‘Why Expository Preaching is a bad idea’
Albert Mohler, at a 9 Marks conference at Southern Seminary, traces the history of the loss of confidence in preaching the text of the Bible. Well worth listening.
(h/t Colin Adams.)
Opposing Euthanasia
“Euthanasia is being pushed again in NSW. There’s a lot more that could be said, but here’s what I’m sending to my local MPs…”
–Sandy Grant writes at The Briefing.
This is after news that the Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill 2013 may be introduced into the Legislative Council of the NSW Parliament as a private members bill tomorrow – Thursday, 2 May 2013 – by the NSW Greens MLC, Cate Faehrmann.
(Image: Feggy Art on Flickr.)
The Stewardship of Words
“Truth, life, and health are found in the right words. Lies, disaster, and death are found in the wrong words. …
Theological education is a deadly serious business. The stakes are so high. A theological seminary that serves faithfully will be a source of health and life for the church, but an unfaithful seminary will set loose a torrent of trouble, untruth, and unhealth upon Christ’s people…”
– In this excerpt from an address at the inauguration of a Seminary President, Albert Mohler speaks of the key task of theological education.
It’s also a good reminder to pray for Moore College, and for Mark Thompson as he becomes Principal later this month. His Installation is on Thursday 6th June.
The Once and Future Scriptures
“Over the past decade or so some really very fine books on the nature and use of Scripture have been produced. My mind immediately runs to Tim Ward’s Words of Life: Scripture as the Living and Active Word of God (Nottingham: IVP, 2009), John Webster’s Holy Scripture: A Dogmatic Sketch (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004), and Graeme Goldsworthy’s Gospel-centred Hermeneutics (Nottingham: IVP, 2006).
Perhaps surprisingly, these have all been written by Anglicans (and other Anglicans could have been added to the list). Even more surprisingly, none of these have been referenced in the collection of essays recently produced by a group of Brisbane Anglicans entitled The Once and Future Scriptures: Exploring the Role of the Bible in the Contemporary Church (Salem: Polebridge, 2013). In fact, a lot of recent serious scholarship on the doctrine of Scripture and its place in the Christian life and the life of the churches is missing from the book…”
– Dr Mark Thompson’s review of a new book gives an insight into what some Australian Anglicans are being taught about the Bible.
Keeping the gospel in your sights in pastoral ministry
“Late last year, our ministry team looked at 1 Timothy 3 and 4. We noticed how, smack bang in the middle of these chapters on Christian leadership, is “the mystery of godliness”: that is, Christ our Saviour (1 Tim 3:16 cf 4:10). In other words, to be faithful in pastoral ministry, you have to keep your eyes on Jesus. You have to fight to keep your eyes on Jesus…”
– Great advice from Jean Williams, at The Briefing.
The Church’s One Foundation — the story and a free download
“[In 1866] The Rev. Samuel John Stone was well aware of the effectiveness of singing when he wrote and published Lyra Fidelium … which consisted of twelve hymns, one for each article of the Apostles’ Creed. With each hymn he included a short ‘summary of truths confessed’ in that article, along with a list of the Scripture passages supporting it.
‘The Church’s One Foundation’ was the hymn he wrote for article 9 of the Creed, which affirms belief in ‘the holy catholic church’ and ‘the communion of saints’.”
– Tim Challies posts a story on the origin of the hymn which (though he doesn’t mention it) was sung at the first Lambeth Conference the year after it was written. And there’s a free download too.
(Drs Ligon Dincan, Derek Thomas and Bill Wymond also discuss the hymn, with a bit more background on Bishop Colenso, who is referred to in the original wording of the hymn.)
The Man I thought was Dead
“I once saw a man who I thought was dead. It was a little unnerving to see him walk over to a microphone and start singing…
It was so strange that I spent the first few moments trying to remember where I had read the announcement of his death. Then I tried to work out how old he was – because he was an old man when I first heard him sing in the 50’s and this was the 90’s. …”
– Phillip Jensen remembers with gratitude … well, you’ll see.
Why I am still a Christian
“It was a long time ago. I had become dissatisfied with my life’s direction and that of the friends in my social circle. In my early twenties I began to attend a church and thankfully found the minister’s message and the congregation’s welcome deeply encouraging. I began for the first time to read the Bible.
One day I attended a lunch hour service in St Andrew’s Cathedral where the speaker, Dr Howard Guinness spoke on John 6.37. …”
– Bishop Paul Barnett shares some encouraging words of personal testimony.
Thoughts on Sexuality and Gender
John Richardson in the UK has been thinking theologically about sexuality and gender in the context of the current push for ‘same-sex marriage’.
It’s worth taking some time to read his latest posts at The Ugley Vicar.
Kel Richards’ tribute to George Beverly Shea on 2CH Sunday night
We hear that Kel Richards will be presenting a tribute to the late George Beverly Shea on his program, “Nightsong with Kel Richards” on Sydney’s Radio 2CH, between 8.00 and 9.00pm tonight, Sunday, 21st April, 2013.
(h/t Ramon Williams.)
Packer’s testimony to the reality of weakness
Dr J I Packer speaks about his experience of weakness in this short video to introduce his forthcoming book on 2 Corinthians, Weakness Is the Way: Life with Christ Our Strength.
h/t Justin Taylor.
If Dead Men don’t Rise
Almost 2,000 years ago, a Christian named Paul wrote a letter to a group of people in Corinth, a city in Greece.
People in that city had at one time been enthusiastic about the Christian faith, but had then begun to have some second thoughts. They had written a letter to Paul to ask something like, “You told us that this man Jesus died and then came back to life. We’re pretty sure you don’t actually expect us to believe that a man was dead and then alive again. That must have been some kind of a metaphor or a moral, right?”
– Tim Challies takes a look at 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 and the implications of believing the Resurrection didn’t actually happen.
Tips for studying Acts
Here are some helpful tips from Don Carson – via Unlocking the Bible. (h/t Tim Challies.)
Don’t allow Prayer to be edged out
“Once upon a time I used to be part of a Bible study group. We’d spend most of our time studying the Bible together. The problem was we often spent so long looking at the Bible and talking together that we rarely allowed much time to pray.
So we changed the name to Prayer and Bible groups. And you know what? Prayer was still frequently edged out by everything else. I wonder if your experience has been much the same…”
– Dave McDonald calls us to actually pray. In practice. As Sydney Anglicans look to elect a new Archbishop in August, and to a united mission campaign in 2014, let’s not neglect to bring these matters before our heavenly Father.
Leadership as Stewardship — Part 1
“Christians are rightly and necessary concerned about leadership, but many Christians seem to aim no higher than secular standards and visions of leadership.
We can learn a great deal from the secular world and its studies of leadership and its practices, but the last thing the church needs is warmed over business theories decorated with Christian language …”
– Albert Mohler has posted the first excerpt from his recent book on leadership.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…