Church Society announces Digital Subscriptions to The Global Anglican

From Church Society:

“We are delighted to announce that our theological journal, The Global Anglican, is now available to purchase in both print and digital subscriptions.

While print journals continue to have an important place in libraries, archives and personal collections, for many people, a digital format saves space, money and delays due to international posting. Individual issues of The Global Anglican are made available in digital format some years after their initial publication, but now we have the facility to provide this as an annual subscription for the current content. …”

– Perhaps the last-minute Christmas gift you’ve been hoping for.

(As you may be aware, The Global Anglican is edited by Peter Jensen.)

The Astronaut who left NASA to help support healthy churches

“In spring 2021, Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in Washington, DC, had nine pastoral interns. Eight were 40 years old and under. Seven were coming out of—or would head into—seminary.

And one was NASA’s former head astronaut. Pat Forrester was 63 years old. …”

– Sarah Zylstra has this encouraging story at The Gospel Coalition.

12 Fresh Ways to Read your Bible in 2025

“A new year offers a new opportunity—an opportunity to rethink and refresh the way you read your Bible.

While some have found a pattern or habit they love and will never deviate from, others like to look for new ways to read, digest, and apply the Word.

For those who may be interested in trying something new, here are a few ideas that may be worth considering. …”

– Tim Challies shares some great ideas to help you read your Bible in the coming year.

Bishop Mark Calder’s Christmas message 2024

Here’s the Christmas 2024 Video Media Release from Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder.

Text version below:

Joy to the World

We sing it every year, and we hear the familiar words: peace on earth. But as we look around our world, we might ask, where is the joy, and where is the peace?

The peace that Jesus came to bring was not the end of wars and strife in the world. It is a far deeper peace—peace with God. This peace comes through the forgiveness of sins, which Jesus made possible through his death and resurrection.

Because of this peace—a peace that goes beyond our understanding—we can be people of great joy. When we come to God, say sorry, and receive his forgiveness, we can know that everything we’ve mucked up in the past has been dealt with and forgiven.

This Christmas, my hope is that you will experience the peace that Jesus came to bring—a peace that leads to lasting joy.

Wishing you a joyful and peaceful Christmas.

– Good to share.

Christmas isn’t Pagan

“Growing up I was taught that the date of Christmas, December 25th, was a borrowed pagan festival. I couldn’t tell you exactly when or where, but I remember being told (more than a few times) that there were a myriad of ancient pagan festivals like Sol Invictus, Saturnalia, Brumalia, and European feasts like Yule, that also took place on the 25th of December.

‘The Christians,’ the narrative went, ‘moved the celebration of Christ’s birth to the place of these other pagan festivities in order to make it easier for converts and/or to encourage pagans to convert.’

In many ways this story made sense. …”

– Published two years ago at Gospel Coalition Canada, Wes Huff sheds some light on the alleged origins of Christmas.

Parents, Talk to your Teens about Pornography

In his The Briefing broadcast for Tuesday 17th December 2024, Dr Albert Mohler looks at why pornography is immoral and what opposition to restrictions on porn reveals.

He underlines the importance of Christian families.

Listen here.

William Taylor: What to do when the denomination around you is imploding?

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“It is difficult times in the Church of England.

Having previously publicly betrayed his ordination and consecration vows – the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby – has now resigned over his handling of a safeguarding matter, following the release of the Makin report.

The Church of England is tearing itself apart over sexuality.

There are more apostate bishops than faithful bishops in the English House of Bishops.

And there is now a massive group within the Church of England called The Alliance, representing 42% of the denomination’s attendance, basically pleading to the house of bishops to repent.

William Taylor has served since 1998 as the senior pastor of St Helen’s London. Taylor is paralleling the difficult times faced by Evangelicals today to those faced by the Apostle Paul at the time of writing the Pastorals.”

– Watch or listen here.

2 Timothy 4.

The Alliance.

Southern Cross December 2024 – January 2025

The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine is now available from the Diocese of Sydney.

Surfing and serving
Summer prayer diary
Baptism testimonies
Teachers and preachers
Grandparents
Faithfulness
Movies and summer reading
PLUS: news, views, reviews and more.

Download, or read online.

Disney movies, Moana and the human heart

“I’ve always been a fan of Disney movies. As a child growing up in the 90s, I was there for every new release, ready to sing along to songs that would become classics.

I haven’t yet seen the new Moana movie, but I loved the first one. I loved that it was set in Polynesia; I loved the gorgeous animation; I loved that Moana was a strong, independent woman unafraid of big challenges; and I loved that Moana was one of the first Disney princesses whose storyline did not revolve around finding Prince Charming.

But as I watched, I remember thinking that something wasn’t quite right. It took me a while to work it out because the movie was so very entertaining. But eventually I figured out my discomfort …”

– Susan An analyses the problem, at The Australian Church Record.

A Devotional on the Most Glorious of Birthdays by Charles Spurgeon

“The angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10)

The birth of Christ should be the subject of supreme joy. We have the angelic warrant for rejoicing because Christ is born. It is a truth so full of joy that it caused the angel who came to announce it to be filled with gladness. …”

– Crossway has republished this excerpt from an 1976 sermon by Charles Spurgeon, plus some commentary by Leland Ryken.

(It’s to raise awareness of a new book of classic Christmas devotions.)

You can be Certain — Luke 1.26-38

“What do we do with Mary? We don’t pray to her or worship her, or claim she remained a virgin – for the very same reason we believe the virgin birth… because we trust the Bible to tell us what is true and real… and if it’s not here – in the orderly account – we don’t claim it or teach it or embrace it! But we ARE moved by her beautiful submission and surrender… and we endeavour to live with her level of trust: ‘I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to be me fulfilled.’ ”

– Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder continues his Advent series.

Also from the Diocese of Bathurst:

“This morning Bishop Calder announced the appointment of lay stipendiary ministers for an initial period of 6 months to the parish of Nyngan – praise God for the generous sacrifices involved for Philip and Deanne Gerber.”

Why I am not Catholic

“Speaking at the Leonine Forum in D.C. recently, I was asked a friendly but pointed question: ‘Why are you not a Catholic?’ The questioner noted that in my talk I had expressed a love for the early Church Fathers, admiration for Thomas Aquinas, and an approach to ethics that resonated with John Paul II’s theology of the body.

It’s hard to answer such a question in brief compass at the end of a lecture. Many issues are important in my commitment to Reformed Protestantism: authority, salvation, the nature of the ministry, and the significance of sacraments are just a few of the more obvious. And while I am open to the criticism that Protestantism hasn’t given Mary her due, I believe the Catholic Church has given her a significance that is well beyond anything the Bible would countenance. But above all, at the current moment, Catholicism doesn’t appeal to me because of the man at the top: Pope Francis. In my answer, I did try to be respectful of my audience, but I could not help but observe that the present pope seems to be nothing more than a liberal Protestant in a white papal robe. And as a Protestant, I am acutely aware of the damage such people do. …”

– Carl Trueman writes at First Things.

Photo courtesy Grove City College.

Prepare Him Room

“We all know that Christmas is a great evangelistic opportunity. Yet with the gun going off to tie up work, attend all kinds of events, plan gatherings, buy gifts, and somehow still function after it all … how could I ever add evangelism into the mix?

Rather than tell you simply to ‘share the gospel’, I want instead to spend a moment together pondering the glory of Christmas. Because before Christmas is a time of proclamation, it is a time to make room in our hearts for adoration. And it’s from a full heart that our mouth will speak. …”

– Callan Pritchard writes with this encouragement at The Australian Church Record.