J I Packer blows the whistle

Dr J I Packer:

“In the sixteenth and seventeen centuries, the Reformers – the Puritans – the evangelicals, seemed to know their Bible backwards. They could quote it, appropriately, and apply it, in relation to just anything that came up in conversation. We simply aren’t like that. And yet we think we’re being loyal to the Reformational heritage. I want to blow the whistle here.”

On this week’s White Horse Inn broadcast (‘Grounded in the Gospel’, February 28 2010), J.I. Packer and Gary Parrett, discuss their soon-to-be-published book Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old Fashioned Way.

The challenge to us is – Are we actually catechising the people in our churches?

Worth listening, and then prayerfully considering what to do. (Image: Anglican TV.)

Wired for Intimacy

Tim Challies reviews Wired for Intimacy.

“Much has been written in recent years about pornography. But new to store shelves is a book that is different from all the others, at least all of the other books targeted at a Christian audience. William Struthers’ Wired for Intimacy looks not primarily to the heart but to the brain. He shows how the male brain is hard-wired for intimacy and relationships and how pornography affects the male brain…

Wired for Intimacy is a book we need. With pornography increasingly reaching epidemic proportions, this book helps us understand it at a whole new level. And it calls us to deal with human sexuality in a way that acknowledges all of its dimensions—moral, ethical, psychological, spiritual and physical. I give Wired for Intimacy my highest recommendation.”

– The book is not widely available in Australia just yet, but Moore Books has some copies for $22.95.

Related:
Review by Albert Mohler.
‘Anti porn posters and DVDs’ – Eternity newspaper on the coming poster campaign from Outreach Media.

Depth and Weight: Augustine’s Sermon Illustration

“Augustine suggests that Paul is like a loving father who breaks open the nuts for his children to eat—his teaching is the nut cracker that unlocks scripture’s mysteries. Augustine’s appreciation of Scripture’s depth was the foundation of his theological approach to sermon illustration…”

– In this article from Churchman, Spring 2008, republished online by Church Society, Peter Sanlon argues that preachers need to be a lot more thoughtful in their sermon illustrations. Worth reading (PDF file).

Albert Mohler: Developing a Christian response to Islam

Last week, Dr Albert Mohler spoke at Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky, on ‘Developing a Christian Response to the Challenge of Islam’.

The very helpful and informative 71 minute talk is available from the iTunes Sojourn Church podcast – link here. (Photo by Chuck Heeke, h/t Justin Taylor.)

Building Healthy Churches: 9 Marks in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Last week, Mark Dever, Mike Gilbart-Smith and Colin Adams (who runs Unashamed Workman), spoke at the 9Marks Conference in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

The audio has been posted online and will be there for 60 days.

Last weekend, Mark Dever spoke at another 9Marks conference – this one in Scotland. That audio is now online on the website of Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh.

Encouragement from Psalm 41

Allan Blanch, an Emeritus Vice-president of the ACL, and who served as Rector in the parishes of Broadway, Beecroft and St. Philip’s York Street, recently preached at St. Paul’s Lithgow on Psalm 41.

Most edifying. Listen here.

Good Book sale

The Good Book Company (through their Australian distributor Reformers’ Bookshop) has a sale on some helpful resources until the end of March. Worth having a look.

Lots of other useful material at regular prices too.
(This is an unsolicited plug.)

Carson at Moore on Christ and Culture

Don Carson spoke at Moore College in April 2008 – and his talks on ‘Christ and Culture’ are now available on the MTC website. (h/t Justin Taylor)

Ridley Preaching Conference 2009

Looking for encouragement in preaching?

Kanishka Raffel, David Jackman and Peter Adam spoke at last year’s Ridley Preaching Conference in Melbourne. You can hear the talks at the Ridley website.

Make the most of Easter 2010

It may be 2010, but many Sydney churches are continuing Connect09 as Connect for Life.

Whatever you call it, there are still plenty of resources to help churches share the gospel.

Christine Semple in the Connect for Life office has some suggestions. (Click the image at left to get the new logo.)

Dick Lucas on Preaching

In November 2006, Dick Lucas gave the third annual Charles Simeon Sermons on preaching at Taylor University in Indiana.

As always, Dick Lucas’ sermons are encouraging and challenging – especially for those with the enormous privilege and weighty responsibility of preaching.

Here are direct links to the mp3 files –

1. The School of Christ
2. Truth Worth Knowing
3. Through a Glass Darkly
4. That People May Know
5. God’s Knowledge of Us!

Video of some of the talks is also available on the Chapel archive page.

Why Theology?

Here’s a two minute video that could be used in church. It was created as part of a short film competition related to John Harris’ new book Dug Down Deep.