What Happened on Reformation Day?
“On October 31, much of the culture will be focussed on candy and things that go bump in the night. Protestants, however, have something far more significant to celebrate on October 31.
It’s Reformation day, which commemorates what was perhaps the greatest move of God’s Spirit since the days of the Apostles.
But what is the significance of Reformation Day, and how should we consider the events it commemorates? …”
– At Ligonier Ministries, Robert Rothwell writes about the significance of Reformation Day.
Image: Martin Luther in 1532, by Lucas Cranach the Elder.
Help! The wrong type of person is turning up at church!
“The wrong type of people are turning up at our churches. The wrong type of non-Christian people.
Not convinced? Let me explain.
The quiet revival – in which young men in particular are turning up at churches – is presenting something of a problem for evangelical churches of a certain stripe. And the recent death of Charlie Kirk has cast this problem into sharper relief.
What’s the problem? I hear you ask. Well it’s this:
Many of our more middle class, evangelical churches – especially in urban areas – have been prepping themselves for a certain type of non-Christian to come through their doors. Yet in the wake of Kirk’s murder they are less prepped for another type of non-Christian altogether – the type that actually is coming through their doors!
It’s not as simple as ‘the wrong type’ of inquirer coming to our churches. There’s no such thing.
But our evangelical churches, especially in our big cities, are more unsure about what to do with a Jordan Peterson reading/Charlie Kirk socials-watching young bloke turning up, than they are about a gender-fluid university student with all the progressive boxes ticked, turning up. …
Why have we been caught out by this surprising turn of events? Because the culture has been caught out by this surprising turn of events. And we have followed the culture’s lead. …”
– Many churches are seeing this ‘quiet revival’. Stephen McAlpine writes with encouragement to engage.
Betrayed by my King
From The Pastor’s Heart –
“Marcus Loane said no. The King said yes.
For the first time in more than 800 years, an English monarch has prayed publicly with the Pope.
King Charles III — the Supreme Governor of the Church of England — joined Pope Leo XIV in the Sistine Chapel in a highly choreographed moment of unity. But for many Protestants, this was not a moment to celebrate, but to grieve.
The Reformation was born out of deep conviction that Rome had departed from the apostolic gospel — that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Those convictions have not changed. And yet, the sight of a Protestant king kneeling in prayer beside the Pope suggests that they believe these dividing lines no longer matter, that the Reformation is no longer relevant.
Half a century ago, in 1970, when Pope Paul VI visited Australia, Sydney Anglican Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane — refused to pray with the Pope, saying shared prayer implied shared faith, and that the great truths of the Reformation still mattered: salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Loane’s grandson, Dr Stephen Tong, joins Rachel Ciano, Lecturer in Church History at Sydney Missionary and Bible College, and Dominic Steele on The Pastor’s Heart to discuss what’s happened in Rome this week – as the leaders of the Roman Catholic and Church of England Churches downplay the Reformation’s significance.”
Family Likeness — Who do you think you are?
From Phillip Jensen:
Welcome again to Two Ways News. Working with my brother makes it a bit of a family concern.
The last episode of the older brother killing the younger reminds us of the mixed blessing of family life. In this episode, we follow through the family of Cain. It’s not a pleasant story, though in the midst of evil there are great achievements.
Don’t forget to tell others of Two Ways News.
The Growing Threat to Religious Freedom
“I have long been an admirer of Professor Patrick Parkinson and his work. The Emeritus Professor of Law and former Dean of the University of Queensland, has been outspoken in his Christian faith, his defence of religious liberty as well as his academic critique of The Safe Schools program. And so my interest was significantly piqued when I heard about his new book Unshaken Allegiance: Living wisely as Christians with diminishing religious freedoms (St Matthias, 2025). …”
– At AP, Mark Powell reviews Unshaken Allegiance by Professor Patrick Parkinson.
Image from Mark Powell’s recent interview with Professor Parkinson.
The Book of James — Church Society podcast
From Church Society:
“Lee Gatiss talks to Daniel Eng, author of a new commentary on the book of James, about the book’s key themes and practical applications.”
– Listen here.
Celebrating the Nicene Creed
At AP, the Presbyterian journal, Campbell Markham at Scots’ Church Fremantle begins a four-part series on the Nicene Creed.
“Christians confess their faith in God as He Is.
This year (2025) marks seventeen centuries since the writing of the Nicene Creed which is, with the Apostles’ Creed, one of the two most important extra-biblical documents that the Christian church possesses.
Creed derives from the Latin credo, ‘I believe.’ It is the first word of the Nicene Creed and identifies it as a statement of Christian belief.
In this article I look at the history of the Nicene Creed and why it is critical that Christians confess right belief in Christ. In the following three articles I plan to look in turn at the three main sections of the Nicene Creed, focussing especially on its Christology: its definition of the person and work of Jesus Christ. …”
“God the Father and the Person of God the Son
I was fifteen when I first saw those creepy life-size models of famous people, hands and faces of painted wax. Too often people handle Jesus Christ as a wax mannequin, to be reshaped and adjusted to suit their own ideas and desires.
Anti-theologian Barbara Thiering taught that Jesus was the natural child of Joseph and Mary and that he did not die on the cross but rather swooned and was revived to consciousness in the tomb.
Sixteen centuries prior the heresiarch Arius taught that Jesus was not the self-existent and eternal Creator of all, but was himself created in time.
There has been no end to this wretched remodelling.
