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.
Sunday morning encouragement
With thanks to Emu Music.
Illustrations: harlotry, professionalism, or audience engagement?
“Preachers are communicators.
We need to give attention to engaging the congregation; truth won’t do a person good if they are not awake to hear it. That is why introductions are so important. I try to engage people from my first words.
However, an interesting introduction will not sustain engagement for 20 minutes. …”
– David Cook, former Principal of SMBC, continues to encourage preachers in their calling.
At The Expository Preaching Trust.
God’s heart for all humanity
“Tensions are very high in our community at the moment. Take the illegal anti-lockdown protest on 23 July 2021 in Sydney. The protesters were expressing a fear and anger that’s clearly present amongst many. They were wrong to express it in this way. But you can feel it, can’t you? I know right now many of us are feeling the frustration. Some of us are in almost impossible situations: climbing the walls! And it’s hard. …”
– Lionel Windsor preached from 1 Timothy 2:1-7 at Moore College Men’s Chapel yesterday, 4th August, 2021.
A much-needed refocussing in these difficult days.
Southern Cross for August 2021
Once more, it’s not possible to distribute printed copies of Southern Cross magazine (in fact, it wasn’t printed this month) – but Anglican Media Sydney has posted the full issue online.
From Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s column (Sickness, COVID and the hope to come, page 15):
“John’s Gospel records an episode in the life of Jesus that is both deeply personal and powerfully universal.
As far as Scripture records, Jesus never experienced illness himself. He did, however, experience hunger, thirst, the barbarous physical cruelty of flogging and crucifixion. And of course, Jesus experienced death.
Jesus is famously recorded on numerous occasions being swamped by people who were ill or suffering from some mental, physical or demonic affliction. His reputation as a healer was documented even by non-Christian ancient sources.
In John chapter 11 we are given a window into how Jesus was affected by the sickness of others. …”
Thanks to Jane Tooher, there’s also a profile of “A woman who did not give in to fear” – Dorothy Mowll. (page 16).
Read online (or download the PDF file) at magazine.sydneyanglicans.net.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s message for churches for Sunday 1st August 2021.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has recorded this message for churches for their online gatherings on Sunday, 01 August, 2021.
We’re sure you’ll find it an encouragement.
Russell Powell has more at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Sunday morning encouragement
With thanks to Rob Smith and St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
The Importance of Children’s and Youth Ministry
“It is no surprise to ACR readers that Australia is radically and rapidly changing as a nation.
Whether or not it is accurate to describe the initial colonies or federated states as a “Christian” nation, it is abundantly clear that as we enter the third decade of the 21st Century, Australia is increasingly a post–Christian and post–church society.
In 2017 45% of Australians identified as Christian and 25% of Australians were described as ‘cold’ towards Christianity. Only 15% stated that they attend church monthly or more.
As confessional Anglicans, we are not specifically concerned with Australia being a culturally Christian nation. However, we are passionate about Christ and his Kingdom. We are passionate about making disciples of all nations by evangelising the lost and discipling the saints …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Tim Beilharz writes to encourage clarity on Children’s and Youth Ministry.
Sunday morning encouragement
With thanks to Emu Music.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…