Anglican Heroes: Richard Hooker — Church Society podcast
In the latest Church Society podcast, Dr Ros Clarke speaks with Nigel Atkinson about Richard Hooker (1554 – 1600).
Why should we know about Richard Hooker today – and how has he been misrepresented (by Cardinal Newman, for example)?
Did he really turn his back on the Reformation? (Answer: No.)
This may be a revelation to many Anglicans.
Did Melbourne just see a sign?
Murray Campbell at Mentone Baptist Church in Melbourne reflects on events in Melbourne, including the election on Saturday of Bishop Ric Thorpe as the next Anglican Archbishop –
“Melbourne needs more churches. Melbourne needs 100s more Christ-centred, Gospel-believing and preaching, people-loving churches.
I’m not an Anglican so feel free to take my observations with the same volume of water found in a baptismal font (bad joke). My Melbourne Anglican friends are overwhelmingly encouraged and thankful for all candidates and the outcome, even as the Diocese looks over troubled waters. Like all our Christian denominations, much deep work of theological and spiritual reform needs to take place. Theological liberalism and moral progressivism is like sand in the car after a day at the beach …”
Exposition
“Along with the many students who studied at Moore College under the Principalship of Dr. Broughton Knox, I have deep gratitude for his twice-weekly lectures to first year students, Doctrine 1.
What struck me most was Dr. Knox’s determination to test all things against Scripture. We studied using T.C. Hammond’s, In understanding be men, and Dr. Knox would even correct that fine book, in minor areas, when he believed it to be inconsistent with the Bible.
In 2 Timothy, Paul’s last letter in the New Testament, Paul reminds his young mentee, Timothy, of the nature of Scripture. …”
– David Cook reminds us of the essential place of faithful and engaging expository preaching. At The Expository Preaching Trust.
Image: Dr. Broughton Knox.
Adults are becoming Christians every day
“One of the questions we commonly get asked at Evangelism and New Churches is how the evangelism process worked for people who became Christians as adults.
People want to hear about what happened and why it was so effective. Many of the people asking these questions don’t know people who became Christians as adults – perhaps because many of them are younger in age.
I want to tell you that people become Christians as adults in Australia every single day. It happens all the time. …”
– A brief word of encouragement from Dave Jensen – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Image: Dave Jensen speaking at Nexus25.
Have your heart warmed for global mission
We’ve previously mentioned the work of Dr Tim Keesee, founder of Frontline Missions, and his Dispatches from the Front documentaries.
“Dispatches from the Front is a series of documentary films that highlight the marvellous extent, diversity, and unity of Christ’s Kingdom in our world. The journal format of each episode underscores the daily unfolding of God’s activity on the ‘frontlines,’ bringing viewers up-close with sights and sounds from distant corners of the Kingdom.”
While the films are still available on DVD format (remember that?), in the video linked above, Tim Keesee explains that the videos are now available to stream at no charge.
These would be ideal to show in a home group.
Go to frontlinemissions.info/dispatches and scroll down to click on each title.
Under “Add DVD to cart”, there’s now the option to “Stream for Free”.
John Piper writes:
“Beware of watching these Dispatches films if you don’t like being moved and inspired and shaken out of the ruts of your life. My wife and I were riveted in watching the frontline reports of God’s work as recorded in the Dispatches from the Front series. This is the sort of information that builds faith in the present providence of God over His mission and stirs up action for the sake of lost and hurting people near and far.”
There’s also a companion book by Tim Keesee – “Dispatches from the Front: Stories of Gospel Advance in the World’s Difficult Places” available from Reformers Books.
Preach the Word
At the recent gathering for the 50th Anniversary of Campus Bible Study at the University of New South Wales, Phillip Jensen speaks to remind and encourage his hearers to Preach the Word.
– Listen here. (The audio quality improves greatly after the first few minutes.)
Very much worth your time, and good for your heart.
Related:
Giving thanks for Campus Bible Study — 50 years on – The Pastor’s Heart.
Southern Cross May – June 2025
The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine (May – June 2025) is now downloadable from SydneyAnglicans.net.
If you attend a Sydney Anglican church, you should be able to pick up a printed copy there.
Alistair Begg on his preaching ministry
“Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. He graduated from the London School of Theology and subsequently served in Scotland at Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church. In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio, where he continues to lead the congregation and teach God’s word Sunday by Sunday.
