Church music in a culture obsessed with self expression – with Alanna Glover
From The Pastor’s Heart –
“What does healthy, joyful, word-shaped congregational singing look like in a culture obsessed with self-expression?
We are shaped more than we realise by the culture around us. And today one of the most powerful cultural forces pressing on our churches is expressive individualism — the idea that the authentic self must be expressed and affirmed.
But what happens when this cultural air we breathe seeps into our church music? When sincerity becomes more important than truth, when the band is excellent yet the congregation is silent, and when singing shifts from ‘we proclaim Christ together’ to ‘I express what I feel’?
If we do not address this, we risk disengaged congregations, weakened church identity and a missed opportunity for deep spiritual formation that comes as we sing God’s word to one another.
Alanna Glover — longtime church music leader, former member of Garage Hymnal, ten years with Emu Music, songwriter, trainer and theologian — has just completed significant research on expressive individualism and congregational singing in evangelical churches.”
– Watch here. (Emphasis added.)
Seeing God at Work — Unearthing genealogical treasure
From Phillip Jensen:
“This week in Two Ways News, we continue the theme of family. Having dealt with the family of Cain in chapter 4, we turn to the new family of Adam. In this family, God’s word enables us to see the Lord’s plans for salvation, hinted at in Genesis 3:15 and worked out in Noah.
We don’t often have sermons on genealogies, but hopefully this episode will help us see their importance.”
– hear the latest podcast with Peter and Phillip Jensen at Two Ways News.
Moore College Style Guide: Music Video
A bit of fun from the 2025 Moore College Review and Dr. Lionel Windsor.
Even if it’s not your style, you might learn something!
Family Likeness — Who do you think you are?
From Phillip Jensen:
Welcome again to Two Ways News. Working with my brother makes it a bit of a family concern.
The last episode of the older brother killing the younger reminds us of the mixed blessing of family life. In this episode, we follow through the family of Cain. It’s not a pleasant story, though in the midst of evil there are great achievements.
Don’t forget to tell others of Two Ways News.
The Growing Threat to Religious Freedom
“I have long been an admirer of Professor Patrick Parkinson and his work. The Emeritus Professor of Law and former Dean of the University of Queensland, has been outspoken in his Christian faith, his defence of religious liberty as well as his academic critique of The Safe Schools program. And so my interest was significantly piqued when I heard about his new book Unshaken Allegiance: Living wisely as Christians with diminishing religious freedoms (St Matthias, 2025). …”
– At AP, Mark Powell reviews Unshaken Allegiance by Professor Patrick Parkinson.
Image from Mark Powell’s recent interview with Professor Parkinson.
The Book of James — Church Society podcast
From Church Society:
“Lee Gatiss talks to Daniel Eng, author of a new commentary on the book of James, about the book’s key themes and practical applications.”
– Listen here.
The Nicene Creed: The nature of Christian unity and the meaning of gospel words — reviewed by Robert Doyle
“The Nicene Creed: The nature of Christian unity and the meaning of gospel words is a carefully written, informed, and thoughtful examination of basic Roman Catholic beliefs following the implicit and explicit trajectory laid out in the Nicene Creed: the doctrines of the authority of Scripture, Trinity, person and work of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the virgin Mary, salvation, church, and the world to come.
It arises out of the teaching and pastoral ministries of the authors, who all – whether in Italy, France, Belgium, Ireland, Australia or the United States – are involved in proclaiming and explaining to today’s Roman Catholics the gospel of Jesus Christ as it is presented in the Scriptures.
The book is marked by careful attention to sources and fair critical evaluation of them. It is missiological. The intended audience is Bible study groups in Evangelical churches. More widely, its analysis and presentation make it an excellent introduction to contemporary, foundational Roman Catholic beliefs and how the scriptural gospel speaks to them. …”
– Dr Robert Doyle reviews this important book at The Australian Church Record.
Preaching Plan 2026
Some very practical advice from David Cook at The Expository Preaching Trust:
“Preachers are teachers (Eph 4:11-12; 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 2:24), all teachers know the value of a clear curriculum.
Now is a good time to be working on your preaching curriculum for 2026.
There are 52 weeks in our teaching year, 4 terms of 9 weeks each; pre-Christmas Advent 4 weeks; post-Christmas holiday period 6 weeks; school term breaks March /April 2 weeks, June/July 2 weeks, September/October 2 weeks. Total 52 weeks. …”
Image: David Cook speaking at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.
