Strengthening the Churches: William Taylor on Acts
In a newly posted video, William Taylor at St. Helen’s in London speaks about Paul’s passion in Acts for planting and building churches.
He says it has changed his thinking about ministry and church planting. Runs for 14 minutes on Vimeo.
The greatest of all Protestant ‘heresies’?
“Let us begin with a church history exam question.
Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621) was a figure not to be taken lightly. He was Pope Clement VIII’s personal theologian and one of the most able figures in the Counter-Reformation movement within sixteenth-century Roman Catholicism.
On one occasion, he wrote: ‘The greatest of all Protestant heresies is _______ .’ Complete, explain, and discuss Bellarmine’s statement. How would you answer? What is the greatest of all Protestant heresies?…”
– See Sinclair Ferguson’s article at Ligonier Ministries.
Why does preaching matter?
St. Helen’s Bishopsgate has added two more interviews in its Preaching Matters video series –
Sydney’s Gavin Perkins is asked about the place of preaching in the church, and Paul Clarke from St. Helen’s speaks about Preaching Evangelistically.
Be edified and watch them both!
Understanding the Parable of the Tenants
Barry Newman’s latest project has been to blog his way through the Parable of the Tenants.
You can now read his completed series here. (PDF)
Using Biblical words in Biblical ways
“Two decades ago, one of my lecturers at Moore Theological College was a great example of the practice I spoke about on Wednesday: using biblical words and concepts in biblical ways.
David Peterson made us aware that inadequate attention was paid in much Christian theology to the use of holiness terminology in the New Testament and specifically regarding sanctification. …”
– Sandy Grant asks David Peterson about Sanctification – at The Briefing.
As Christ is to His church
St. Helen’s Bishopsgate has published a four-minute video excerpt from William Taylor’s sermon on Marriage and Relationships last weekend, addressing Steve Chalke’s recent statements on same sex unions.
Richard Coekin also addressed the topic last Sunday morning at Dundonald Church in London. (“Is Steve Chalke wrong? Marriage Divorce & Celibacy.”)
Sword of the Spirit — True Spirituality
The Australia Day Convention is coming up on Monday 28th January at the Cathedral.
“The person and work of the Holy Spirit is so important and so misunderstood that instead of doing 1 convention on this topic, we thought we’d do 3! In 2013, Australia Day Convention VI, Easter Convention, and Queen’s Birthday Convention VI will become a trilogy on the Holy Spirit.” Details here.
‘It is no empty word for you, but your very life’ (Deut. 32:47)
At Theological Theology, Peter Bolt, Head of New Testament at Moore College, presents his third and final post responding to recent publications on women preaching to mixed congregations of men and women.
What’s happening to our preaching?
“On Boxing Day 2012, a series of electronic booklets called “Fresh Perspectives on Women in Ministry” was released by Zondervan. One of these booklets was written by John Dickson, a highly respected Australian evangelist, writer, researcher and Anglican minister…
In light of these claims, we need to do whatever we can to promote gospel unity and avoid an unnecessary “taking of sides”.”
– Lionel Windsor writes a brief initial response to one of the three e-books recently published by Zondervan.
Rescuing the Baby from the Bilgewater
Peter Bolt continues his response to recent publications on women preaching to mixed congregations of men and women.
“How do you talk about a ‘prohibition’ in God’s good economy in which he always commands what is good for us? Grammatically, a prohibition is simply saying ‘don’t do it!’, but what is the force of this ‘No!’ when it comes from our loving Creator who has graciously redeemed us in Christ in order for the universe to ring out with his ‘Yes!’?…”
– There’s plenty of food for thought in this post at Theological Theology.
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Feeling Blue?
Mark Thompson writes: “Following the interest in yesterday’s posting on the preaching question, and in preparation for more detailed work to be done in the future, here is a initial contribution from guest blogger, Peter Bolt.”
“With three short e-books downloadable from Christmas Day, Zondervan has released a new series, ‘Fresh Perspectives on Women in Ministry’. Well, even the authors admit there is nothing really fresh here, but ‘Regifted Perspectives …’.
Since these three booklets have been released in the public sphere, they deserve the more considered critique which will follow in kind, that is, in the same public sphere in which any proper discussion of ideas must take place. However, since discussion has already begun in the subterranean depths of the online realms, and since two of the three e-authors who have come up for air in this series, John Dickson and Michael Bird, are my fellow Aussies with whom I share no little history, some interim and quick responses may be appropriate in these dark realms as well! My thanks go to Mark for allowing me several pieces of his blog-time across the next little while.
Each of these pamphlets seek to entangle their readers in what has been identified as a ‘Shift Story’. … This personal journey tells of a shift from ‘Point A’ to ‘Point B’: ‘I used to believe that, but now I believe this’. …”
– read it all at Theological Theology.
(Dr. Peter Bolt is Head of the New Testament Department at Moore College.)
The Preaching Question
“There has, it seems, been quite a flurry of publishing activity on the question of preaching lately, especially by those seeking to make a case for the propriety of women preaching to mixed congregations…
It is important that we keep testing our conclusions both on theology and practice by the teaching of the Bible. …”
Mark Thompson, Principal-elect of Moore Theological College, looks at a hot topic, and commends a couple of excellent expositions, at Theological Theology.
How the Incarnation humbles me
Tim Challies on the Incarnation –
“This is not the Mary of Roman Catholicism who was without sin and, in that way, the most suitable mother in all of human history. No, she is a sinful girl who stands in desperate need of the very Savior she is carrying. …
Of all I love about God—and there is a lot I could list!—this is very near the top, that he chooses such unlikely people to benefit from his gifts and his grace.” – Read it all here.
Has the personal evangelism ship sailed?
“It is quite correct to say that there are only two kinds of people in the world—those who in the words of Two Ways to Live are living ‘Way A’ (rebelling against God, facing his judgement) and ‘Way B’ (submitting to and trusting in Jesus, forgiven by God).
But it is also true that within those two broad categories there is a wide spectrum of difference. …”
– Tony Payne begins discussion on a topic close to the heart of many – at The Briefing.
Modernity
“Twice in the Bible we read of God ‘dwelling with us’.
The first looks back in time when ‘the word became flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14) and the second looks ahead when ‘God will dwell with us’ (Revelation 1:3). We live in between the two, looking back to the first and forward to the second.
Modernity is an enticing idea. It suggests that all our hopes are located in the time that is ‘now’. But when you think about it modernity is whenever you live. When the wheel was invented it was modern times, or the dishwasher, or the iPad.
Modernity is always moving – on and on, faster and faster. Go to any electronics outlet and the products are different from just a few months back. Cameras do different things, likewise TVs, and computers. I have the sense of being left further and further behind, helpless to catch up. The machines seem to be getting more complicated. By the time I reach step 4, I have forgotten step 2. …”
– Bishop Paul Barnett suggests three responses to modernity – read it all at his blog.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…