Pastoral heartbreak: young adults leaving evangelicalism for Orthodoxy and Catholicism
From The Pastor’s Heart – Pastoral heartbreak: young adults leaving evangelicalism for Orthodoxy and Catholicism and what to do about it, with John Diacos.
“On the surface, some are drawn by beauty, history, liturgy, mystery, masculinity, discipline and Orthodoxy’s claim to be the original church.
But John Diacos says beneath many of the surface attractions lies something much more spiritually dangerous.
John was converted from Orthodoxy to a clear faith in Jesus Christ 50 years ago, has served Jesus for decades in Melbourne and is the author of Certainty for Life: An Invitation for Those in Eastern Orthodoxy.
We ask: Why are evangelicals leaving for Orthodoxy? What is Orthodoxy offering that some evangelical churches seem not to offer? Where is Orthodoxy right in its critique of us? Where is it wrong? And what should pastors do when someone in our church starts drifting?”
Related:
Targeted and Engaged Evangelism to the Eastern Orthodox – The Gospel Coalition Australia.
Modern Idolatry
From Phillip Jensen:
“Dear friends,
Idolatry is as ancient and universal as slavery. Paul moves in his discussion of food offered to idols (chapter 8) to his enslaving himself for others’ salvation (chapter 9) to now address idolatry itself (chapter 10). Here we have the clear command, “flee from idolatry”, with the terrifying examples of God’s anger poured out on Israel whenever they engaged in idolatry.
This passage not only gives us clear Bible teachings on the sin of idolatry, but in the process it raises the issue of the Old Testament’s importance for Christians.
Two Ways News is provided free of charge by other people’s generosity. If you are not yet one of those kindly providing Two Ways News for others, can I encourage you to do so? You can find out more here.
Yours,
Phillip.”
Always well worth hearing and contemplating.
Jocelyn Loane reviews Everything is Never Enough by Bobby Jamieson
From The Australian Church Record –
“Our enormous collection of water bottles lives in a cupboard over our fridge. Every time I open it, I can almost be guaranteed a smack in the face by one falling out. You see, my five children have quite the fixation with acquiring the perfect water bottle. A few years ago, everyone was quite taken by a Contigo with a very satisfying silicone straw. Then a number became obsessed with owning a Frank Green (RRP $59.95). My very kind sister gifted us several one Christmas and I felt certain that, at that price, this should be the water bottle to finally satisfy. But no. A youth group leader introduced one daughter to the Owala FreeSip® (RRP $59.99). This water bottle can be used to both sip and swig. Revolutionary. We now own four. But even this did not scratch the itch. A child’s recent gift wish list included ‘Yeti water bottle’ at number three.
As I picked up Bobby Jamieson’s Everything is Never Enough, you can understand why my children and their water bottles immediately sprang to mind. …
This book deepened my appreciation for the beauty of the clear-sighted, timeless wisdom of Ecclesiastes. By dismantling the places we often, even unconsciously, seek satisfaction and meaning, Jamieson exposes the roots of our discontentment and unhappiness. It’s a commendation of the joyful Christian life that rejoices in the gifts we have constantly flung at us by our God, and that enjoys him infinitely more.
It is written with a non-Christian audience in mind …”
– Jocelyn Loane’s full review.
(We note that the book is currently on special at The Wandering Bookseller.)
Preparing to Lead Intercessions In Church
The Gospel Coalition Australia has re-posted this excellent article from Peter Adam, first published in 2016 –
“Praying together as a church is one of the great privileges of being a Christian.
A key part of our prayers are our intercessions, when we pray that God will do what he has promised to do. Without preparation, our public intercessions can get a bit thin.
If you are preparing to lead the intercessions in your church, you might find the following helpful. You could also use it to train others to lead the intercessions. …”
– Read it here.
Photo: St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.
Church Society Podcast — Psalms 1-41
From Church Society:
“Lee Gatiss hears from Ben Sargent, author of the new Hodder Bible Commentary on Psalms 1-41.”
– Listen here.
The Spiritual Discipline of Sleeping
Mark Powell at AP, the Australian Presbyterian journal, writes about sleep and the gospel –
“It should go without saying—but ironically, it needs to be said—that the reason we can sleep at all is because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Saviour’s great promise to all who are weary and burdened is to come to Him and He will give us rest (Matt. 11:28). Contrast this with the tragic, and indeed horrific, fate of unbelievers as described in Revelation 14:11, which says that there is ‘no rest for the wicked’ and ‘the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever.’…”
King’s Birthday Conference 2026 talks are now available
The Two Ways Ministries Team shares the news that the King’s Birthday Conference 2026 talks are now available:
“We had a wonderful afternoon at the King’s Birthday Conference 2026, with 302 people attending and exploring the important topic of Prophecy Today.
Great news – the talks are now available on our website phillipjensen.com.”
– Watch or listen at these links:
KBC Talk 1 – Prophecy Today
KBC Talk 2 – Today’s Prophecy
KBC 2026 Full Conference.
Good to learn and good to share.
Freedom of Slavery
From Phillip Jensen –
“Dear friends,
Slavery is one of the ancient world’s most common practices. The notion that chattel slavery would be banned around the world was unthinkable until relatively recent times; yet today in our society, it is chattel slavery itself that is unthinkable.
