What are we unable to stop speaking about?
“Every time I read Acts 4:20 I am struck by how the message about Jesus should work. As the book of Acts begins, what Peter makes clear in each of his first Christian sermons is that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah.
For example, Acts chapter 2 and the coming of the Holy Spirit is much more about God declaring Jesus as Lord and Messiah then it is about the coming of the Holy Spirit on God’s people (though it is about that too!).
It’s the fact that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah that means the Holy Spirit now comes (Acts 2:32-36).
Or, take the healing event of chapter 3 with the lame man. It is by the name and power of Jesus, who is both Lord and Messiah, that this man is now healed. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Mike Leite has encouragement to speak the best news of all.
The Gospel in the Gospels — Two Ways Ministries Forum 2023
From Two Ways Ministries:
Want to wrestle with God’s Word and develop a great network of other Young Adults who want to live single-mindedly for Christ?
Thursday Forum is the backbone of what we do – hear Phillip Jensen teach the Bible, ask your questions, discuss the implications in small groups with others in the 18-30 age group and pray together.
The topic for this year’s forums will equip us to read the gospel with a non-Christian friend (one of the best ways to evangelise), but what is the gospel in the gospels?
Location: Marcus Loane Hall, Moore College, Newtown
Time: Thursdays 7-9pm (BYO dinner to share from 6pm)
– See the website for dates and links for further details.
Richard Johnson’s Address to the Inhabitants of New South Wales
This Australia Day, give thanks for the Rev. Richard Johnson, Chaplain to the First Fleet and first Chaplain to the Colony of New South Wales.
In 1792, Johnson wrote a tract designed to be distributed widely in the Colony. He gives his reasons for doing so:
“My Beloved,
I do not think it necessary to make an apology for putting this Address into your hands; or to enter into a long detail of the reasons which induced me to write it.
One reason may suffice. I find I cannot express my regard for you, so often, or so fully, as I wish, in any other way.
On our first arrival in this distant part of the world, and for some time afterwards, our numbers were comparatively small; and while they resided nearly upon one spot, I could not only preach to them on the Lord’s day, but also converse with them, and admonish them, more privately.
But since that period, we have gradually increased in number every year (notwithstanding the great mortality we have sometimes known) by the multitudes that have been sent hither after us. The colony already begins to spread, and will probably spread more and more every year, both by new settlements formed in different places under the crown, and by a number of individuals continually becoming settlers. Thus the extent of what I call my parish, and consequently of my parochial duty, is enlarging daily. On the other hand, my health is not so good, nor my constitution so strong, as formerly. And therefore I feel it impracticable, and impossible for me, either to preach, or to converse with you so freely, as my inclination and affection would prompt me to do.
I have therefore thought it might be proper for me, and I hope it may prove useful to you, to write such an address as I now present you with…”
Johnson’s warm pastoral tone, and his urgent call to trust Christ and to turn from sin, are clearly evident in this Address.
Download An Address to The Inhabitants of The Colonies Established in New South Wales and Norfolk Island as a PDF file here.
(Photo: Richard Johnson’s Address – copy held by Moore College.)
Same words. Different worlds. Reaching Roman Catholics.
On the Pastor’s Heart this week, Dominic Steele speaks with Leonardo De Chirico and Rachel Ciano on understanding our Roman Catholic friends and sharing the saving news of Jesus with them.
Leonardo De Chirico, Director of The Reformanda Initiative in Rome, is currently in Australia. Rachel Ciano serves at SMBC.
A weary pilgrimage
“I remember going to a weekend conference some eighteen months after I was converted, and a girl there asked me if I was a Christian. I answered, ‘Yes’.
‘Tell me’ she said, ‘what I have to do to become a Christian’.
I didn’t have the faintest idea where to begin.
As I write this now, I remember well the mixed emotions that swamped me. First, joy—because more than anything else I wanted to see people converted. Second, shame—because I didn’t know what to say. Third, anger—(with myself) for allowing such a situation to arise. All these emotions muddled together produced the only possible answer: ‘I’ll take you to someone who can tell you’.
So I did that, and she was converted—but not by my words or witness.
That incident left an indelible imprint on my memory, and that day I vowed that such a situation would never happen again. In the future I would know exactly what to say.
So I set out to learn the gospel. Which I did. …”
– from John Chapman in his book Know and Tell the Gospel. Extract published by Matthias Media.
Evangelism in Tough Times?
His topic: “Evangelism in Tough Times”.
Looking at our context in Australia, he argues –
- These are not tough times.
- The has been no substantial change, and
- The difficulty evangelism faces is seduction and persecution.
It’s a challenging talk and is very much worth your time. Good to share too.
Recorded at Moore College, 22 November 2022.
Christianity: Weird and Wonderful — Rory Shiner on ‘The World Next Door’
Recorded in August 2022, Glen Scrivener from Speak Life in the UK speaks with Rory Shiner about his new book, ‘The World Next Door: A Short Guide to the Christian Faith’, which he co-authored with Peter Orr.
It’s a fascinating interview with very helpful insights into sharing the gospel in our culture.
Watch here. The book is available from Matthias Media.
Our missionary faith – Matthew 28:16-20
Last week, Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson spoke about The Great Commission as the College comes to the end of the academic year.
It’s not only Moore College students who need to be reminded why we’re here.