Athens Archaeological Sites with photos
Moore College Lecturer (and member of the Anglican Church League’s Council) Dr Lionel Windsor is continuing to publish fascinating pictures from his recent trip.
“In July 2025, I visited Athens with my wife Bron and daughter Ellie. We went to see archaeological sites associated with the Apostle Paul. Here are some photos of the sites and museum exhibits. They help to provide context for New Testament texts associated with Athens. Enjoy!”
– They certainly do help provide context – and are a great reminder that when we read the Book of Acts, we are dealing with history – real people and real places – a real gospel.
Photo: On top of The Areopagus.
Related:
“The Areopagite” by Bruce Smith.
Firstborn Failure
From Phillip Jensen:
“We return this week to Genesis and chapter 4. It’s a passage that Peter and I should be able to empathetically deal with: Cain and Abel, brothers at war!
Thank you to those who have sent messages of encouragement to us and questions to push our thinking. Please continue to encourage others to subscribe to Two Ways News.”
Can we redeem Halloween?
We first posted this link two years ago, in September 2023. As Halloween approaches, this episode of The Pastor’s Heart is worth revisiting, with ideas for churches and church members.
“How should Christians respond to customs, traditions, and stories that have associations with false religions, demonic powers, and evil?
Could a church building be covered in cobwebs and used as an invitation to come inside?
Would you run a Halloween event for the kids of your church so they don’t feel like they are missing out? Or would you run something as an outreach to connect to the neighborhood?
Is it about the occult and to be avoided at all costs and denounced – or is it kids in funny outfits and junk food?
To talk Halloween, kids and churches our guests are:
Craig Roberts, CEO of Sydney’s Anglican Youthworks and former minister of Neutral Bay Anglican Church.
Kristen Young, Director of student and community care at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.”
Related:
The Australian Church Record has today published Handling Halloween by Andy Bryan.
“As Halloween grows in popularity, it’s worth helping our children think about how to be in the world but not of it (John 17:15). This isn’t about everyone reaching the same conclusion, but about thinking theologically and guiding our families wisely. …
Whatever your decision, keep Jesus at the centre. Our aim is to glorify him in all we do.”
And from 12 years ago – Glen Scrivener shares a thought-provoking video on Halloween:
Holistic help for Christian addicts
From The Pastor’s Heart –
“How can we help those trapped in addiction? What about when we ourselves are the ones struggling?
Addiction is often an elephant in the room for pastors — whether it’s alcohol, substances, pornography, or sex addiction. And Antony’s research is asking: “How does the gospel of Jesus Christ bring real hope into the deep brokenness of addiction?”
Antony Dandato is Principal of Harare Theological College in Zimbabwe — a college that’s supported by our friends at Anglican Aid. …”
Judgement in New Testament — Where justice and mercy meet
From Phillip Jensen:
“One of the great themes of the early chapters of Genesis is the judgement of God.
In our discussions of the New Testament use of the themes of Genesis, we come today to talk of judgement in the New Testament. While it sounds, and is in fact, an unpleasant topic, we will see that it brings us into the heart of the wonderful topic of God’s mercy and love. So I hope you enjoy our discussion on judgement in the New Testament.”
– Hear Phillip and Peter Jensen at Two Ways News.
Thessalonica Archaeological and Historical Sites with photos
From Moore College’s Dr Lionel Windsor:
“In September 2025, I visited the the Greek city of Thessaloniki with my wife Bron and daughter Ellie. We went to see archaeological and historical sites associated with the Apostle Paul.
Here are some photos of the sites and museum exhibits. They help to provide context for New Testament texts associated with Thessalonica (=Thessaloniki). Enjoy!”
– It’s always helpful to see where key historical events took place.
See also:
Philippi Archaeological Site with photos.
Integrity in preaching
“…in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” – Titus 2:7-8, ESV
“Titus 2:7-8 teaches not just that a Christian leader be a person of integrity, but also that their integrity should be on display to the world, and that it should be evident in their teaching. This is not ‘practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them’ (Matthew 6:1); rather, it is more calling our people to ‘Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
How are Christian leaders to display their integrity in their preaching? I have three suggestions …”
– At The Expository Preaching Trust, Michael Leong has this encouragement for preachers.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…