter Jensen.
UK Police allegedly investigate woman for tweets critical of transgenderism
“I’ve written often in this space that the trans movement will countenance no dissent in their attempts to remake our culture and implement their agenda in schools, universities, and beyond – but even I was stunned when the Christian Post broke the story of a stay-at-home mother of four being contacted by the police for making comments critical of transgender ideology on Twitter …”
– Story from LifeSiteNews. (Link via Anglican Mainstream.)
Sydney university lecturer cancels class in church for fear of LGBTQI offence
“University of Technology Sydney communications lecturer Dr Timothy Laurie emailed his students two days before lectures were due to begin saying class was cancelled due to ‘the suitability of a church as a venue’.
St Barnabas Anglican Church in Ultimo, inner-city Sydney, was a temporary venue the university turned to during planned construction. …”
– Story from Mail Online.
Every member at Nexus
“It’s described as ‘the most significant conference for Sydney Anglican clergy’ and it’s happening again this month.
The Nexus Conference began in 2009 and has grown over the years, with over 350 people expected to attend and more live streaming around the country…”
– SydneyAnglicans.net on Nexus, coming up next Monday at Annandale.
Growing godly kids #3: Teaching children to read the Bible
“God grows his children through his word, so teaching children to read the Bible is as important as teaching them to feed themselves.
Let’s see how we could apply a modelling-training-teaching approach to helping children read the Scriptures. …”
– Pete Tong continues his very helpful series – at The Australian Church Record.
11 New Features in PrayerMate 5.11
If you use PrayerMate – or if you don’t – check out Andy Geers’ video showcasing what’s new in version 5.11 of this wonderful free resource.
John Lennox reflects on Stephen Hawking’s Life and Beliefs
“In the wake of Stephen Hawking’s death, fellow scientist Professor John Lennox reflects on Hawking’s life, work, and beliefs.
In 2011, Lennox wrote ‘God and Stephen Hawking: Whose Design Is It Anyway?.”
– Professor John Lennox is well worth watching.
25 minutes, from Fixed Point Foundation. (Link via Anglican Samizdat.)
Related: John Lennox’s website.
St. Patrick’s Day
Back in 2013, then Dean of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Phillip Jensen, wrote an evangelistic leaflet to help Christians share the true message of St. Patrick.
Thankfully, his leaflet, and a St. Patrick’s Day message, are available on his website.
1.) St. Patrick — The Irish Evangelical.
2.) An Evangelistic Leaflet for St. Patrick’s Day.
The Exclusiveness of Christianity — T C Hammond on Article 18
“We have to notice that there is an exclusiveness about Christianity.
It asserts, quite emphatically, that there is only one way of salvation. This is the consistent message of the New Testament.
Peter boldly declared to his interrogators: ‘Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name, under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.’ This is a vigorous declaration of the exclusiveness of Christianity. …”
– The Australian Church Record continues to republish T.C. Hammond’s theological reflections on The Thirty Nine Articles.
Call for a new newspaper for the British Church
“It is now time for a new newspaper for the British Church, employing professional journalists whose news coverage will investigate the truth without fear or favour, preventing the new publication from being a mere echo-chamber.
Its comment columns should be robustly and persuasively orthodox, putting the revisionist agenda under rigorous intellectual scrutiny. …”
– Julian Mann, who recently explained why he can no longer write for the Church of England Newspaper, calls for a new newspaper.