Australian Christian Book of the Year 2025
Sparklit’s Australian Christian Book of the Year for 2025 has been announced –
“Made in Our Image by Stephen Driscoll has won the Australian Christian Book of the Year for 2025.
The book provides a biblical perspective on artificial intelligence while avoiding both tech worship and doomsday thinking.
Judges said it was a realistic and fearless assessment of the ways AI could change the world. …”
– Story from Hannah Felsbourg at The Melbourne Anglican – with news on shortlisted books including those by Andrew Judd, Michael Jensen and Rob Smith.
Related:
Dominic Steele spoke with Stephen Driscoll twice on The Pastor’s Heart last year –
The traumatic implications of artificial intelligence – 21 May 2024.
What morality to teach to artificial intelligence? – 04 June 2024.
Themelios 50.2
The Gospel Coalition has published the latest issue of Themelios – Volume 50, number 2.
Focus on the Family gives thanks for Dr James Dobson 1936-2025
Focus on the Family has posted a video and messages of tribute with the announcement that Dr James Dobson has been called home.
Photo: James Dobson with Chuck Colson in 1988.
Update: Dr Albert Mohler shares his tribute.
Top Centre issue 2 for 2025
Top Centre is the News Publication of the Diocese of the Northern Territory.
The latest issue was published online a few weeks ago, and it’s ideal reading to fuel your thanksgiving and intercession for the churches and people of the Northern Territory.
At the moment the Diocesan Synod is meeting in Darwin (prayer point!) – so it’s good to read Bishop Greg Anderson’s article on the Diocese’s Strategic Plan –
“This is the last in my series of articles on the Diocese’s strategic plan. I have written before about our vision statement “Growing communities in the love of Jesus Christ” and about our values: love, unity in diversity, hope, integrity, courage, safety and faithfulness to our foundations. Now, finally, I want to say something about our two strategic objectives: “Promote the gospel” and “Provide effective support structures around ministry.”
Those two objectives are about what we plan to do, under God, to achieve the growth in our churches and Christian engagement with our neighbours across the Northern Territory which we all hope for.
Promoting the gospel starts with having at the very centre of all our ministries the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord. How much unpacking we have to do to get all the meaning from those four words, not to mention why we think this is a good strategy! …”
As well, there’s an article reflecting on Greg’s decade as Bishop, another on more Andersons moving to the Northern Territory, and much more.
Download your copy of this issue – On this page, click on the button “Download latest issue”.
And you can download the Strategic Plan poster and booklet from the Diocesan website.
The Happiness Project
Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant writes,
“Friends in Christ, this week The Australian newspaper began a series of articles entitled ‘The Happiness Project’. The lead author, Stephen Lunn, began this way:
What’s the secret to unlocking your happiness? How do you achieve a satisfying life? Especially when the odds might seem stacked against you. It’s more complex than you might think. We take a deep dive into the latest research on how to build resilience and find life’s joy. …
The Happiness Project plans to explore these issues, and is looking at the keys to happiness can be “unlocked”.
It’s a significant issue, since although Australians rate 11th out of 148 nations on the World Happiness Index, levels are markedly lower for Aussies under 30.”
– Read to all, from the Cathedral newsletter, 21 August 2025.
Wales: Will they learn?
Commentary from Anglican Futures –
“ ‘Every failure teaches a man something, if he will learn.’ So, says Charles Dicken’s character, Daniel Doyce.
The Church in Wales has been beset by problems for many years.
In 2008, the Bishop of St David’s stepped down after leaving his wife amid speculation about ‘a scandalous’ relationship with a married member of his staff.
In 2021, after the Rt Revd Richard Pain resigned, an Independent Review into the Diocese of Monmouth found, ‘a culture of entitlement’ and that several witnesses commented on,‘[T]he prevalence of swearing and an excessive intake of alcohol among bishops and senior clergy.’
In 2022 …”
– Read it all at Anglican Futures.
