The prisoner lifts his eyes

“Are you a victim?

A few years ago, we discovered someone had stolen the number plate from the front of our car. When we called the police, they told us they were running an official campaign focusing on vehicle-related crime, and so they had certain procedures they had to follow. They sent an officer to meet with us in our home.

When the officer arrived, he asked us to show him the scene of the crime (the street outside). He sat down at our dining table to interview us about the details of the incident (it didn’t take long).

At the end of the interview, with an admirably straight face, he fulfilled his official responsibilities by asking us if we would like to access their program for victim support. …”

– Encouragement from chapter 3 of the Letter to the Ephesians – via Dr. Lionel Windsor. (You can also listen at that link.)

Mark Dever at Nexus 2019 — Let’s Do Evangelism Better — watch

Mark Dever spoke at today’s Nexus 2019 Conference. The vitally important theme was “Let’s Do Evangelism Better”.

You can watch the whole thing at this link. Mark’s session began at around 59 minutes into the video.

His second session begins at 6h 44m, and there is plenty to watch in between.

The entire conference was challenging, encouraging and helpful. Do take the time to watch.

Moore College Graduation 2019 — 107 men and women sent out into the harvest field

“On Monday 11 March, we had the great pleasure of witnessing the graduation of the 107 men and women who most recently completed their courses at Moore College, and who are now serving God in various contexts across the world. …”

– Encouraging news from Moore College.

See Simon Manchester’s address above, on Vimeo.

Ben Kwashi: Pray for the work of Gafcon each day during Lent

Archbishop Ben Kwashi writes:

“Will you pray with me for the work of Gafcon each day during Lent?  

While I was in Dubai for the G19 conference last week, I was moved by the resilience of brothers and sisters who face severe suffering for the sake of Christ. These are praying people and their example reminds us that we are called to be a spiritual movement, determined not only to put the Bible but also unceasing prayer at the forefront of all we do.

During our conference, I was so pleased to witness the tremendous progress the Gafcon Prayer Network has made since it launched in Jerusalem last June.

One of the network’s projects has been to develop a Lent prayer diary which can be accessed via the website, received through daily social media posts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) or through the recently launched page on the PrayerMate App.

It will provide subscribers with a topic each day… through to Easter Day and beyond to fuel our prayers as we stand together in gospel partnership.”

– Even if Lent is not necessarily ‘your thing’, it is good to heed this call for unceasing prayer. (Screenshot: the GAFCON feed on PrayerMate.)

NEXUS19 on Monday March 25

Don’t forget the coming NEXUS19 Conference coming up later this month.

Mark Dever is among the speakers.

Details here.

Take Heart!

“You should read this book!

Matt Chandler writes clearly and honestly about the society we live in – from the challenges it presents us to the hope the gospel holds for those who live in it. …”

– At Church Society’s blog, Philip Hobbs introduces Matt Chandler’s book ‘Take Heart!’.

Practical tips for sharing the gospel with a stranger

“How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?… Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom 10:14, 17)

How often do we consider the urgency of Paul’s words here? In 2017 McCrindle Research did a nation-wide study of faith and belief in Australia. It found that at least 1.5 million people don’t know a Christian. In fact, 1 in 29 people have never heard of Jesus. But the survey also found that 10 percent of Australians – that’s 2.4 million people – are interested in having a conversation about Jesus.

I once had no Christian friends or family, and I first heard the gospel from a stranger…”

– ACL Council member Mike Taylor shares encouragement and a challenge. At the Australian Church Record.

More on Ephesians

ACL Council member, Dr Lionel Windsor, is continuing to post insightful and encouraging reflections on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.

See them at Forget the Channel. (Scroll down to Recent blog posts.)

Taking our biblical rest — Encouragement from Archbishop Glenn Davies

“The rhythm of work and rest is a biblical rhythm, founded in creation and expressed in the fourth commandment. The seven-day pattern of six days of work and one day of rest continues into the new covenant, because the end of the age when we enter God’s Sabbath Rest has not yet arrived. …”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Archbishop Glenn Davies encourages a biblical view of rest.

