Encouragement and example in Evangelism

What is the gospel?

In characteristic style, Chappo gets straight to the point –

“It does not focus upon us, not should it draw attention to us. It focusses on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what the gospel is about. The gospel is not about us. The gospel is not even about us and our needs. It not even about us and our needs and those being met in Christ. It is none of those!

The gospel is about Jesus Christ our Lord. That is the gospel. I’m not talking about how you engage people in listening to the gospel – you might do that in a hundred and one different ways. But when I have gospelled you, it is about the Lord Jesus Christ that I have spoken from beginning to end.

It is about him. OK?”

– from a talk given in the UK in 2004. (See the last link on this page – “The Training an Evangelist Needs – 2 Cor 4v5”.)

While you’re there, read about the very exciting A Passion for Life initiative – “a [UK] nationwide initiative that is drawing together local evangelical churches to plan a fantastic variety of missional initiatives culminating in Easter 2010”.

And see their terrific collection of videos — a selection of testimonies and apologetics.

Talking about Mary

“You would have to be living on another planet not to notice the avalanche of publicity about Mary MacKillop at the moment. …

However, when talking with people from a Catholic background, rather than raising … concerns straight away, it would be better to take another approach. …”

– Mark Gilbert makes some helpful suggestions on how to start a conversation with your Romans Catholic friends – at SydneyAnglicans.net.

How will they hear without a preacher?

“Preaching has fallen on hard times. So suggests a report out of Durham University’s College of Preachers. The British university’s CODEC research center, which aims to explore ‘the interfaces between the Bible, the digital environment and contemporary culture,’ conducted the study to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the College of Preachers. The report is not very encouraging…”

– from Al Mohler’s latest column.

Biblical Baptism revisited

Barry Newman picks up the theme of Baptism in the latest posts on his blog –

“Over September 1 to September 13 2009 I created a series of blogs on the subject entitled “Biblical Baptism”. The material has been discussed by various people in different venues and I have tried to listen carefully to the comments made. What follows is an attempt to further contribute to the debate…”

– Read Barry’s blog here.

Find the Bible boring?

John Piper has some words of exhortation in this video excerpt from a sermon on Philippians 2:14-16.

(Or see the whole thing.)

Air Conditioning Hell: How Liberalism happens

Tempted to be embarrassed by the biblical doctrine of hell?

“Though some lampoon the stereotypical “hell-fire and brimstone” preaching of an older evangelical generation, the fact is that most church members may never have heard a sermon on hell — even in an evangelical congregation. Has hell gone dormant among evangelicals as well?

Interestingly, the doctrine of hell serves very well as a test case for the slide into theological liberalism. The pattern of this slide looks something like this…”

– Read this article by Al Mohler in the current 9Marks eJournal. (Photo: Together for the Gospel.)

What’s happening to InterVarsity?

Take the time to read this important piece by J. Mack Stiles. It’s a strong reminder for churches and parachurch organisations to remain crystal clear on the gospel —

“For the better part of 30 years I have been a ‘company man.’ My life has been devoted to student ministry through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as a campus staff worker. All four of my books are published by IVP. The eleven Urbana missions conferences I attended shaped my life as a student and as a staff worker. … I love IV, and I long for its success. …

But, as Phillip Jensen says, the generation that assumes the gospel is the generation most responsible for the loss of the gospel.”

Read it here – from the current 9Marks eJournal.

Preaching without notes

“I’m a convert to preaching without any notes.

I know it’s not for everyone, but I reckon more preachers could do it if they wanted to.

I’ve preached evangelistically without notes for years, by memorising certain talks that I knew I would get to repeat many times. But I’ve not thought it ‘worth it’ to preach all the time without notes. Until now. …”

– At Read Better, Preach Better, Moore College’s Con Campbell shares his experience in preaching without notes.

Notes from the Future: Evangelical Liberalism in the UK

“The Lord Jesus called me into his kingdom in April 1974 in a Baptist church in Southampton, England. He had blessed me with a Christian family, and my conversion was very much a humble acceptance in my heart of truths I had long known in my head. Then, almost immediately after my conversion, I found myself (as a 15 year old) having to resist liberal theology from my fellow pupils at school, and even more so from my teachers.

I’ve used the word ‘liberal,’ though it felt very different from the liberalism I now see and sense…”

– Mike Ovey, Principal of Oak Hill College in London, writes in the current 9Marks eJournal. (Photo © Richard Hanson.)

The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind

“Combine the problems of defining evangelical identity with the current cultural penchant for not excluding anybody and you have a heady recipe for total disaster. Say nice things about Jesus, have a warm feeling in your heart when somebody lights a candle, and be kind to your grandmother and—hey presto!—you belong; you too can be an evangelical …”

– Carl Trueman writes on the danger particularly facing evangelical academics in the US (and elsewhere?) – in the current 9Marks eJournal.

9Marks eJournal on the dangers of Liberalism

The latest 9Marks eJournal has been published online and is essential reading. Editor Jonathan Leeman writes –

“Michael Lawrence, Carl Trueman, Al Mohler, and Phil Johnson examine how liberalism happens and offer wise counsel for the academic and the pastor’s heart.

Greg Gilbert, Michael Ovey, Russell Moore, and I point to several specific areas where evangelicals appear to be walking on thin ice…

Greg Wills, Michael Horton, and Darryl Hart present notable lessons from history…”

– and there’s much more for your edification. It’s available from 9Marks. (We’ll highlight some key articles over the next few days.)

‘Moses Tay: A Prophet confronts Lambeth Pragmatism’

Charles Raven’s latest column —

“if you try to keep the light and darkness together, righteous and immoral together, to say we are a church, it’s disparaging the meaning of covenant” – Bishop Moses Tay

In his recent interview with the Christian Post Moses Tay, onetime Archbishop of Singapore, brings a sharp prophetic insight to bear on the Anglican Covenant and warns that it is a ‘whitewash’. ‘It cannot be of God’ he says ‘because if you try to keep the light and darkness together, righteous and immoral together, to say we are a church, it’s disparaging the meaning of covenant’.   Read more

10 ways to encourage a Missionary

At The Gospel Coalition blog, Mark Rogers shares the fruit of asking some missionaries what they find encouraging –

“One of the most encouraging/inspiring things we receive from people is a quick note via email to say that they are ‘thinking’ of us…”

Although it’s written from a US perspective, there are some good ideas here.
(h/t Justin Taylor.)

Preach through the Lectionary or books of the Bible?

The Diocese of Tasmania website has posted an article by David Roger-Smith on planning a preaching programme. Especially helpful for those whose practice is to preach on Lectionary readings –

“If you’ve never preached through or helped preached through a biblical book, it might seem a bit daunting, but we would encourage you to have a go. Start with small steps. Devote one school term this year to preaching through a biblical book rather than from the Lectionary readings.”

Download it as a PDF file here from the updated Preaching page.

What you can do in three pages a day

three-pages-a-dayStephen Altrogge asks, “What would happen if you resolved that, in addition to your Bible, you would read three pages of a spiritual book every day?”

He lists some practical suggestions on what you could read at The Blazing Center.

(Most of the books mentioned would be available at Moore Books or Reformers’ Bookshop in Sydney.)

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