New Year’s Resolutions and Lasting Change

From Moore College –

“As we step into 2026, it is natural to think about change; about what we hope will be different, more faithful, or more shaped by Christ in the year ahead. The Moore College Archives hold a rich collection of sermons and talks on New Year’s resolutions, reminding us that this is not a modern concern, nor one to be approached lightly.

Across these reflections from Christmas sermons that expose our loves and priorities to New Year messages calling for renewed obedience, prayer, and trust, a consistent theme emerges. At its root, the word Resolution comes from the Latin resolutio, meaning to loosen, release, or settle. In everyday use, especially with New Year’s resolutions, it refers to a commitment to change behaviour, habits, or priorities.

In a Christian sense, a resolution is not merely an act of willpower, but a settled intention to live faithfully in response to God’s grace, depending on him rather than on self-effort alone. Christian resolutions are not just about self-improvement, but about reorienting our lives toward Christ.

In a series of talks and sermon texts from the Moore Digital Archives, voices from across generations, including T.C. Hammond, D.B. Knox, Luke Tattersall and Jodie McNeill, challenge us to ask better questions.”

– See the article with the links here.

Bible Reading Plans for 2026

A new year brings opportunities to grow in knowledge and godliness. Ligonier Ministries have some resources you could use –

“To grow in the knowledge of God and to live in light of His truth, it’s important that we set aside focused time to study His Word.

As you consider your Bible study plans for the year ahead, explore more than 20 reading plans that can help you meditate on the Scriptures often. …”

– See the available plans here.

In addition, there are many phone apps to help you keep track of your Bible reading.

One such app, available for iPhones and recent Macs, is ReadingPlan. Though the interface is slightly outdated, you can download a variety or reading plans and it helps you keep track of your progress.

There are others which do the same thing, and today might be a good day to find one for the next year.

MPs tell incoming archbishop to halt £100 Million reparations plan

“A cross-party group of 27 Members of Parliament and peers have called on the Archbishop-designate of Canterbury, the Rt. Rev. & Rt. Hon. Sarah Mullally, to intervene and halt the Church of England’s proposed £100 million slavery reparations fund.

In a letter first reported by The Sunday Times of London (28 Dec. 2025), the parliamentarians warn that the plan—known as ‘Project Spire’—risks setting a ‘worrying precedent’ by encouraging other institutions to divert charitable resources to political or symbolic causes. …”

– George Conger reports at Anglican Ink.

The Known God!

From Philip Jensen:

“Welcome to a New Year.

We are commencing Two Ways News’ summer series today, looking at evangelism through the study of Paul’s famous sermon on the Areopagus of Athens in Acts 17.”

– Listen here.

The King’s Christmas speech: which Gospel?

“I missed the King’s speech this Christmas – after all, it was delivered at 2am in Australia! And then I read the reviews before I actually watched it on YouTube. Some commentators were ecstatic. Damian Thompson of the Spectator’s Holy Smoke podcast was one such: ‘The King’s speech was beyond reproach – a perfect balance between his Christian faith, emphasising the significance of meeting Pope Leo, and his warm relationship with other communities.’

Fraser Nelson called it ‘an important and even daring contribution to a vital debate’. In this article I want to interact with both the speech and Fraser’s article, which to my mind has been the most thoughtful and stimulating of all the responses.

Having commented on the previous two Kings Christmas messages in 2023 and in 2024, I wondered if this was third time lucky. Maybe the King after a year of facing illness had had time to reflect further on what Christ really taught? So, I listened and sadly it was the old moralist, therapeutic deism which came across. As regular as Wizzard’s ‘I wish it could be Christmas every day’, the King’s speech repeats the same narrative every year. …”

– Read all of David Robertson’s response to the King’s speech at The Wee Flea.

Photo: The King”s 2024 Christmas message.

Moore Matters — Summer 2025/2026

The latest issue of Moore Matters (Summer 2025–2026) is now available.

If you can’t find a printed copy at your church, be sure to check out the online version.

On the Venn Diagram Between Pastor, Academic, and Author

“My first degree was in English so I was always vaguely in the literary world, but as a consumer rather than producer. I would love to have had a gift for fiction or poetry, but have neither. Any literary outlet was going to have to be in non-fiction. Prior to being co-opted for full-time ministry, I’d have perhaps moved into journalism or teaching of some sort.

In 2001 (at which point I was well and truly on the full-time ministry track), I wrote a short article and sent it to The Briefing. …”

– This Gospel Coalition Australia interview with Rory Shiner, from a series of interviews with Christian writers, gives insight into Christian authors and how we can support them.

