William Taylor on ‘Why Expository Preaching?’

William Taylor spoke at a Simeon Trust workshop on Biblical Exposition, in 2008. The audio of the workshop is available on their website. Most encouraging – especially for preachers of God’s word.

Science and Genesis 3:1-24

Barry Newman is continuing to write stimulating notes as he reads through the early chapters of Genesis. He’s posted his latest complete series of explorations, “Science and Genesis 3:1-24” – as a PDF file – at his blog.

The Great Creeds

“The earliest function of the creeds was baptismal, that is for instruction beforehand and interrogation of the candidate at the baptism itself. Between their embryonic beginnings and ultimate finalization of the creed in the forms we have them further elements were added.

This was because the era between the New Testament and the finalization of the Creeds in the fourth century was chaotic, with the intrusion of serious doctrinal errors threatening the survival of apostolic truth and the unity of the church. …”

– Bishop Paul Barnett is continuing to post some of his writings online.

Related: J.I. Packer: More Catechesis, Please.

A Fresh Look at Mission conference audio

The “Sydney and Anglican: A Fresh Look at Mission” conference was held in Sydney two weeks ago. (SydneyAnglicans.net reported on the day here.)

A quote from Michael Jensen:

“My conviction is that not only is being evangelical the most authentic way of being Anglican – we’ve been saying that for years – but also that being Anglican is the best way to be evangelical in Australia in the 21st century. Our Anglican identity is, by grace, a precious gift which teaches us to stay true to the central convictions of the Christian faith without losing our missionary zeal.”

The audio files and handouts are now available on their new website.

Ten Elements of Historic Anglicanism

“It is important to begin with two comments:

1) This paper was inspired by something J.I. Packer wrote in 1995, ‘Speculating in Anglican Futures’. I have added to it, but Dr Packer must not be blamed for my additions, or the final form this brief paper has taken.

2) I need to define ‘Anglicanism’. You will notice that I qualify it as ‘historic’ Anglicanism. What do I mean? I mean the Anglican way – the way of the Church of England as defined by the three historic documents: the Book of Common Prayer (1662); the Ordinal (for Bishops, Priests and Deacons); the 39 Articles of Religion. We find the doctrines, beliefs and ethos of historic Anglicanism in these documents.

Let me now turn to these ten elements.

First and foremost this Anglicanism locates its final authority in matters pertaining to salvation in the Holy Scriptures.

Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article  of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation  (Article 6).

This places final authority for faith and salvation in “Holy Scripture”. By contrast the church is the “witness and keeper of holy writ”, but not the source of “Holy Writ”. The articles recognise that various “rites” need to be authorised and adjudication given in matters of “controversy” and the church has “power…and authority” in such things  (Article 20). Nonetheless, churches may err and have erred within history; they are not infallible.

So, to begin, Holy Scripture is the basis and touchstone of faith.

Thus the church must defer to the Bible in all matters relating to salvation and, indeed, in the ultimate in all matters relating to rites, ceremonies and controversies. Thus the Anglican Church is biblical as to the basis of its authority.

At ordination the minister is given a Bible as the instrument of ministry. The Bishop’s charge in the Ordinal, along with the questions and answers, make it abundantly clear that Christian ministry has the Bible as the basis and means of ministry.…”

– Read the full paper at Bishop Paul Barnett’s blog.

Simplicity and Integrity: the KJV in the church and the world

A Conference to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible.

Thursday July 7th 2011, 9.30am – 4:00pm at Moore College in Newtown.

Details here.

Why did Jesus have to die?

In a new 5 minute video from The Gospel Coalition, David Short is asked, “Why did Jesus have to die? and What actually takes place on the Cross?”.

Also see his discussion of the question, “If homosexuality is simply another sin, why is it treated differently in churches?”.

(Worth reading in conjunction with the first video are these excerpts from an interview with John Piper.)

St. John’s in transition

From the St John’s Vancouver website:

“Over the next two weeks we will be having two town hall meetings to discuss the transition. This will be an opportunity to pray, support and listen to one another,  ask questions, give suggestions, and voice concerns.”

– Please keep in your prayers the members of St. John’s (Shaughnessy) and the other three Vancouver churches having to vacate their properties.

