“As it had been the face of an angel”
“The Christian ministry has never been for the faint of heart. The ministry, biblically defined, is combat duty in spiritual warfare. These graduates have been prepared to be front-line officers in that warfare. …
At every Southern Seminary graduation we remind one another of the great and essential fact that the Christian ministry is not a mere profession — it is a divine calling. The ministry is one of Christ’s gifts to his church. it is the most serious and joyous of all callings.
I think often of the venerable words of the old Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England for the ordering of the ministry. These words are spoken to new ministers of the Word:
‘You have heard, brethren, as well in your private examination, as in the exhortation which was now made to you, and in the holy Lessons taken out of the Gospel and the writings of the Apostles, of what dignity and of how great importance this office is, whereunto ye are called. …’ ”
– Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks at the Commencement of Ministry for this year’s SBTS graduates.
Letter to the Archbishop of York: Please consecrate a second Reformed Anglican Bishop
“Your Grace, It would be quite understandable for you to be less than enthusiastic about receiving a missive from a ‘conservative evangelical’ in the light of the recent consecration of the episcopally licensed Curate of Jesmond Parish Church as a missionary bishop by the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church in South Africa. But I am writing if I may to set forth the case for a second conservative evangelical bishop, in addition to the southern-based Bishop of Maidstone, to serve as senior pastor to churches and ministers in the north of England who desire his episcopal care. …”
– Julian Mann, Vicar of The Parish Church of the Ascension, Oughtibridge, in South Yorkshire, writes an open letter to the Archbishop of York.
He also responds to comments made in the last week by Church Society’s Lee Gatiss and by Gavin Ashenden.
(Photo: Julian Mann with Bishop Dr. Ben Kwashi.)
Why so many churches hear so little of the Bible
“In many churches, there is almost no public reading of the Word of God. Worship is filled with music, but congregations seem disinterested in listening to the reading of the Bible.”
– Albert Mohler writes at the Southern Seminary blog. We would hope things are better in Sydney.
Duty to Die? — ‘Australian Presbyterian’ on Euthanasia
In the light of today’s news of a proposed “Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill” to come before NSW Parliament (ABC News story here), the current issue (Winter 2017) of Australian Presbyterian magazine is particularly timely as it addresses the issue of euthanasia.
Article 1: Opening Pandora’s Box. Why Christians must stand firm against euthanasia. An interview with Dr. Scott Rae.
Article 2: A bad move. By Moore College graduate Dr Neil Chambers.
(In addition, Marylynn Rouse from the John Newton Project reflects on John Newton’s experience of God’s amazing grace.)
The issue is available as a PDF file at this link.
Gospel Presentation and Eulogies: Part 1
“One reality of ministry is that funerals come along and impose themselves on our carefully planned out diaries. Sometimes you go for a while without many and then five or six come in quick succession. Other times they come in a steady stream.
No matter when they come along they are a wonderful opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel and the love of Christ to those who are grieving. It is easy to overlook how significant these opportunities are to pastor and reach out to those who rarely, if ever, come to church.…”
– At Church Society’s blog, Adam Young discusses the opportunities for ministering good news at a funeral.
Camino Faith and Christian Faith
“With some friends I recently traversed the beautiful and famous Camino Trail in Spain. Some of our group walked the shorter stretches of the trail but we mostly travelled in the comfort of our coach.
The journey provided opportunity to visit some amazing Cathedrals. The standout was the Cathedral in Leon whose colour-glazed windows were breathtaking.
Some of the pilgrims were walking to meet the athletic challenge of the Camino. For others it was a spiritual exercise, a time of reflection based on the journey of St James Zebedee all those years ago. …”
– In his latest post, Bishop Paul Barnett compares the stories concerning St. James with the historical evidence for Jesus.
Why bother with women’s conferences?
“In the run-up to women’s conferences, I often hear the ‘why bother?’ question. I think the underlying thoughts are that Christian conferences generally are useful – but why do we need to have a conference just for women? And why do we need to have only female preachers at a women’s conference? Don’t we just want the best preacher for the job, regardless of whether they are male or female? …”
– At GoTherFor.com, Kirsten McKinlay suggests there is real value in creating a context for women to preach to women.
Why do good works?
“The first question that arises when the Doctrine of Justification by faith only is clearly set forth is: What then is the place of good works in the Christian economy?”
– The Australian Church Record continues to republish Archdeacon T.C. Hammond’s thoughts on The Thirty Nine Articles.
Related: A city’s care, two ways – SydneyAnglicans.net.
Social change and gospel preaching
“How does a disciple-making agenda fit with the need for us to express our love for our neighbours through engagement in social action?
This interview between Kel Richards and Phillip Jensen is full of enormously helpful insights on this question, both for individuals and for churches. It is well worth the investment of 28 minutes.”
– GoThereFor.com points us to a conversation between Kel Richards and Phillip Jensen recorded a few years back. As they say, well worth the investment of your time.
Mother’s Day Resources
Stuck for ideas for Mother’s Day?
Need some encouragement?
A collection of Mother’s Day resources has been published at phillipjensen.com.
Preaching Matters: Gospel Certainty in Luke
More resources from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate:
“How does Luke provide certainty for his readers? Why is it important for the word of God to make sense of the works of Christ? If certainty comes from something other than first-hand experience of physical evidence, what are the implications for the way we do evangelism?
Preaching Matters is back with William Taylor tackling these questions, and more, from Luke’s Gospel.”
Six ways to be prepared
“One of the ways you ‘honour Christ the Lord as holy’ as a Christian is by ‘being prepared to make a defence [or a ‘reasoned statement’] to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you’ (1 Pet 3:15). Preparation is also a key way to feel more confident and positive about sharing Jesus with those around you.
So here are six ways to be prepared…”
– Ian Carmichael, CEO and Publishing Director at Matthias Media (and formerly Secretary of the ACL Council), shares these useful ideas.
Dick Lucas on Mark’s Gospel – volume 2
Back in January, we noted that a series of recordings by Dick Lucas, to help God’s people think through the meaning of Mark’s Gospel, had been published by St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.
“The most recent fruits of his retirement are recordings of his latest reflections on Scripture, aimed primarily at the Bible expositor but suitable for everyone. Recorded in his kitchen, where most of his sermon preparation takes place, they are starting to be published just prior to Christmas 2016.”
At that point, his observations on Mark 1-8 were available. Now Volume two, covering chapters 9-16, is also online.
“This is a significant development because it is the first time ever that Dick has covered the whole of the second half of the gospel in consecutive Bible exposition.”
Our thanks to Dick Lucas, and to St. Helen’s, for making these available.
Moore Theological College Open Week, May 8 – 12, 2017
Moore College is holding its next Open Week from Monday 8th May.
Click the image for a larger version, or go here for details of what’s on.
What Justification means
“The eleventh Article is so crucial that no apology need be offered for dwelling a little upon it.
Luther has been severely criticised for declaring that Justification by Faith only was ‘Articulus aut stantis aut cadentis ecclesiae,’ ‘The Article of a standing or a falling Church.’ But it may confidently be declared that the whole Reformation movement stands or falls according to the interpretation placed on Justification. …”
– The Australian Church Record has republished T.C. Hammond’s commentary on Article XI, Of the Justification of Man.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…