John Shelby Spong dies at 90
“Retired Newark Bishop John Shelby Spong, a bestselling author and cleric known for his progressive theology and his support of LGBTQ+ clergy in The Episcopal Church, has died. He was 90. …
Spong’s more than two decades as bishop coincided with a prolonged period of decline in The Episcopal Church. Conservatives criticized the kind of liberal theology promoted by Spong, who denied Christian doctrines like the virgin birth or the resurrection of Jesus.”
– Report from The Episcopal News Service. (Photo: ENS.)
Find Life that lasts: A national co-ordinated evangelism campaign
“How could we build back better after COVID? Could evangelicals unite together to rebuild the church with a national co-ordinated evangelistic campaign?
COVID has created an unprecedented opportunity for evangelism, but churches and church leaders are feeling fragile and weary.
In Great Britain, churches are getting set for a national campaign leading up to Easter 2022, under the banner ‘Find life that lasts. It’s closer than you think.’…”
– Watch at The Pastor’s Heart.
Call for all Queensland euthanasia amendments to be heard
“The nation’s most extreme euthanasia legislation has been tabled in Queensland Parliament and the government has declared they will end the debate at 5:45pm on Thursday 16 September – whether or not all amendments have been tabled and discussion has been allowed.
This is essentially a gagging rule. 54 amendments have been tabled. Every one of them should be allowed to be presented and considered. …“
– The Australian Christian Lobby, and a number of Queensland politicians are calling for all proposed amendments to the euthanasia legislation to be debated.
How I came to know Jesus – Kirsten McKinlay
“Although I knew a lot of Bible stories, it wasn’t until a specific moment as a teenager that the overarching theme of the Bible, and the centre point of Christianity itself, made sense to me.
Until that moment, I was sure that being a nice and considerate person had earned me God’s favour. …”
– In another encouraging story from the ACR, Kirsten McKinlay shares how she came to Christ.
Archbishop Raffel on Sunrise 13 September 2021
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel was interviewed on Seven’s Sunrise this morning, 13 September 2021.
The interview highlights the desire to minister to all while acting responsibly during the COVID outbreak.
The Jesus people met
“There is no piece of ancient literature that has as much manuscript evidence to support its integrity, as John’s gospel. …
In John 3 and 4 we meet Nicodemus and the unnamed woman of Samaria, they could not be more contrasting. …”
– At The Expository Preaching Trust, David Cook shares some insights from the Gospel of John.
Preaching Class with John Piper — 30 Videos
“John Piper—co-founder of Desiring God, former preaching pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, and author of The Supremacy of God in Preaching and Expository Exultation: Christian Preaching as Worship—has recorded 19 mini-lectures on preaching (about 10 minutes each, for a total of about four hours). This is then followed by a two-and-a-half hour workshop where Piper is joined by three younger local preaching pastors to talk through various issues. …”
– Justin Taylor draws attention to what promises to be a very helpful resource.
John Piper’s 9/11 Radio Interview
From Desiring God:
“Twenty years ago today, at 8:14 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 was highjacked. And with it began a nightmare no one who lived through it will forget. …
The following morning, Pastor John was called on to be one of the Christians who would speak into the tragedy — for him, on KTIS, a local radio station. Where was God on 9/11? There, for about forty minutes, he spoke wisdom into the shock and sorrow.
We want to share the recording with you today on Ask Pastor John, on this twentieth anniversary. The interview covers the importance of grieving and creating space for sorrow, yet a sorrow under God’s all-encompassing sovereignty. Pastor John explains why 9/11 was a call for national humbling, a wake-up call. God was shaking the foundations of America and calling sinners to come to Christ — a global call not just for Americans but also for Palestinians, Saudis, and Afghans. …”
– Read the background and listen – at Desiring God.
Editorial from the GAFCON GB & Europe September 2021 Newsletter
“…and then the end will come”: How looking forward to our ultimate future brings encouragement in confusing times.
