Reformation 500 resources from Church Society
Check out these free resources from Church Society –
1.) Reformation 500 Resources –
“Church introductions, Sunday school material, school assemblies, youth groups and Light parties – we’ve got you covered! This comprehensive set of resources introduces key themes of the Reformation through three central figures:
Martin Luther: How can we be right with God?
William Tyndale: Why the Bible matters so much?
Thomas Cranmer: How can everyone hear the true gospel?
Experienced children’s and youth workers, Robin Barfield and Nathan Phillingham, have provided teaching material, introductions, games and crafts suitable for different ages and groups. There are also activity sheets by Chris Joyce. Leaders’ notes provide some background to the series and suggest further reading.
Church introductions give ways of introducing the key people and ideas of the Reformation to your whole congregation.
The Light Party materials include teaching, games and craft activities for a family party, suitable for either church or non-church families. These resources do not overlap with the Sunday school or other sets of resources, using different Reformers to tell other aspects of the story.”
2.) Reformation 500 Magazine –
“In place of our usual summer edition of Crossway, Church Society are pleased to publish this special Reformation 500 magazine.
Containing articles by two Church Society Council members, Dr Andrea Ruddick and Dr Kirsty Birkett, the magazine provides a thorough introduction to the Reformation.
Andrea’s article explores the medieval background to the events of the 16th century, while Kirsty identifies key figures of the Reformation era and explains their contribution to its revolutionary events and teaching.”
Downloadable PDF file at this link.
What it means to be a disciple
Tony Payne, co-author of The Vine Project, explains what it means to be a disciple and what it therefore means to make disciples – in this video posted at GoThereFor.com.
How to venerate a relic
“A relic of Mother Teresa (now Saint Teresa of Calcutta) – a drop of her blood – is being taken to Roman Catholic Churches throughout Ireland.
It has its own Facebook page where you can see it being venerated by crowds of people.
There’s also a video to tell you how to properly venerate it. The Reformation isn’t over!” – From Tim Challies.
Screenshot: The relic arriving in Newry Cathedral last weekend.
See also: Do Catholics and Protestants believe in the same Trinity? – by Mark Gilbert.
Head to Head about 1 Corinthians 11:3-16
“Chapter 11 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians … deals with what women wear on their heads. And to most of us, the issues he raises seem as foreign to us as hats at royal funerals and the experience of young Muslim women. Culturally, it is a world away.
So what do we make of 1 Corinthians 11 in this day and age? Is there anything in it for us as modern Christian women and men?”
– There’s been some unhelpful fuss lately about 1 Corinthians 11. Confused? To bring clarity, The Gospel Coalition Australia recently published this article by Dr. Claire Smith.
And, back in 2010, Kevin DeYoung wrote Why Complemegalitarian Doesn’t Work – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
Charlie Skrine on teaching the Book of Micah
From St. Helen’s in London:
“What is the mark of the Spirit-filled preacher?
How much time should preachers spend on Micah’s particular situation? What is it about the false prophets that makes for such compelling contemporary parallels when preached correctly? Where can we go with our application?
Who is God? What is he like? How would your friends describe the God you believe in and preach? Is he a god angry with sin? Does he forgive bad people?
Charlie Skrine raises these questions in this month’s Preaching Matters, from the book of Micah.”
– Watch here.
The Robinson-Knox view of Church — Interview with Chase Kuhn
“If you’ve grown up in Sydney Anglican churches chances are your understanding of what church is and what it’s for has been significantly shaped (perhaps unknowingly!) by two people – Donald W. B. Robinson and D. Broughton Knox.
However, no one has undertaken a systematic and extended articulation and appraisal of this approach to church …. until now – we chat to Moore College lecturer Chase Kuhn about his new book The Ecclesiology of Donald Robinson and D. Broughton Knox.”
– Read it all at The Australian Church Record.
Kirsty Birkett on Reformation Epistemology
“At this year’s St Antholin Lecture, Kirsty [Birkett] gave us a fascinating and insightful lecture about the impact of sin on the mind.
How is that fallen minds can know anything accurately, let alone a holy God? The Reformation brought not only reform of doctrine and Church but also how we think.”
– A Reformation resource from Church Society.
