Does the Bible support Slavery?
Dr. Peter Williams, Warden of Tyndale House in Cambridge, recently spoke at the Lanier Theological Library in Houston, Texas.
His topic: “Does the Bible support Slavery?”
The fascinating 57 minute address (followed by 18 minutes of questions) is well worth your time. You may be surprised by some of the conclusions he draws.
Watch it here. (Note that the HD video is just over 1GB in size.)
10 questions to ask at your Christmas gathering
Any Christmas gatherings (work parties, BBQs, etc) coming up? At the Southern Seminary blog, Don Whitney has some ideas –
“Here’s a list of questions designed not only to kindle a conversation in almost any Christmas situation, but also to take the dialogue gradually to a deeper level.”
C.S. Lewis — a secret Government Agent?
“As I browsed eBay not long ago, I came across a 78 rpm recording of a lecture by C. S. Lewis.
I assumed that it was a mistake or that the seller was trying to defraud an unwitting public. I knew Lewis well enough to know that he had never made a 78 rpm recording for general distribution, much less one produced by something called the Joint Broadcasting Committee…”
– News of an interesting discovery, from Christianity Today.
(Image: Christianity Today.)
Four Kinds of Christmas — video
Glen Scrivener in the UK has done it again, with another thought-provoking Christmas video.
You can use it in church – and pass it on to your friends.
See it at, as well as previous videos, and an evangelistic e-book, at fourkindsofchristmas.com.
Here’s a direct link to the 33MB mp4 file (to download, right-click and Save As.)
Free speech and religious freedom even for ADF members
“The Federal Court has recently handed down a very important decision on free speech, with connections to religious freedom, in Gaynor v Chief of the Defence Force (No 3) [2015] FCA 1370 (4 December 2015). It encouragingly reaffirms the right of Australians, even members of the Defence Force, to be able to speak their minds, even when their views are not popular…”
– Associate Professor Neil Foster bring us up to speed on another legal ruling – this one with important implications for free speech in Australia.
New Master of Arts (Theology) subject at Moore
From Moore College:
“The Master of Arts (Theology) program at Moore College is aimed at providing continuing education in theology for graduates in full-time ministry. In 2016 we are offering a new subject in this postgraduate degree program…
In September 2016, Professor Daniel Block from Wheaton College, world-renowned for his work in Ezekiel and Deuteronomy, will be delivering the MA unit Recovering the Gospel According to Moses…”
– Info here.
Themelios — December 2015
The latest issue of the online theological journal Themelios has just been released.
In the editorial, General Editor Professor D A Carson looks at ‘disputable matters’. Where is there room for Christians to disagree? And how should we respond to the argument that same-sex marriage should be adiaphora?
The issue is available from The Gospel Coalition.
Reading Challenge
Tim Challies has a challenge for readers in 2016.
Relativity, Moral Relativism, and the Modern Age
“This intellectual revolution began with four lectures in late 1915 presented to the Prussian Academy of Sciences. The lectures were given by Albert Einstein, and before the end of the year Einstein would publish his argument for a ‘General Theory of Relativity.’ Those lectures launched an intellectual revolution, and Einstein’s theory of relativity is essential to our understanding of the modern age…
By the middle of the twentieth century, moral relativism was a major influence in the cultural revolutions that reshaped entire societies.”
– Albert Mohler looks at the cultural impact of Einstein’s theories.
Divorce, annulments and dissolutions in the Catholic Church
“On the 25th October the general assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Rome concluded what was popularly known as the Synod on the Family. …
The Synod finished with a consensus document that passed with a narrow two-thirds majority…”
– At GoThereFor, Mark Gilbert provides some insights into the Synod on the Family, and when grace is replaced by law.
Preaching Jesus in the Gospels
In the latest Preaching Matters from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, William Taylor speak about bringing out the author’s purpose, making Jesus the central focus, when preaching from the Gospels. Do we jump to personal application too quickly?
The message of Galatians: Dick Lucas to the St Helen’s Staff
From St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London:
“Having just turned 90 in September 2015, Dick Lucas is still firing on all 48 cylinders.
In late October he came to address the staff team on the message of Galatians. The session is introduced by William Taylor.
Highly recommended listening!”
Report on the Good Governance Workshop
Following Rob Bell: The Edges of Orthodoxy and the Center of the Zeitgeist
“This past Sunday, Kent Dobson, successor at Rob Bell’s famous Mars Hill Bible Church, stepped down as teaching pastor. He opened his announcement/sermon by reading the Scriptural story which gives name to the church, the account at Mars Hill. …”
– Even if you’ve never heard of Rob Bell’s successor, this piece by Dustin Messer at Reformation21 is challenging and disturbing. (Image: Mars Hill Bible Church.)
Good Governance Workshop — Report
The Anglican Church League takes a special interest in finding gospel-minded Christians to serve on the many councils and committees of the Sydney Diocese, and in assisting those elected to serve well.
To support our brothers and sisters, the ACL organised and ran a Good Governance Workshop on Thursday evening, 26th November.
The evening was open to all, and its purpose was to help members of boards and councils – especially newly elected members – to think about how the gospel shapes the way we practice governance. It was well attended, with more than forty people coming to increase their skills in governance and to share their wisdom and insights with others.
The basic concepts of evangelical governance established on the evening could easily serve as the basis for future workshops of this sort exploring these matters further for boards and committees, and even parish councils.
For more detail and our summaries of insights from each of our excellent speakers, read on! Read more
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…