Doctrine and Theology of Two Ways to Live

Phillip Jensen unpacks the doctrine and theology of Two Ways to Live in six lectures – recorded last year, and just posted at phillipjensen.com. A wonderful resource.

Watch it all, but be sure to start with the first lecture.

1	Two Ways To Live: Creation	February	2016
2	Two Ways To Live: Sin	March	2016
3	Two Ways To Live: Judgement	March	2016
4	Two Ways To Live: Atonement	March	2016
5	Two Ways To Live: Resurrection	March	2016
6	Two Ways To Live: Repentance And Faith	March	2016

Why I didn’t sing when I visited your church

“It was a joy to finally visit your church a couple of Sundays ago, and to worship with the believers there. You know I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. Just as you promised, the pastor is an excellent communicator and a man who loves God’s Word. His sermon was deeply challenging and led to some great conversations with my children.

Now, you asked me why it looked like I wasn’t singing. I know that was probably a little awkward, so thought I’d send along a brief explanation. Primarily, it’s because…”

– Posted last month, here are some thoughts from Tim Challies on congregational singing (or the lack of it).

Truthing in love

“Have you heard the saying ‘speak the truth in love’?

It appears quite often as a heading in blog posts that have titles such as ‘Seven top principles for using social media’. The phrase is normally used to mean something like ‘say true things in a charitable way’. The idea is this: sometimes you have to say hard and challenging things; when you do, make sure you’re using a gracious tone.

But do you know where the saying comes from? …”

– Even if you know the answer, you will be encouraged by this article from Lionel Windsor, at GoThereFor.com.

Moore Matters — Autumn 2017

The latest issue of Moore Matters, the Moore College newsletter, is now available.

Copies have been sent to churches, but if you missed out, you can download your copy from the College – on this page – or here’s the direct link to the file (a 10.5MB PDF file).

Among the articles is this one from Colin Bale on Marcus Loane’s Masters of the English Reformation:

“Marcus Loane’s Masters of the English Reformation was first published in 1954 and remains in print sixty-three years later.

The long period of the work being in print is a testimony not only to its important focus but also to its readability for successive generations.

The book presents biographical profiles of five key English reformers—Thomas Bilney, William Tyndale, Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer—showing how they contended for the truth in the period 1516 to 1556. Loane describes the vfie men as ‘Masters’ because, convicted of the truth of the gospel, their contributions were incredibly significant to the cause of Reformation in England.”

Read it all on page 10.

Also in this issue:

The Reformation Today
From the Principal
The Gospel and the Gospelers
The New Donald Robinson Library
Get to know the newest Faculty members
Meet the Students
Alumni: Where are they Now?

Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer

Back in January, we noted that this documentary on Martin Luther (featuring contributions by R.C.Sproul, Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, Carl Trueman and other reformed theologians) would be released in April.

It is now available – on DVD or as on-demand video. Check it out and see how you might use it during this 500th year of the Reformation.

“Discover the story behind the man who sparked the Protestant Reformation. Told through a seamless combination of live-action storytelling and artistic animation, Martin Luther’s daring life is presented in extensive detail while still making the film relevant, daring, and accessible.”

Five reasons Reformation Anglicanism is relevant

“The church is meant to be a beacon, marking out the safe path to true wholeness and hope. Sadly, however, the church today often capitulates to the world’s narrative without ever being aware of it. Our preaching can easily reinforce that we are what we do, telling people they must focus on doing things pleasing to God so he will continue to accept them. Yet true Christianity bases all its hope on what God has promised to do in, through, and for us because of his love—not on what we must try to do to earn it.

Here is the core message of Reformation Anglicanism. Forged in a time when the Western church had lost its way, its five characteristics illumine the authentic gospel once again for the 21st century. …”

– from Ashley Null, via The Gospel Coalition.

(Photo courtesy Trinity School for Ministry.)

The dignity of work

Moore College’s next Centre for Christian Living event for the year will be on ‘The dignity of work’.

What is the nature of work? Does God care about our work? What role does work play in the Christian life?

Chase Kuhn and Peter Orr are speaking on the nature of work and its place in the Christian life – on Wednesday 17 May, from 7:30 to 9:30pm in the Marcus Loane Hall, at Moore College.

