2016 New College Lectures: Jesus and the Ten Gospels
“Some of the most widely published challenges to the Christian faith today have come in the publicity surrounding the ‘apocryphal’ Gospels not included in the Christian Bible.
The idea that there is nothing particularly special about the four New Testament Gospels has appeared in both the popular media and in Biblical scholarship, from references to the Gospel of Philip in the Da Vinci Code, to the publication by the Harvard Theological Review of the so-called ‘Gospel of Jesus’s Wife’ fragment.
These lectures will discuss the relevance of these Gospels outside of the Bible, comparing them with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.”
– New College at UNSW announces this year’s New College Lectures, to be given by Dr Simon Gathercole, Tuesday, 20th & Thursday, 22nd September 2016.
(Photo courtesy Lanier Theological Library.)
Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord now available
Paul Barnett’s new commentary, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, is now available from CEP.
You can check out some sample pages at this link.
Update: CEP tells us that that they have a 20% off everything sale – including this new commentary – from now until Friday 29 April.
The Reformation meets ‘Trellis and Vine’
Mark Dever interviewed Phillip Jensen at Together for the Gospel 2016 two weeks ago in Louisville, Kentucky.
In an enjoyable and encouraging interview, Phillip introduces his hearers to Sydney Anglicans and the English Reformation, explains why Anglicanism is the way it is now, and much more. Phillip also speaks of the latest from Matthias Media – The Vine Project, by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne. (The book will be available during May.)
Bathrooms and discrimination
“The use of public bathrooms has become a topic of fierce debate in recent days, in connection with the rights of transgender persons. I want to mention a few of the issues raised in the United States before discussing the situation in Australia…”
– In his latest informative post, Neil Foster, Associate Professor in Law at Newcastle, maps out some of the legal background for the controversy in the USA, as well giving a perspective on where the laws in Australia stand.
Moore College Open Events coming up in May
Here’s a good opportunity to learn about Moore College – especially if you are contemplating being better equipped for mission and ministry –
Open Night – Monday 2 May 7:15pm – 9:00pm.
Open Week – Monday 2 May – Friday 6 May.
Stott Bowdlerised
“Recently I bought a copy of John Stott’s brief and famous exposition of the Christian gospel, Basic Christianity, which I intended to give to a friend.
The book was first published in 1958 and has sold several million copies. It is at once simple and refined, gentle and uncompromising, and many people in the Anglophone world can trace their conversions to reading Stott’s little masterpiece. If any “spiritual classics” were published during the second half of the twentieth century, Basic Christianity surely is one. …
The Basic Christianity people are buying and reading today is a bad imitation of the original.”
– A disturbing observation from Barton Swaim at First Things. (via Tim Challies.)
Update: Here’s a response from Eerdmans.
Transgender issues under Australian Law — an overview
“The question of legal and social recognition of the rights of transgender persons is becoming a very hot topic of discussion. The recent debate in Australia on the content of the material provided for schools by the “Safe Schools Coalition” is one example. …
This post cannot deal with all the current issues. But I thought as a preliminary exercise it would be helpful to briefly review the current Australian law around the topic, to set the scene for future discussions. I will also offer a few comments on recent proposals for change to the criteria adopted for changing a person’s legal gender identity.”
– More useful legal background from Neil Foster, at Law and Religion Australia.
New book from Paul Barnett — Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord
Coming soon is a new book from Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord.
Details and pre-order info from CEP.
You won’t be late
“I have had punctuality bred into me, even now, if I am meeting my sisters, I know they will be at least 10 minutes early and sometimes I am even earlier.
Some people are habitually late, I am habitually early.
Oscar Wilde said that he was always late on principle, the principle being that punctuality is the thief of time. Evelyn Waugh believed punctuality to be the virtue of the bored, those who have nothing better to do than to be on time.
The writer of Hebrews says that there is an appointment we will all meet, none will be either early or late…”
– A concise reminder of the truth, from David Cook.
Back to Basics Part 5 — The power of the gospel
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That is what the Bible tells us. We are commanded to enter the kingdom of God by entrusting ourselves to Christ as our Lord and Saviour. That is, we enter and continue through repentance and faith.
The Canterbury meeting of the Primates made space for the summons to repentance to be heard once more.
Why is this so vital?…”
– GAFCON General Secretary, Dr. Peter Jensen, shares the fifth of six reflections on January’s Primates’ Meeting in Cambridge.
New 9Marks Journal — April 2016
“Church documents are a prosaic topic, to be sure. But they facilitate unity. They protect a church from being governed by the passions of the moment. And they force a congregation and its leaders to be careful, deliberate, reflective, and, hopefully, biblical. Not bad, for a boring old administrator’s job.
To put it another way, church documents are kind. It is kind to tell people what you think up front. It is kind [to] say what you will expect from them or how disagreements will be resolved…”
– The latest issue of 9Marks Journal is out. The theme is “Confessions, Covenants, and Constitutions”.
Justin Mote on Applying the Bible
In the latest Preaching Matters from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, Justin Mote speaks about applying the Bible – including five tips on things you can do to make application better.
Reflections on discipleship (part 1)
“How do you get someone to do something when they are afraid; they lack confidence and competence; they are uncomfortable; they have no experience; they have no vision or passion? This is the question that often plagues pastors and ministry leaders as they seek to empower people to serve…”
– At Equal but Different, Lesley Ramsay has the first in a series of encouraging posts on disciple-making.
Learning to Speak Christian in an Online World
At Moore College’s Centre for Christian Living, two weeks ago, the topic was “Learning to Speak Christian in an Online World”.
The aim of the centre is “to bring Biblical ethics to everyday issues”.
Watch Lionel Windsor’s talk. Practical and encouraging.
See also the intro by CCL Director Tony Payne and The Q&A afterwards.
Might make you want to get Lionel’s book. (Or like us on Facebook.)
Taking God at his Word — free audiobook April 2016
Christian Audio’s free book for April 2016 is Kevin DeYoung’s Taking God at his Word.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…