Idolatry and the Church of England

“The Archbishop of Canterbury recently commented about his changing views, admitting that he no longer believes the doctrine of the Church of England on sexuality.…

These comments have rightly been met with a wide backlash from evangelicals in the Church of England. This is an Archbishop leading his people astray. This is an Archbishop saying ‘Enter through the wide gate to destruction’ (Matthew 7:13-14).

But the reality is that Justin Welby and the Bishops have been saying this for years. …

All false religions ultimately destroy us. We are promised salvation by the things in the world, but they will never satisfy, they will never deliver. They will never save.”

– Strong words from Benjamin John, writing at Christian Concern.

Image: Ben John speaking at the Church of England’s General Synod in February 2023.

Preaching Mentors 2025

From The Expository Preaching Trust:

“The Trust is delighted to offer mentors to encourage faithful and engaging expository preaching.

Mentoring can take place on a weekly or fortnightly basis and consists of the mentor listening to Sunday’s sermon and then meeting via Zoom to give feedback.

Feedback consists of highlighting the positives of the sermon and then mutual investigation of how the sermon might be improved. …”

– Very helpful and encouraging. See the details from David Cook here.

Eternity: The Power of a Word

“Arthur Malcolm Stace (1885-1967) was a returned Australian soldier who served in in World War I and later became known as ‘Mr Eternity’.

Stace grew up in an impoverished and broken family. His mother handed him over to foster care at the age of seven, and his sisters would end up working as prostitutes.

By the age of 14, Stace was an alcoholic. He would turn to booze to escape his pain and misery. However, all it did was increase the sorrow of his heart. …”

– In this brief sketch at AP, James Jeffery reminds us of the wonderful discovery made by Arthur Stace – and calls us all to live in the light of eternity.

Image: at left, Photo of Arthur Stace by Les Nixon. at right, The Eternity memorial at the waterfall in Sydney Arcade between Town Hall and St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

Looking for Remembrance Day resources?

Defence Anglicans has some resources – including audio files – you could use – for Remembrance Day, 11th November, or perhaps in church on Sunday.

At this link.

Image: Defence Anglicans.

How an Australian church is changing Christian songwriting

“Over the last few decades, church music has shifted. Congregations sing fewer hymns and more praise songs. We hear fewer organ chords and more guitar riffs. We read lyrics that are less theological and more generic.

The move toward quicker and more casual songwriting means new music hits our Spotify—and CCLI—lists more quickly. But it also means Christians are sometimes singing repetitive choruses, nonsensical lyrics, or wrong theology.

That matters, because we sing those songs so often that we memorize them. We hum them in the car. We play them while we’re making dinner. We lean on them when hard times hit.

About 10 years ago, a church in Australia noticed these problems. They tried a different songwriting process. It was slow and clunky and never should have worked—and yet it did.

Odds are, you’ve sung their good theology in your church, in your car, or in your kitchen.”

– At The Gospel Coalition’s Recorded podcast, Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra introduces CityAlight to her audience.

See also the accompanying article.

Related:

CityAlight.

Launch 2025 for School Leavers– and ten years of Two Ways Ministries

From Phillip Jensen –

“Join us at Launch 2025!

Launch is the camp for school leavers keen to live for Jesus. It is where you will –

Our leaders are an awesome group of young women and men just a few years ahead of you! They are keen to help you work out what it means to align your priorities to God’s in this next phase of your life whilst having a fantastic time meeting others doing the same thing. Launch camp truly is the best investment you can make to think through how to live for Jesus!…”

– Download a flyer, and secure your spot.

Three nights away at Stanwell Tops – 3rd-6th February 2025.

It’d be good to advertise it at youth groups and church too, before other, less strategic, things are booked to occupy that time!

“The aim of Launch is to work out together what it means to live for Jesus in the transition to post-school life – years that are likely to be the most formative years of life.”

