STEP: A free online Bible Study resource
“Today the STEP development team of Tyndale House Cambridge launched the Beta-test version of a new free Bible study resource at www.StepBible.org. … The Beta launch of STEP invites users to try out the new tools and give suggestions for improvement.”
– Justin Taylor draws attention to this valuable new resource from Tyndale House.
New Moore College website — and Societas 2013 is out now
Moore Theological College has launched its updated website – www.moore.edu.au – check it out.
In addition, the 2013 issue of Societas – the produced by the Moore College student body – is also available. You can get printed copies from student ministers at your church, and you can also read it online.
Standing our ground
“In a democracy, what happens when a view, previously supported by the majority becomes a minority view? Do you change your position – to retain ‘credibility’, or ‘influence’, or just simply not to be classed as a ‘nutter’, or stand your ground?…”
– Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden reflect on the passing of the same-sex marriage bill in the UK.
Is Scripture enough?
“It’s tough believing that Scripture is enough for building and leading churches.
The ‘old man’ in us is continually tempted to build our churches on other things, things we can see and measure.”
– The role of the Word of God in our churches is the focus of the just-released July/August 2013 edition of 9Marks Journal.
The 1933 Election
The Australian Church Record takes a look back at one of the key Archbishop’s elections – that of Howard West Kilvinton Mowll in 1933.
Oak Hill Commentary magazine — Summer 2013
The latest issue of Oak Hill’s magazine is available for download.
What’s So Great about the Doctrines of Grace? — free eBook
“During the month of July, Reformation Trust is giving away the eBook edition of Richard Phillips’ What’s So Great about the Doctrines of Grace.” – might be worth checking out.
Seminar audio files from the 2013 EMA
From Adrian Reynolds at the Proclamation Trust –
“The audio of seminars from the 2013 EMA [Evangelical Ministers Assembly in London] is now available to download for free here.”
The Archbishop’s Election: A Political Process
“As people have spoken of my involvement in the election of our next Archbishop I thought it may be helpful for friends, especially those on synod, to understand how I view the election of Sydney’s Archbishop. …”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen writes the first of several articles designed to help Synod members think through the issues behind the election of a new Archbishop.
Related:
“The ACL confirms its longstanding practice of not promoting a preferred candidate for the Archbishop’s election.” – February 2013.
Prayer suggestions (PDF file).
Archbishop-in-waiting – profile from Southern Cross, July 2013.
Packer: Playing the Numbers Game
“I have found that churches, pastors, seminaries, and parachurch agencies throughout North America are mostly playing the numbers game—that is, defining success in terms of numbers of heads counted or added to those that were there before…”
– J. I Packer, via Justin Taylor.
Mark toolkit – last two instalments
If you’ve been following the videos of Andrew Sach and his Mark Toolkit, the last two video files are now available. These are part of the video resources from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, and are ideal for all who teach or who lead Bible studies.
The Archbishop of Canterbury on a coming royal birth
“When this baby is old, it will be the 22nd Century. Yet he or she will be able to tell children about a great grandmother… who served in the Second World War.
By then, the 1940s will be as far away as the Crimean War and the charge of the Light Brigade is today.”
– Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby reflects on the hope a new baby brings. In Mail Online.
“Epic mini-series” coming to Australia
It’s been announced that the US “epic mini-series”, The Bible, will be screened on the Nine Network from next week. Perhaps 100 million people saw it in the US earlier this year.
It was produced by Mark Burnett (Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice, The Voice) and his wife, actress Roma Downey (starred in Touched by an Angel).
It’s a great opportunity to get the Bible into your conversations.
However, before it screens, it’s probably important to get some background.
See this article by Andy Naselli – “Three reasons I don’t enthusiastically recommend the ‘The Bible’ miniseries”. Being aware of that can help us to discuss what it portrays, and encourage our friends to read the Bible for themselves.
The Bible Society of Australia will be following the mini-series as part of their ‘Daily Bible’ email service, from Tuesday 16 July. (Image: Bible Society.)
Retirements and Beginnings
“As I write this article I am preparing to give what will most likely be my last Mid Year Conference Talk. It is a sad moment for me.
This has been a week of retirements. On Thursday my brother Peter officially retired as the Archbishop of Sydney. With him the Chancellor of the Diocese Acting Judge Peter Johns has also retired…”
– Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, reflects on the changing of the guard.
Ten Passages for Pastors to Memorise
“Here’s one way to cool down warm up during a sizzling hot freezing July: ice-cold memorization to warm your heart.
Grab an iced tea a hot chocolate, find some air-conditioned cozy warm space, and put these ten passages to memory. You’ll never regret any extended time given to memorizing God’s word — especially when it’s the passages that come up again and again as particularly useful in the Christian life and in ministering to others.”
– from Desiring God (more or less).
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…