Psalm 23:1-6. When fear goes viral, the gospel and COVID-19

A very helpful sermon from William Taylor at the Tuesday lunchtime service St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London.

Great to pass on the link to others.

Dr. Charlotte Hespe — What you must know about COVID-19

See this video, one from the Archbishop, and additional helpful information at the Sydney Diocese webpage on COVID-19.

Sydney Diocese launches COVID-19 webpage

The Diocese of Sydney has just launched a dedicated web-page for resources about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initially, there’s this encouraging message from Archbishop Glenn Davies, and a very informative video from Dr. Charlotte Hespe.

There are Frequently Asked Questions and links to helpful resources.

Bookmark it and see what’s there.

Isolation and Christian Love – with Dan Wu

Lionel Windsor spoke with his colleague at Moore College, Dan Wu, thinking about how Christians might display love towards others in an age of necessary isolation.

Watch at the link.

When available, Dan’s sermon would be on this page.
The ‘Join the Windsor Family for dinner” video is here.

‘Living with Uncertainty…’

“With concerns over the rapid spread of the coronavirus, the panic-buying of toilet paper that seems to have started in Australia, has now gone global. Apparently this panic buying signifies a human desire to be in control.

The reality of course, is that no one, for the present at least, seems to be truly able to control the spread of this virus. It is infectious and potentially deadly – especially for the older generation.

The reality is that it points us to something that we generally don’t want to discuss – the transient nature and fragility of life. …”

– At The Anglican Connection, John Mason reflects on Colossians 3:1.

Leading your church through the COVID-19 crisis – with the pastor, doctor & bishop

On today’s interview from The Pastor’s Heart:

Leading your church in the corona era with Pastor Eugene Hor, Bishop Gary Koo and Dr Irmgard Pascoe –

What do we make of the virus?

David Cook shares a Biblical perspective through the lens of the Book of Proverbs:

“We embrace humanity with love, we seek to relieve, be surprisingly creative in our acts of kindness, but our greatest purpose is to call on people to listen, repent and believe and so through Jesus have hope of a new creation to come.”

Read below:

Today I returned from overseas and I am self isolating for 14 days.

What do we make of this coronavirus?

I have been preparing a series on Proverbs and Solomon has much to say about what is going on.

The Bible’s wisdom writers are concerned to show us how we are to harmonise with reality.

Dick Lucas says that the aim of Proverbs is to help the young to keep from making fools of themselves in life, another preacher says that Proverbs is a directory of godly conduct.

In Chapter 1, King Solomon introduces the book by telling us in v.1-7, what the book will do for us; who it is for; and how to enter it, by ‘fearing the Lord’.

Then in v.8-19, he tells us there are always two voices in life, the voice of reality and the voice of deceit. In this case the realist is the parent urging the son not to join his peer group, ‘my son do not walk in the way with them’, v.15, and the voice of deceit, is that of the criminal gang, ‘come with us, let us lie in wait for blood’, v.11.

At v. 20-33, Solomon tells us history’s biggest lesson. There are always two voices in life, the voice of God and the voice of the serpent, the voice of reality and the voice of deceit.

The great lesson of history is that whenever God speaks, and is ignored, catastrophe results! It’s a lesson as old as Adam.

Proverbs 1:31 records this passive judgement of God on our deafness, ‘they shall eat the fruit of their way and have their fill of their own schemes’. This judgement is now being revealed, according to Paul, in Romans 1, God gives them over to the fruit of their schemes in Romans 1:24,26,28.

The world we live in is the world into which Adam and Eve were expelled, the world of pain, frustration and death, and is the fruit of their failure to listen to God.

This virus is part of that world and is God’s judgement on us all, and my isolation is a part of that judgement and a reminder of human stubbornness.

In Proverbs 1, Wisdom cries out, raises her voice and speaks and she does so in the main streets and malls. She is freely available, yet humanity refuses to listen, ignores and does not heed.

God personally teaches us this lesson, see His use of the third person pronoun, ‘they hated knowledge… they shall eat the fruit’, v.29-31.

God’s wisdom is our greatest treasure and yet we have become too cool, too self assured, too sophisticated to hear it. Many will be addressed but only some will listen and they will ‘dwell secure and be at ease without dread of disaster’, v.33.

