Exploding Fenella Souter’s Myths of Christmas

“Last Saturday, the ‘Good Weekend’ magazine published by the Sydney Morning Herald (and the Melbourne Age?), ran an article by Fenella Souter entitled “Truth, Lies and Santa Claus: Exploding the Myths of Christmas” (not available online).

It was highly sceptical towards the narratives surrounding the conception and birth of Jesus recorded in the Bible…”

– Sandy Grant at St. Michael’s Wollongong looks at some mistakes and undocumented claims in last weekend’s ‘Good Weekend’ – at The Briefing.

New Evidences the Gospels were Based on Eyewitness Accounts

In March 2011, Dr Peter Williams, Warden of Tyndale House in Cambridge, gave a public lecture at The Lanier Theological Library in Houston.

His topic: New Evidences the Gospels were Based on Eyewitness Accounts. The 62 minute video is well worth watching.

Christmas — Myth or History?

Bishop Paul Barnett responds to an article in last weekend’s newspaper.

“So don’t let the sceptics and atheists take away your hope.”

“You cannot but be impressed with the zeal of the modern sceptic and reciprocally unimpressed with the lethargy of the contemporary Christian. Right on track the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Weekend (3rd December, 2011) has a lengthy and well-researched article, ‘Divine Intervention’ (Fenella Souter) in which she debunks the historical basis for the first Christmas.

Her two main arguments are that there are only two gospel accounts and that they are contradictory, with the addition of many fictional details…”

– Read the full article on Paul Barnett’s website.

Update: If it comes in handy, here’s a PDF version formatted to suit a double-sided A4 sheet.

Dick Lucas at the Autumn Joint Ministers conference 2011

Last week we linked to video of Carl Trueman at the Proclamation Trust’s 2011 Autumn Joint Ministers Conference in Leicestershire.

Dick Lucas also spoke at the conference, giving three talks on 2 Peter, and now video and audio files of his addresses are online.

‘The Love Feasts’

Barry Newman’s latest topic for thoughtful examination is ‘the love feasts’ –

“What exactly did Jude have in mind when he wrote, ‘These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm – shepherds who feed only themselves’ (NIV Jude 12)? In particular what did he mean by ‘love feasts’? This blog series will attempt to examine these and related questions…”

– see the first few posts on the topic at Barry’s blog.

From Reformation to Revival

Lee Gatiss has been speaking in Cambridge at the ‘Saturday School of Theology’ on the theme ‘From Reformation to Revival’.

The audio of the first two sessions is now available, with the third to come. Below are the descriptions of each session:  Read more

‘No more bets at the Glasgow bookies’

More from Carl Trueman – this time on the ongoing train-wreck of the Church of Scotland –

“The official line in the C of S is that the matter of homosexuality has not yet been decided but it is very clear from the above quotation, especially given the context, which way the matter has already practically concluded. It may take a year or two before the procedural shouting dies down but I would assume that the Glasgow bookies are no longer offering odds on the outcome.

That is why men such as Peter Dickson, James Torrens and others are now putting everything they have on the line and leaving…”

– Read it all – including some very sobering matters for prayer – at Reformation21.

Carl Trueman on preaching and the Trinity

Carl Trueman spoke on the Trinity earlier this month at the Proclamation Trust’s Autumn Joint Ministers Conference in Leicestershire.

He began his series by pointing out how crucial it is that Christians have a good grasp of the doctrine of the Trinity. The first talk includes a fascinating overview of the doctrine of the Trinity in the early centuries. His second talk was on the link between preaching and the Trinity.

The Proc Trust has posted the videos of his talks. Most edifying. Direct links to talks – Talk 1 , Talk 2, Talk 3.

David Jones on Church Planting

Here’s a challenging talk on evangelism and church planting – from David Jones, church planter, pastor, and Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. He spoke recently in Adelaide.

The audio quality is not great, but the video file is very much worth watching. (Image: Pilgrim Hill.)

Make Disciples!

Bishop Paul Barnett reflects on Matthew 28:16-20 and disciple-making. Here are a few quotes:

“Christ was a disciple maker. His disciples were disciple makers. You and I are to be disciple makers. This is not just for clergy, it’s for all of us.”

“Disciple making is an infection that is caught as much as it is taught. It challenges our Christian faith to be real, joyous and others centred.”

“Congregations should free up their ministers’ time so they can do the research so as to properly teach and instruct their congregations. That is their main job.”

– Read it all here.

Questions for Mark Dever

Mark Dever of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC was recently asked a series of short questions by christianity.com.

Questions include: What should I look for in a local church?
What books would you recommend on the topic of Church history?
Is heaven going to be a renewal of this earth?

Find them here.

 

Richard Bewes and Alec Motyer in conversation

Recently Richard Bewes and Alec Motyer were in Inverness, where they were interviewed by David Meredith, Minister of the Free Church of Scotland.

The video interview runs for 47 minutes, and covers their friendship, Keswick, preaching, Christ in all the Scriptures, and much more. (h/t Reformation21.) See also interviews with John Blanchard, Sinclair Ferguson and Helen Roseveare.

The Sydney Family Album — 8, Howard Mowll

“It really is rather hard to overplay the contribution of Howard Mowll to the shape and character of the contemporary Anglican Diocese of Sydney.

His election as Archbishop in April 1933 was a critical moment in the diocese’s history, a decision for its evangelical heritage rather than the more eclectic theology others were advocating at the time. His tenure of the office during World War II and the equally critical post-war years set directions, embedded principles and fostered a new generation of leaders who enabled Sydney Anglicanism to remain unambiguously Protestant and evangelical while engaging seriously with the challenges of a new era…”

– Mark Thompson continues his series on those who shaped Sydney Diocese.

Some recent books on Church History

“It remains as important as ever for the church not to lose sight of where it has come from, to be inspired by the great examples of the past as well warned by the mistakes that we are in danger of repeating.”

– Lee Gatiss reviews seven recent books on church history to see how solid and how useful they might be for the church, in Churchman.

Themelios — November 2011

Issue 3 of Volume 36 of Themelios is now available as a free download from The Gospel Coalition website.

Contributions include an editorial on Spiritual Disciplines by Don Carson, and An Evaluation of the 2011 Edition of the NIV, by Rodney Decker. There’s also a host of book reviews. Worth taking the time to read.

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