How to Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens
“This is a charming little book that gives an overview of every book of the Bible and how it relates to Jesus. … I wish all students would read a book like this before they came to Seminary…”
– Michael Bird (Crossway College, Brisbane) draws attention to Michael Williams’ book ‘How to Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens’. Availability.
Anzac Day: Damien Parer
“Last time I was in Canberra I visited the National Film and Sound Archives. While there one particular exhibit caught my attention. It featured the first Australian Academy Award winning film … ‘Kakoda Frontline’.
The film images are now iconic. The ‘diggers’ fighting their way across the steep, mountainous terrain, hampered by dense jungle, continuous rain storms, river crossings but ever by their sides helping; sometimes carrying the wounded are the New Guinea natives, the legendary ‘fuzzy wuzzy angels’. It was little wonder the film won an Academy Award…”
– BCA Missioner Rod Oldfield on King Island shares an ANZAC Day reflection.
(h/t Bishop John Harrower.)
QandA — or Question Un-answered?
“Were you disappointed by the Dawkins/Pell debate? You’re not alone – all Christians I know, were unhappy. Not because our ‘gladiator’ lost the contest to the atheist ‘gladiator’, but because he seemed to lose the plot and mangle the gospel…”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen comments on the recent episode of ABC TV’s Q&A.
The deep limitations of digital church
“There is something good, healthy, and Great Commission-minded about the eager use of new communication technologies. …
At the same time, there are dangers. … Christ clearly intends for his people to be gathered together into congregations. The fellowship of the saints is a vital means of grace for the disciple of Christ.”
– Albert Mohler warns against ‘doing church’ on the Internet.
In a similar vein, Carl Trueman has been writing about ‘multi-site’ churches –
Multisite, the Poker Tell and the Importance of Presence
“Presence is important. In a world where it is easy to simulate presence, even visible presence as by television, webcam or skype, it remains the case that actually being in the immediate physical proximity of somebody is important…”
No life in the Moon but is that necessarily a problem?
“Moments after finishing my piece on the importance of presence for Ref21, a reader emailed me a link to a quite bizarre story: Olympic organisers in London had apparently been hoping to have Keith Moon play at this year’s opening ceremony…”
Folk Religion…?
“Do we imagine that if we pray longer or with more people that God will be more likely to hear our prayers? Do we imagine that reading the Bible with others will automatically produce Christian maturity? Do we imagine that if we preach a certain way, the church will automatically grow?”
– Greg Anderson, Head of the Missions Department at Moore College, asks if Christians might easily embrace a form of folk religion.
The Post-Christian Condition
“The horrifying case of Anders Behring Breivik has opened a window into the reality of Scandinavian justice — and that window also reveals the shape of justice in a post-Christian world.
The Scandinavian nations are, according to many sociologists, the most radically secularized nations on earth. A study undertaken by sociologist Peter Berger years ago rated Sweden as the world’s most secular nation, with neighboring Norway close behind. But the Scandinavian nations are not merely secular; they are specifically post-Christian. The specific religious worldview they have lost or rejected is that of Christianity — the faith that shaped the culture of these nations for many centuries…”
– Dr Albert Mohler looks at what happens to a sense of justice once you choose to be ‘Post-Christian’.
ANZAC Day resources
At the Defence Anglicans website, there are some resources you could use or adapt for ANZAC Day.
Charles Colson’s testimony
With the news that Charles Colson is gravely ill in hospital, Justin Taylor has linked to video of Colson sharing his testimony – starting with a story about the National Press Club in Canberra.
What’s in a name?
“I am often asked why Moore College is called a ‘Theological College’ rather than a ‘Bible College’.
Because the word ‘theological’ sounds rather obscure to many Christians today, some people refer to Moore College as a ‘Bible College’…”
– Moore Theological College Principal John Woodhouse answers a common question – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Can banning things lead to tolerance?
“‘London is intolerant of intolerance.’
So said the Mayor of London as he stepped in to ban adverts which drew attention to the existence of people who identify as ‘post gay’.…”
– Peter Sanlon at Oak Hill College asks what principles are involved really being tolerant.
Titanic: A Glasgow church recalls Pastor John Harper
In the icy water, Pastor John Harper asks a man if he is saved, and gives him his life jacket.
And more details from Baptist Press.
The Journalist’s Question
“Last week a journalist came to church. He was covering the compulsory Easter story. He asked one of our staff – ‘Do you think people have stopped coming to church because they have internalised their faith?’
It was a strange question to ask as a huge number of people crowded into the Cathedral…”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen writes in his weekly column.
Women Bishops in the Church of England
“We all know there are within the Church of England those who conscientiously object to the principle of consecrating women bishops. Those people, both lay and ordained, have been reassured on many occasions that they are loyal, faithful Anglicans. They have been reassured there is a place for them – on some occasions it has even been called an honoured place – within the church. They have been told that that place will remain. So far, so good, you may think…”
– Church Society Council member George Curry points out some of the implications of the Church of England’s current trajectory – in the latest issue of CrossWay (PDF file).
7 Lessons from the German Liberal Theologians
“Despite standing in the shadow of the Reformation, many German Protestant theologians abandoned the historic truth claims of biblical Christianity due to the mounting popularity of Enlightenment rationalism.
In so doing, they shipwrecked their own souls while simultaneously devastating the faith of millions of others…”
– Nathan Busenitz draws some sobering lessons from the German Liberal Theologians –
- The way to reach skeptics with the gospel is not by watering down the gospel.
- True religion can be lost in just one generation.
- German liberalism does not represent merely a divergent form of Christianity, but – in actuality – a completely new religion.
- The liberals honoured doubt as being noble and intellectually honest. In reality, doubting God’s word is a heinous sin.
- German liberalism teaches us that ideas have consequences, and that bad ideas have very bad consequences.
- The social gospel of the liberals is still alive and well in many mainline Protestant churches.
- Higher criticism, in particular, is built on the notion that the wisdom of man trumps the revealed wisdom of God.
– Very relevant to the Anglican Communion. Read it all at The Cripplegate. (h/t Tim Challies.)
Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ sermons to be available to all
“This is probably the biggest announcement the MLJ Trust will ever make. Starting from tomorrow, April 12th, all 1,600 recorded sermons by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones will be available to download, at no cost, to anyone who wants to listen to them!…”
– all the details via Justin Taylor.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…