This period of isolation, this pandemic, is a further clarion call to us to harmonise with the reality of our greatest treasure, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus and his word of wisdom.

We embrace humanity with love, we seek to relieve, be surprisingly creative in our acts of kindness, but our greatest purpose is to call on people to listen, repent and believe and so through Jesus have hope of a new creation to come.

‘For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster’. Proverbs 1:32-33.

(David Cook has served as Principal of SMBC and also as Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia as well as in parish ministry. Photo courtesy St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)

One concrete thing all churches should be doing right now

“At this moment, we are – understandably – being flooded with information and reflections about the coronavirus. There is much helpful stuff for Christians to read, but I fear that one of the most obvious and critical things has not yet gotten much attention. …

If coronavirus is particularly dangerous to older people …”

– Tim Patrick, Principal of the Bible College of South Australia, makes a very important point which should not be overlooked.

Sydney Diocese COVID-19 Update Tuesday 17 March

“Archbishop Glenn Davies has warned of the seriousness of the situation facing Sydney Diocese in coming months, saying further advice will be forthcoming from the Diocese’s COVID-19 Task Force. …

Bishop Gary Koo, the Bishop of Western Sydney who formerly practised as a doctor, is chairing the COVID-19 Task Force for the diocese.”

– from SydneyAnglicans.net.

A New Normal that isn’t Normal at all: The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Humbling of a Civilization

In his daily Briefing, Albert Mohler speaks about what is happening in the USA and around the world with the COVID-19 Pandemic.

He also references this:

“Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.” – Center of Disease Control and Prevention, USA.

This essay by Dr Mohler has now been published:

The Humbling of Civilization: Praying for the Mercy of God.

Related:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia – current data.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) health alert – Australian Department of Health.

Dick Lucas and The Proclamation Trust

Here’s an encouraging and enlightening video about the origins of The Proclamation Trust.

Thinking about live-streaming church services on the cheap?

Here’s one simple resource.

Here’s another page with further ideas.

And another.

(Of course, ministers may prefer to pre-record sermons, rather than livestream a sermon in an almost-empty building.)

See also:

Christian: speak the gospel… online – Lionel Windsor.

Finding security in an insecure world

“A year ago today, the brutal terror attacks on a Christchurch Mosque gave rise to shock, fear, and deep insecurity in our world.

One year later, as efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic ramp up, we are yet again faced with the reality of how fragile and uncertain our lives and communities are. And we are, yet again, faced with the question of security.

I wrote the following reflection on security following the Christchurch shootings, but it is equally relevant to our current situation. …”

– Dr Lionel Windsor at Moore College calls Christians to know the rock-solid security they have in Christ.

Prayer for the Coronavirus response

The Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, has written a prayer you may find helpful:

Sovereign Lord, you are the hope and healer of your people and have promised a world where there is no more sickness or crying or death.

By your death and resurrection you have set your people free from the penalty of sin and death.

We pray your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Please prosper the work of those who are seeking a vaccine for the coronavirus, please strengthen those who are treating the sick, please comfort those who are mourning the loss of loved ones or living in fear of this disease.

Please give to governing authorities wisdom in their management of this crisis, and give to your people your peace beyond understanding, generous and wise hearts and a renewed trust in your sovereign goodness and glory.

Turn the hearts of many now experiencing fear and anxiety that they they may find that peace which is the fruit of the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray, Amen.

Thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net for publishing this in a post about advice to churches.

Joy

Joy may seem to be a strange idea when so many are feeling uncertainty and fear.

Incoming Principal of Mary Andrews College, Rev Dr Katy Smith, writes one of Church Society’s Lent devotions:

“Walking onto the veranda of our church building, I see Kay standing by the entrance door smiling with genuine interest as she talks to another beside her. I smile to both ladies as I head towards the door, but Kay stops me to ask for a brief update about a particular ministry matter. I see a brightness and keenness as she listens and then responds, ‘I’ll continue praying.’

There is nothing extraordinary about this meeting, except that as I walk into the hall, I find myself thankful for her, with tears in my eyes. …”

– Read it here.

There are other contributions from Australian friends (some already published, some still to come – including Claire Smith and Kanishka Raffel) listed on the Church Society’s ‘The Blessed Life’ page.

← Previous Page — Next Page →