As he walked with his disciples in Jerusalem, Jesus used their amazement at the vast scale of Herod’s temple building to teach them about the puniness of human endeavour in comparison with the power of God in control of a world which seems out of control. He gave them a concise summary of what would happen during the next 2000+ years: wars, natural disasters, false religion and persecution of God’s people, but also, salvation, and his return …
– An encouraging editorial from the current GAFCON GB & Europe Newsletter.
(Link via Anglican Mainstream.)
Church in Wales ‘abandons the Christian faith’
“On Monday 6 September, the Church in Wales voted to allow its clergy to bless same-sex ‘marriages’ and civil partnerships.
This was not entirely unexpected given the decline of Christian doctrine and ethics within the Church in Wales in recent years. …”
– Carys Moseley at AnglicanInk looks at what the Church in Wales’ decision amounts to.
See also:
Church approves blessing service for same-sex partnerships – The Church in Wales.
Church in Wales gives ‘gospel-inspired lead’ to C of E, says Bishop of Liverpool – Church Times.
Photo: Bishop Gregory Cameron, courtesy The Church in Wales.
Seeing God at Ground Zero: an Aussie’s testimony from 9/11
“A meteorologist would tell you there were sprawling areas of high pressure, but to me it was simply a picture-perfect day for my last full day in New York, and an opportunity to explore the tourist hot spots. First on the list was the viewing observatory inside the World Trade Center’s South Tower. It was Tuesday, September 11, 2001. …”
– Two years ago The Australian Church Record published this reflection and testimony from Anthony Philips. Good to re-read and share.
See also:
‘September 11 – Twenty Years On…’ – John Mason at Anglican Connection.
“Twenty years ago Judith and I were living three short blocks south of the Twin Towers in Downtown Manhattan. We had awakened that Tuesday morning to clear blue skies and the sparkling waters of New York Harbor. But it was not to last. …”
The Day the World Stood Still — Dean Phillip Jensen, St. Andrew’s Cathedral, September 11 2011.
Government roadmap unveiled, including churches
“The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has unveiled a roadmap for opening up once New South Wales reaches the vaccination target of 70% double vaccination.
She says the new rules will be effective on the Monday after the vaccine milestone is reached.
That has been estimated, on current projections, as October 18 but that date may change. …”
– The latest from SydneyAnglicans.net
Debating the Church and same-sex marriage
“On Friday 3rd September, at 2.10 pm, I had a phone call from a number I did not recognise. When I answered, it turned out to be from a BBC researcher asking if I would appear on BBC1 on Sunday morning for a debate about the Church of England and same-sex marriage, in the light of the coming vote taking place in the Church in Wales.
I have been preaching in different churches, covering for vacancies, but it just happened that this Sunday I did not have a commitment.
As I have said elsewhere, when someone makes a media request like this, the first thing to say is ‘Yes’…”
– Dr Ian Paul shares his experience (and video) of being interviewed on BBC TV last week. Do pray for those who stand for the authority of God’s Word.
The interview can be seen here – and this exchange calls to mind Luke 11:17.
A Profile of Moral Collapse: President Biden, Abortion, and the Culture of Death
“Almost fifty years after Roe v. Wade, abortion remains the moral issue in American public discourse and politics.
There are very few profiles in courage in American politics. This seems especially true when it comes to the defense of unborn life. The political predicament of a pro-life politician is this – the political class and the New York-Hollywood-Silicon Valley axis reward those who abandon pro-life positions and condemn those who refuse to surrender.
A particularly important profile in moral collapse now resides in the White House. The story of President Joe Biden’s slippery shape-shifting on the abortion issue is both revealing and horrifying.
Brace yourself. …”
– In his latest essay, Albert Mohler looks at what happens when leaders abandon their ‘devoutly held beliefs’ for political expediency. This is not a ‘party political’ commentary, but a chronicling of one man’s moral shift, at the expense of countless unborn lives. Mohler ends with a challenge to us all.
SparkLit Awards Author Interviews
The SparkLit Awards Night was held last week, with Stephen McAlpine winning the Australian Christian Book of the Year Award for his book “Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World that Says You Shouldn’t” (available from The Wandering Bookseller and other Christian bookshops).
SparkLit has now released video interviews with shortlisted authors, including Professor Graeme Clark AC (pictured), inventor of the “bionic ear”.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…