Alistair is also the Bible teacher on the daily and weekend program Truth for Life. Truth For Life is distributed through 1,900 radio networks across the United States and can also be heard on the Truth for Life website, through YouTube, via podcast, and by way of numerous other listening platforms. Alistair is the author of several books. He and his wife Susan were married in 1975 and have three grown children and eight grandchildren.
The following is a transcript of a section of an interview with Alistair conducted by the ACR during the 2025 CMS Summer School, Katoomba, where Alistair was speaking on the book of 1 Peter. …”
– Read the full interview at The Australian Church Record.
Preaching Mentoring – new semester begins Sunday 27 July
From The Expository Preaching Trust:
“Mentoring of preachers is one of the most effective inputs the Trust has into the ministry of preachers.
The Trust is pleased to offer mentors free of any charge to preachers.
Mentors can be accessed on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.
Mentors available include: Don Barker, Graham Barnes, Jono Buesnell, David Burge, Elizabeth Burns, David Cook, Stuart Coulton, David Jones, Michael Leong, Simon Manchester, Jim Mobbs, Janet Riley, Jenny Salt and Marshall Scott.
A pastor writes, ‘Nothing has helped my preaching more than the encouragement and correction of a preaching mentor who speaks with grace, truth and a deep grounding in God’s word’. …”
– Learn about this encouraging ministry at their website.
“The whole church is called to pray…”
“An impassioned Archbishop Raffel has led the diocesan fellowship in prayer at a large meeting in St Andrew’s Cathedral as well as in parish churches.
Morning church services across Sydney and the Illawarra either saw a video of the Archbishop leading in prayer or read the text of his prayer for the spread of the gospel across the Diocese.
Later, representatives from all regions of the Diocese gathered in the Cathedral. …”
– Report by Russell Powell on yesterday’s prayer focus across Sydney.
Image thanks to Anglican Media Sydney.
The latest North West Network
The most recent issue of North West Network (March 2025) is now up on the website of the Diocese of Northwest Australia.
– Download your copy for your encouragement and for food for prayer. (PDF file – linked from this page.)
Could it be revival? The surprising UK youth culture shift towards Jesus – with Glen Scrivener
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“For decades, the trend across Western countries seemed one-way: away from faith in Jesus Christ. But could the tide be turning?
Evangelist and author Glen Scrivener outlines signs of a ‘quiet revival’ emerging, particularly among young people in the United Kingdom (and how things are different in Australia).
Drawing on new research from the UK Bible Society and reflecting on wider cultural shifts, Glen discusses why the story of secularisation may not be as inevitable as once thought — and why a surprising number of young adults are returning to church.
We also reflect on influences like Jordan Peterson, the role of community in a hyper-individualistic culture, and the opportunities — and challenges — now facing churches in both the UK and Australia.
Is this the beginning of a new movement towards Christ?”
– Fascinating. Watch or listen here.
A Light on the Hill
“I love a good biography. It’s always fascinating and often inspiring to read the account of a life of special significance. Yet for all the biographies I’ve read, A Light on the Hill may be the first whose subject was not a person but a church. It surprised me what a blessing it was to read about that church and to see how God has seen fit to bless, preserve, and use it for so many years.
In late 1867, Celestia Anne Ferris, a young member of E Street Baptist Church in Washington, called her friends together to pray for the establishment of a church on Capitol Hill. Only a few people were present that evening and their specific prayers were not recorded, but it did not take long for God to begin to answer them. …”
– Tim Challies reviews a book about Capitol Hill Baptist Church.
Photo: The U.S. Capitol in Washington.
Don’t let prayer be our last resort
From Archbishop Kanishka Raffel:
“On Sunday, May 4, I have invited all of our churches to share in a day of prayer for the spread of the gospel across our Diocese – from the Hawkesbury to the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands to Wollongong and the South Coast, and Greater Sydney. A day of prayer for our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues who don’t know Christ, to come to know him and his redeeming love. …”
– Read it all at SydneyAnglicans.net.
The Link – Autumn 2025 – from the Diocese of Armidale
Published online a few weeks ago, the Autumn 2025 issue of The Link from the Diocese of Armidale has local stories and food for prayer.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…