Revelations!

David Cook shares several observations from the UK while he and Maxine are on a trip there –

“A vast untapped resource seems to be being tapped very effectively here.

Figtree Anglican run an annual Grandparents’ Day and the Armidale Anglican Diocese began a Next Phase conference this year, but mobilising retirees for productive Kingdom service has gone to another level here.

Conferences on ‘Faith in the second half’, deal with issues like transition to retirement, from caring to being cared for and from life to death as well how to serve well in the church and to succeeding generations in our older years, seems to be meeting a real need (faithinlaterlife.org). …”

– Read his observations at The Expository Preaching Trust.

Next Phase Conference in Armidale.

Meditations from Psalm 19 by John Yates III

At Anglican Connection in the USA, John Mason writes,

“Last year the Anglican Connection held an online conference addressing the theme, ‘The Unchanging God in a World of Change’. As the Bible provides timeless answers to questions about life various speakers brought us reflections on the Scriptures to help us learn of God and the world in which we live.

Dr. John Yates, Senior Minister of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Raleigh, NC, gave us two meditations on Psalm 19.”

– Read his two reflections here and here.

Many will remember that Dr Yates spoke at the NSW CMS Summer School at Katoomba in 2015. While at Katoomba he recorded this interview with David Ould.

Phillip Jensen Podcast

From PhillipJensen.com and Two Ways Ministries:

“This new podcast from Phillip features sermons, talks, and other resources which proclaim the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through teaching people the Bible. We exist to equip followers of Christ to apply a Biblical knowledge to their priorities and practice to live boldly and single-mindedly for Christ.”

Much food for thought. A very worthwhile way to spend some time.

There’s a new episode every week or so.

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts, and on the website.

Evangelism through making Christianity Strange

“Is secularism all bad? Does it always have to mean an increasing hostility to Christianity and resistance to the gospel?

Maybe not. One possibility is that it might be (at least partly) a blessing in disguise. As Perth minister Rory Shiner put it a few years back:

People are so post-Christian that the gospel is fresh and interesting. They know so little that there’s less prejudice. And if they have an impression of Christians at all, it’s so outrageously negative that all you have to do is offer them a cup of tea and not punch them in the face, and you seem like Mother Theresa.

In The World Next Door: A Short Guide to the Christian faith, Shiner and Peter Orr (NT lecturer at Moore College) have turned this theory into a book; a book that celebrates the weirdness of Christianity; a book that aims to intrigue and surprise non-Christians as much as explain, challenge and persuade.”

– At The Australian Church Record, Andrew Moody introduces The World Next Door by Rory Shiner and Peter Orr.

The book is published by Matthias Media.

How do you find a good church?

In the latest Q&A video from Moore College, Lionel Windsor, Jane Tooher, Dan Wu, and Chase Kuhn talk about church. Good to share and to provoke discussion.

The trans culture wars vs lovingly pastoring gender incongruent church members – with Rob Smith

At The Pastor’s Heart:

“Sydney Missionary and Bible College Doctrine Lecturer Rob Smith submits his PhD this week on ‘Identity and Embodiment’ asking ‘How significant is our embodiment to our identity? How significant are our bodies to our gender identity?

There’s a new Matt Walsh Daily Wire documentary ‘What is a woman?’ that is causing a stir across the world. We ask Rob ‘What is a woman?’ and for his review of the new Matt Walsh documentary. Plus how do we best care pastorally for the gender incongruent church member.

Dominic Steele chairs the Sydney Anglican pastoral ministry Living Faith. Rob is a member of the Living Faith Council. Living Faith’s ‘Developing Discipleship in Identity and Gender’ with Sam Allberry and Rob Smith is scheduled for Tuesday 2 August 2022. Register at http://www.livingfaith.online.”

– Watch or listen here. Very helpful.

What I learned from 35 years of running evangelistic courses

“In the 1980s the thinking was that, given the reduced level of biblical literacy, non-believers needed more than a one-off presentation to properly appreciate the gospel. Perhaps in the 1950s, when non-believers still had a fairly good Bible knowledge, a one-off presentation could be effective. …

Things have moved on since the 1980s.”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Stephen Liggins points to the different context in which we share the gospel today – as well as some ideas which may help.

Old Books

At the Church Society website, Chris Moore and Lee Gatiss discuss why we should continue to read ‘old books’.

How do we deal with anxiety in the Christian life – with Paul Grimmond

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“‘Do not be anxious about anything’ says the Apostle Paul. But Paul Grimmond says saying that to an anxious person is a bit like telling an ice-cream not to melt in summer. How do we think biblically about anxiety while taking on board what else is happening with a person’s biology and environment?…”

– Watch or listen here.

Suffering – Moore Q&A Video

“What does the Bible have to say about suffering?

A Q&A with me & my Moore College colleagues Jane Tooher, Dan Wu, and Chase Kuhn.”

– Lionel Windsor writes at Forget the Channel.

Speaking Appropriately

“Rev. Thomas Scott was a clueless Anglican minister located near to Olney, where John Newton pastored.

Scott was clearly not a Christian as this stage, and in 1775 had said that God would not condemn a sincere Socinian (one who only believed that Jesus was a great man). In reply, Newton pointed to Matthew 7:7-8 and John 7:16-17.

Scott was spoiling for a fight, but Newton replied with great patience and kindness to him, and by 1758 Scott was attending Newton’s mid-week meetings, and writing The Force of Truth, which is the story of his conversion. …”

– Peter Barnes, Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, has some wise words concerning our speech.

The problem with ‘You be You’ – with Brian Rosner

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“‘You be you.’ It’s the catch cry of a generation. But Brian Rosner says it’s also the new definition of sin. Many people today believe that there’s only one place to look to find yourself and that’s inward. Personal identity has become a ‘Do it yourself Project’. This strategy of identity formation is sometimes called Expressive Individualism. The view that you are who you feel yourself to be on the inside, and that acting in accordance with this identity is living authentically.

The Principal of Melbourne’s Ridley Theological College Brian Rosner has super helpful critique in his new book, ‘How to find yourself: Why looking inwards is not the answer.’ Dr Rosner joins us this week on The Pastor’s Heart.”

– Watch or listen here.