Church Society podcast — Reading the Bible Better
Here’s the latest podcast from Church Society in the UK –
“In this week’s episode, Chris Moore and Lee Gatiss discuss how we can read the Bible more and better. They talk about different Bible translations, how to establish a good routine, listening to audio Bibles, using devotional resources, singing and saying the Scriptures aloud. …”
– Listen here.
No Shortcut to Success
In a recent episode of the Pastors Talk podcast from 9Marks, Jonathan Leeman and Mark Dever commend the book “No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions”. They also chat with the author, Matt Rhodes.
While primarily on the topic of missions, it’s an encouragement for those labouring at home.
God’s quiet and mysterious work
“God moves in a mysterious way,/ His wonders to perform.
So begins one of the finest hymns in the English language. It was penned by one of the most depressed men who ever lived, William Cowper, who was friends with one of the most grateful men who ever lived, John Newton.
Down through the ages, God has chastened and warned His people with the four horsemen of sword, famine, wild beasts and plague. At times it may appear that they have all been let out at once, and our present age seems particularly disoriented and afflicted. …”
– Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, Dr Peter Barnes, shares some encouragement in the midst of difficult times.
Pastoral video from the Bishop of Bathurst, 5th February 2022
The Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has today released this Pastoral Video.
The planned diocesan Synod has not been able to take place, due to COVID, so this partly replaces what Bishop Calder had hoped to say at the meeting, however it will be of wider interest and encouragement.
The video includes an interview with Archbishop Kanishka Raffel who was to have spoken at the Bathurst Synod – plus lots of great news from around the Diocese of Bathurst.
Three Reasons to Read the Letters of John Newton
“Over the course of 2021, I slowly worked my way through Letters of John Newton. Some of us may know that name, and if not the name, most of us will know the lyrics he penned in the song Amazing Grace.
As the near year begins, I would like to encourage you to read the Letters of John Newton. Here are three reasons I would commend the letters of this brother of old to you. …”
– Here’s some encouragement from Sean Sheeran at The Gospel Coalition, Canadian edition.
Related: The John Newton Project.
New year, old virus, eternal home
“The new year has arrived, but the pandemic is not going away anytime soon. The ABC’s Dr Norman Swan has suggested that new variants are virtually certain and they may be more severe than any of the variants we have experienced so far.
For many, the summer break was disrupted by needing to isolate as a close contact, or by testing positive for the virus. Some experienced severe symptoms and others required hospitalisation. We should not neglect to remember that many have died and many have been left behind to grieve. Families are also bracing themselves for the possibility of further disruption to schooling.
In such challenging circumstances, how should Christians approach a new year? …”
– Encouragement from Archbishop Kanishka Raffel.
(Also published in Southern Cross, February 2022.)
Southern Cross magazine, February 2022
Anglican Media Sydney has just released Southern Cross magazine for February 2022.
Printed copies will be available in parishes from this weekend, but you can download a PDF version now at magazine.sydneyanglicans.net.
How the Black Summer of 2019/2020 prepared me for the pandemic
“It was October, November, and I was anxious. I was trying to do several things at the same time – plan my move to Sydney for College, finish up a ministry apprenticeship, hand over my ministry responsibilities and begin to think about saying goodbye well, and several times an hour, I’d open the Fires Near Me NSW app to tell me where the fire had spread to.
I lived in Newcastle, but the place I grew up in was burning. Crowdy Head was alight, and the Lake Innes fire, which had begun near Port Macquarie, was starting to make its way south. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Brooke Hazelgrove reminds us where our trust must be.
Sunday morning encouragement
With thanks to Rob Smith and St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney.
Sunday morning encouragement
With thanks to Emu Music.
Expository Preaching Trust launches 2022 Programme
“2022 is the 11th year of the Trust’s ministry. Our ministry takes three forms …
1. Preaching Workshops …
2. Mentoring …
3. Preaching Clubs … ”
– Read all about it at the website of the Expository Preaching trust.
Anglican Aid’s Prayer Diary 2022
The Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid Prayer Diary for 2022 is now available on their website.
Related:
Love, serve, train – how one man is giving back – SydneyAnglicans.net
Sunday morning encouragement
With thanks to Emu Music.
Aim to be Unremarkable
“Our culture operates according to the myth of the great person model of leadership. An extraordinarily gifted person is the solution to most problems. What every struggling organization needs is a great leader who, by virtue of extraordinary qualities, will be able to turn that organization around.
When imported into the church, we long for great leaders. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Canada, Darryl Dash reminds us what we really need in our churches.
Sunday morning encouragement
With thanks to Emu Music.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…