Words of encouragement from Gordon and Ruth Russell
Moore College has posted four brief, but very encouraging, videos with College graduates Gordon and Ruth Russell.
Take the time to watch. At around three minutes each, the videos are ideal for screening in mid-week meetings or on Sundays.
2. Why Moore, and what’s next for you?
Christ amongst the ‘gods’
“Today, Australia is visibly a religiously plural society. Christianity is no longer the ‘normal’ religion. Religious diversity is the new normal. And we experience that diversity daily. … This is the first of three articles about responding to religious plurality in Australia…”
– the Gospel, Society and Culture Committee of the Presbyterian Church of NSW is helping Australian Christians to think through the issues of living in a multifaith society. You can download the PDF file here.
This is the God who Saves – new EP from Michael Morrow
“Michael Morrow is a UK based Australian musician who has produced songs with EMU Music and on his own.
You might remember him from songs like This Life I Live, Nothing But The Blood, and Come Hear The Angels Sing.
He’s just released a four song EP that takes its name with the first track, This Is The God Who Saves…”
– thanks to Gary Ware for spotting this.
David Cook on Preaching Galatians
“Why is the Gospel so momentous? Is the work of Christ sufficient to bring us into relationship with God, or do we need to make some additive? What place is there for the law in the lives of Christians already saved by grace through faith?
David Cook explains why it is so important to preach Galatians properly. The law will not justify us, but neither will the law sanctify us. The law is no help in causing us to grow in godliness or in maintaining our relationship with God. The work of Christ doesn’t need supplementing by anything we may attempt to do.”
– Check out the latest Preaching Matters video from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.
What does the Bible really teach about Homosexuality? — Repost
“If I had to choose only one book to recommend to someone (whether a Christian or non-Christian) who wanted to read a basic overview of what the Bible says about homosexuality and what that means for today, this is it.”
– Andy Naselli on “What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?” by Kevin DeYoung.
You can download a 36 page sample and study guide via Andy’s site, and order a copy from various booksellers.
Update: See Kevin DeYoung speak on this topic (March 2015) at a special event at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. 63 minutes.
See also the panel Discussion after the address – 54 minutes – with thanks to Crossway.
Related: Human Sexuality and the ‘Same Sex Marriage’ Debate, from The Sydney Doctrone Commission.
The upside-down cross
At GoThereFor, Tony Payne reflects on Simon Manchester’s talk at the recent Nexus Conference.
Read Tony’s highlights and watch the whole address here. Well worth your time.
The troubled conscience
“Does God speak through our conscience? Does changing your mind really change your behaviour? Should we follow our head or our heart?
At our next [Moore College] Centre for Christian Living (CCL) event Tony Payne and Peter Bolt will explore two concepts that shape the Bible’s teaching about these matters: ‘conscience’ and ‘mind’.”
– Tuesday 26 May at Toongabbie Anglican.
Reaching Islam (Part 1 & 2)
In the latest training videos from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, Rob Scott speaks about understanding and loving our Muslim neighbours.
Watch NEXUS 2015
The NEXUS 2015 Conference was held today at Ryde, in Sydney. If you missed it, you can watch the recording of the livestream thanks to the organisers.
Simon Manchester, Mark Thompson and Phil Colgan were this year’s main speakers. Very encouraging and worthwhile.
The video begins with Dominic Steele interviewing some of the attendees. The first talk (Simon Manchester on Galatians 6) starts at 64 minutes in.
John Woodhouse on 1 Kings 1 and the Servant King
Former Moore College Principal, Dr. John Woodhouse, was back at college this week, and preached in Chapel for the first time since he retired.
Hear the sermon on 1 Kings 1:1-10 and the Servant King. Most challenging and encouraging.
NEXUS 2015 registration last days
It’s less than a week to this year’s NEXUS Conference – at St. Anne’s Ryde on Monday 11th May.
More than a feeling … but the feeling still counts
“Recently I asked a group of young people to jot down the world’s take on romantic relationships. There were no surprises in their responses: ‘Get into a relationship if it feels good and get out of it when it is no longer fun’; ‘It doesn’t have to last, it just has to be fun for both parties’; ‘Do what feels right for you’; ‘It’s about feeling’.
These answers capture so much of our culture. We love experiences. Our feelings really matter. Freedom and fulfilment are found in expressing our desires – having as few boundaries and restraints as possible as long as we don’t hurt anyone else. We are awash with a focus upon ourselves. As another of my respondents put it, sex and relationships are ‘about me’…”
– Positive insights on marriage from Dr. Keith Condie, Dean of Students at Moore College.
Gospel Coalition 2015 conference audio
The Gospel Coalition’s 2015 National Conference was held April 13-15, and audio files of all the talks and workshops are now available.
Plenty of encouraging and challenging talks to hear.
Last on the list of files, John Yates II and John Yates III speak on “The Anglican Book of Common Prayer: What relevance does it have to today’s contemporary worship?”. [John III spoke at NSW CMS Summer School this year.]
“More and more pastors and church leaders are discovering the remarkable contribution Thomas Cranmer made to us all through his Book of Common Prayer.
This Reformation martyr’s understanding of what matters in worship is reverberating more and more through the evangelical community all around the world. The genius of Reformation Anglicanism is found in Cranmer’s timeless insights into the human heart and our motivations for Christian service.”
The Clarity of Scripture
Moore College Principal Mark Thompson was interviewed by Michael Horton on The White Horse Inn broadcast earlier this month. The topic: The Clarity of Scripture.
“Does the incredible variety of Christian denominations and interpretive traditions imply that the Scriptures themselves are unclear? How can we know what the Bible really says if there are so many different interpretations of it? ”
You can listen here. Most encouraging.
Mark’s book, A Clear and Present Word – The clarity of Scripture, (New Studies in Biblical Theology 21) was published by Apollos / InterVarsity Press in 2006.
Paul in Rome in the Sixties
“The book of Acts indicates that Paul was under ‘house arrest’ in Rome, most probably between 60-62.
Luke’s text suggests that Paul was then released, something First Timothy and Titus also imply.
Second Timothy, written from Rome, however indicates that Paul was soon to face execution. Presumably, this execution was at the decision of Nero Caesar following the Great Fire in 64.”
– Confused about the Apostle Paul’s final years in Rome? Read this fascinating new article by Bishop Paul Barnett to understand better what was going on.
Tip: You may want to first read his earlier piece, ‘Paul lived in Rome two whole years’. The Mysterious Ending of Luke-Acts.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…