Bishop Greg Anderson’s Charge to the Synod of the Diocese of the Northern Territory

“There is so much to thank God for as we look around the ministries of our parishes.

We are blessed with capable ordained church leaders, other stipended lay ministers, and dedicated volunteers. There is consistent numerical growth in many of our churches, and growth in financial commitment of our members.

Bigger numbers are nice, but what is important is more people understanding about God’s saving work through Jesus Christ, and their understanding being reflected in their lives, individually and as community…”

– As he is about to begin his eighth year as Bishop of The Northern Territory, Greg Anderson delivered an encouraging Presidential Charge to the Thirty-Seventh Synod of the Diocese last weekend.

Do pray for the work of the gospel in the Top End.

Pictured:

Prior to the Synod, on Friday September 17, Bishop Anderson officially launched the Kriol Preya Buk at a special celebration service at Darwin’s Christ Church Anglican Cathedral.

“The Kriol Preya Buk (Prayer Book) is the result of almost ten years of hard work by a team of more than 23 Kriol-speaking translators from different communities in the Top End. It brings together in one volume a comprehensive suite of liturgy, prayers and responses, for all Kriol-speaking Christians.” More photos on the diocesan Facebook page.

Sunday morning encouragement

With thanks to Emu Music.

Growing Old — Blessing or Curse?

Equal But Different has published three reflections on growing older – by Lesley Ramsay. She writes of the dangers and blessings of growing older:

Growing Old — Blessing or Curse? Part 1.

Growing Old — Blessing or Curse? Part 2.

Growing Old — Blessing or Curse? Part 3.

Keep the Bible Front and Centre

“To state the obvious, we must let the Bible shape what we do as mission leaders.

That means that we need to keep on constantly thinking about the priority that we give to our personal reading of the Bible, to our use of the Bible in our day-to-day ministry and to the way that we apply the Bible as we think through what is happening in the world today.

I’d like to encourage you to do two things …”

– Kevin Murray, National Director of Australian Presbyterian World Mission, writes at Missions Interlink.

Preaching Class with John Piper — 30 Videos

“John Piper—co-founder of Desiring God, former preaching pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, and author of The Supremacy of God in Preaching and Expository Exultation: Christian Preaching as Worship—has recorded 19 mini-lectures on preaching (about 10 minutes each, for a total of about four hours). This is then followed by a two-and-a-half hour workshop where Piper is joined by three younger local preaching pastors to talk through various issues. …”

– Justin Taylor draws attention to what promises to be a very helpful resource.

How I came to know Jesus — Scott Newling

“I do not know when God called me to salvation, and I am content with that because, whenever it was, my election has always been certain and sure. So the when of my calling is not so important to me: the fact of it is everything. Nevertheless, in God’s providence, the people of St John’s Asquith were instrumental in the path that led to my salvation, which I’ll always cherish and for which I’ll always be thankful. …”

– At The Australian Church Record, Scott Newling shares the story of how he was saved. Thanks be to God.

See also:

How I came to know Jesus – Pip Taylor.

How I came to know Jesus – Ben George.

In the Lord I Take Refuge: Daily Devotions on the Psalms with Dane Ortlund

Crossway is hosting Dane Ortlund’s daily devotions on the Psalms.

Starting today. On Apple Podcasts.

Sunday morning encouragement

With thanks to St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney.

How I came to know Jesus – Pip Taylor

“I became a Christian at age 13. I was a kid who had sat in church and felt I knew God. Each year on my family camping holiday, a beach mission team showed up and invited us to their program to hear about God. …”

– At The Australian Church Record, Pip Taylor shares how she was saved.

Southern Cross for September 2021

Anglican Media’s Southern Cross magazine for September 2021 is now online.

Much encouragement to pray.

And do see the Archbishop’s column “Putting Coronvirus in its place” on pages 14 and 15.

“Amid the tremendous upheaval we have experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is so good to look to the Lord who is risen, reigning and returning. Nothing takes God by surprise and the ministry he has entrusted to his people remains the same – ‘this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world’. Jesus is not unaware of the suffering of his people in a world of wars, famines and earthquakes.”

Read online (or download the PDF file) at magazine.sydneyanglicans.net.

When you can’t gather

“Over the past few months, churches have rejoiced at the sweetness of returning to worship in person. The turbulence of 2020, with Zoom meetings replacing handholds, has highlighted the importance of in-person worship and fellowship to the Christian walk. In Collin Hansen’s words, “the hands and feet and ears and eyes need to be assembled for this body to work for the good of all.”

And yet not all disciples who worship can gather. …”

– This article by Kathryn Butler at The Gospel Coalition has application for Australian Christians, even though our circumstances are a little different at the moment.

Pandemic Preaching — and life under the sun

“A friend in Malaysia, a University worker in Melbourne, a Pastor here in Sydney, independently, beginning to preach through Ecclesiastes.

I thought that 2021 would be the year of recovery and so Acts would be a good choice to preach, but I was wrong, 2021 has turned out to be an even more severe version of lockdown limitation than 2020.

In lockdown, people have more time to think about the big issues of life, Ecclesiastes is therefore a good choice for pandemic preaching because it gives attention to these issues. …”

– More encouragement for preachers from David Cook.

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 expands

David Cook writes:

“I am delighted to let you know that Janet Riley is to join the Trust as an encourager, especially of women’s groups, one day per week in 2022. …

Janet joined the Faculty at SMBC as Dean of Women and Lecturer in Greek in 2008 where she had involvement in the College’s preaching groups, encouraging students by critiquing sermons. Janet is one of the most insightful critiquers of sermons I know.

I am delighted that Janet is joining us to encourage preachers, she will be involved with some of the existing ‘Lather and Shave’ preaching groups and will establish a Preaching Club for women. …”

– Read David’s announcement here.

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