Resolving the ‘Romans controversies’ — with Brian Rosner

From The Pastor’s Heart this week –

“Well, we give it a serious go in 30 minutes.

What is the ‘righteousness of God’?
Is it faith in Christ or the faithfulness of Christ?
Who is the ‘I’ in Romans 7?
What exactly is Paul saying about Israel and the Law?
How does Romans use the Old Testament?
And is the gospel mainly about individual salvation or shaping a new community?

Ridley College’s Brian Rosner has just released a major theological overview of Romans ‘Strengthened by the Gospel’ — and along the way he thoughtfully engages nearly every major scholarly controversy.

If you’ve ever taught Romans, struggled with Romans, or simply wanted to understand Romans more deeply you will enjoy this fast moving discussion through the controversies of Romans.”

– Watch or listen here. Most encouraging.

An Archaeological discovery may shed light on the Gospel of Luke

In a video published last week, Shane Rosenthal (long involved with The White Horse Inn podcast, and now hosting The Humble Skeptic) extends earlier discussion on the Joanna Ossuary –

“In this video, Shane Rosenthal, host of The Humble Skeptic podcast, takes a trip to a museum on the campus of the University of Haifa in Israel, in order to take a closer look at what he believes is one of the most significant, yet overlooked, archaeological discoveries related to the Bible.

In 1983, an ossuary belonging to Joanna, the granddaughter of Theophilus, the high priest, was discovered near Jerusalem. Could this be a reference to the Joanna and Theophilus mentioned in Luke’s Gospel (Lk 1:3, 8:3, 24:10)?”

Watch here.

In his forthcoming book, Luke’s Key Witness, he also looks at the suggestion that Andronicus and Junia, mentioned in Romans 16:7, may be the same people as Joanna and her husband Chuza mentioned in Luke 8:3.

On his podcast, he interviews many scholars, including Peter Bolt (Who is Theophilus?), who also proposes the link between Joanna of the ossuary and the Joanna of Luke’s Gospel, as well as many other fascinating ideas about Luke.

And in a similar vein, he interviews T.C. Schmidt, who makes the case for the authenticity of Josephus’ mention of Jesus. (T.C. Schmidt’s book Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ was reviewed recently by John Dickson at The Gospel Coalition.)

The One Church Divided

From Phillip Jensen:

“Church division dishonours our Lord and creates great pain amongst his people. Sadly, it is all too frequent in our experience. But what is the nature of church unity, and what level of priority should we give to it? Clarity of thought and expression is very important when painful disagreements are being addressed; this is particularly true when we discuss the nature of unity and the church.

In Corinth was the disunited church of God. This is the issue that Paul discusses in his first letter to the Corinthians. However, we must remember that he not only addresses the particular situation of the Corinthian church, but also ‘all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.’ ”

– Listen here at Two Ways News.

Pottery of the Roman Era

“In 1995 I took a semester of Study Leave and went back to University.

The founding Professor of Ancient History, Edwin Judge, was still lecturing at Macquarie University and I enrolled in all his classes.

One of the extra classes available, which I didn’t think would be especially relevant,  was, ‘Pottery of the Roman Era’.

The class turned out to be surprisingly interesting.

The assessment involved writing a 3000 word essay on observations of a piece of pottery …”

– David Cook shares some encouragement to grow in your knowledge of something even more exciting than Roman pottery.

Explaining for impact

“In his book Setting Hearts on Fire, the Sydney evangelist, John Chapman, counsels preachers to do six things for every point in their sermons:

• State the point
• Show where it’s from in the Bible
• Explain the point
• Illustrate the point
• Apply the point
• Restate the point.

Of these, our explanations are often the most dull and unexciting parts of the sermon. Illustrations are relatable, illuminating, and often humorous; applications are concrete and practical. When preachers explain the text, however, we wish they’d just get on with it and tell us what to do; it feels like a hoop we have to jump through in order to get to the good stuff. …”

– At The Expository Preaching Trust, Michael Leong explains how to Explain for Impact in a sermon.

Thanks for the Church

From Phillip Jensen:

“Today we start our year’s work by looking at the opening of
1 Corinthians. It’s such an exciting letter covering so many topics that we look forward to God using this podcast to challenge us all.”

– In their first podcast on 1 Corinthians, Phillip and Peter Jensen lay the foundations for what’s ahead. Listen at Two Ways News.

How should a Christian respond to the Bondi Beach shooting?

From The Australian Church Record –

“Although the shooting of Jewish people at Bondi Beach occurred over a month ago, the questions it raises have not faded. Acts of targeted violence leave lasting wounds—within individuals, communities, and cities—and the way we respond to them continues to shape our shared life long after the headlines move on. For Christians, reflection after the immediacy has passed is often when deeper, more faithful responses can be formed. This article is written in that spirit.

By way of background, I am of Jewish descent. My mother accepted Jesus as the Messiah, as I have, and we are often described as Messianic Jews. This heritage shapes how I grieve acts of violence against Jewish people in our own city and how I reflect on them as a Christian pastor in this city who is Jewish.

The shooting of Jewish people at Bondi Beach confronts us with intentional evil, resulting in grief, and was designed to bring fear. As Christians, we must be careful not to respond as the world does. …”

– Andrew Bruce, Rector of St Barnabas’ Westmead, helps Christians think about what we can do, and how we can pray.

The Rejection of Atheism is turning Boys into Men — Wes Huff and Dan Paterson

From John Anderson:

“John Anderson speaks with Wes Huff and Dan Paterson about the striking cultural shift among younger generations towards a renewed search for meaning, transcendence, and moral grounding. They reflect on disillusionment with secular narratives and the renewed interest in Christianity as a source of lifelong direction and purpose.