Place Sensational Headline Here

“Lindsay Tanner’s book “Sideshow” argues how the media has undermined the capacity for proper policy debate in our society. The media’s recent presentation of our Archbishop’s statement on the redefinition of marriage is a classic illustration of the point.

The homosexual community has called society into a debate about the nature of marriage. Through the influence of the Greens, the members of parliament are to inquire of the electorate about changing the law to allow same sex marriage. The Labor party is going to debate its policy on this issue at its national conference.

It would seem right and proper therefore, for any person to present a view on this matter, especially leaders of community groups who have a particular interest or concern to express their views.

As one such community within society, Christians have every right to hold a particular interest in the nature of marriage. We have had a long-term interest in marriage – our ministers are registered by the Government as authorised celebrants and about a third of the community turn to the church for their weddings.  Furthermore, rightly or wrongly, we believe that our view is for the good of society as a whole. …’

– Phillip Jensen, Dean of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, writes at PhillipJensen.com. (Also at SydneyAnglicans.net.) Related: Real Marriage, by Archbishop Peter Jensen.

The Power of the Original: Beyond the King James Bible

“When Scripture is translated into any language, it has the power of incarnation. Often it proceeds to shape the language of its host culture. The danger is that we can then treat the Bible as though it were a product of our own history and culture and forget that its origin and world is distant. The KJV was English, but it was not quite my English. …”

– Archbishop Peter Jensen writes on the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, on the ABC’s Religion & Ethics pages of its website.

Real Marriage — Dr Peter Jensen

Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, has spoken about the pressures to redefine marriage, and how Christians should respond.

“Should the Marriage Act allow two people of the same sex to be married?

Over the years, I’ve said little about same?sex relationships. My opposition is known but I hope I put my views with respect. I have supported legislation to register relationships and to extend economic rights. I condemn violence against homosexual people. Like most Australians, I prefer to live and let live. Furthermore, I am all too aware how close to home this is for a number of us, either personally or through family members and I appreciate that this discussion can be painful.

Nonetheless, since change is being actively advocated we need to be clear that what is at stake is not simply an extension of marriage ‘rights’ but a change to the definition of marriage itself. …”

First published in the June 2011 Southern Cross magazine, the article, “Real Marriage”, is available here as a PDF file, and deserves wide distribution.

It’s official: Australia is unfair

“The debate about processing asylum seekers in Malaysia has distracted Australians from an even more concerning injustice brewing in our own backyard – the Federal Government’s proposed changes to the ‘character test’ in the Migration Act are politically expedient and fly in the face of measured, compassionate governance. …”

– Andrew Cameron, Chair of the Social Issues Executive of the Diocese of Sydney, has his say on The Drum today.

From subtle exclusion to overt discrimination

“Since 1993 I have chosen to belong to a church that ordains women priests, and before I retire it is likely I will belong to one that consecrates women bishops. Yet this is a practice that I believe to be mistaken, so why am I still here? …

In 1993, as the ordination of women to the priesthood was brought in, the Church of England similarly committed itself to treat those on both sides of the debate equally. Thus the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod (which is still in force) stated as its first principle that,

There will be no discrimination against candidates either for ordination or for appointment to senior office in the Church of England on the grounds of their views about the ordination of women to the priesthood.

Unfortunately, that commitment was never upheld, and has now effectively been overturned.”

– John Richardson laments shifts taking place in the Church of England.

Transformed by God: David Peterson interviewed at Oak Hill

Last month, David Peterson travelled back to Oak Hill College in London to give the annual School of Theology lectures.

While there, Vice Principal Chris Green recorded a 15 minute interview about the ideas in David’s forthcoming book, “Being Transformed by God”. Encouraging.

Revising the C of E Baptism services (again)

“When the Common Worship services were produced in 1995 the problems about baptism within the wider church came to the fore. The Liturgical Commission set about the service with a particular rationale but this did not find favour with the General Synod, as a result a Revision Committee, and the Synod itself… changed the services significantly. The resulting service, authorised in 1997, was unsatisfactory to many people and is confused theologically. …

The discontent surfaced again in 2005 when further changes were made. Now, another six years on a third attempt is being made to revise the services…”

– in this article (PDF file) for Cross†Way, Church Society General Secretary David Phillips provides several glimpses into the state of liturgical reform in the Church of England.

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