About 300 bishops at the Council of Nicaea in 325 refused to do this. They recognised Jesus as a true and historical person described in the Bible with all the depth and complexity that God wanted us to know and own. …”
The Clapham Sect and their Influence on Sydney
Videos from the 2025 Donald Robinson Library Lectures at Moore Theological College – The Clapham Sect and their Influence on Sydney:
“Held on 8 October 2025, the Library Day Lectures explored the remarkable legacy of the Clapham Sect — a network of evangelical reformers whose faith and friendships shaped British society and left a lasting mark on early Australia.
Through eight talks by Moore College faculty and guest scholars, the event traced their impact on mission, education, social reform, and the formation of Sydney’s evangelical heritage.”
– See all the lectures in this YouTube playlist from Moore College.
The Nicene Creed: The nature of Christian unity and the meaning of gospel words — reviewed by Robert Doyle
“The Nicene Creed: The nature of Christian unity and the meaning of gospel words is a carefully written, informed, and thoughtful examination of basic Roman Catholic beliefs following the implicit and explicit trajectory laid out in the Nicene Creed: the doctrines of the authority of Scripture, Trinity, person and work of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the virgin Mary, salvation, church, and the world to come.
It arises out of the teaching and pastoral ministries of the authors, who all – whether in Italy, France, Belgium, Ireland, Australia or the United States – are involved in proclaiming and explaining to today’s Roman Catholics the gospel of Jesus Christ as it is presented in the Scriptures.
The book is marked by careful attention to sources and fair critical evaluation of them. It is missiological. The intended audience is Bible study groups in Evangelical churches. More widely, its analysis and presentation make it an excellent introduction to contemporary, foundational Roman Catholic beliefs and how the scriptural gospel speaks to them. …”
– Dr Robert Doyle reviews this important book at The Australian Church Record.
Preaching Plan 2026
Some very practical advice from David Cook at The Expository Preaching Trust:
“Preachers are teachers (Eph 4:11-12; 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 2:24), all teachers know the value of a clear curriculum.
Now is a good time to be working on your preaching curriculum for 2026.
There are 52 weeks in our teaching year, 4 terms of 9 weeks each; pre-Christmas Advent 4 weeks; post-Christmas holiday period 6 weeks; school term breaks March /April 2 weeks, June/July 2 weeks, September/October 2 weeks. Total 52 weeks. …”
Image: David Cook speaking at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.
Annual Moore College Lectures 2025 — A Biblical Theology of Faith — now available to watch
Earlier this month, Dr. Peter Orr gave the 2025 Annual Moore College Lectures on the theme A Biblical Theology of Faith.
The College has now made video recordings of the lectures and Lectures Outlines available for your instruction and edification.
Lecture 1.
Faith in God’s promises from Genesis to 2 Kings.Lecture 2.
Faith in God alone in the Prophets and the Psalms.Lecture 3.
Faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ through Paul’s Letters.Lecture 4.
Faith in Jesus Christ in the Gospels and Acts.Lecture 5.
Faith that bears fruit in Hebrews, James, and Revelation.
Athens Archaeological Sites with photos
Moore College Lecturer (and member of the Anglican Church League’s Council) Dr Lionel Windsor is continuing to publish fascinating pictures from his recent trip.
“In July 2025, I visited Athens with my wife Bron and daughter Ellie. We went to see archaeological sites associated with the Apostle Paul. Here are some photos of the sites and museum exhibits. They help to provide context for New Testament texts associated with Athens. Enjoy!”
– They certainly do help provide context – and are a great reminder that when we read the Book of Acts, we are dealing with history – real people and real places – a real gospel.
Photo: On top of The Areopagus.
Related:
“The Areopagite” by Bruce Smith.
Anglican Heroes: William Wilberforce — Church Society podcast
From Church Society:
“Jago Wynne, the current vicar of Holy Trinity, Clapham tells Ros Clarke about the life, faith and work of its most well-known former member, William Wilberforce.”
– Listen here.
Firstborn Failure
From Phillip Jensen:
“We return this week to Genesis and chapter 4. It’s a passage that Peter and I should be able to empathetically deal with: Cain and Abel, brothers at war!
Thank you to those who have sent messages of encouragement to us and questions to push our thinking. Please continue to encourage others to subscribe to Two Ways News.”
Can we redeem Halloween?
We first posted this link two years ago, in September 2023. As Halloween approaches, this episode of The Pastor’s Heart is worth revisiting, with ideas for churches and church members.
“How should Christians respond to customs, traditions, and stories that have associations with false religions, demonic powers, and evil?
Could a church building be covered in cobwebs and used as an invitation to come inside?
Would you run a Halloween event for the kids of your church so they don’t feel like they are missing out? Or would you run something as an outreach to connect to the neighborhood?
Is it about the occult and to be avoided at all costs and denounced – or is it kids in funny outfits and junk food?
To talk Halloween, kids and churches our guests are:
Craig Roberts, CEO of Sydney’s Anglican Youthworks and former minister of Neutral Bay Anglican Church.
Kristen Young, Director of student and community care at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.”
Related:
The Australian Church Record has today published Handling Halloween by Andy Bryan.
“As Halloween grows in popularity, it’s worth helping our children think about how to be in the world but not of it (John 17:15). This isn’t about everyone reaching the same conclusion, but about thinking theologically and guiding our families wisely. …
Whatever your decision, keep Jesus at the centre. Our aim is to glorify him in all we do.”
And from 12 years ago – Glen Scrivener shares a thought-provoking video on Halloween:
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…