All slavery is a restriction of freedom, and so our title ‘Freedom of Slavery’ is intentionally paradoxical. But then, Paul’s attitude to slavery in 1 Corinthians 9 is something of a paradox. For in this freedom, he chooses to enslave himself for others that they may enjoy the freedom of the gospel. It is in this context that we have one of the great passages on cross-cultural evangelism.
I hope you enjoy this episode of Two Ways News. If you want to contact us with a comment or question, please email us at respond@twm.email.
Yours,
Phillip”
The Hidden Cost of Avoiding Theology
At The Gospel Coalition, Jacob Perry argues for the importance of theological clarity in churches. As part of his conclusion, he writes –
“Theological clarity isn’t a burden pastors impose on their people, but a gift. By teaching doctrine clearly, a shepherd protects his sheep from wolves in sheep’s clothing, from predators who speak in the sheep’s own language. Doctrine is an expression of love for Christ’s body. By teaching it, pastors help their congregations know what they believe and why it matters. …”
Why do young people leave the church, and what do we need to change to help them stay? Ruth Lukabyo
From The Pastor’s Heart –
“New research suggests that around 70% of those who attended church regularly at age 11 are no longer attending by their late twenties, with the most vulnerable years stretching from around age 10 through to 25.
Dean of Students at Youthworks College Ruth Lukabyo explores why young people disengage, how inherited faith becomes owned faith and what churches can do to better navigate the critical transitions from childhood to adulthood.
We discuss the practical changes pastors, parents and churches can make to help more young people keep following Jesus for the long haul.”
– Very helpful. Watch or listen here.
My Rights — Freedom, life, and liberty?
From Phillip Jensen –
“Today we are looking at freedom from slavery in the beginning of 1 Corinthians 9, but we decided to call this episode ‘My Rights’, for the way the passage has been translated raises the question of ‘rights’. The passage is really about the authority of the Apostle—an authority he does not use in his concern for other people’s salvation.
It is an extraordinary explanation of the nature of Christ’s work of salvation, preached in the apostolic gospel and lived out by the Apostle Paul.”
– Listen (or read the transcript) at Two Ways News.
(You can also join the Supporters Club – scroll down at this link.)
Nine Questions every Pastor should ask about their Church’s music
9Marks has republished this 2014 article by Keith and Kristyn Getty, excerpted from their book Sing!: How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church –
“The one thing we have learned above all others as we have traveled with our music these last ten years is this: Good congregational singing begins with the pastoral leadership.
Whatever the denomination, musical style, or cultural background, the singing is directly proportional to the senior pastor’s or leadership team’s care for the subject. It is not primarily the music, or the musical leadership, or the budget. Just like parents can’t blame their child’s ballet teacher if she behaves badly through the week, so the leader of the church, and not the music leader or team, is ultimately responsible for how well the congregation is singing.
With that in mind, here are 10 questions we encourage every pastor to ask. …”
– Read it here.
Last week we linked to Liv Chapman Leggett’s review of the book at The Australian Church Record.
Have we preached the word richly, but failed to let the word dwell richly among us?
From The Pastor’s Heart this week –
“Have we preached the word richly, but failed to let the word dwell richly among us?
Tony Payne provocatively argues that while evangelicalism has successfully recovered expository preaching and every-member ministry, we have not adequately recovered every-member word ministry.
Tony argues that the Reformation remains unfinished, that we haven’t fully thought through the implications of the priesthood of all believers, and that passages like Ephesians 4, Hebrews and especially 1 Corinthians 11-14 may need to be read rather differently than many of us have assumed.
Tony asks, have we trained people to serve on teams, but not trained them to speak God’s word to one another?
It’s a challenge that reaches into some of our most fundamental assumptions about Christian ministry.
We discuss prophecy, the ministry of women, the role of the pastor-teacher, preaching and discipleship, and what it would actually look like for the word of Christ to reverberate through a congregation rather than stopping at the pulpit.”
Related:
Let the Word Dwell Richly — by Tony Payne – post 03 June 2026.
Five Foundations for Ministry to Children — Colin Buchanan
“I want to share something of my story to encourage you to consider that God is in the midst of your story, working it out and equipping you. I want to encourage you that your ministry techniques can rise out of your story, but more importantly, can rise out of the scriptures and your understanding of the Bible.
Here are a few things I’ve learnt from my time in ministry to children. They are principles that have arisen out of my personal experiences and the scriptures. These are just a few foundations, five ministry “stones” I have learnt over the years. …”
– Colin Buchanan shares this encouragement – from a talk he gave at the SMBC 2026 Children’s Ministry Conference.
The love that builds up
An important and practical topic from Phillip Jensen –
“Dear friends,
‘Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up’. What a challenge Paul gives to us in the first verse of his answer to the Corinthians’ question about food offered to idols.
As we continue our discussion of this part of 1 Corinthians, I hope you will share with us the wonder of thinking lovingly about knowledge. For knowledge, especially the knowledge of God and his ways, is very important. But knowledge, like many good things, can be used for evil as well as for good. Without love, our knowledge will be used for our benefit instead of the benefit of others. And so we will fall under the condemnation of being puffed up instead of building others up.
It is just so fascinating how Paul’s discussions of particular problems in 1st century Corinth open up for us such permanently important topics.”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…