The Idols of the Eyes

Phillip Jensen’s website is featuring two talks from the Queen’s Birthday Conference 2019.

Challenging.

A Prayer for Australia

“You may have heard around the place talk of ‘doubling the number’ of gospel-centred Christians in Australia, or the idea of praying for and working toward an annual ‘five percent conversion growth’ goal. It’s showing up all over the place.

In June of 2025 TGCA gathered a group of Christian leaders to pray and work on what we might do together. We prayed, heard a bunch of papers, discussed and debated various proposals.

Following on from that day, a small group worked on refining the statement, and the Council returned to it for a final endorsement. Here’s what we came up with:

We acknowledge God works out all things according to the counsel of his will and in his mercy saves his people through the faithful preaching of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the glory of God, as a movement of Reformed evangelicals in Australia, we commit to pray for and work toward a doubling (at least) of the number of gospel-centred Christians in our country over the next fifteen years.

We will pray for and work toward:

seeing 5% conversions (as a percentage of annual attendance in our churches and ministries);
the gospel going to every socioeconomic, ethnic, and community group within our nation—especially those currently under-reached;
a doubling of the number of men and women with the necessary conviction, character, and competency in full-time Christian ministry and missionary service.

I find it in turn exciting, daunting, galvanising, and inspiring. I hope you do too. I trust a little commentary will be helpful. …”

– Rory Shiner, Chair of the TGC Australia Council, writes to encourage us to to fall to prayer.

Latest ministry opportunities in the Diocese of Bathurst

From the Diocese of Bathurst:

“Precious opportunities await! Please pray for the 12/28 of our parishes without clergy (down from 14!!)

1. Condobolin
2. Trundle
3. Warren
4. Bourke-Brewarrina
5. Coonamble
6. West Wyalong (locum here until Easter)
7. Wellington (locum here)
8. Coonabarabran
9. Cumnock
10. Blayney (from April 2026)

Currently we have amazing lay people in the following parishes, but would also welcome enquiries for clergy to serve part time in:

11. Coolah-Dunedoo
12. Nyngan.”

– Via the diocesan Facebook page.

Adelaide Election Synod this weekend

The members of the Synod of the Diocese of Adelaide meet this weekend to elect a new Archbishop.

Doubtless, they would crave your prayers for godly wisdom. Pray that they will elect someone who loves the Lord Jesus, holds to the authority of God’s Word, and who can help and encourage members of the churches of Adelaide to live for Christ and to reach out to their city.

The gathering begins with a Synod Service on Friday evening, with the business sessions on Saturday morning and afternoon and (if required) Sunday afternoon. (Summons here.)

MOCLAM: Mission to the world

For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. (2 Cor 5:14-15)

“Today, 20 per cent of Latin Americans identify as evangelical, compared to only 3 per cent in the 1960s. Growth has been fast, and leaders have emerged with admirable enthusiasm, a sincere desire to reach the lost and a deep love for God’s people.

However, while this statistic sounds impressive, only a very small percentage of pastors have been given the opportunity to undergo formal theological training. …”

– At the Moore College website, Adrian and Anita Lovell, CMS Missionaries in Bolivia, share something of the impact and potential of MOCLAM.

Ethics with AI and Preaching

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“What are the dangers when pastors let AI assist… or sometimes author? …

Stephen Driscoll works in Campus Ministry in Canberra. He’s the author of Made in Our Image: God, artificial intelligence and you.

Stephen argues that writing is thinking, and when we automate the writing we risk automating away the deep thinking and wrestling with God’s word that forms the preacher’s heart. …”

– Watch here.

John Piper asks ChatGPT to write a Prayer.

The Man of Promise — In whom do you trust?

From Phillip Jensen:

“Dear friends,

We come to the last of our series in the opening chapters of Genesis. We have certainly enjoyed rethinking the great themes that these chapters contain and hope that you have similarly enjoyed our discussions.

As we’re coming towards the end of the year, we are thinking about next year’s programmes. We would love to hear of any part of the Bible you would want us to work through, or any particular issues you would like us to address. …”

– Hear Philip Jensen and Peter Jensen at Two Ways News.