The Church Singing — latest 9Marks Journal
Check out the latest 9Marks Journal –
“In this edition of the 9Marks Journal, we start with singing and the song. Why do congregations sing, what should they sing about, and how can they sing better?
We then think more carefully about the music itself, particularly with two different perspectives on whether or not some musical forms are better than others. Finally we think about what is involved in leading music.”
Free eBook on Isaac Watts
“In an age of simplistic and repetitive choruses, many churches are rediscovering the blessing of theologically rich and biblically informed songs. In the latest addition to our A Long Line of Godly Men Profile series, Douglas Bond introduces us to Isaac Watts, ‘the father of English hymnody.’…”
– free eBook from Ligonier Ministries during May 2014.
David Cook on Gospel Preaching
David Cook has been preaching evangelistically for St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London.
While there, he was interviewed about Gospel Preaching for the Preaching Matters series. Most encouraging.
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God – one of J I Packer’s most important books – is this month’s free Audiobook download from Christian Audio. It’s read by American Grover Gardner.
The Legacy I want to Leave — Piper
“When I think of the coming generations, I am not content to only leave them a deposit of books and sermons that celebrate the glories of God and the wonders of Christian Hedonism. A great teacher once told me to ignore the conclusions of commentaries, and only look for their arguments. I have tried to give good arguments.
But underneath all the arguments is the Book. The Bible. If future generations only learn what we saw, and not how to see it for themselves, they will be second-handers. And second-handers cannot last. …”
– John Piper introduces “Look at the Book”.
Tim Challies on Brian McLaren
“Along the way we have visited such figures as Joseph Smith (Mormonism), Ellen G. White (Adventism), Norman Vincent Peale (Positive Thinking) and Benny Hinn (Faith Healing). Today we turn to a man who helped lead the Emerging Church and who was once named by TIME as one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America.”
– In his series on ‘The False Teachers’, Tim Challies (who will be in Oz later this month) turns to Brian McLaren.
(Brian McLaren was one of the speakers at the 2008 Lambeth Conference.)
Saints
“ I turned up for my early morning coffee today and, helping my newsagent friend, Charlie, dropped off today’s edition of La Fiama, the Italian newspaper, to my barista, Dom. I asked him, as usual, to translate the headline – ‘Pope declares two Popes saints’.
How does a person become a saint in the Roman Catholic church?…”
– David Cook on who the real saints are. (published 29 April 2014.)
A Conversation with Tyndale House’s Peter Williams
Dr. Peter Williams, Warden at Tyndale House in Cambridge, was interviewed recently in Arizona. He was asked about the future of the church, and what challenges and encouragements there are.
15 minutes, worth watching. (h/t Justin Taylor.)
‘Women, Sermons and the Bible’ coming in May
Tony Payne at Matthias Media writes:
“…I’m pleased to be able to announce that on Monday 5th May, Matthias Media will release Women, Sermons and the Bible: Essays Interacting with John Dickson’s Hearing Her Voice (edited by Peter Bolt and Tony Payne).
The collection not only responds to the main arguments of Hearing Her Voice (regarding whether women should give sermons in the regular Sunday gathering), but also bounces off this specific question to consider some larger issues…”
– See the table of contents at the Matthias Media website.
Mohler & colleagues publish important response to ‘God and the Gay Christian’
Albert Mohler and four colleagues at The Southern Baptist Seminary have published an e-book in response to “God and the Gay Christian”, which was also published today.
Mohler explains why a response is important:
“The church has often failed people with same-sex attractions, and failed them horribly. We must not fail them now by forfeiting the only message that leads to salvation, holiness, and faithfulness.”
Related:
Sexegesis: An important contribution to a vital debate.
Justin Taylor: Why book-length responses to other books can be helpful.
Themelios vol 39, issue 1 now available
The latest issue of the theological journal Themelios is now available for free download from The Gospel Coalition.
Check it out – including Don Carson’s editorial, “Do the Work of an Evangelist”.
h/t Andy Naselli.
Archbishop Glenn Davies’ Easter Message 2014
Click here for the full text and PDF download. Read more
The Flesh and Bones of the Resurrection
“Now the first thing to affirm is that Jesus’ resurrection really was bodily. Thomas was able to observe and touch Jesus’ hands and side (Jn. 20:27). Jesus himself declared that he was ‘flesh and bones’ and not some ghost (Luke 24:39). Jesus was even able to eat (Luke 24:43). And lets not forget that the tomb itself was empty.
In a world that has always been sceptical about the resurrection this great truth must continue to be proclaimed.”
– The Australian Church Record publishes a second article on the significance of Easter.
What actually happened on Resurrection Day? A clear and simple account
“Many detractors of the Christian message claim that the four accounts of Jesus’ resurrection contain discrepancies that are irreconcilable and so fatal to the Gospels’ authenticity and truth. Contrary to these claims, the extraordinary events of that amazing day can be told in a clear and simple account.
It was Sunday, the 5th April AD 33, and the action began around dawn with exactly three women involved…”
– Dr. Peter Bolt explores what happened on Resurrection Day.
(Photo: St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)
Easter: It Really Happened! So What?
In the lead up to Easter, The Australian Church Record is sharing some encouragement from the Scriptures every few days. From the first article –
“When it comes to the resurrection of Jesus, most contemporary Christian writing has been centred on its historicity. Preaching often tends to focus on the historical details and the fact that it really happened, rather than its meaning. As a result, the average pew sitter might have a robust apologetic in response to the historical claim of the resurrection, but be somewhat cloudy when it comes to its theological significance…”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…