Watch or listen at the Moore College website. Most encouraging.
How do we get the whole church engaged in evangelism? — with Gavin Perkins
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“How do you grow your church’s evangelistic ecosystem? Is that possible?
83% of Gavin’s church members see personal evangelism as an individual responsibility.
And yet most 60% of them had at maximum of two spiritual conversations with non Christians in the last six months.
Gavin Perkins has been researching what are the blockers to personal evangelism? How might we overcome them?
How could we create a congregational ecosystem where individuals take personal evangelistic initiative? …”
– Watch or listen at The Pastor’s Heart.
The Class of Chappo — A night to mark the 10th anniversary of Chappo’s departure to be with Christ
Tuesday 22 November 2022. 7:30pm
A night to mark the 10th anniversary of Chappo’s departure to be with Christ.
The evening will include:
- Philip Jensen on Evangelism in Tough Times
- Kanishka Raffel on Evangelism and the Local Church
- The launch of The Class of Chappo, edited and contributed to by David Mansfield, along with 27 other contributors.
- The launch of About Love, written and published by David Mansfield on the second half of John’s Gospel and a kind of sequel to About Life which David wrote more than 20 years ago.
- Baden Stace on his recently launched book, Sydney’s One Special Evangelist: John C. Chapman and the Shaping of Anglican Evangelicalism and Australian Religious Life, 1968-2001.
Details and booking from Moore College.
Illustration from a Department of Evangelism videocassette cover, 1986.
Lord, open the eyes of Hindus to Satya
“Picture this scene: approximately two hundred million men, women, and children; from every religious caste; from every echelon of every society; from most of the countries across the world; all congregating at the confluence of the Ganges river, the Sarasvati river, and the Brahmaputra (Jamuna) river at Prayag (modern day Prayagraj).
This jaw-dropping scene is the largest gathering of any kind on planet earth. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Ben George asks us to pray to the Lord of the harvest. Read the article to see the need, and then see the ‘15 days of prayer for the Hindu world’.
John MacArthur to the Governor of California on the slaughter of the innocents
“Sir,
Almighty God says in His Word, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people’ (Proverbs 14:34). Scripture also teaches that it is the chief duty of any civic leader to reward those who do well and to punish evildoers (Romans 13:1–7). You have not only failed in that responsibility; you routinely turn it on its head, rewarding evildoers and punishing the righteous.
The Word of God pronounces judgment on those who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20)…”
– John MacArthur, Pastor of Grace Community Church in California, has released an open letter to Governor Gavin Newsom who has been promoting his state as a destination for those wanting abortions – and quoting the Bible in support. (Click the image to read the text on the billboard.)
The letter is a clear and blunt call to repentance. PDF version.
Related:
Can California Become Even More Pro-Abortion? Governor Newsom Signs 13 New Bills to Increase Access to Abortion – Albert Mohler’s The Briefing, 28 September 2022.
Sydney’s One Special Evangelist John Chapman — The Pastor’s Heart
Prior to the launch of Baden Stace’s book, “Sydney’s One Special Evangelist: John C. Chapman and the Shaping of Anglican Evangelicalism and Australian Religious Life 1968-2001”, Dominic Steele speaks with Baden about Chappo.
“Baden’s new work showcases the impact of John Chapman, but also gives a window into issues facing evangelicals in Sydney in the later part of the twentieth century, controversies about preaching, the place of evangelism in church life, social justice, and what role each of us plays in the evangelistic process.”
Most encouraging and informative. A ‘must watch’ episode.
Related:
Invitation to the book launch on 14 September 2022.
Chappo: “Do you really believe the gospel can convert your friends?”
‘Learn the Gospel’ book and videos
A new study book and videos from Matthias Media:
“Whether building a house or building a life, solid, square and true foundations are vital.
If you’re just starting out in the Christian life – or considering it – you want to get those foundations in place from the start. Even if you’ve been a Christian for a while, it’s important to occasionally check your foundations – they might have shifted or been attacked by white ants, or perhaps they weren’t laid quite as straight as you originally thought.
In this Learn Together book, we’ll thoroughly inspect our gospel foundations and make our understanding of that gospel sound and biblical.
Through reading, studying the Bible, watching some video input and discussing what we’re learning together, we’ll go deep into the gospel of Jesus Christ – understanding each of its parts, how they fit together, and what implications the gospel has for our lives.
This is Two Ways to Live grown into a study book for small groups and classes. Each of the six points are fleshed out with Bible study, discussion and video and text input.”
– The book is available from Matthias Media.
Plus you can watch or download the accompanying videos here.
The Sermon that Exposed Australia
“It was an orthodox Christian sermon speaking about anxiety, trusting the Lord and God being with us in troubled times. As such you would not expect the Sydney Morning Herald to pay much attention to it. Except in this instance, who delivered the sermon, and where it was delivered, made it worthy of headline news. …
The sermon from the former PM, or rather the reaction to it from the current PM, shows just how far down the rabbit role of irrationality Australian civic culture has already gone.”
– At AP (The Australian Presbyterian), David Robertson looks at the reaction to Scott Morrison’s sermon, and sees the need for a good old-fashioned Apology.
Also:
Hear for yourself what Scott Morrison says. The most ‘controversial’ section begins around 26 minutes.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…