John Newton’s 1767 Diary
“Some authors wait a long time to see their work reach publication. In Newton’s case, the wait for this one has been 256 years!
Rhys Bezzant, Dean of the Anglican Institute at Ridley College, comments: ‘1767 was a remarkable year in the life of John Newton, not least because he travelled extensively and subsequently moved into a new rectory. In his Diary of this year we learn about his aching soul, his busy schedule, his pastoral heart, and his prodigious correspondence. Here we meet no detached preacher elevated above his congregation, but someone who wrestled with the meaning of a text and engaged honestly with his parishioners concerning his own future in Olney…’
In 1767 John Newton kept a small pocket diary of the sort we might buy today, with one page for recording the week’s events and the opposite page for keeping a record of accounts. You would be excused for thinking that the transcript would be brief, but somehow this has morphed into an illustrated 72-page A4 edition, augmented with illustrations and illuminating footnotes, published by The John Newton Project. …”
– Marylynn Rouse at the John Newton Project in the UK has been working to open windows into the life and thinking of someone who has had a huge influence worldwide.
Read about it at AP, the national journal of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.
The Diary for 1767 is available from johnnewton.org/shop.
See also:
Lord hast thou not a time for these poor benighted souls? – John Newton’s prayer for ‘poor benighted souls’ on the other side of the world.
Defence Sunday — 5 November 2023
Defence Anglicans has a video and some resources to help us pray for Defence Chaplains and those they serve.
This year, Defence Sunday can be observed on Sunday 5th or 12th of November.
Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force, Grant Dibden, asks local churches to partner with the chaplains in prayer, and financially if possible.
A heart issue and skill deficit – addressing deep problems in Mission and Maturity – with Andrew Heard
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“A few weeks ago on The Pastor’s Heart we talked with Zac Veron and Raj Gupta about issues confronting Sydney Anglicans.
The National Church Life Survey shows a drop in newcomers from 9% in 2011 to 5.4% in 2021 – a more than ten year trend of fewer people joining church.
Plus there’s been a 7.5% drop in attendance between 2015 and 2019.
But it’s not just the Sydney Anglicans that need a wake up call. It’s most of us in Australian Evangelicalism.
And if you are a senior pastor watching from around the world – it’s highly likely that there will be a massive overlap between your problems and our problems.
Andrew Heard leads the large and influential EV church on the Central Coast of New South Wales. He’s also the key person behind the influential Reach Australia movement. And is a leader in the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.”
– A wake-up call. Watch here.
New College Lectures 2023 with Chris Watkin
The recent 2023 New College Lectures with Assoc. Professor Chris Watkin have now been made available on their YouTube channel.
The topic: A Christian Critical Theory?
See also:
Interrogating identity: From philosophical theories to Biblical wisdom – with Chris Watkin
The Wandering Bookseller is also having a sale this weekend
The Wandering Bookseller has 25% off all stock this weekend (28-29 October 2023).
(Again, this is not a sponsored post, but we thought you might be interested.)
Matthias Media warehouse spring clean
Matthias Media is having a “spring clean” sale for orders within Oz. Many books and tracts on special. Ends 31 October.
They’re not sponsoring this – we just thought you might like to know.
Freedom23 — Freedom for Faith National Conference
The 2023 Freedom for Faith National Conference is coming up at Village Church Annandale on Monday 6th November.
Details and booking from their website.
Are You Listening to Yourself?
“A verse that encourages me greatly, in preaching, is Jesus’ words in John 10:27:
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
When we communicate God’s word, it gathers the sheep, the sheep come to listen, they recognise Jesus voice.
Its encouraging, because God’s truth attracts God’s people, so when I am discouraged by small numbers, this verse reminds me – God’s people listen to God’s voice, and want to hear Him speak to them through His word, and faithful preaching. …”
– At The Expository Preaching Trust, Jim Mobbs encourages preachers to listen to their own sermons.
Picture: Detail from “The Evangelist”, a painting of Arthur Stace preaching in the open air, by artist David Lever.
Halloween Interview – Ian Carmichael
“Ian Carmichael is a publishing consultant for Matthias Media and author of the publishing company’s first Halloween-themed tract.
The ACR caught up with Ian to hear about some of the opportunities we can take advantage of at this time of year. …”
– Read the interview at The Australian Church Record.
D. A. Carson’s Theological Method
“In 2011, the Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology published my article ‘D. A. Carson’s Theological Method.’
In 2023, Crossway has published a book of essays by D. A. Carson in which I update my 2011 article, and Crossway has graciously granted me permission to upload a PDF of my updated essay on my website…”
– See Andy Naselli’s updated article at his website.
George Whitefield College newsletter October 2023
The October 2023 newsletter from George Whitefield College in Cape Town has been released.
For your encouragement and your prayers, download the PDF file here – or see select articles on their website.
Interrogating identity: From philosophical theories to Biblical wisdom – with Chris Watkin
From The Pastor’s Heart –
“We traverse the historical landscape of identity, starting from Descartes’ cogito ergo sum or ‘I think, therefore I am,’ to the current age where identity has become a commodity.
Chris Watkin, the award-winning author of Biblical Critical Theory, helps us understand possessive individualism, starting with John Locke, expressive individualism, and how both terms help us grapple with modern identity formation.
Plus, we probe into the delicate balance between dignity and humility in the context of human identity.”
Related:
Andrew Moody reviewers Biblical Critical Theory at The Gospel Coalition Australia.
The book is available from Christian booksellers, including The Wandering Bookseller.
My Greatest Recommendation for Kids – Best News Ever
“Recently, a friend was telling me about a poll they conducted among the parents at their church. One question asked about whether the parents read the Bible regularly with their kids at home. They were surprised to find that only about ten percent of families did. Anecdotally, I’d say that seems a pretty fair representation of churches more widely. …”
– At The Australian Church Record, Jocelyn Loane has some practical help.
(Available from The Wandering Bookseller.)
Some of the greatest women in church history – with Rachel Ciano
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“Our focus today is on the massive legacy of some of the greatest women of church history. We discuss how different the Jesus’ mother Mary (as portrayed in the New Testament) is to Mary as she’s popularly thought of. We focus on the account of one of the early martyrs, 22 year old mother Perpetua, who was fed to the lions.
We look at England’s nine day queen Lady Jane Grey and her mentoring by the Swiss Protestant reformer Heinrich Bullinger. Then there’s the extraordinary story of Salvation Army co-founder Catherine Booth’s campaign to have the age of consent raised in England from 12 to the eventual age of 16. And Gladys Alward’s 350 kilometre trek across the mountains of China with 100 orphan children.”
Related: 10 Dead Gals You Should Know: Leaving An Enduring Legacy.
Pray for those in authority
1 Timothy 2:1-4
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – ESV.
See also:
Responding to the situation in Israel: thoughts from a Christian – Murray Campbell,
“How might Christians respond to the events in Israel of the past 48 hours? Here are 3 suggestions: pray, mourn, and press close to Christ.
There is something every Christian can do today. We can pray. We should pray. There is, after all, Biblical warrant for praying. …”
Image: Israel and surrounds, 07 October 2023, NASA Worldview.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…