The Justification Summit
Coming up in Marcus Loane Hall at Moore College, 1:30pm – 5:00pm on Friday 26th May and 9:30am – 12:00pm on Saturday 27th May 2017 –
“Come along to an in depth look at the central doctrine of the Reformation, justification.
This afternoon and following morning event, held at Moore College, will reflect on the Reformation doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone, and how it bears upon our Christian life today.
Speakers include Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore College, Peter Orr, Will Timmins …
This event is FREE but we ask you to RSVP for catering purposes.”
Details of topics and speakers here.
Luther, his Friends and his Legacy
“Luther was a gregarious man. During his regime Wittenberg became thronged with people. Thousands flocked to Wittenberg to hear him preach (he preached 4000 times in thirty years). His home was effectively a combination of an inn and a lodging house. When he travelled from Wittenberg to Worms in 1521 he was greeted like a rock star from town to town. Wherever we see Luther, we see a man surrounded by people. …”
– Dr Paul Barnett shares some reflections on Dr Martin Luther, his friends, and his lasting legacy. (Photo via Aquila Press.)
“As it had been the face of an angel”
“The Christian ministry has never been for the faint of heart. The ministry, biblically defined, is combat duty in spiritual warfare. These graduates have been prepared to be front-line officers in that warfare. …
At every Southern Seminary graduation we remind one another of the great and essential fact that the Christian ministry is not a mere profession — it is a divine calling. The ministry is one of Christ’s gifts to his church. it is the most serious and joyous of all callings.
I think often of the venerable words of the old Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England for the ordering of the ministry. These words are spoken to new ministers of the Word:
‘You have heard, brethren, as well in your private examination, as in the exhortation which was now made to you, and in the holy Lessons taken out of the Gospel and the writings of the Apostles, of what dignity and of how great importance this office is, whereunto ye are called. …’ ”
– Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks at the Commencement of Ministry for this year’s SBTS graduates.
Duty to Die? — ‘Australian Presbyterian’ on Euthanasia
In the light of today’s news of a proposed “Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill” to come before NSW Parliament (ABC News story here), the current issue (Winter 2017) of Australian Presbyterian magazine is particularly timely as it addresses the issue of euthanasia.
Article 1: Opening Pandora’s Box. Why Christians must stand firm against euthanasia. An interview with Dr. Scott Rae.
Article 2: A bad move. By Moore College graduate Dr Neil Chambers.
(In addition, Marylynn Rouse from the John Newton Project reflects on John Newton’s experience of God’s amazing grace.)
The issue is available as a PDF file at this link.
Why do good works?
“The first question that arises when the Doctrine of Justification by faith only is clearly set forth is: What then is the place of good works in the Christian economy?”
– The Australian Church Record continues to republish Archdeacon T.C. Hammond’s thoughts on The Thirty Nine Articles.
Related: A city’s care, two ways – SydneyAnglicans.net.
Social change and gospel preaching
“How does a disciple-making agenda fit with the need for us to express our love for our neighbours through engagement in social action?
This interview between Kel Richards and Phillip Jensen is full of enormously helpful insights on this question, both for individuals and for churches. It is well worth the investment of 28 minutes.”
– GoThereFor.com points us to a conversation between Kel Richards and Phillip Jensen recorded a few years back. As they say, well worth the investment of your time.
Preaching Matters: Gospel Certainty in Luke
More resources from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate:
“How does Luke provide certainty for his readers? Why is it important for the word of God to make sense of the works of Christ? If certainty comes from something other than first-hand experience of physical evidence, what are the implications for the way we do evangelism?
Preaching Matters is back with William Taylor tackling these questions, and more, from Luke’s Gospel.”
Dick Lucas on Mark’s Gospel – volume 2
Back in January, we noted that a series of recordings by Dick Lucas, to help God’s people think through the meaning of Mark’s Gospel, had been published by St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.
“The most recent fruits of his retirement are recordings of his latest reflections on Scripture, aimed primarily at the Bible expositor but suitable for everyone. Recorded in his kitchen, where most of his sermon preparation takes place, they are starting to be published just prior to Christmas 2016.”
At that point, his observations on Mark 1-8 were available. Now Volume two, covering chapters 9-16, is also online.
“This is a significant development because it is the first time ever that Dick has covered the whole of the second half of the gospel in consecutive Bible exposition.”
Our thanks to Dick Lucas, and to St. Helen’s, for making these available.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…