Wonderful help for reading the Bible in public
Many of us can give thanks for excellent public Bible reading in churches.
But how can we help church members read the Scriptures clearly and in an engaging manner?
Clifford Warne (1930 – 2003) was a much-loved Christian communicator and broadcaster.
Perhaps his greatest passion was to ensure that the Bible is communicated well.
In 1979, he and Paul White published, through the Anglican Information Office in Sydney, a small book entitled “For Reading Out Loud”.
In the introduction they state –
“Some people who think the Bible has nothing to say to them, do so not because they’ve read it, but because they’ve only heard it read.
An unprepared or careless reading of God’s Book meant to them blurring of meaning and boredom.
These are days of trained news readers on television and radio. Why should we not have skilful Bible readers in church?
For the reader, learning, using and mastering the few rules set out in this book will make the Scriptures live in a new way.
For those who listen, it can mean a new understanding of the Bible and a desire to read it for themselves.
THE HEART OF THE MATTER IN READING ALOUD IS
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU READ
TO SOUND NATURAL and
TO MAKE THE MEANING CLEAR.When words are spoken, the meaning is not in the words alone, but in
THE EMPHASIS
THE PHRASING and
THE EXPRESSION given to those words.”
In addition to writing on the subject, Clifford Warne gave many talks and lectures. Three, in particular, were often distributed on cassette tape.
Thanks to Russell Powell at Anglican Media Sydney, three key recordings are once again available and are wonderful resources for individuals and churches.
They are –
The art of reading the Bible aloud.
A storyteller’s secrets.
How to hold an audience.
They are all accessible from this page at SydneyAnglicans.net.
We can be thankful for excellent Bible reading in churches – Let’s help all who read do it well!
Spiritual Conflict
“In his Screwtape Letters CS Lewis observes that there are two equal and opposite errors that people fall into regarding the dark powers. One mistake is to disbelieve in their existence; the other is to believe in them to excess.
In Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10 through 12, Paul the Apostle writes:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power… For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places…
Paul takes the reality of conflict in the world to another level…”
– John Mason urges us to see what we need in the struggle against the cosmic powers of this present darkness.
Be radical and read the Bible
From Murray Campbell in Melbourne:
“A challenge if you live in Melbourne. A challenge no matter your age, and especially if you’re part of Generation Z
Be radical and read the Bible!
Check out the latest on ‘Tomorrow’s Melbourne’ and how an upsurge of Bible reading in the UK could help us take the Bible more seriously here in Melbourne.”
– That’s the theme of his latest ‘Tomorrow’s Melbourne’ video.
Living and Leading in the Way of the Cross — Don Carson
From The Gospel Coalition’s Carson Center Podcast –
“In this lecture [from 1 Corinthians chapter 4], Don Carson emphasises the role of Christian leaders as servants of Christ and the importance of faithfulness, humility, and integrity in their leadership.
Carson urges Christian leaders to avoid pride, remain accountable to God, and uphold the way of the cross in their lives.
Carson stresses the importance of discipline and the need for leaders to serve as models of Christlikeness within the church and community.
He teaches the following:
- The need for Christian leaders to be seen as servants of Christ
- The importance of proving faithful to the trust given by Christ
- The need for Christian leaders to avoid pride and boasting
- How Christian leadership involves being entrusted with the mysteries of God and serving Christ, not just the church
- The differences between Christian leadership and worldly leadership
- The importance of accountability structures in the church
- The qualifications and responsibilities of Christian leaders
- Why Christian leaders must prove faithful to the One who has entrusted them with their fundamental tasks.”
– Listen here.
Photo: Don Carson at the Next Level Conference in 2016.
Church Society Podcast: George Whitefield
The latest Church Society podcast:
“Ros Clarke and Lee Gatiss talk about the controversial and brilliant George Whitefield.”
– Listen here.
Certainty4Eternity Podcast Episode 1 – Mark’s Testimony & Rayne’s Experience
Here’s a new podcast from Certainty4Eternity:
“Welcome to the first episode of Certainty4Eternity: The Podcast for Youth– a new series where Rayne Orange and Mark Gilbert dive into real, respectful conversations about Catholicism, Protestantism, and everything in between.
In this episode, we explore:
• Mark’s journey from Catholic schoolboy to Protestant minister.
• What it was like growing up Catholic in Australia
• Rayne’s experience in Catholic schools in rural Canada
• How Protestants and Catholics can have better, gospel-focused conversations
• Why understanding worldview is key to meaningful dialogue.
Whether you’re Catholic, Protestant, or just curious — this show offers a space for thoughtful, gracious discussion rooted in faith and Scripture.”
– Watch here.
Knowledge, Nakedness & Shame: Sex and Gender in and out of the garden — with Rob Smith
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“We’re digging deep into the Bible’s teaching on sex and gender – inside and outside the Garden of Eden.
We’re asking foundational questions: Was humanity created androgynous? Does Genesis allow for more than two sexes? Is sexual difference a core part of the imago Dei? What does it mean that the man and woman were naked and felt no shame?
