Freedom and joy

“I have recently been reading the account of a Christian minister who, upon arriving in his new parish some time in the nineteenth century, found that there was little joy in that church and a tremendous lack of assurance. The people he spoke to could not be sure that they were the objects of God’s love in Christ.

Whenever he preached, whatever he preached, they seemed to hear only a demand that they should be what they were called to be. Even the invitation to put their trust in Jesus was heard to be simply one more thing they must do. The Christian life was, for them, burdensome, punctuated by doubts about whether they were really Christian at all. Freedom, confidence and joy seemed a million miles away from their experience.

Yet the Bible’s picture of those who come to Jesus is one of being freed and released, of having burdens lifted, new life given, life to the full enjoyed. …”

– Moore College Principal Dr Mark Thompson shares wonderful encouragement at SydneyAnglicans.net. Also in the current Southern Cross magazine.

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.

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.

Southern Cross July-August 2022

The Diocese of Sydney’s magazine, Southern Cross, for July-August 2022 will be available in parishes this weekend.

It’s also available for download. Grab your copy now.

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.

Dealing with Difficult People in the Church

In a recent sermon in Chapel at Southern Seminary, Dr Rob Plummer turns to the letter of 3 John for wisdom and encouragement in the face of difficult people in the church.

This sermon may resonate with many, but it also lifts our eyes to the Lord Jesus. Most encouraging.

(Dr. Plummer also runs Daily Dose of Greek.)

Eight ways to help build the church

“We should continue in prayer for the conversion of many. Expect God to bring many into his kingdom. Continue to ask God to do what he said he would do. We need Christian communities that are both different from the culture but confidently outward focussed. …”

– What can we do to help build Christ’s church? Bishop Peter Hayward has some encouragement for us at SydneyAnglicans.net. (Also in the May-June 2022 issue of Southern Cross.)

Photo: Bishop Peter Hayward at last year’s one-day Synod in Sydney.

Bishop Mark Calder and BCA National Director Greg Harris on the latest partnership for Bathurst Diocese

Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder and BCA National Director Greg Harris recent spoke about the opportunities to serve the Lord in West Wyalong, Cowra and Cobar – fully funded in partnership with and thanks to the vision and generosity of the Bush Church Aid Society.

Do pray that the right people will be found to serve in those key towns.

(There’s a longer version of the video here.)

Holy Holy Holy

Emu Music have released a new arrangement of ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’.

“This is the third single from our upcoming album ‘Songs of Grateful Praise’. We don’t often sing about the trinity, so this is an important song to keep in our church song list! We hope you enjoy our version.”

Clarity, Truth, Sufficient and Efficient – with Mark Thompson

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“How do we start with Jesus in formulating a view of Scripture today?

What is Jesus’ view of scripture? How do clarity and simplicity relate? How do we move from the speech of God to the word of God written? How does the doctrine of the sufficiency of scripture play out in the different stages of biblical revelation?

Can you give us a sixty second answer on canon formation? And how does speech-act theory impact the issues of the inseparability of Word and Spirit, and the efficacy of Scripture.

Principal of Sydney’s Moore Theological College Mark Thompson has a new book ‘The doctrine of Scripture: An introduction’.”

– Always encouraging to hear someone who loves and thinks clearly about the Word of God.

See also:

How do we read the Bible differently as Followers of Jesus?

More on Application — David Cook

“We have all heard the sermon which rambles for 30 minutes and ends whimpishly, ‘let him who has ears, hear what the Spirit is saying’.

Application is the ‘so what’ factor of the sermon, it is showing the audience the implications for daily living, showing how information may be transformative. …”

– David Cook writes with encouragement for preachers at The Expository Preaching Trust.

The Story of the Kriol Preya Buk (2012 — 2021)

The Diocese of the Northern Territory has published this information page – with a link to an encouraging 4 minute video – about the Kriol Preya Buk which was launched at the diocesan Synod last year.

A great encouragement.

“Anglicans, for hundreds of years, have had a very important principle that Christians should worship God in their own language.” – Bishop Greg Anderson.

How to rid yourself of ministry bitterness: pour out your heart to God

“Dear friends,

‘Will I be bitter for eternity because of what has happened to me in Christian ministry?’

I was asked this question by an old minister at a conference. It relates to a common problem in ministry, the bitterness that grows from how other people treat us or what they say to us, or don’t say to us, their expectations of us, their neglect, opposition, their attacks, their slander, how we have to live and work with the consequences of their mistakes, the conditions under which we work and live, their desire for control of the church or ministry or us! …”

– Wise and encouraging advice from Peter Adam.

Bishop Mark Calder speaks at Moore College on The Good Shepherd, John 10:1-18

Last week Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder preached at Moore College and also shared encouraging updates from across the diocese.

Moore Q&A Video Series

Moore College has launched a new video series – Moore Q & A.

The series of nine videos features a panel of Moore College lecturers (Jane Tooher, Chase Kuhn, Dan Wu and Lionel Windsor) answering questions about the Christian life – including stewardship and generosity, vocational ministry, and much more.

Watch the videos on Moore’s Youtube channel as they release them over the next month.

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