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 Though the interface is slightly outdated, you can download a variety or reading plans and it helps you keep track of your progress.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.

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.

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.

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.

Repeat the Sounding Joy – all episodes now online

Tyndale House in Cambridge has now published the final episode of their Advent podcast series:

“In this four-part series for Advent, Tony Watkins talks to Christopher Ash, Writer in Residence at Tyndale House, Cambridge, about Luke chapters 1 and 2.

These chapters are the focus of Christopher’s book of Advent devotions, Repeat the Sounding Joy (pub. Good Book Company).”

– See all four episodes here. Most encouraging and helpful.

When time feels broken

“Bad timing drives me nuts.

The bus pulls away just before you reach it. The priceless opportunity disappears just before you can grab it. Just when that person finally gets back on their feet, something else goes wrong. Bad, broken timing.

Why does time feel so broken?

Don’t let those swish Swiss clocks confuse you: time does not run smoothly. It slips away, races past and—ultimately—runs out. But why? Why does it feel like our times are out of joint when there’s a perfect time Lord holding all our times together?…”

– At The Australian Church Record, Annabel Nixey continues her series on time.

This isn Part 2. Part 1 (The Bible’s guide to time travel) and Part 3 (You only live twice) are also available.

Making your ‘Christmas Talk’ better

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“How to preach Christmas that engages and connects.

We’ve pulled in three experts to help us prepare for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We share talk structures, attention hooks, and illustrations that connect with guests who didn’t come for a sermon but need a Saviour.

Sam Chan talks about tailoring length, tone, and imagery for each.

Andrew Barry frames Christmas with a pastoral lens: some in the room are celebrating their first Christmas in Christ, others their last — and how this shapes content and cadence, putting joy and gravity side by side.

Adrian Russell talks about speaking into tragedy at Christmas, by preaching peace that is more than a feeling—reconciliation with God that makes real.

For Christmas morning, we share passages and closes that put God’s face turned toward us and the cross in view, with invitations that are personal and memorable.”

– This is a good reminder of the opportunities at Christmas – and especially in church Christmas gatherings.

Don’t overlook the ministry of Church Greeters

“In a world where houses double as impenetrable castles and most shopping is done online, serving as a greeter is countercultural. Greeters reflect an otherworldly gospel. They hold the church doors open for everyone, regardless of status—welcoming all, whether rich or poor, to the gathering of God’s people. Greeters reflect the unity believers have in Christ, a unity that transcends all worldly bonds. …”

– At The Gospel Coalition (US), Zac Lusk reminds of this important ministry.

This coming weekend, it’s quite possible that new people will come to church, seeking comfort after the attack at Bondi. A friendly, welcoming face at the door might make all the difference.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel on love in the face of terror at Bondi

From the Pastor’s Heart – a very timely edition –

“Sydney’s Anglican Archbishop Kanishka Raffel calls on Sydney to embrace our Jewish neighbours in love, friendship and support and to reject antisemitism, violence and hatred.

Archbishop Raffel says this is the way of Jesus.

Minister of Bondi Anglican Martin Morgan says they sheltered people in the church last night, who were terrified, running for their lives.

In a The Pastor’s Heart special, Archbishop Raffel is joined by minister of Bondi Anglican Church Martin Morgan and Messianic Jew Ben Pakula (also an Anglican Minister) in praying for those family and friends and the Bondi community, impacted by the gunman opening fire – leaving 16 dead including a 10 year old girl.”

– Watch or listen here.

And the page linked also includes the prayers made available by St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney.

Who Owns Jesus? Tommy Robinson and The Dirty Revival

Republished at Ian Paul’s Psephizo, Dr Jason Clark reflects on responses to the “Unite the Kingdom” Christmas Carol event planned for central London tonight Australian time:

“Over the last few days, my social media feeds—shaped by the strange, selective algorithms we all live under—have been replete with progressive and left-leaning Christians condemning the upcoming ‘Christ in Christmas’ event in London linked to Tommy Robinson. Anecdotally, those are the voices I see most loudly. And beyond my feeds, the national news and radio have been wheeling out predominantly Anglican clergy (as they always do) to denounce the gathering in firm, moral tones, with warnings of the ‘Far Right’ and ‘Christian Nationalism’.

I understand why people feel uneasy. I am no Tommy Robinson supporter. But I also sense that something deeper is happening here—something revealing, something uncomfortable, and something worth paying attention to. Because if we only focus on the personalities involved, we risk missing what this moment is saying about the soul of the UK, and perhaps the state of Christianity itself. …

For years now, huge numbers of ordinary Brits have felt ridiculed, unheard, and publicly shamed simply for being British. And the moment some of them reach for Christian symbols, language, and tradition—the very things Christianity once assumed belonged to all—those who preach tolerance respond with moral panic and purity tests. The contradiction is hard to ignore.”

– Read here.

Related:

‘Putting Christ back into Christmas’: Carol concert announced as follow up to Tommy Robinson rally – Premier Christian News,

Possibly related:

Let the young man come to church with mixed motives – Steve McAlpine.

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