Huff and Paterson explore the impact of numerous online role models for young men, including Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate. This is a conversation that questions whether modern society can sustain itself without a deeper moral and spiritual foundation.

Wes Huff is the Vice President for Apologetics Canada and has participated in public dialogues, debates, and interfaith events on issues of belief and religion around the world. He holds a BA in sociology from York University, a Masters of Theological Studies from Tyndale University, and is currently doing a PhD in New Testament at the University of Toronto’s Wycliffe College.

Dan Paterson is the founder Questioning Christianity. He has experience as a pastor, lecturer, and public speaker, having studied Theology and Apologetics in Australia and at Oxford. Paterson speaks regularly to audiences across the belief spectrum on how the gospel connects to life’s biggest questions, and on the popular objections to the Christian faith.”

– Watch at JohnAnderson.net.au.

The most dangerous meeting in your church? Rethinking the Annual General Meeting!

From The Pastor’s Heart this week –

“For many pastors, the AGM is something to be survived — not led.

A governance headache. A compliance exercise.

And for some, the meeting where old tensions resurface and trust quietly erodes.

But what if we’ve misunderstood the AGM?

What if, instead of just doing compliance, we aimed to build confidence?

What if the AGM could be a leadership moment — one that strengthens, not damages, your church?

Jo Gibbs (Reach Australia) and Dave Moore (Hunter Bible Church) on how to plan and lead an excellent church AGM.

• Why good AGM preparation is actually pastoral care
• How to move from enduring the AGM to envisioning it
• Why ‘no surprises’ is kindness, not bureaucracy
• What faithful impact and financial reporting really look like
• And what a genuinely Jesus-honouring AGM would feel like.”

– Watch or listen here.

 

Bondi and Antisemitism

From Phillip Jensen:

“Before we start our 2026 Two Ways News series on 1 Corinthians, we need to have an important discussion on Bondi and antisemitism. This is something that neither of us imagined would happen.

Not all our listeners will agree with our views, but we hope the thinking and discussion is helpful grist to the mill.”

– Listen to this edition of the Two Ways News podcast from Phillip and Peter Jensen.

Church Society podcast – Leviticus

From Church Society,

“Dr Katherine Davis, author of the new Hodder Proclamation Bible Commentary on Leviticus talks to Lee Gatiss about its relevance as Christian scripture today.”

– Listen here.

Photo credit SMBC.

The influence of reading

Ian Carmichael – with Matthias Media from the start (when they were known as St Matthias Press!) – shares some thoughts about reading:

“It will, I’m sure, come as no surprise to you that I am a reading enthusiast. But I don’t mean I read enthusiastically; I don’t. I generally find reading quite hard work (especially reading whilst remaining awake – which I concede is the more effective of the two modes of reading). No, I am a reading enthusiast because I believe wholeheartedly in its benefits. I am confident of its benefits generally and its benefits for our growth and maturity as Christians.

An organization in Australia called Australia Reads is on a mission to get more Australians reading, and they’ve published a significant report into the reading habits of Aussies in the hope of revealing potential strategies for achieving that mission.

I have now read that report. (See, their mission is working already!) …”

– Read it here.

Admittedly, this is could be a plug to buy books from Matthias Media (their New Year sale ends tomorrow!), but it’s also encouragement to church leaders to set an example in reading.

Photo: Ian and Stephanie Carmichael.

How did we get here? How 1776 culturally and intellectually shaped the post-Christian West

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“Wisdom for pastors seeking to preach and lead well in a post-Christian age.

So much of our culture judges events in isolation — a single moment, a single failure, a single decision — detached from what led to it and what flows from it. But history doesn’t work like that. Events emerge from long trajectories, and they reshape the future in ways no one fully controls or intends.

We’re joined by Archie Poulos, Head of the Ministry Department at Moore Theological College, to reflect on Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West by Andrew Wilson.

Wilson’s argument isn’t that everything changed overnight in 1776, but that the events clustered around that year give us a window into the forces that have shaped the WEIRDER world we now inhabit — Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic, Ex-Christian and Romantic.

We explore why reading history as an ecosystem rather than isolated episodes matters, why Romanticism isn’t just a past movement but our present operating system, and how Christian faith — offers a deeper, more hopeful way to understand our moment.”

– Watch or listen here.

God is the Judge of the World

From Phillip Jensen:

“The climax of Paul’s great Athenian sermon is the call of God for all people to repent. But there are some strange elements in this call. One important element is its timing. Another is in the judgement ‘by a man’.

Let’s listen afresh to Paul’s great gospel statement.”

– Here Phillip and Peter Jensen discuss, including the difference between repentance and remorse. Who will judge the world? Why is the Resurrection so important?

Mentoring 2026

From David Cook at The Expository Preaching Trust –

“Ian Healy believed that one aspect of Shane Warne’s  genius was that he always looked for feedback and who better to give it than his wicketkeeper, Healy.

The Trust makes available preaching mentors, men and women who have had many years of preaching and training experience to give feedback on preaching.

Mentors are available free of charge on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.

Comments from mentees:

‘…mentoring is the hour each week when I slow down and sharpen the saw. I want to make sure I keep growing sharper in my preparation rather than getting dull over time’.

‘Preaching mentoring is one of the most valuable things I receive, I am a teacher of God’s people, as I am mentored, I have the privilege of being a learner myself’.

One of our mentors, Jenny Salt, adds her encouragement …”

– Read the encouragement here.

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