Preparing young people for the challenges of secular tertiary education

From a recent edition of The White Horse Inn Broadcast:

“Are today’s churches doing enough to prepare young people to face the challenges they will encounter on a secular college campus? What kinds of things should pastors and parents do as they prepare teens for college, and how should churches or campus ministries serve students in a university setting?”

Of particular importance is the anti-intellectual culture pervading the West – hence the issues described above are not isolated to North America.

Michael Horton and Justin Holcomb and guests discuss the challenges. 28 minutes.

God will give you something to say

“During the eight months when I jog outside in Minnesota, I regularly carry booklets and Gospels of John in my pocket. I pray for guidance for someone to talk to about Jesus, and for the help of the Holy Spirit in what to say.

It is usually quite early in the morning, and I am running in what most people would call ‘the inner city.’ If I find a guy standing alone, I may stop and say, ‘Good morning! My name’s John. I run through the neighborhood and pray for people. Is there something I can pray about for you?’ From this point on, it is unpredictable. …”

– John Piper shares some encouragement at Desiring God.

With thanks for Broughton Knox on the Centenary of his birth

David Broughton Knox was born on Boxing Day, 1916.

Today is a good day to give thanks to the Lord he loved. Here are two tributes, written at the time of his death in 1994, by two men who knew him well:

David Broughton Knox – What we owe to him – by Archbishop Donald Robinson.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – tribute to Broughton Knox – by Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane.

Five Bible inputs to grow, grow, grow

“At one recent conference Rico Tice spoke about reading the Bible on four different levels. I am going to borrow his framework and develop it in my own way. So here are five Bible inputs that will help you grow upwards in Christ. …”

– At Unashamed Workman, Colin Adams shares some great ideas about Christian growth.

The Archbishop’s Christmas message 2016

“From politics to personal life, what more do we want for Christmas than people who will tell us the truth?”

Here is the text of Archbishop Davies’ message: Read more

Christian in a Muslim Culture: The Intriguing Insights of an Egyptian Bishop

“Bishop Mouneer Anis, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Egypt, and Presiding Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East, delivered the ninth annual ‘Moule Memorial Lecture’ on 8 June 2016 in Cambridge. …

The topic of Mouneer’s lecture was “My Experience of Christian and Muslim Relations in Egypt”. As the title suggests, the bishop drew on personal experiences to speak about living as a Christian minority in a Muslim culture.”

– At The Australian Church Record, Steve Tong shares some insights from the lecture.

The Christmas of Cultural Christianity

“Christmas is the high point of Cultural Christianity. It creates joy and confusion; joy to our culture and confusion to Christians.

Cultural Christianity is a reality that would be helpful for both Christians and non-Christians to accept if not embrace. It is seen in the famous atheist Richard Dawkins’ love of singing Christmas carols. …”

– Phillip Jensen observes the difference between Cultural Christianity and Christian Christianity.

That’s Christmas!

That's Christmas! from St Helen’s Church on Vimeo.

We’ve linked to this video before – from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate. It’s well-worth a re-run, and features input from Dr. Paul Barnett.

The value of teaching Books more than once

The latest from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate:

“Why is it valuable to teach through Bible books more than once? What are some advantages of teaching books numerous times? Why do people often object to teaching books of the Bible more than once? Doesn’t St Helen’s just teach the same couple of books each year? How can we get better at repeating books in our regular Bible-teaching programmes?

In this month’s Preaching Matters, Charlie Skrine talks about his experiences of teaching books several times, and why it is important for the church.”

Reformation Themes: The Bible Alone and Faith Alone – from Paul Barnett

Bishop Paul Barnett has written two encouraging reflections on key Reformation themes. Read them at the links below.

Reformation Theme: The Bible Alone.

“2017 will be the 500^th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. On 31^st October 1517 an unknown monk in a small town nailed 95 debating points to a church door. It was a common academic practice to invite debate but these ‘theses’ went viral and Martin Luther became famous overnight. …”

Reformation Theme: Faith Alone.

“The young Martin Luder – that was the family name – had been a law student in the major university town, Erfurt. Against his father’s will he became an Augustinian monk.

But he was a poor tortured soul who felt himself under the wrath of God. He engaged in punishing fasts and endless confessionals. As a mendicant monk he begged his way 1000 miles from Erfurt to Rome as a pilgrimage.

But he was clever. The order appointed him Professor of Bible at the new university in the little, ‘nowhere place’, Wittenberg. In preparing his lectures on Romans and the Psalms he made a great discovery. …”

The Parish of Peakhurst / Lugarno – a snapshot from 1974

This 1974 newsreel about the Anglican Parish of Peakhurst – Lugarno will bring back memories for many of our readers.

27 minutes, on YouTube.

Healthy churches around the world

The latest 9Marks Journal is out. Editor Jonathan Leeman writes,

“The Journal topic of healthy churches around the world was Dever’s idea. I was doubtful at first. But – goodness – was I wrong!

This might be one of my favourite Journals to date. It’s sort of like Tim Keesee’s wonderful book, Dispatches from the Front: Stories of Gospel Advance in the World’s Diffcult Places. The difference is, the authors provide frontline reports on the state of churches. How are churches doing in Brazil, Iran, Cameroon, Albania, China, Singapore?

Are they preaching the Bible? Proclaiming a biblical gospel or watered-down substitute? Pursuing corporate and individual holiness? Pursuing evangelism? Practicing church membership?

The planting and growing of healthy churches is how we will best fulfil the Great Commission”

– Download the current issue from 9Marks.

Risen — Articulate 4 from the ACR

The Australian Church Record is continuing to republish Archdeacon T. C. Hammond’s encouraging notes on The Thirty Nine Articles.

“A weary world gropes for security and struggles against insidious and often victorious evil. Remedial measures are entered upon with high hopes. Recurrent malignancy seems to mock our best endeavours. Jesus Christ is the answer to our heart yearnings. He conquered death and is coming again in judgment.”

– Read the full post, originally published in The Australian Church Record, April 28, 1955.

Related: The Thirty Nine Articles.