Double the number of reformed evangelicals in Australia over twenty years
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“In a bold move, a meeting of movement leaders from across Australian Reformed Evangelicalism has resolved to work together to see their numbers double over twenty years, through seeing sinners saved.
Leaders gathered for a mini summit organised by The Gospel Coalition Australia at Sydney’s Moore Theological College last week.
Gospel Coalition Australia Chair Rory Shiner says given the unparalleled theological and missional unity between the different organisations there’s a significant window of opportunity to work productively together for God’s glory.
They agreed to work towards an effective target of growing five percent per year through conversion growth. …”
– Rory Shiner, Sarah Kuswadi, Andrew Heard and Gary Millar join Dominic Steele.
In uncertain times – the message of Hope everyone needs to hear
“Here’s 3 minutes from this weekend’s message. Given the USA’s intervention in the Israel–Iran conflict, I suspect some will find this helpful to hear today. A reminder that even in global uncertainty, Christ remains supreme — and our hope is secure in him.”
– Bishop of Bathurst Diocese, Mark Calder, shares this excerpt from the coming weekend’s message.
Whatever your views about aspects of the current conflict, and whatever might have happened by the time you see this, Bishop Calder brings us back to what is the most important message of all.
See it on Facebook – or watch the full message here.
The Animals — How Genesis helps us get the relationship right.
From Phillip Jensen:
“Humans have always enjoyed living with the animals of God’s creation. But what is our relationship with the animals, and how should we care for them?
Today we move from the abuse of animals to the worship of animals as we think about the Bible’s teaching on animals.”
– Here’s the latest episode of the Two Ways News podcast, where Peter and Phillip Jensen reveal why the lady next door complained.
The Quiet Judgement on the UK
“And so, it has happened. It came – not as a bolt of lightning. Not as a flash of thunder. Not with a mighty roar like an earthquake. It did not come in the form of war, plague and famine. It came as the pale horse whose rider was named Death (Revelation 6:8).
The judgement of God has finally come upon the United Kingdom. Quietly. Silently. Like a thief in the night. It came in the form of an irrational, emotive and Godless parliament who this week voted to permit the killing of babies in the womb up until birth, and has now introduced the National Suicide Service, with its vote to permit assisted suicide. God has given us what we voted for. …”
– Published on Saturday at The Wee Flea, David Robertson laments what is happening in the United Kingdom.
Discussing Christian Unity and the Nicene Creed
From the “Dead Presbyterians Society” podcast:
“Leonardo De Chirico and Mark Gilbert join the program to discuss the enduring significance of the Nicene Creed as it marks its 1700th anniversary.
Drawing from their recent edited volume, The Nicene Creed: The Nature of Christian Unity and the Meaning of Gospel Words (Matthias Media), the guests explore how shared credal language can mask deep theological differences, particularly between evangelical and Roman Catholic traditions.”
– Watch here.
The book is, of course, available from Matthias Media.
Statement from the Bishops of the Anglican Network in Europe following the passing of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and the amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill
“This week (June 16th-20th 2025) the Westminster Parliament has voted effectively to permit babies to be killed in the womb without restriction or time limit. It has also voted to permit health professionals to end the lives of adults in certain circumstances. The vote on abortion took place with very little debate or scrutiny; the debate on ‘assisted dying’ went through a long process where many eminent voices in committee and on the floor of the House raised concerns about safeguards and warned about the damaging implications of passing the Leadbeater bill. Yet in both cases a majority of MP’s saw fit to ignore and override the warnings, and vote for the removal of restrictions which have for decades and even centuries protected the most vulnerable in society: the unborn and the very infirm.
These votes show that while we live in a democracy and respect it, many of those elected to positions of the highest power can no longer be trusted to carry out their responsibilities with wisdom. Sadly, but not surprisingly, leaders from the established church who have influence in government have for the most part been reticent to speak God’s word; to call the faithful to pray in these dark and uncertain times, and to call godless rulers to repentance and faith in Christ.
We cannot say that this is a ‘political’ matter, that it is none of our business as Christians, that it somehow belongs to the realm of secular activity while the church should concentrate on ‘the gospel’. As Bishops of the Anglican Network in Europe we urge all faithful believers in Christ to consider and lament what Parliament has done this week. May we repent of sin personally and corporately as churches, plead with the Lord to have mercy on the nations which are affected by this and similar rulings, and re-commit to the urgent proclamation of the life-affirming and saving gospel of Jesus in the face of the culture of death.”
– Source: Anglican Network in Europe.
New mobile game ‘Serpent and the Seed’ is Biblical and beautiful
“Bible-inspired computer games aren’t a new concept. The Christian gaming genre has been around for a long time. But arguably, no game has matched the artistry and narrative brilliance of The Serpent and the Seed, a new mobile game free to download in Apple’s App Store or on Google Play.
The game is the brainchild of London-based developer Andy Geers, who attends Euston Church (an offshoot of Dick Lucas’ St. Helen’s Bishopsgate). I’ve spent time exploring the game, which includes gorgeous animation and original music by Poor Bishop Hooper.
If you’re looking for an edifying, theologically solid new game for your kids (or yourself), this is a solid option. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition, Brett McCracken introduces The Serpent and the Seed – developed by Andy Geers, the man behind PrayerMate.
A Prayer based around Philippians 1:18-2:11
Here’s a prayer based around Philippians 1:18-2:11 –
Our dear loving heavenly Father,
We come to you with much thankfulness today.
