The reality of ministry – 2 Corinthians 4
Archie Poulos preached at Moore College’s chapel this morning.
From 2 Corinthians chapter 4, he spoke about The Reality of Ministry.
Pray for your enemies
“Friends in Christ, here are some words I would like you to consider learning off by heart:
‘But to you who are listening I say: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you.’ [Luke 6:27-28]
These are the words of the Lord Jesus. He spoke them particularly to his disciples, but also in the hearing of the large crowds who were following him.
And these are words for our times, our very divided and uncertain times …”
– Dean of St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney Sandy Grant was writing in last week’s Cathedral Newsletter.
ESV Bible Translation Update
From Crossway, publishers of the English Standard Version of the Bible:
“The ESV Translation Oversight Committee (TOC) is a standing committee of the Crossway Board of Directors. The purpose of the TOC is to carry forward the publication of the English Standard Version Bible translation and to preserve the ongoing accuracy and fidelity of the ESV Bible for this generation and generations to come.
The Stability and Future of the ESV
With this purpose in mind, we are committed to maintaining a faithful, stable, and standard ESV Bible text that will meet the reading, memorizing, preaching, and liturgical needs of Christians worldwide. It should be noted that Crossway does not plan to introduce frequent text updates, and it has been nearly ten years since the last update in 2016. …
In light of this commitment, the TOC met over the summer of 2024 to consider a limited number of changes to the ESV text. Briefly summarized, the committee made text changes to 36 Scripture passages involving 42 verses, resulting in a total of 68 word changes.”
Pray for Congo as atrocities echo those of the Rwandan genocide
“Horrific reports are emerging from the Democratic Republic of Congo as the nation is being torn apart by fighting which has echoes of the Rwandan genocide in the 1990s…
In the isolated city of Goma, rebels have conducted a campaign of looting, rape and indiscriminate killing.
The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid has launched an emergency appeal to provide food, clothing, and medicine to those in extreme need. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell shares something of what is happening in Congo, and what you can do to help those suffering (including by praying).
Related:
Back in 1997, ACL News spoke with Bishop Peter Dawson, then recently returned from DR Congo (then Zaire). He called for prayer for the churches of Congo. It would be good to pray such prayers now. (See the prayer included in today’s Sydney Anglicans report.)
A first glance at the pastor’s heart – 2 Corinthians 1:1–22
Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson speaks from 2 Corinthians 1:1–22 at the start of the College academic year.
Two Ways News Podcast — The Foundations of Genesis Part 2
The second episode of the 2025 series of Two Ways News Podcasts is now out, with Phillip and Peter Jensen. They continue on Genesis 1–11.
“We spent last time talking about the background ideas of how we come to read Genesis, but Peter, you said something about the nature of literature, and I’d like to follow you up more on the assumptions when you’re reading, because you talked about how you approach reading.”
Exploding pastoral leadership myths — with Craig Hamilton
On The Pastor’s Heart this week:
“What happens when a leader operates without a clear vision. And how poetic or concrete should a vision be?
How to organise things so the overall vision cascades down through every area of church life?
What should our pastoral approach be to innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, laggards and the nos.
Biblical vision and Leadership vision: What is the difference? Why do people mangle Proverbs 29:18?
Plus infusing the church with vision, in a significant moment and especially via drip feed.
Craig Hamilton is senior pastor of Pitt Town Anglican Church and author of ‘Wisdom in Leadership.’ ”
Dave Moore on Why your church needs Healthy Teams
Matthias Media has recently published The Team Leader’s Handbook by Dave Moore at Hunter Bible Church.
The Australian Church Record speaks with Dave about his background, his ministry journey, and about the book.
Bringing Hope to the Illawarra
“March 2025 will see one of the largest evangelistic campaigns for many years in the Illawarra region.
‘Hope For The Illawarra’, a partnership between the US broadcast ministry Leading The Way and churches in the Illawarra, will culminate in outreach events. …”
– Russell Powell has news of good news for the people of the Illawarra.
At SydneyAnglicans.net.
Stories of encouragement from Anglican Aid
Anglican Aid in Sydney has published several stories showing how aid from Australia is helping in Africa and India. Food for our prayers, and encouragement for generosity.
New edition of Anglican News from Canberra & Goulburn
Dr Jacqueline Service will be commissioned as Director of Canberra’s St Mark’s National Theological Centre this weekend.
That’s one of the stories in the February edition of Anglican News from the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn. (PDF file.)
Men Meeting the Challenge Conference 2025 – promo
Rory Shiner and Dave Jensen are speaking at this year’s Men Meeting the Challenge Conference.
Saturday 29th March.
“100 Ministry Stories from Moore College” — Gavin Rosser
From Moore College:
“Gavin Rosser, along with his wife Megan and their family, serves with the Anglican Church in Amman, Jordan, through CMS.
After 17 years of ministry in Sydney, Gavin followed a long-held calling to minister in a region where Christ is less known. …”
– Moore College is continuing its “100 Ministry Stories” series – this time with Gavin Rosser.
Living in Love and Faith — A way forward which holds us together?
Anglican Futures has been providing daily summaries of the General Synod of the Church of England, meeting in London. From Day 4 (Thursday):
“Next was the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) update, led by Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow. He asked Synod to imagine a future together,
‘One church, with all our differences, or are we resigned to going our separate ways, mirroring society, where each person chooses their own truth?’
This is an extraordinary claim – a total reversal of reality. Surely, it is because some are choosing their own truth, rather than remaining under God’s truth, as revealed by the Apostles, that there is a need for separation?
He continued,
‘What we are offering is a possible way forward which holds us together, and it starts in the imagination, not the detail…’”
– Read it here.
Image from an October 2024 (now deleted) video by Bishop Snow.
Conservative bishops can ban same-sex blessings in their dioceses – they need to start doing this
“The Church of England’s turmoil over same-sex marriage continues.
With the resignation in November of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the latest development in the long-running saga is another delay by the bishops in bringing in standalone services to bless same-sex couples – services that will closely resemble same-sex weddings.
How did we get here?…”
– Writing in Christian Today, Dr Will Jones, a trustee of Anglican Mainstream, argues that conservative Church of England bishops have been poorly advised by some to believe that they can’t stop same-sex blessings in their dioceses.
Image: Bishop of York Stephen Cottrell, speaking at the Church of England’s General Synod this week.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…