Nexus19 on Monday 25th March — for constructive encouragement in evangelism

The Nexus Conference for 2019 is coming up at Carlingford on Monday 25th March.

For those who can’t be there in person, the event will be livestreamed to sites across Australia.

Read more about the conference – and let Canon Phil Colgan (who also spoke on this topic at the 2018 ACL Synod Dinner) encourage you to keep the proclamation of the saving gospel of Jesus front and centre.

The evangelistic conversation

“Evangelistic conversations can be tough. Really tough. They can be so tough and discouraging that, after having a few, many people give up and never try again.

However, there are things we can do to allow a tough situation to become enjoyable – and more importantly, effective.

So, what’s a good way to engage in an evangelistic conversation? …”

– Here’s some encouragement from Dave Jensen at GoThereFor.com.

‘The Most Reverend The Primate and Patriarch of The Southern Hemisphere’

‘The Most Reverend The Primate and Patriarch of The Southern Hemisphere’ – that’s how John Newton addressed Richard Johnson, Chaplain to the First Fleet and the fledgling colony of New South Wales.

Marylynn Rouse, at The John Newton Project, just in time for Australia Day, has posted a number of letters and new material relating to Richard Johnson – including letters to him from John Newton.

Richard Johnson:

“In the evening of the 23rd September 1786, I was asked by a friend, if I had got the spirit of a missionary, or, if I wished to go abroad. I smiled, and replied – No – I had no inclination or thoughts of ever leaving my native country.

On the 30th of the same month, I received a letter from another friend, informing me that a colony was going to be established in New Holland, or New Zealand – that a chaplain was wanted – that application had been made to him, to know whether he knew of any proper person for and willing to undertake such an arduous work – and that if I chose to accept of, he could secure me the appointment. …”

See what’s new at The John Newton Project.

See also: Richard Johnson – First Chaplain to Australia.

Lift Your Eyes: Introducing Ephesians

“Our family lived for several years in Durham, in the north east of England.

One day, through my son’s primary school, we were offered some cheap tickets to see a Premier League football match in nearby Sunderland. Since we’d never seen a Premier League game, my son and I decided it would be great to go.

I knew that our neighbour Patrick, who’d grown up in Durham, was a huge football fan. So I asked Patrick if he had any advice for us on the best way to get ourselves to the match. Patrick told me there was a bus to the game that stopped right outside our house. The day arrived, and my son and I hopped on the bus with Patrick. …”

– Sunderland supporter Dr. Lionel Windsor calls us to open our eyes to the wonders of God’s plan unfolded in Ephesians.

Five tips for reading daily Bible reading and prayer

“The most important resolution you can make this year is to read your Bible and pray each day – this, along with meeting with God’s people, is what makes a Christian’s heart beat.

However, by this point in January most of our resolutions will have failed – including our daily quiet time. We’ve started to get busy, missed a few mornings and it’s starting to feel like 2019 will be very similar to 2018 after all. But just because you didn’t read your Bible yesterday, doesn’t mean you need to give up.

So here are my top five tips for starting and maintaining a regular quiet time in 2019…”

– These tips from Tom Habib might be just what you need. At The Australian Church Record.

Also from the ACR: Biblical mentoring: its pattern and place – Mike Leite.

Rich and Getting Richer

“They used to call them financial advisers or even simply bank officers; now they are wealth managers. Having adequate money is so yesterday. We want to have wealth. We think of ourselves managing our resources to become first, rich, and then even richer. There are no votes for the party that promises that under its leadership citizens will become poorer!

Yet that is exactly what Jesus did! His milieu was opulence, glory, splendour and supreme power over everything that exists. The whole universe was under his thumb, yet he chose to make himself nothing and become the lackey of humanity. …”

– Written and published in time for Christmas, this reflection by Bishop Trevor Edwards in the diocese of Canberra & Goulburn should turn our hearts to thanksgiving.

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