In Philippians, we are amazed to hear again of the lengths to which you have gone to secure our salvation – even though it is totally undeserved – in any way – by us.
Your beloved Son, who – from eternity past – enjoyed glorious fellowship with you and the Holy Spirit, stepped down from his place in heaven.
We thank you that he came as a servant – he took upon himself human flesh and became one of us.
Yet – amazing as that was – he did not stop there.
We thank and praise you that he humbled himself in his obedience to you – even to the point of death – death on a cross – so that we could be saved.
Please help us to be like Jesus – living in humility – putting others first, so that they can hear the gospel.
Please unify us in that great cause of seeing men and women come to Christ.
May our manner of life be worthy of the gospel.
After the Lord Jesus died and rose again, you highly exalted him and bestowed on him the Name that is above every name.
We thank you that one day soon – every knee will bow before him and every person will acknowledge that he is Lord, to your honour and glory.
But our heart’s desire is that men and women everywhere would bow the knee to Jesus in this time, before the judgment day, honouring him as Lord and Saviour – for we know that will bring you even greater glory.
In that light today, we pray for the 90 million people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
We certainly pray for peace – and for wisdom for the world leaders as they make decisions in these days.
Yet, while many are focussed on the international conflict, we know that there is a deeper spiritual battle taking place in Iran, for the eternal destiny of men and women.
And so we pray for the small but growing number of followers of the Lord Jesus in that country – and for the underground house churches.
Please help them – in the midst of danger and uncertainly and much persecution – to lovingly speak of Jesus without fear.
And please give their hearers open ears and hearts.
And right here in Australia, please help us to likewise speak, so that many of our friends and relatives will glorify you as they willingly and joyfully acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord.
And we ask all these things in his mighty name. Amen.
Assisted suicide backed: A dark day for the vulnerable
“Just moments ago, MPs voted 314 to 291 in favour of the assisted suicide bill. Lives will be needlessly lost as a result.
Despite the many flaws with the legislation, intense criticism of the process and the fervent prayers of God’s people, state-sanctioned suicide will become a reality from 2029 onwards.
It is a desperately dark outcome. …”
– At Evangelicals Now, James Mildred laments the vote in Westminster last night Australian time.
Church of England responds to House of Commons votes
“There have been two instances this week of votes in the House of Commons on issues where members have been free to vote in line with their personal opinions. The Church of England has issued press releases in each case.
First, a change to the law on abortion was approved …
Second, MPs in the House of Commons voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, with 314 votes in favour and 291 against, a majority of 23.”
– from Thinking Anglicans. Not a good time for the not-yet-born, the old, or the very ill in England.
Southern Cross June-July 2025
The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now available online – and printed copies are arriving in churches.
Among the articles is “Our mission opportunity“ – from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel –
“The most recent Census tells us that, for the first time since statistics have been collected, less than half of all Australians identify as Christian (43.9 per cent). The next largest group in Australia is those who say they have no religion (38.9 per cent). Islam is the second-largest religion in the country, at just over 3 per cent of the population.
So, the very high number of people who say they have no religion is a huge mission opportunity. I can tell you that as I travel around the Diocese every single church has people visiting for the first time, or people who have joined in the past year. Sometimes they have had no contact with a church before; sometimes they’ve been away from church for a long time – maybe even decades. …”
– Read it all at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Gafcon Sunday 2025 Preparations
From Gafcon:
“Pray that the celebration of Gafcon Sunday on June 29th 2025 will a joyful day of thanksgiving for the movement and ministry of Gafcon, as we long to see the Bible at the heart of the Anglican Communion.
Pray that the two-minute video will be played in churches around the world so that the Gafcon family will be encouraged to grow in their participation in our shared mission, and that this will help strengthen the understanding of the four key purposes of Gafcon.
Pray also that churches and individuals will be stirred up to give generously to Gafcon, to provide for our urgent need of funds as we continue and develop our ministry of guarding God’s gospel, to his great glory.”
Here’s the two-minute video.
And this page might be helpful in explaining what Gafcon is about.
Moore College looking for a Head of the Department of Mission
“Moore College is seeking expressions of interest in a teaching position, lecturing principally in Christian Mission, and heading its Mission Department. …”
(You could also pray that the right person will be found.)
Australian Presbyterian Overseas Work
It’s easy to live in an Anglican bubble. In this article, Kevin Murray, National Director of Australian Presbyterian World Mission, gives a taste of what our Presbyterian brothers and sisters are doing –
“From time to time I’m asked to speak at a church missions dinner and over the course of 30-45 minutes I take those present on a whirlwind tour of just some of the things that we do as a church overseas. Afterwards someone will approach me and say ‘I had no idea we are doing so much!’
Here’s a small sample from some of our Partner Churches…”
– Read it at AP, The Australian Presbyterian.
A Crisis of Existential Crises: Outside of Christ, Everything is an Existential Crisis
In the first segment of his The Briefing for 18 June 2025, Albert Mohler points out why so many people are terrified of ‘existential crises’.
Related:
He’s Still There and Still Not Silent – Revisiting Francis Schaeffer’s Classic – Douglas Groothuis at The Gospel Coalition.
“Shortly after becoming a Christian in 1976, I read Schaeffer’s books, starting with The God Who Is There. Not long after, I read He Is There and He Is Not Silent, and I’ve read it many times since.
I developed a Christian worldview through his books, and Schaeffer gave me an intellectual courage that has only grown over the years.”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…