Do we need to Contextualise our Preaching?
Do we need to Contextualise our Preaching?
In the latest Preaching Matters video from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, William Taylor addresses that question.
He argues that we need better communication, rather than contextualisation, because the gospel is relevant in every culture and context. Very helpful, as always.
There’s a great quote from Broughton Knox’s book “Everlasting God”.
J. I. Packer’s rare Puritan library digitised and available online
In one of the sad attempts to deal with faithful, Bible-believing clergy, in 2008, the then Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster issued a ‘notice of presumption of abandonment of the exercise of ministry’ to Dr J.I. Packer, and others.
As well as being a much-loved and respected theologian and preacher, Dr. Packer is a foremost Puritan historian.
“The John Richard Allison Library in Vancouver—which hosts the joint collections of Regent College and Carey Theological College—has now made available their entire rare Puritan collection to be read online for free. What a gift of modern technology to help us recover these gifts from the church of the past.
There are currently 80 Puritan authors in their collection, many of whose works were digitized from J. I. Packer’s private library.”
– Justin Taylor at the Gospel Coalition has a list of the titles and links to the digitised versions.
Prayer for the Primates’ Gathering
A good prayer to pray –
“Almighty God
to whom all will someday give an account;instil, we pray,
within the hearts of all Primates of the Anglican Communion,
a holy fear
that they may love you and your Word
more than the approval of men;this we ask through our only Mediator and Head of the Church,
Jesus Christ,
who evermore lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit.Amen.”
– from GAFCON.
Seven reasons not to gamble
“Managers don’t gamble with their Master’s money. All you have belongs to God. All of it. Faithful trustees may not gamble with a trust fund. They have no right.”
– at Desiring God, John Piper gives seven reasons Christians shouldn’t play the lotteries.
His reasons apply just as well to other forms of gambling – and to Australian Christians every bit as much as to our American friends.
See also:
“Buried in last week’s national accounts was the startling statistic that Australian punters bet a record $6.5 billion in the September quarter, equating to $1000 a year for every Australian.”
– Sydney Morning Herald, 07 December 2015.
“Looks like Australia is the gambling capital of the world, again.”
– Business Spectator, 07 February 2014.
Bible Reading Plans for 2016
The start of a new year is always a good time to recommit to reading and treasuring God’s Word.
The team at Ligonier Ministries have compiled a very useful list of plans you can use.
Related:
The One Must-Read this Year – John Piper.
Reading the whole Bible in 2016 – more plans and encouragement via Justin Taylor.
The Queen’s Christmas message 2015
Queen Elizabeth II has released her 2015 Christmas Message.
And you can also read the Christmas 2015 sermon from Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, preached at Canterbury Cathedral. In part, he says, –
“Today, across the Middle East, close to the area in which the angels announced God’s apocalypse, ISIS and others claim that this is the time of an apocalypse, an unveiling created of their own terrible ideas, one which is igniting a trail of fear, violence, hatred and determined oppression. Confident that these are the last days, using force and indescribable cruelty, they seem to welcome all opposition, certain that the warfare unleashed confirms that these are indeed the end times. They hate difference, whether it is Muslims who think differently, Yazidis or Christians, and because of them the Christians face elimination in the very region in which Christian faith began. This apocalypse is defined by themselves and heralded only by the angel of death.”
9Marks Journal on Missions: Adding Wisdom to Zeal
The latest issue of 9Marks Journal is up on their website, and is full of encouraging articles with headings like “Ways your church can get involved in Global Missions starting tomorrow”.
Going to a CMS Summer School? (Not going to a CMS Summer School?) Thinking about the year ahead? This will be a very worthwhile issue to read.
Should Evangelicals evolve on Homosexuality?
“While acceptance of homosexuality may be a growing trend among professing evangelicals, still the majority of evangelicals simply aren’t convinced. Evangelicals, for the most part, aren’t buying the arguments the ‘gay Christian movement’ is selling.
According to Rosaria, the leading merchant for the gay Christian movement is Matthew Vines. He believes it’s possible to practice homosexuality and genuinely profess Christianity…”
– At Desiring God, Phillip Holmes sits down for a coffee and chat with Rosaria Butterfield.
Read his article and watch both videos from the conversation.
Insightful comments on the nature and danger of sin.
Related: Human Sexuality and the ‘Same Sex Marriage’ Debate — a review.
Liberation Letter
“Nowhere is the chameleon-like character of Mormonism on display more than at Christmastime.
After a richly-orchestrated, pitch-perfect ‘O Holy Night,’ one of the Mormon ‘apostles’ is now preaching. He started out by awarding Luke a brief honorable mention for providing us an account of the Christmas story, but after dispensing with this lip service, he went on to ‘another record’ in The Book of Mormon. It was some of Joseph Smith’s make-believe about Samuel the Lamanite and the Nephites in America at the time of Jesus’ birth, etc., etc.
The blind leading the blind, and the ditch here that they’ve fallen into is lined with Christmas lights, yet it is horribly dark.”
– Tim Keesee of Frontline Missions shares his experiences of his trip to Salt Lake City, and also a letter of liberation from a former Mormon, now his sister in Christ.
See Tim’s photos here.
Related: Unveiling Grace: Wonderful news for Mormons.
Nexus 16 registration open
Registration for Nexus 16, on Monday May 23, 2016, is now open. Details here.
RefNet: 24/7 streaming audio
We mentioned this back in 2012. Here’s a reminder – stream it at your desk, on your phone, in your car…
Justin Taylor writes: “Ligonier Ministries is making available a resource that I hope spreads far and wide: a free, always-streaming, 24-hour Christian internet radio featuring solid biblical teaching and preaching.”
Can be streamed via a web browser or the RefNet iOS app. Worth checking out.
Do More Better: A practical guide to productivity
“Do More Better is the most clear and concise book on productivity I’ve read.”
– Andy Naselli reviews Tim Challies’ new book, Do More Better.
Oak Hill’s Commentary magazine Winter 2015
The Winter 2015 issue of Oak Hill’s Commentary magazine is now up on their website.
It’s available as a 19MB PDF file – or read it online.
You may have missed — 14 Dec 2015
Here are some recommended posts you may have missed:
Dick Lucas on the Letter to the Galatians (and a full English breakfast).
The Diocese of North West Australia’s December 2015 Northwest Network.
Peter Williams on ‘Does the Bible support slavery?’
Glen Scrivener’s new Christmas video you can use.
Charles Raven on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s upcoming Primates’ meeting.
Does the Bible support Slavery?
Dr. Peter Williams, Warden of Tyndale House in Cambridge, recently spoke at the Lanier Theological Library in Houston, Texas.
His topic: “Does the Bible support Slavery?”
The fascinating 57 minute address (followed by 18 minutes of questions) is well worth your time. You may be surprised by some of the conclusions he draws.
Watch it here. (Note that the HD video is just over 1GB in size.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…