More details from the College.

Can kids tell other kids about Jesus at school?

“Astonishingly, the answer to the question posed here, recently provided by the Queensland Department of Education and Training is: No!

In their latest reviews of material used in Special Religious Instruction (SRI) offered in public schools in that State, they assert as follows:

While not explicitly prohibited by the [relevant legislation], nor referenced in the [Departmental published] RI policy statement, the Department expects schools to take appropriate action if aware that students participating in RI are evangelising to students who do not participate in their RI class, given this could adversely affect the school’s ability to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all students.

(This statement is found both in the Report on the Review of the GodSpace Religious Instruction Materials, March 2017, at para 3.1.1 on p 5, and in the Report on the Review of the ACCESS ministries’ Religious Instruction Materials, Feb 2017, at para 3.1.1 on p 6.)

In this post I want to explain why this over-reaching bureaucratic imposition is not justified by the law governing the Department’s activities, and indeed is probably illegal. …”

– Posted a few days ago, Neil Foster, Associate Professor in Law at Newcastle, gives his opinion on directives from the Queensland Department of Education and Training.

Queen’s Birthday Conference 2017

This year’s Two Ways Ministries’ Queen’s Birthday Conference will be held on the Queen’s Birthday public holiday, Monday 12th June. Read more

The Message of the Resurrection

“There are several aspects of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ dwelt upon in the New Testament. It is profitable for us to consider two of them as we recall this outstanding event.

An aspect which is frequently overlooked in these days is brought prominently under our notice by St. Paul’s speech at Athens. Addressing Epicureans and Stoics Paul declared,

‘God commandeth all men everywhere to repent; Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead’ (Acts 17:30-31).

The Resurrection is a guarantee of judgment as it is an endorsement of the claim of our Lord to be the judge.”

– The Australian Church Record has republished this timely message from Archdeacon T.C. Hammond.

If Christ is Not Risen…

“I’ve always had something of an aversion to the ‘if Christianity is not true what do you lose’ sort of apologetical approach — precisely because Scripture is God’s word and because it is perfect in all that God reveals in it.

To raise the question almost seems to inadvertantly jeopardize the veracity of it. Nevertheless, that is precisely the kind of reasoning that the Apostle Paul utilized in 1 Corinthians 15 after he appealed to the clear teaching of Scripture about Jesus’ death and resurrection …”

– Nick Batzig writes at Reformation21.

A Legal Evaluation of the Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus

“On this Easter long weekend, as Christians around the world are remembering and celebrating the key events of the faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, readers may find a paper I wrote a little while ago helpful in evaluating the legal status of the various pieces of evidence supporting the fact of the resurrection. …”

– Our thanks to Neil Foster at Law and Religion Australia for these resources.

If there is no Resurrection – you’re following a Dead Christ

“I am always sceptical of surveys but the notion that 17% of people in Britain believe in the literal biblical account of the bible is for me quite astonishing…and encouraging. The fact that one in ten non-religious people believe the Easter story in some form is interesting – to say the least.

But perhaps the most fascinating and saddest statistic is that 25% of those who identify as Christians do not believe in the resurrection and only 31% believe in the literal biblical story. What is going on?”

– At The Wee Flea, David Robertson in Dundee responds to this week’s BBC poll on the beliefs of British ‘Christians’.

You can’t be Christian if you don’t believe in the resurrection, says former Queen’s chaplain – Telegraph.

“A former chaplain to the Queen has said that the quarter of Christians who say they do not believe in the Resurrection ‘cannot be Christians’.

The Rev Dr Gavin Ashenden said in a letter to the Times that a survey which found that one in four self-proclaimed Christians do not believe in Jesus’s Resurrection ‘made the mistake of confusing British culture with Christianity’. …”

Glorifying God with infertility

“Pip and I married in 2009. We discussed trying for children after one year of marriage. We saw children as a blessing from God (Ps 127:5), and we wanted to have them while we were relatively young and bring them up knowing Jesus – a testimony to the goodness of God’s purpose for children. …”

– Mike Taylor, member of the ACL Council, shares the goodness of the Lord in the midst of questions and tears. Take the time to read it, and be encouraged.

At GoThereFor.com.