Updated 9Marks website
The 9Marks website has been updated recently. New sections include Answers for Church Members and Answers for Pastors. Well worth a look.
Sinclair Ferguson on Preaching
In March, Sinclair Ferguson (Minister at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina) gave the 2010 den Dulk Lectures on Pastoral Ministry at Westminster Seminary in California.
In this talk linked below (56MB mp3 file), he speaks on “The Pastor and his preaching”. Very sobering – and encouraging – for preachers.
Link via Unashamed Workman. Other lectures on this page. (h/t Faith by Hearing.)
In Memoriam, James Montgomery Boice (1938-2000)
“June 15 marks the tenth anniversary of the death of James Montgomery Boice, who was for thirty-two years the pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, the dean of Reformed pastor-scholars in his generation…”
– At Reformation21, Rick Phillips gives thanks for James Montgomery Boice, who died ten years ago. (Photo: Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia.)
A Canonical Analysis of ‘Mitregate’
AS Haley (the Anglican Curmudgeon) looks at the fuss about why Katharine Jefferts Schori had to apply for a license to officiate as a priest (and not a bishop) at Southwark Cathedral last week.
(Photo: ENS.)
All you need is ‘love’
Bishop Michael Bird, Anglican Diocese of Niagara, in a letter to the National Post , claims –
“… whether a man loves a woman or another man, or a woman loves a man or another woman, to God it is all love …”
– in response to this article about St. Hilda’s Anglican Church Oakville, which left the Anglican Church of Canada.
h/t the Anglican Essential Canada blog. (Photo: Diocese of Niagara.)
The best App for your iPad
Another wonderful free resource from Crossway – the ESV for iPad.
Checked your lectionary lately?
An Episcopal blogger has noticed that some passages are mysteriously omitted from the Revised Common Lectionary used in the Episcopal Church –
“You see, during the weekdays, the RCL usually reads straight through a book of the Bible so that you can get through the entire Gospel of Luke for example in a series of daily readings. But look at what happens to Paul’s letter to the Romans between Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.”
– Story here.
TEC and Friends: Inclusion with Attitude
“Although TEC’s Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori, avoided an explicit attack on Rowan Williams in her sermon at Southwark Cathedral yesterday, it is clear that TEC and its allies are becoming more militant and that far from suggesting that the Windsor Covenant process has at last found teeth, the Archbishop’s attempt to discipline TEC only underlines its ineffectiveness…”
What is the Gospel?
The Southern Baptist Seminary has posted a 4 minute video entitled “What is the Gospel?”.
Reminiscent of both Two Ways to Live and Why Theology?, you may well find uses for it.
Vimeo members (free subscription) can download it as a 350MB/720p video file (link on lower right hand column). h/t Justin Taylor.
(They also have a neat video promo for their School of Church Ministries.)
Divorced Bishops in the C of E: another nail in the coffin?
“One of the most depressing experiences I ever had in a Diocesan Synod was the morning on which ours debated the proposals to change the Church’s regulations on the remarriage of divorcees.
Until 2002, considering the many other ‘easings’ of the Church of England’s doctrinal adherences, its position on divorce and remarriage had remained remarkably consistent with a traditionalist understanding of Scripture…”
– John Richardson wonders what else can happen once Biblical teaching is ignored.
The Amazing Technicolor Multifaith Theology School
“The leftward march of liberal Protestantism is hardly news, but on occasion a development arises that serves as something of a parable of that trajectory. Such is the case this week with news from California that the Claremont School of Theology, a school historically related to the United Methodist Church, is transforming itself into a multifaith center for the training of clergy…
What this implies, of course, is that ministers, priests, rabbis, and imams, along with Buddhist and Hindu spiritual leaders, are just different varieties of clergy…”
– Albert Mohler’s latest column. (Photo: This sign on a Sydney church last week reflects similar sentiments.)
J.C. Ryle’s legacy — 110 years on
“110 years ago today [well, yesterday – ed.], June 10th, 1900, the prolific writer, vigorous preacher and faithful pastor, John Charles Ryle died in England at the age of 83. Here are some quotes surrounding Ryle’s death and his legacy in Christian history…”
– from J.C. Ryle quotes.
Confusion reigns
Canterbury’s continuing chaos: does anyone know what is going on?
“The fallout for the Anglican Communion following the consecration of Mary Glasspool is, for many of us, becoming more confusing by the day…”
– John Richardson’s post is worth reading in full.
Andy Naselli’s thumbnail guide to ‘Keswick theology’
Andy Naselli’s book, Let Go and Let God? A Survey and Analysis of Keswick Theology, published by Logos Bible Software, is now out.
If you’ve wondered what ‘Keswick’ second-blessing theology was, Andy gave a good summary for Kevin DeYoung last week. (Note: The modern Keswick Conventions are very different.)
The Spirituality of Emerging Adults
Dr Christian Smith, author of Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults, was interviewed on a recent episode of The White Horse Inn.
Very interesting insights into the world of young adults in the US – with application to Australia too.
Details here (look for May 16, 2010), and audio here.
(Photo: University of Notre Dame.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…