Dr Rob Smith lectures at Sydney Missionary and Bible College and serves with Living Faith, a pastoral ministry of the Sydney Anglican Church caring for those navigating same-sex attraction or gender incongruence.
Rob is the author of a new book The Body God Gives.”
Parents and Children — A care greater than any legislation could mandate.
From Phillip Jensen:
“In Australia, the birth rate has dropped to below 1.5 children per woman. This is the lowest birth rate we have ever had and is clearly below the 2.1 children per mother necessary to maintain the population. How important is it to have children? Does marriage necessitate children? Is marriage itself necessary? In the special creation of woman in Chapter 2 of Genesis, the subject of parenthood is immediately raised.
Peter and I are canvassing some of the issues of parenthood in this episode of Two Ways News.”
– Listen here.
Can’t Catholics and Protestants just Agree?
“Mark Gilbert and Leonardo De Chirico have edited an incisive series of essays in The Nicene Creed: The Nature of Christian Unity and the Meaning of Gospel Words.
These essays respectfully seek to illuminate the fundamental difference between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism with the Nicene Creed as the backdrop for analysis. …
The book demonstrates that even if we nominally can agree with the Nicene Creed, the disagreements between Catholics and Protestants are significant enough for us to recognise that we are worshiping different Gods, in different ways, with fundamentally different views on what it means to relate to that God.”
– The Gospel Coalition Australia, Kamal Weerakoon reviews the new book edited by Mark Gilbert and Leonardo De Chirico.
“The book is not only polemical. It sets out the proper, Biblical, and Protestant view of the creed: Trinitarian monotheism, one God in three persons as the universal creator and redeemer; the full and eternal deity of Christ; Jesus’ true union with humanity; the completeness of his penal substitutionary atonement; his authority to judge; justification by faith alone; assurance of salvation; etc.”
Christian Songwriting: A Conversation with Greg Cooper
At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Mikey Lynch interviews Greg Cooper in Melbourne.
Many will remember Greg as a member of Garage Hymnal and his beautiful songs such as ‘Hear our Prayer’.
“This extended interview is in two parts. First, Mikey discusses general principles with Greg about congregational songwriting, personal songwriting and the place of art and beauty in the Christian life. Second, Greg breaks down the composition and recording of one song—’The Same God’—in detail, drawing out general songwriting principles along the way.’”
– Listen here.
Preaching to Men
David Cook:
“This year I have been preaching at Mens’ days at churches here in Sydney.
Domestic violence is dominated by men; there is growing focus on ‘toxic’ men’s culture; suicide rates are dominated by men at a rate of 3 to 1; mens’ mental health is an area of growing need. Men and true masculinity are under pressure.
Male models, patterning healthy masculinity are scarce in our schools and single parent families are mostly mothered families.
Two areas needing special attention are:
How can I be a better man?
Where can I find purpose and meaning in life?
In every Gideon’s Bible, the ‘Where to look when..’ page is dominated by references to …”
– At The Expository Preaching Trust, David Cook writes about true manhood, purpose and meaning in life.
Image: A 2024 photo of Armidale’s Bishop Rod Chiswell with David Cook.
Humility and Peace: the relationship between the Bible and science
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“There are understandings/interpretations of the Bible that conflict with the conclusions of modern, empirical research – where science and the Bible are thought to be giving competing explanations of the same event or concept.
One way of reading the Bible leads to the conclusion that the Earth is 6000 years old while your local science department will tell you it is more like 4.5 billion years old.
Were human beings created in an instant from dust, or over billions of years through a gradual, meandering evolutionary process?
Was there a moment in our historical timeline at the curse of God on the sin of Adam and Eve when the physical nature of our universe changed?
Were there no volcanoes or earthquakes or floods or bushfires before the curse, or has the universe operated on the same physical principles since its creation, as the conclusions of mainstream geology and astronomy suggest?
Dr Lewis Jones is an astrophysicist from North Carolina, who moved to Sydney to do post doctoral research. Lewis is now director of the Simeon Network, the postgraduate and academic arm of the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students.”
Men and Women: Re-thinking the reality, role and differences.
From Phillip Jensen at Two Ways News:
“As we come to the end of Genesis Chapter 2, we open up some of the biggest topics for debate, happiness and unhappiness in humanity today. Re-thinking marriage has been part of our social dialogue since the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s. Re-thinking the reality and role of men and women, their sexual differences and similarities has caused great turmoil in society.
I’m sure you will find our discussion in this episode gives more food for thought and ammunition for debate.”
– Hear the latest illuminating chat with Phillip and Peter Jensen.
Thinking about the Occult — Church Society podcast
In the latest Church Society podcast, Tony Cannon asks Kirsten Birkett about the dangers and fascination of the occult, and what the Bible says about it.
Biblical and pastorally helpful.
31 minutes.
The Bible’s guide to time travel
“Time is a funny thing. It goes too fast. Then too slow. We want it to stand still and then wish it didn’t. We love losing track of it but incessantly strive to find it. There are few things more frustrating and difficult than running out of time or wasting it. We just can’t seem to get it right!
Why does time so often feel out of joint? …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Annabel Nixey begins a short series for time travellers.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…