Related:

Two Ways Ministries is ten years old! – See the TWM website to learn more, give thanks, and do pray.

How personality impacts ministry teams

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“I want to be a big hearted encourager like Barnabas. I want to be a reliable assistant like Timothy. I want to be passionate preacher like Apollos.

When you think about the qualifications for Christian ministry in 1 Timothy 3, the significance of personality is pretty much ignored.

What is the relationship between character and personality? Someone is all about structure and someone else is much more ‘loosy-goosy/flexible’.

When there’s conflict in church or in a ministry teams – it’s often put down to personality difference or sometimes even disorder.

What does the Bible say about all this?

Tim Omrod serves with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES) at Griffith University on the Gold Coast and has just finished a study of the co-workers of Paul.”

– Watch or listen here.

US election season, politics and the gospel — Ministry Matters from the Church of Confessing Anglicans NZ

“With the US presidential election well underway … and because we here at Ministry Matters know no fear, we dedicate this issue to a few brief reflections on politics and the gospel.

If you’re over politics, sorry – but let me assure you the emphasis here is very much on the gospel! …”

– Editor of Ministry Matters from the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa NZ, Geoff Robson, introduces the latest issue.

Alistair Begg with Biblical Wisdom for Voting (in the US elections)

“Dear Friend,

I haven’t checked, but I will not be surprised to discover that the content of my letter written four years ago on the threshold of the US election was not dissimilar to this letter, particularly in seeking to declare, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns’ (Rev. 19:6). …

It is imperative that we learn to discipline ourselves to view the world through the prism of God’s Word. In deciding how to vote, I have been helped by being reminded of this quote from Gresham Machen’s book The Christian Faith in the Modern World…”

– At Truth for life, Alistair Begg shares some wisdom from God’s word as the US elections arrive (Wednesday morning Australian time).

Related: 1 Timothy 2:1-4:

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”– ESV.

AP interview with Tim Chester on ‘Enjoying Jesus’

In the latest podcast from AP, the Australian Presbyterian journal, Mark Powell speaks with Tim Chester about his latest book – Enjoying Jesus.

– Watch here.

Lies, flattery, and Artificial Intelligence

“Part of the value of Large Language Models like ChatGPT is their ability to act as a mirror into the human psyche.

Yesterday, I unintentionally discovered how brilliant ChatGPT is at pragmatic barefaced lying and feelgood flattery—masterfully learned from its human overlords. …”

– Moore College lecturer (and ACL Council member) Dr Lionel Windsor discovered that you just can’t believe everything AI chatbots tell you.

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.

Win the complete set of Donald Robinson’s Works! — ACR

The Australian Church Record is giving away one set of the five volumes of Donald Robinson’s selected works.

Find out how to enter here.

Preaching through January

“This year, the quieter period of church life when families are away and thoughts turn to cricket test matches, begins on Sunday 29 December and continues through 5, 12, 19 and 26 January.

A total of 5 Sundays before life returns to normal on 2 February.

Some preachers use these Sundays to give younger preachers an opportunity to preach, others take a series on Psalms at each holiday period, so they continue with the next consecutive Psalm.

Why not make a special event of these Sundays because it is a special time as we turn the page on one year and get ready for 2025. …”

– At The Expository Preaching Trust, David Cook has some helpful suggestions for preachers.

Christianity is not Colonial: An Autobiographical Account

“ ‘Christianity is colonial!’ I’m sure we’ve all heard variations on that theme. It’s a useful way to demoralise and demonise Christians in both the minority ‘western’ world and the majority world.

In our current historical moment, the nations in Europe and North America as well as Australia and New Zealand are reckoning with the consequences of 400 years of international influence – of ‘colonising’ the rest of the world. This colonialism, so it is said, was advanced through the following mutually reinforcing attitudes. …”

– At The Gospel  Coalition Canada, Sydney-based Kamal Weerakoon answers the charge of ‘colonialism’ from personal experience.

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