Loving Muslim neighbours with the gospel
Samuel Green’s “Engaging with Islam Training Course” is an invaluable resource.
“The Engaging with Islam course is designed to give Christians a practical introduction to the history and teaching of Islam and a foundation for answering common questions.
The course can be done individually, in a small group or as part of leadership training. Anyone can lead this course as no previous knowledge of Islam is required and leader’s notes are provided. The course is a mix of preparation material, group discussion and a video presentation.”
New commentary on Matthew
Peter Bolt’s new commentary, Matthew: A Great Light Dawns, was laucnhed last week at Moore College’s of School of Theology.
Read about it here – and order a copy here.
(Photo: Executive Director of Youthworks Media Marshall Ballantine-Jones and Peter Bolt.)
The truth behind ISIL
“Two questions for today: Is ISIL Islamic? Is ISIL a State?
President Obama objects to the name ‘Islamic State’ (IS) because he says it’s neither Islamic nor a State.
This may well be good politics and wise diplomacy in a time of great world crisis. However, as truth is ‘the first casualty of war’ so truth has little to do with either politics or diplomacy. The patron of all politically wise diplomats is the man who asked the rhetorical question ‘What is truth?’ (John 18:38). …”
– Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, writes in his weekly column.
Another bite of the Apple
“The excitement is building and the tension is mounting. We have been eagerly anticipating this day, a day on which we get to consider marvels and receive blessings…”
– If you are planning on getting up at 3:00am to partake of the live stream, maybe this would be good to read.
Moore Matters, Spring 2014
Moore Matters, the newsletter from Moore College, is now out for Spring 2014.
You can download your copy here as a 3.7MB PDF file.
Don’t leave us Fatherless
“The calendar of modern Australia carries some of the old, Christian celebrations such as Easter and Christmas as well as some modern, religious celebrations such as ANZAC day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Both Mother’s and Father’s Day, as we now celebrate them, were started by American Christians and began as celebrations in their churches. Mother’s Day was begun by Anna Marie Jarvis in 1908, and Father’s Day was started by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1910…”
– Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, looks at the key role of fathers.
First reflections on ‘Living With the Enemy’
“So what to say? I woke up this morning to an inbox full of responses; facebook tags, twitter responses and a number of emails…
So many people have so many opinions but the truth is that there’s really only three of us who have the fullest reflection upon what actually happened and how well the show reflected it…”
– David Ould reflects on his appearance on SBS TVs “Living With the Enemy”.
The Osteen Predicament
“America deserves the Osteens.
The consumer culture, the cult of the therapeutic, the marketing impulse, and the sheer superficiality of American cultural Christianity probably made the Osteens inevitable.
The Osteens are phenomenally successful because they are the exaggerated fulfillment of the self-help movement and the cult of celebrity rolled into one massive mega-church media empire. And, to cap it all off, they give Americans what Americans crave — reassurance delivered with a smile…”
– Albert Mohler comments theologically on that video of Victoria Osteen.
The work of the Lord
“But what does Paul mean by ‘abound in the work of the Lord’? In this article I want us to simply do two things – work out what this phrase actually means, and then think through its implications.”
– Looking at 1 Corinthians 15, Peter Orr at Moore College explains that all Christians do gospel ministry – and then turns to an encouraging example. Here.
End of The Briefing?
“With some considerable wistfulness, we’ve come to the decision that the next issue of The Briefing (number 414) will have to be its last.
We’re sad about this, obviously, but not too sad – because although the medium of communication now has to change, the theology and vision of Christian life and ministry that The Briefing has always championed has not changed, and must not change. We have some exciting plans in motion to keep spreading and promoting and encouraging that Bible-based vision of Christian life and ministry – plans that take advantage of the very wave of digital publishing that has helped make the current form of The Briefing no longer viable.…”
– Sam Freney and Tony Payne write to explain what’s happening with Matthias Media’s flagship publication.
How Should We Then Live?
Francis Schaeffer’s classic work, “How Should We Then Live?” is September 2014’s free audiobook from Christian Audio.
It’s a 230MB download, and is read by Kate Reading.
John Woodhouse on Preaching — at Preaching Matters
In the latest “Preaching Matters” video from Great St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London, former Moore College Principal John Woodhouse is asked about preaching.
The GWC Whitefield Symposium
The audio of the talks given at the Whitefield Symposium at George Whitefield College in Cape Town is now on their website.
Speakers include David Seccombe and Melvin Tinkler. Available here.
Face to Face with the Message of Matthew
“Face to Face with the Message of Matthew” is the theme of this year’s Moore College School of Theology – being run at the College on Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th September 2014.
Positively evangelical
“In 1997, Mark Thompson wrote in Churchman:
‘If I am not mistaken there is a concerted attempt being made at present to redefine what it means to be an evangelical Christian. A number of prominent people around the world are trying to broaden the term, to encompass a variety of perspectives which were once quite alien to evangelical thought and practice.’
Well, he wasn’t mistaken. I was recently at an Anglican gathering encompassing representatives from all streams of the Church of England, except, perhaps, the most Catholic. As we went around the circle introducing ourselves, everyone there described him or herself as evangelical. It was usually qualified – ‘largely’ evangelical, or even ‘a little bit’ evangelical – but it was clearly a very common label…”
– Kirsty Birkett writes at Church Society’s blog and reminds us of (and links to) a paper by Mark Thompson entitled, “Being Clearly and Positively Evangelical”.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…