Christmas morning service from St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney

Here’s this morning’s service from St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney. On YouTube.

Or go straight to the Archbishop’s sermon.

Feasting at Christmas — A heavenly meal (and a lottery ticket)

From Phillip Jensen –

“There are many Christmas traditions that I happily do not practise, from sentimental Christmas songs to reindeer, trees, and Santa Claus. However, I would never forgo the glory of eating a great feast at Christmas time, for eating food together is the God-given expression of fellowship, and Christian fellowship is derived from God sending his Son into the world to save sinners. Read on to see how Peter and I remember our Christmas festivities and have come to understand the importance of food at this season.”

– Listen (or read the transcript) at Two Ways News.

Dr. Glenn Davies and the Future of Anglican Communion in relation to GAFCON

In the latest Australian Presbyterian Profiles in Christian Living, Mark Powell speaks with Glenn Davies, the Bishop of the Diocese of the Southern Cross, about the future of the worldwide Anglican Communion and GAFCON.

While this was recorded in late October, it’s just been published.

– Watch here.

Jack Day to join MTC Old Testament Department

From Moore Theological College:

“We are delighted to welcome Jack Day to Moore College as a Faculty member in the Old Testament Department.

A Moore graduate, Jack is returning to College while completing his PhD in Old Testament at the University of Cambridge. He brings with him both academic depth and pastoral experience, and a deep desire to help students trust and treasure God’s word. …”

– Read it all here.

The Light of Christmas shines in our darkness — Christmas 2025

From Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net, the Archbishop’s Christmas message –

“The Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel says the message of Christmas will be felt more deeply amid the horrific events at Bondi less than two weeks before Christmas.

‘This year, a pall of darkness was cast over Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights,’ the Archbishop said. ‘The attack that brought that darkness targeted the Jewish community — our fellow Australians.’

The Archbishop said it was understandable that people will have mixed feelings approaching Christmas. …”

– Read it all here.

Also, watch (and share) the video –
and download the Archbishop’s message as a PDF file.

Full text:  Read more

Southern Cross December 2025 — January 2026

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

If you don’t see a copy in your local church, you can also read it online.

A Christmas Special from Two Ways News

From Phillip Jensen –

“Christmas is a great time for gifts, and Two Ways News comes to you free of charge and provided by generosity. If you would like to support the ministry, please see the details of how to give here or at the end of this article. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this Christmas special.”

– Phillip and Peter Jensen chat about Christmas.

Gafcon Chairman’s Christmas Message 2025

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

At Christmas, the Church once again returns to the quiet and unsettling words of Luke’s Gospel: “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

The coming of Jesus into the world did not happen because space was made for him, but because he chose to enter our broken world. The Son of God entered his own creation not amid welcome and recognition, but amid rejection, displacement, and neglect.

That truth should give us pause.

For there are times when the Church herself can begin to resemble the inn—busy, occupied, confident in her own arrangements—yet leaving no room for Jesus and his Word. Under false shepherds, the voice of the true Shepherd is sidelined. Faithful witness is crowded out. Obedience is treated as disruption. And those who seek to hold fast to the gospel are told, in effect, that there is no room.

Yet Christmas proclaims this unshakable hope: Jesus is not hindered by closed doors. God’s purposes are not thwarted by human refusal. The child laid in the manger is the Lord of history, and his Kingdom will not fail.

This year, many across our Anglican family have known uncertainty, pressure, and grief. Some have borne the cost of faithfulness quietly and at great personal cost. Christmas reminds us that such suffering does not place us outside God’s purposes, but often directly within them.

The witness of the Church has always been forged not through comfort, but through conviction.

That truth was given renewed expression in this year’s Martyrs’ Day Statement, which clearly and soberly reaffirmed our shared confession, fellowship, and mission under the authority of Holy Scripture. It reminded us that the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3) has always been guarded and proclaimed at a cost—and that we are called, in our generation, to do no less.

Throughout this past year, we have seen bishops, clergy, and lay leaders stand together in gospel unity, resolved to make room for Jesus where others have not—to guard his gospel, to proclaim his truth, and to remain faithful even when it would be easier to yield.

As we now look toward the historic gathering in Abuja next March, we do so with humility, prayer, and hope. G26 is a summons to make room for Jesus afresh in the life of his Church, to listen again to his Word, and to walk together in obedience and courage.

And so, as you celebrate the birth of our Lord with your families and churches, may your hearts be strengthened by this sure hope: “Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Lord enters in.”

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Yours in Christ,

The Most Revd Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council
Saturday, 20th December 2025.

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