Growth and Change and Preaching
“Recently during a week of study leave I had the privilege of reading Andrew Heard’s excellent new book, Growth and Change: The danger and necessity of a passion for church growth (Matthias Media, 2024). It receives the commendation of numerous respected pastors and scholars. D. A. Carson, reluctant to call any book the ‘best’ in its field, suggests in the Foreword that Growth and Change might serve as an exception to his rule.
Reading through it over three consecutive days, I found myself praising God for its zealous, ambitious, and what I believe to be a scripturally faithful perspective. …”
– David Burger writes at The Expository Preaching Trust. This is Part 1 of his reflections on the book.
Mothers Union Sydney annual seminar 2025
Mothers Union Sydney has details of their 2025 Annual Seminar coming up on Friday 28th February.
Speakers and topics:
Shining Like Stars – Anna Brotherson
Living in a Secular Age – Steve McAlpine
Equipping Our Children – Al James and Beth Braga
It’s free, but registration is required. Read about it and register here.
Rejoice in the Lord — John Mason reflects on Thanksgiving
“‘Thanksgiving’ in America is one of the delights Judith and I experienced when we moved to New York in 2001. Despite the evil events of September 11, 2001 people at our first Thanksgiving Dinner expressed their thanks for the way the Lord had used the events of 9/11 to build their trust in him.
When we think about it, thanksgiving is a theme that permeates the Bible – especially the Psalms. And while we do live in an uncertain world, there is still much for which to be thankful.
Come with me to Paul the Apostle’s Letter to the Philippians, chapter 4, verses 4 through 9…”
– As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, the Anglican Connection’s John Mason reflects on what Scripture says on the topic.
All the families of the earth – Genesis 11:27-12:9
Last week, Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson spoke about the Promise to Abraham as the College comes to the end of the academic year.
It’s not only Moore College students who need to be reminded of God’s promises and why we’re here.
Watch or listen at the Moore College website.
Jesus was not born in a stable—and it really does matter!
From Ian Paul at Psephizo –
“What do you find most irritating about this time of year? The drawing in of dark and cold nights? The hideous adoption of that consumerist import ‘Black Friday’? People putting up Christmas trees when we have only just started Advent? Being urged to spend more money by means of schmaltzy human interest mini-dramas?
For me, it is the repeated but ill-founded claim that Jesus was born in a stable, alone and isolated, with his family ostracised by the community—despite the complete lack of evidence for this reconstruction. It will be repeated in pulpits, real and virtual, up and down the land, so I do not apologise for reposting once more this annual feature. …”
A wonderful gospel resource you might not have seen
We first posted this in 2022, but it’s worth revisiting since so few people seem to know about this valuable (free) resource:
“Have you ever been in a situation where you would love to leave a gospel message with someone but had nothing with you to give? Or the person didn’t read English and that’s the only language you have available?
Global Recordings Network has a unique solution to this dilemma: 5fish! …
The International Orality Network tells us that 4 out of 5 people in the world communicate primarily or exclusively through oral, not textual means. This means that only 1 out of 5 people are happy when you give them something to read – regardless of whether it is a book, magazine, or tract. Everyone else wants to listen or watch!
The Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted a survey in 2006 that informs us that approximately 7 million (46%) Australians aged 15 to 74 years did not reach the minimum standard required for individuals to meet the complex demands of everyday life and work in the emerging knowledge-based economy. Almost half of the Australian population would struggle to read and understand the Bible if you handed them one.”
– At AP (The Australian Presbyterian), Global Recordings Network’s Christine Platt makes a case for 5fish.
Watch the 75 second video below to see how 5fish works.
Consider sharing the video, and links to 5fish, with members of your church.
(We understand the app will soon be updated to add even more functionality.)
Being more intentional in discipleship
From The Pastor’s Heart this week:
“How do we encourage our staff teams and members to be more intentional in Jesus’ mission of making disciples?
Disciple making is entering into relationships to help people trust and follow Jesus – the whole journey from conversion through maturing and multiplication.
There’s a formal teaching component. But there’s so much more.
Peter Mayrick, from Partners in Ministry, says he wants us to be more intentional.”
Men Meeting the Challenge conference 2025
The “Men Meeting the Challenge Conference” 2025 is set for Saturday 29th March at The King’s School.
Rory Shiner and Dave Jensen are speaking. Details here.
I am so grateful my husband ignored those who would have assisted his dying
“In 2011 my husband was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. This is one of those illnesses for which people such as Anne Turner, whose death was portrayed in a BBC documentary, have sought assisted suicide.
It never entered my husband’s head that he would like to die early. To the contrary, he set about doing all the things he could possibly do to live as long as possible and I helped him. We had a young daughter, we loved each other very much and we wanted to be together for as long as possible, come what may. It never entered either of our minds.
But a point came when that changed. …”
– At The Conservative Woman, Gabriella Dunn shares her story – and that of her husband.
It’s written in light of the British Parliament’s upcoming vote this week on the Assisted Dying Bill. Important reading, even here in Australia where similar laws are already in place.
Related:
Britain’s religious leaders unite against assisted dying in major intervention – Telegraph via Anglican Mainstream.
The Increasing Value of Christian Testimonies
“Traditionally, apologetics has been concerned with defending and commending the truth claims of the Christian faith. In the 1990s Christian apologist Alister McGrath, in response to changing social attitudes, suggested that apologetics should not just be interested in establishing the truth of the Christian faith, but also its relevance. People wanted to know whether the Christian message had any impact on their lives.
Today, the world has moved on again and we find ourselves needing to address a new situation: the view that Christianity is harmful. We now need to commend the Christian faith in terms of its truth, relevance and its goodness. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Stephen Liggins has a helpful suggestion for our own personal interactions – and for church gatherings.
Some of our favourite Christmas resources
From Kirsten McKinlay at The Australian Church Record:
“Some of the ACR team share their favourite resources that have helped keep their eyes on Jesus in the busy Christmas season…”
The Anglicans Behind the Bonhoeffer Movie
“When Gafcon emerged to ignite the global Anglican realignment, Emmanuel and Camille Kampouris enthusiastically joined. Recognizing the unique courage of leaders like Peter Akinola, Bob Duncan, and Peter Jensen, they supported the movement every way they could, with Emmanuel taking on a key leadership role.
Around the same time, they also began working on a second passion project, an idea for a movie on Dietrich Bonhoeffer. …”
– From The Anglican Church in North America.
Ministry in the Later Stage of Life
Earlier this month, Phillip Jensen spoke at a Prime Time event at Croydon Park.
He speaks to retirees (or those hoping to be): “We have the gift of a decade.”
See what he means – and what we can do with it.
How to be fun and not boring in Christmas preaching?
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Planning Christmas Preaching.
What we are nervous about? What we want to get right? What has worked best? What hasn’t?
And how do we leverage the cultural moment?”
Dominic Steele speaks with Nigel Fortescue at Christ Church St. Ives and Pete Stedman at Norwest Anglican Church.
Duties of Church Membership (ii) — Church Society Podcast
“In 1954, the Church Assembly (the forerunner to General Synod) asked the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to write this short guide to the duties of church membership.
It is a simple list which could be given to every person in church, indicating what is expected of them as disciples of Christ and members of the congregation. Presumably in 1954, there were already concerns that not everyone who attended church understood these. It is certainly the case today that newcomers to church have no idea about many of them.
In this week’s episode of the podcast, Tony Cannon and Martin Lane discuss the final three items on the list: financial giving, upholding marriage and bringing children up in the Lord, asking what benefit they would bring to individuals and congregations if we were all more faithful in doing them. Forthcoming episodes will cover the other items on the list. …”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…