Who or what defines the Anglican Communion?
“In an interview with the editor of the Church Of Ireland Gazette (Canon Ian Ellis), the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, has given his opinion on what defines a church as part of the Anglican Communion, and therefore, by implication, what is critical for Anglican identity…”
– SydneyAnglicans.net published this piece by Moore College Principal mark Thompson shortly before Synod. Take the time to read it all.
George Whitefield College newsletter
George Whitefield College’s latest newsletter (November 2014) has just been released.
You can download it as a 2MB PDF file.
Preaching 2 Samuel – The Possibilities and The Difficulties
Past Principal of Moore College, John Woodhouse, is leading a workshop to help improve your preaching.
At Moore College on Wednesday 26th November. Details and registration here.
Sermons are ‘fair game’ in Houston
“When news broke earlier this week that the attorneys working for the City of Houston had issued subpoenas to pastors for sermons, I was fairly certain that some mistake had been made. When the actual text of the subpoena came to me, I could hardly believe my eyes.
Here was a legal demand, sent to Christian pastors in the name of one of America’s largest cities, to surrender ‘all speeches, presentations, or sermons related to HERO (an anti-discrimination ordinance), the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession.’
That subpoena is nothing less than ruthless thuggery …”
– Albert Mohler looks at the real warning in the big story out of Houston.
Also Bishop David Anderson, of the American Anglican Council, comments.
Hugh Latimer — 16 October 1555
“On the morning of 16 October, 1555, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, both formerly bishops of the Church, were executed for heresy in Oxford.
It was then that Hugh Latimer uttered his famous sermon,
Be of good cheer, Master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace in England as I trust shall never be put out.”
Written by the then Church Society Director David Streater for Crossway in 1996, “Hugh Latimer – Apostolic Preacher” is available in Church Society’s archives as a PDF file.
Take the opportunity today to learn of and to thank the Lord for Bishop Hugh Latimer.
Dr. Ashley Null on Cranmer — article reprint
In September 2001, ACL News spoke with Dr. Ashley Null while he was visiting Moore College. The interview was mentioned in the October 2014 issue of The Australian Church Record. Here is that interview if you’d like to read it…
“Most people don’t realise that the first liturgical change Cranmer made was to insist on good solid biblical preaching in every Sunday church service.
To ensure that, he and others gathered together a set of Homilies that were to be read in course throughout the year. The first six of these sermons explain how one comes to a biblical understanding of having Jesus Christ as your Saviour by faith alone – and the gratitude that one receives from knowing God has saved you, even though you are not able to make yourself worthy of salvation.”
– Read the interview here – in our Resources section.
Australian Church Record — October 2014
The latest issue of The Australian Church Record, Number 1914, October 2014, is now out on their website (just in time for Sydney Synod). Here are some excerpts:
From ‘Faith Under Attack‘
“So Protestants should be alarmed at recent trends in scholarship presenting fine-sounding arguments for faith + something else. And Anglicans need to be alarmed at even small additions to their liturgy that confuse those praying it in this same direction.”
From ‘Faith Alone v. Faith at work‘
“The tendency of the human heart to want to boast in its own achievements is all too prevalent. But there is nothing that we do to merit our justification before God. Like our forebears, contemporary Protestantism must continue to work carefully and clearly in defining the place of faith.”
The View from The Top
“In an age of tolerance poisoned by relativism, inclusive multi-culturalism, and cultural sovereignty which is still coping with the guilt of colonialism, any exclusive claim to truth, salvation or God has to be challenged.
Yet, Jesus said ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6). And the Apostle Peter said ‘there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12). So it has been consistent Christian teaching down the centuries that we have no assurance of salvation for anybody other than those who name Jesus as their Lord, just as we have every assurance for those who do…”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen writes in his weekly column.
Does God really want you to be rich?
“We’ve all heard the phrase ‘worshipping the almighty dollar’. But there are some people who take the phrase literally. To them, the almighty, as in God, is the key to wealth and riches. Serve him well and material wealth will be the reward.
This philosophy is the cornerstone of an American movement called ‘prosperity theology’, and one man who preaches its message to his Australian flock is Hillsong Church leader Brian Houston…”
– in The Australian, Anthony Sharwood links to an excellent video by John Piper (pictured). You may have seen it before – watch it again.
A sad milestone for marriage and morality
“As of last week, 19 states and the District of Columbia had legalized same-sex marriage by one means or another. The Court’s decision not to take one of the cases from the lower Federal courts means that every one of them stands. Therefore, not only will same-sex marriage be legal in the states that made a direct appeal, but in every state included within the same U.S. Circuit.
That result is that the decision made clear by the Court will lead, automatically, to the fact that 30 states will have legal same-sex marriage within weeks, if not days. The news from the Court means that the vast majority of Americans will live where same-sex marriage is legal, and three fifths of the states will have legalized same-sex marriage…”
– Albert Mohler looks at the implications of the US Supreme Court’s decision to turn down appeals from several states on the issue of same-sex marriage.
And more from The Anglican Curmudgeon.
“So by refusing to exercise its powers of review, the Court has in effect given a green light to same-sex marriage in as many as thirty States, with more sure to follow.”
Sitting at Jesus’ feet — Preaching Matters
In the latest Preaching Matters video from St Helen’s Bishopsgate, William Taylor emphasises the importance of ‘sitting at Jesus’ feet’. Watch it here.
Faith on Earth — The urgent mission of Theological Education
“At the theological seminary the twig is bent, the trajectory is set, the minister is moulded, the preacher is formed, and the missionary is equipped.
The theological seminary is Ground Zero of the church’s future, and not just on its campus but everywhere its graduates will take their message, ministry, and influence…”
– Albert Mohler spoke at the inauguration of Ligon Duncan as Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi.
Gerald Bray interviewed at Moore College
During his recent visit to Moore College, Professor Gerald Bray was interviewed and three clips are available:
1. On theological education,
2. On Moore College, and
3. Why Study at Moore?
Owen Shelley’s Autobiography and How to Tell Bible Stories
Here’s a note from Shelley and Son…
“Earlier this year Owen got very excited about a new project. He wanted to write a simple guide that would help people involved in Children’s Ministry to tell Bible Stories in a relevant and interesting way. His life’s pursuit had been to present the gospel to children through stories and hence he had very clear and well thought out ideas and strategies of how to present a clear message that would also engage the children. Read more
Muslims need truth and love
“This is no time for circling the wagons and cowering behind them in fear”, writes Mark Durie at the Bible Society’s website.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…