Archival image from The Church in Wales website.
100 Ministry Stories from Moore College – continued
Moore Theological College continues to add stories in its “100 Ministry Stories” series:
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:11-12
The Bible exhorts us to remember. Remembering what God has done in our lives helps us to respond to our world in steadfast hope.
Below is a record of what the Lord is doing in our times. By recording stories of our College graduates, we pray that others will be encouraged and their faith built up in joyful assurance.
For more than 160 years Moore College has been sending men and women into a wide range of ministries across Sydney, in every state of Australia and every continent in the world (except Antarctica!).”
– for your encouragement and prayers, with much thanksgiving to the Lord.
ACL Synod Dinner — click for details
How to improve our preaching – with David Cook and Robin Sydserff
From The Pastor’s Heart –
“Today our focus on The Pastor’s Heart is on how to preach for transformation for real changes in people’s lives.
Two men with a lifetime’s passion for preaching — Robin Sydserff, Director of the Proclamation Trust and David Cook, former Principal of Sydney Missionary and Bible College and a long-time preaching mentor – now with the Expository Preaching Trust.
We start by looking at how Christian leaders the UK and Australia influenced preaching patterns overseas.
We look at preaching that has led to record enrolments at Bible Colleges, the purpose of preaching, the life and relationships of the preacher, training preachers and what patience is needed in preaching growth.”
Related –
“Canada is Turning itself into a Death Cult”
In his The Briefing broadcast for Tuesday 19 August 2025, Dr Albert Mohler turns to the disturbing and sobering topic of medical killing (‘Medical Assistance in Dying’) in Canada.
After discussing hopes for an Ukraine – Russia peace agreement, he turns – at 07:25 – to what is happening in Canada. What worldview calls for this? How should Christians respond?
Opening Our Eyes to Evil — Seeing the bad in the good
From Phillip Jensen –
“Two Ways News is freely available and supported by generosity. We hope you freely enjoy this and every episode, and that you will recommend it to others. If in your generosity you wish to support this ministry, the details of how to do this are at the end of this transcript.
This particular episode is opening our eyes to what Adam and Eve saw when their eyes were opened through eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
Book now for the ACL Synod Dinner on Monday 15th September
The Anglican Church League invites all members of Sydney Synod to the 2025 ACL Synod Dinner. (Pre-booking essential.)
- Monday 15th September, 5:30pm (or when synod rises)
- At Bishop Barry Centre, 51 Druitt Street, Sydney.
Hear our panel of guests speak on Hope from the Coal Face.
The Rev Canon Bruce Morrison has been the Senior Minister at St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Parramatta for over twenty years.
The Rev Jason McPhail is the Assistant Minister at St John’s, Keiraville International Church.
Mrs Wendy Potts is the Anglicare Sydney Learning Consultant – Evangelism.
Jason McPhail and Wendy Potts contributed to the recent Hope for the Illawarra Mission.
Dinner bookings are absolutely essential as space is limited.
Synod members: Please feel free to invite other members of Synod to sign up for the dinner too! All are welcome, members and non-members.
Please book by Wednesday 10 September by pre-paying $34 via PayPal or Credit Card:
See also
The Synod Survival Guide – by Dr. Robert Tong.
Rev Michael Duckett at Moore College Chapel — Through Jesus alone — Hebrews 10:1-25
The Rev Michael Duckett from Macarthur Indigenous Church spoke at Moore College chapel last week on Hebrews 10:1-25 – Through Jesus Alone.
Wonderfully encouraging.
Talks from the Bathurst Diocesan Camp 2025
Dr. Mark Earngey spoke at the Bathurst Diocesan Camp earlier this month. His theme – “Why Church?”
Bishop Mark Calder has now posted the videos for your encouragement and edification.
Perseverance and Endurance in Ministry
Phillip Jensen speaks about Perseverance and Endurance in Ministry.
Audio recording – 38 minutes.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…