A Surprising Power

“With the current geo-political upheavals many fear what the future holds. The uncertainty today is exacerbated by the angry divisions within societies. Vindictiveness has replaced respectful and serious conversation. And we can feel utterly powerless when it comes to talking about our faith.

In Perelandra or Voyage to Venus, the second in CS Lewis’ science-fiction trilogy, Ransom, the main character, feels powerless in confronting an evil force at work on the untainted planet Venus. The crafty subtle evil power reflects the temptations in Genesis chapter 3. Despite being a learned scholar in philology, Ransom constantly finds himself defeated in his arguments. What can he do?

This raises an important question for us, for today people have little knowledge of the Jesus of the Gospels. …”

– John Mason writes with encouragement in this week’s Word on Wednesday at Anglican Connection.

The Quiet Power of a Courageous Word

“Sometimes it is the simplest of matters that bear the greatest fruit. A simple deed, a simple gift, a simple word can make all the difference. They can even begin a cascade that changes lives and changes the world.

Charlotte Elliot, a satirist and skeptic, had become bedridden and embittered. One day a pastor from Geneva, Switzerland, passed through her town and was asked to meet with her. …”

– Tim Challies shares this encouraging story of how the Lord brings people to trust in Jesus.

Undated public domain  photo of Charlotte Elliot (1789-1871).

Four Keys to Understanding Catholic Worldview

Here’s the latest podcast from Certainty for Eternity’s Mark Gilbert & Rayne Orange:

“In this episode of Certainty for Eternity, Rayne and Mark start to look at how Catholics and Protestants see the world differently. Not just in small rituals, but in their entire worldview. From how we understand belonging, authority, and truth, to how we experience Jesus – this conversation helps you make sense of Catholic theology and how to connect meaningfully with Catholic friends and family.”

– Watch here.

Is there a place for the old-fashioned Evangelistic rally?

“I am old enough to remember the late Billy Graham reassuring the thousands of people who came to hear him preach in 1979, some possibly concerned about their ride home, that ‘the buses will wait’.

Billy Graham drew huge crowds in Australia. The ABC estimated that during his first tour Down Under in 1959 around half the population of Australia heard him preach (either in person or via landline). On the 15th March 1959, 143,750 people gathered at the MCG to hear Billy urge them to come forward and commit their lives to Christ. Thousands went forward, often experiencing significant change to their lives. …”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Tim Thorburn asks the question, and shares what they are doing in Perth.

Photo: Bill Graham with Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane in Sydney in 1979. With thanks to Ramon Williams, Worldwide Photos.

Why mission needs strategy: A conversation with Scott Sanders

The Australian Church Record speaks with Scott Sanders on why mission needs strategy –

“I went to college with a strong desire to plant churches in cross-cultural contexts, and that naturally drew me into the early stages of the church planting happening around 2008–2009.

Geneva Push was forming in response to the broader church planting momentum that was happening globally at the time.

I joined in June 2010, shortly after their first conference, and initially worked to build out the assessment process and coaching systems. There wasn’t much of a plan—just a bold vision to see hundreds of new churches evangelised into existence. It was an exciting, ambitious goal. …”

– Read Kirsten McKinlay’s interview of Scott Sanders here.

Evangelism for Introverts and other Encouragement

“Street vendors fascinate me. I’ve refused them time without number — but it hasn’t been personal. Deep down, I admire them. I wish I were more like them.

They seem unafflicted with the fear of man. They step into the middle of the walkway, make eye contact, smile, and then thrust their perfumes or cellphone covers upon you. They know we don’t want to hear, yet they speak anyway. One woman snared me recently with her heavy accent. She lifted her voice, and when she saw me pause, she knew she had me. She smelled fear. Before I knew what had happened, my children held massive balloons in their hands and toys in their arms, and she was asking them which ones they liked best. She was insistent that I hear her message.

Why don’t I share the gospel like that?…”

– At Desiring God, Greg Morse writes to encourage us to speak the news people need to hear.

Related:

The Forgotten Evangelists: Mobilizing Ordinary Members in Everyday Evangelism – 9Marks.

“Something concerning is happening in many faithful churches today. The gospel is proclaimed from the pulpit. Prayers are lifted. Mission trips are put into the budget and scheduled for the year. And yet week after week, many church members fail to evangelize the lost.

It’s not usually because they don’t believe in evangelism. I would bet that most church members genuinely want their friends and neighbors to know Christ. But when it comes to speaking up, they freeze.

What’s holding them back? …”

Bishop of Bathurst’s Newsletter — HOPE25 Report edition

From the Bishop of Bathurst.

– Read it here.

Certainty for Eternity launches YouTube channel

Mark Gilbert at Certainty for Eternity reports they have launched a YouTube channel with the aim of better equipping people to speak about Jesus with their Roman Catholic friends.

In the first video posted, Mark speaks with Leonardo De Chirico on Learning about Roman Catholicism from Pope Francis’ Funeral.

– Watch here.

