Everyone needs (to be) a mother

“When someone becomes a parent – whether to biological, adopted or fostered children – it means, among other things, that they have the privilege and responsibility of teaching that child about God. Because God has revealed himself in the Bible, it means teaching their child God’s word and modelling to them what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus Christ. The child’s parents are primarily responsible for this teaching and modelling (Prov 1:8-9; Eph 6:1-4).

Yet the gospel is also taught and modelled by members of the church family more generally. …”

– As Mother’s Day approaches, The Australian Church Record team have dug into their archives to hear again from Jane Tooher on what it means to be a spiritual mother.

In Praise of Mothers

From Phillip Jensen:

“Motherhood and apple pie is no longer the foundation of Western civilisation. Apple pie is still pretty important, but motherhood has now been challenged. Peter and I had the privilege of the same mother, whom we loved and admired, and remember with great fondness. Yet the kind of family life in which we were raised has undergone considerable change during our lifetime. Mother’s Day brings us to reconsider family life.”

– Phillip and Peter Jensen discuss mothers and family life in the latest Two Ways News podcast.

Was Pope Francis a ‘gospel man’?

“Throughout my life, and during my ministry as a priest and bishop, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. … I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I would always stop to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey, confidently entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother, and giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care.” (Santa Marta, Vatican City, 29 June 2022)

These are the words contained in Pope Francis’ testament where he outlines his last wishes. His deep devotion to Mary is pervasive and profound.

On one hand, there is no surprise …

– At The Australian Church Record, Leonardo De Chirico takes a look at what Pope Francis said was most important to him.

John Piper asks ChatGPT to write a Prayer

Tim Challies shares:

“This is just a short clip from the TGC conference, but I think it’s helpful.

Piper shares a prayer ChatGPT wrote and explains why it would be appalling to pray it.”

– Watch the two and a half minute video here.

Australian Church Record Journal — Easter 2025

The latest issue of The Australian Church Record Journal is now available for you to download –

“Dear friends,

At Easter, we’re reminded of the central task of preaching the gospel—God’s message about Jesus for his glory and our salvation. But this isn’t just a seasonal call; as Paul charged Timothy, preaching is an ongoing task, in season and out (2 Tim 4:2).

In this edition of the ACR, we focus on the preaching task with:

• Survey results from Sydney Anglican rectors on Sunday preaching frequency
• Reflections by Charles Cleworth on the survey and the biblical call to preach
• Nathan Walter on the necessity of expository preaching
• James Russell’s essay on John Stott’s influence on Sydney preaching
• An interview with Alistair Begg on his preaching ministry
• Historical insights on J. C. Ryle by Andrew Atherstone
• The continuation of a discussion between Andrew Heard and Lionel Windsor
• A thought-provoking piece by Seumas Macdonald on a theology of church decline
• Plus, book reviews, interviews with Dave Jensen and Jeanette Chin, and more.

We hope this edition encourages and equips you to keep preaching the word faithfully.

God bless,
Mike Leite
Editorial Director, ACR.”

– Download your copy – and do share the link with others.

King’s Birthday Conference 2025

Two Ways Ministries’ 2025 King’s Birthday Conference is coming up at Moore College on Monday 9th June.

“From Feminism to motherhood, from animal rights to toxic masculinity, from racism to euthanasia, Australia is in an ethical turmoil on many issues. Christians often feel in the crossfire of these culture wars. Do Christian ethics apply to non-Christians?

This year at the King’s Birthday Conference, Phillip Jensen is going to look at how becoming a Christian takes us back to the universal morality of Creation.”

– See the details, and register.

The Pope and how we are right with God — Rachel Ciano and Leonardo de Chirico

From The Pastor’s Heart – a special programme:

“The death of Pope Francis marks a pivotal moment for Roman Catholics.

What does this transition mean for the future of Catholicism and how should Protestants respond?

… Francis’s final public act—granting indulgences during Easter—epitomises the theological chasm between Catholic and Protestant understandings of salvation.

His distinctive Marian devotion and frequent requests for prayers further highlight fundamental differences in how salvation is understood. …

Leonardo di Chirico is pastor of the Church Brecca di Roma and director of the Reformanda Initiative.

Rachel Ciano lectures in Christianity and History at Sydney Missionary and Bible College, and is part of the faculty at the Rome Scholars and Leaders Network, hosted by The Reformanda Initiative.”

