Christmas mission, Christmas transmission

“For years I’ve been wrestling with how we might ever attract non-Christians to willingly engage with media that communicates the gospel. And then it hit me. The one time non-Christians do want to engage with the Christian message is at Christmas – and there’s no starker example of this than the church carol service. But there’s more. Each Christmas I’ve also heard media channels such as Classic FM playing lots of carols amongst their regular programming, even taking requests for carols!

How interesting that the Christmas story is being broadcast on secular media, to a Christmas-hungry audience. And so after years of wondering, an idea was born – Christmas Carols Radio…”

– Ben Vane, studying at Oak Hill College in London, had a great idea.

Check out Christmas Carols Radio and pass on the URL to your friends in time for Christmas.

[We first posted this link in October. Now’s the time to mention the site to your friends!]

Naive?

“The Archbishop of Canterbury’s recent remarks are once again somewhat puzzling. One question that comes to mind is whether he really believes this statement that he made: ‘I could see circumstances in which there could be people moving apart and then coming back together.’ …

The problem with looking at tertiary issues is they are often the result of more basic disagreements which in the final analysis have far more leverage on the Anglican Communion. It is my contention that the authority of Holy Scripture as noted in 2 Timothy 3:16 and the person and work of Jesus Christ are actually the primary points of disagreement, though the so-called progressive wing of the Anglican Communion, and indeed the leadership of much of the Western church will not acknowledge it. …

If Archbishop Justin Welby actually thinks that the tertiary issues ARE the issues and in the fullness of time we can all come back together, forgetting the punishment that the Episcopal Church inflicted on those members who chose to depart, and all drink tea and sing Kumbaya together, he is at best naive.”

– Bishop David C. Anderson, President and Chairman of the American Anglican Council, writes in his weekly commentary.

Vinegrowers

Vinegrowers have a new website, complete with some articles to help us see the need for a disciple-making culture in our churches.

“Vinegrowers has seized on a vital biblical truth that’s too easily forgotten in the busyness and distraction of modern ministry life: the heart of Christian growth is God’s people speaking God’s word in the power of God’s Spirit.”

– Dr Lionel Windsor.

To Give Knowledge of Salvation to His People: A Christmas Mandate for Christian Ministry

“So many moments of our lives pass with almost no sense of significance. The twenty four hours in a day fade into the memory of the seven days of the week, then the thirty-odd days of a month, and then months into years. The years pass into the mist of memory.

But certain moments, certain days stand out in vivid contrast. These are occasions of bright and lasting memory — births, deaths, family reunions, and Christmases. Add to those moments like this, a commencement ceremony. There is something even more special about this ceremony, however, for this is the graduation of those called to Christian ministry, and this ceremony comes fast upon Christmas…”

– from Albert Mohler’s commencement address to be preached later today at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. (If you’re keen, the commencement ceremony will be live-streamed at 10:00 a.m. US EST Friday December12 – the same as 4:00am AEDT Saturday December 13.)

If you haven’t seen it, last year Southern Seminary gave thanks for 20 years of leadership of Albert Mohler in this 25-minute video. Worth watching – not just for the interesting history, but also a reminder of the value and importance of keeping a theological college faithful to the gospel.

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

Christian cartoonist Adam Ford (Adam4d) offers this primer on the religion of many westerners.

(These concepts will be familiar to listeners to Mike Horton’s White Horse Inn.)

Winter (heart) warmers

From The Proclamation Trust:

“Last month saw our annual Autumn Ministers conference, the audio from which is now online. Vaughan Roberts’ opening and closing expositions from Revelation encouraged and challenged us in our ministry.”

Listen to both expositions here.

Vanishing Church? Latest 9Marks Journal

The latest 9Marks Journal has been released. The theme: Vanishing Church? Seeking the Right Perspective as Opposition Grows.

Download it as a PDF file.

Challenge and Choice — Australian Anglican Schools Today

“The book Challenge and Choice – Australian Anglican Schools Today by Dr Ruth Edwards was launched in Brisbane on Wednesday 3 December.

The work represents a significant attempt to not only survey the history of these religious schools but to map something of the future that lies before this sector.”

– See the story from the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.

A Church that sues itself?

“The highly litigious Episcopal Church in the United States of America (“ECUSA”) has settled a lawsuit with itself, according to a press release from its rump group (which cannot legally be called a “diocese”) in South Carolina.

Shall we run that one by our eyes again? ECUSA has settled a lawsuit which it brought against itself…”

– AS Haley (The Anglican Curmudgeon) looks at the latest legal twists and turns in The Episcopal Church.

Hold lightly to this world: Anne Bradstreet

“God has given us many Christian brothers and sisters throughout history whom we can benefit from, and whom we do benefit from. They teach, challenge, and comfort us largely through the ministry of writing that lives on many years after they have died. These writings include books, sermons, tracts, songs, letters, and poetry. Many of these men and women are well known, but others are less so. One of our lesser known sisters is Anne Bradstreet.

Anne Bradstreet (nee Dudley) was born in 1612 and died in 1672…”

– Never heard of Anne Bradstreet? Now’s a good time to learn, thanks to Jane Tooher, Director of the Priscilla and Aquila Centre at Moore College.

Prayer in the English Reformation

In the latest issue of Credo magazine (h/t Tim Challies), Gerald Bray contributes part 1 of an essay on Prayer in the English Reformation.

Take the time to read it – it starts on page 24 of the 13MB PDF file linked from this page. (Image: Moore College.)

Preaching Matters: Charlie Skrine and contextualisation

In the latest Preaching Matters from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, Charlie Skrine thinks through Acts 17 and contextualisation. Encouraging and helpful.

Watch it here.

Themelios Vol 39 No 3 (November 2014)

The latest issue of the academic journal Themelios is now available from The Gospel Coalition. As always, a wealth of material, including book reviews. (h/t Andy Naselli.)