Godly Tracts and Spurgeon’s Example

At AP, the Presbyterian online journal, Troy Appleton has some encouragement concerning gospel tracts:

“Some Christian commentators have argued that tract giving is a useless activity; that times have changed. True, many a tract may end up unread and crumpled up in the trash bin. Yet, we must trust in God’s providence. It is likely you will never be able to meet every person in your neighbourhood or even on your street – they are unlikely to ever hear the Gospel told to them in their lifetime. The giving of a tract may be the seed that God uses in His providence to cause them to come to Christ. We may never know this side of eternity. …”

– Read here. (And yes, Matthias Media also has various kinds of tracts.)

Image – a home-made tract distributed at the University of Sydney in the late 1970s.

We are on mission with Jesus

“ ‘Jesus is in the midst of his people as we pursue the mission on which he has sent us,’ Archbishop Raffel has told church leaders and evangelists from 57 countries and territories who gathered in Berlin last month. …”

– Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net has this report on the European Congress on Evangelism in Berlin – organised by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

We understand that the Archbishop’s address will be published in the next Southern Cross.

Photo courtesy Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, with thanks to Russell Powell.

Adults are becoming Christians every day

“One of the questions we commonly get asked at Evangelism and New Churches is how the evangelism process worked for people who became Christians as adults.

People want to hear about what happened and why it was so effective. Many of the people asking these questions don’t know people who became Christians as adults – perhaps because many of them are younger in age.

I want to tell you that people become Christians as adults in Australia every single day. It happens all the time. …”

– A brief word of encouragement from Dave Jensen – at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Image: Dave Jensen speaking at Nexus25.

Preach the Word

At the recent gathering for the 50th Anniversary of Campus Bible Study at the University of New South Wales, Phillip Jensen speaks to remind and encourage his hearers to Preach the Word.

– Listen here. (The audio quality improves greatly after the first few minutes.)

Very much worth your time, and good for your heart.

Related:

Giving thanks for Campus Bible Study — 50 years on – The Pastor’s Heart.

Broken plates illuminate gospel message

“Broken plates transformed with gold helped participants explore Easter’s redemption story at a workshop hosted by St Jude’s Parkville last month.

More than 40 people attended the kintsugi workshop where they repaired cracked plates while reflecting on how Christ’s sacrifice mends human brokenness. …”

– At The Melbourne Anglican, Hannah Felsbourg shares news of an innovative way of sharing the gospel.

A Prayer for the people of Sydney and the Illawarra

As Sunday’s Day of Prayer for the Spread of the Gospel (including a prayer gathering in the Cathedral on Sunday afternoon) approaches, Archbishop Kanisha Raffel has written this prayer which you may wish to use –

A Prayer for the Spread of the Gospel in Sydney and the Illawarra

Dear heavenly Father

We praise and thank you for sending into the world, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to be the world’s redeemer.

Thank you that by his death and resurrection you have opened the way to life abundant and life eternal through the forgiveness of ours sins. Thank you that by repentance and faith, we are adopted by grace into your family, and given the gift of your Holy Spirit who assures us that we are your children, and enables us to call you Father, not because of anything we have done, but because of your great mercy and love.

Gracious God, we pray for Sydney and the Illawarra, from the Hawkesbury to the mountains, from the new growth corridors to the coastal suburbs and the inner city, from the southern highlands to Wollongong and the towns and villages of the south Coast – would you pour out your Spirit to bring many of our neighbours, friends, families and colleagues to saving knowledge of your Son.

Would you equip all your people, in our families, churches, schools, agencies and organisations, in every community across our diocesan fellowship to fulfil the works that you have prepared in advance for us to do so that in every way we make known the excellencies of your Son, who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Dear Lord, hear our prayer for all those who do not know you, and do not know your love for them in the gospel of your Son. Please open blind eyes, please soften hard hearts, please lift the veil from those blinded by the god of this age so that all may see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Dear heavenly Father, by the proclamation of your gospel, by our ready answer for the hope that we have,  by our lives and in our fellowship, bearing witness to the transforming power of the risen Lord, would you make known the truth, beauty, majesty and mercy of your Son and call many from death to life, from darkness into his wonderful light, from slavery to sin and death, into the Kingdom of the Son whom you love.

Even as you have been merciful to us, pour out your mercy in the gospel of your Son and bring many more we pray to repentance and faith in him; build your church from every tribe and people and language and nation, to the praise and glory of the Lamb who was slain, who by his blood purchased a people for himself, who alone is worthy of all praise and honour and glory and blessing forever and ever, Amen.

Don’t let prayer be our last resort

From Archbishop Kanishka Raffel:

“On Sunday, May 4, I have invited all of our churches to share in a day of prayer for the spread of the gospel across our Diocese – from the Hawkesbury to the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands to Wollongong and the South Coast, and Greater Sydney. A day of prayer for our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues who don’t know Christ, to come to know him and his redeeming love. …”

– Read it all at SydneyAnglicans.net.

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