– Watch or listen here.

The Failure of Resurrection Apologetics What exactly do we believe in?

From Phillip Jensen:

“In this episode of Two Ways News, we’re looking at the resurrection both from a historical and a theological point of view.

History and argumentation have great merit, and yet a defective presupposition that leaves us unsatisfied. Yet prophetic history not only satisfies our knowledge of historical events but also explains their meaning and purpose. Jesus said that without Moses and the prophets, people will not believe even if someone rises from the dead. This has been demonstrated over the centuries and in our age today. …”

– Peter and Phillip Jensen discuss the meaning of the Resurrection.

Where is Jesus now? And what is he doing?

“At Easter Christians all over the world repeat the joyous affirmation of faith: ‘Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.’ But then comes the question: ‘OK, he is risen. So where is he then? And it’s not just the question of an inquisitive child, it should be a question for every adult and for every Christian too.

The Apostles’ Creed tells us:

On the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

So, Jesus is in heaven. But where is that and what does it mean that he ‘ascended’? It’s not just non-Christians who regard this as somewhat fanciful; many Christians struggle with this idea too. …”

– David Robertson writes at AP, the Presbyterian online journal.

Theology in the Margins – Donald Robinson Library Lecture with Mark Earngey

A fascinating and fun Donald Robinson Library Lecture from Moore College a few weeks ago:

“In Theology in the Margins, Mark Earngey, Head of Church History, will be considering how the notes and drawings in the margins of the personal Bibles of the English Reformers can encourage us today to grow our understanding and outworking of God’s word.

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer’s prayer for the second Sunday in Advent asks God to help us read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the holy Scriptures.

Christians today may be familiar with reading the Bible and learning from God’s Word. But what was the significance of physically marking God’s Word?

This lecture will illuminate how and why some of the English Reformers engaged with their own personal Bibles and will draw some conclusions for modern readers of the Bible who may want to learn from the models provided by our sixteenth-century forebears.”

– Watch and be encouraged.

The Best Friday

From Phillip Jensen:

“Holidays are always marvellous opportunities to relax and catch up with friends, but the Easter holiday is even better because it gives us time to think about the greatest weekend in human history: when our Lord and Saviour died and rose again. The death of Jesus was so great that I would call Friday not just good, but the best Friday.”

– Hear Phillip and Peter Jensen in the latest Two Ways News podcast. Well worth listening and sharing.

The Image of God Reconsidered — Two Ways News podcast

From Phillip Jensen:

“One of the most profound and widely quoted verses of the Bible is the creation of Man in the image of God. So, this week Peter and I went exploring some of its implications. It is such a fruitful concept by which to understand humanity, not the least because in the New Testament we find Jesus is “the image of the invisible God”. But before we get there, we need to understand how we are as individuals, male and female, in the image of God as well as how humanity, as a whole, is in his image.

There’s so much fruitful discussion to be had on this passage, we hope our conversation will stimulate yours. …”

– Listen (or read the transcript) here.

What and Who are Humans?

From Phillip Jensen:

“As we look at Genesis 1, we come to a great climax in the creation of humans in God’s Image.

More bottles of ink have been spilled over this phrase than possibly any phrase in the Bible. What is the image of God? In what way are we in the image of God? What are humans and who are we?

The questions go on and on. Yet this teaching of Genesis 1 has stood the test of time in identifying God’s universal identity and value of humans.”

– Listen to the latest Two Ways News podcast with Phillip and Peter Jensen.

The Goodness of God — Two Ways News

From Phillip Jensen:

“‘Good’ is such a strange word. We all know what we mean by it, but it is so difficult to define. So when God declares his creation to be ‘good, very good’ what is he saying? Is the world itself good or simply pleasing? And if it is good, what is it good for?

In this week’s Two Ways News, Peter and I venture into the meaning of God calling the world good and the implications that has for living in this world and the next.”

– Listen (or read the transcript) here.

Words and Relationships

Phillip Jensen writes:

“On Peter’s recovery, I thought it would be good to hear his views on the topic of words and power that Genesis 1 so importantly illustrates. So, we return to the topic of words and see how they create and operate in relationships. This brings us to how they are distorted and politicised by suspicious people.

I’m sure you will appreciate coming back to the two voice podcast as Peter and I struggle through this important and highly contemporary issue of words.”

– Listen to the latest Two Ways News podcast here.

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