Read The Litany lately?
Thought not. UK evangelist Roger Carswell writes,
“I have found that using the Litany from the Book of Common Prayer has been a real help in covering issues that I would normally neglect. I hope you find it helpful.”
Here’s the 1662 version.
St Helen’s Training — Mark overview
At the St. Helen’s Bishopsgate website, the last two of Roger Day’s overview-of-Mark’s-Gospel videos have been posted.
Effective personal evangelism: summary
At Reformation21, Jeremy Walker has completed his series of posts on ‘Effective personal evangelism’.
“Not all Christians will be on the streets of our towns and at the doors of our communities. Some of us will do it sitting down over a cup of tea… around the dinner table or at the bedside, night after night, with our children…
I trust that these marks, rightly cultivated, will help us to be immediately effective in communicating the gospel faithfully to those who do not know our Saviour, and ultimately effective when we see God give the increase.”
Free ESV Study Bible web app
Crossway are giving away free access to the web version of The ESV Study Bible, in celebration of their 75th anniversary. It’s a companion module to their ESVBible.org.
Be sure to sign up before the end of November 2013 to get it free.
Chapel Messages from the RTS
Lots of helpful and encouraging Chapel Messages from the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson (including the John Reed Miller lectures – speakers include Mark Dever, Steve Lawson, Kevin DeYoung).
At 95, Billy Graham’s ‘last’ message is the same as his first
“Come to the Cross, by repentance and faith.” – Billy Graham’s Message.
29 minutes. Watch it and pass it on.
This is currently being shown across the United States in a national outreach as Bill turns 95.
Remembrance Day resources
Remembrance Day is Monday November 11th.
The Defence Anglicans website has resources which may be useful for you.
Why we are contributing to Greenfields land
Through the Sydney Synod, the Anglican churches of Sydney have resolved to work together to purchase land in ‘Greenfield’ areas.
If we don’t get in early, it will be too late to purchase land to build centres where Christ’s people can gather and be beacons of light in their new communities.
Dominic Steele at The Village Church Annandale has kindly shared this video he made for his own church. He speaks with Stuart Starr at Oran Park. It’s ideal to show in your church to help everyone get behind the vision.
How can Systematic Theology enrich and energise preaching?
Canon James Packer spoke recently for The Charles Simeon Trust in the US.
Classic Packer. Set aside an hour and be encouraged and strengthened in your preaching (or in encouraging others in their preaching).
On Vimeo. (h/t Justin Taylor.)
9Marks Journal on Evangelism — part 2
The latest 9Marks Journal is free to download. It’s packed with articles of interest to Sydney Anglicans as we plan for the ‘Jesus Brings’ outreach… articles include:
Evangelism in the Workplace
Reaching the “Converted”
Evangelism across Economic Boundaries
How can Churches Evangelise their Neighbourhoods?
Three Lessons for Cross-Cultural Evangelism
Evangelising the Nations at Home
The Gospel for a Gay Friend
Preachers hungry to be mentored
“[A] growing number of pastors are seeking to develop their skills through mentoring networks like that offered by the Centre for Biblical Preaching.
The Centre and its programmes are run by Mike Raiter, a passionate local and international preacher, former missionary and former Principal of Melbourne School of Theology and former Head of Missions at Moore College in Sydney…”
– Story from Eternity Newspaper.
10 Tips for your next Hospital visit
“Pastors should be prepared to minister when they step foot in a hospital room. With someone under your care in frail condition, this is no time to wing it. Visiting someone is not just about what you do once you are in the room, it is about being prepared before you arrive…”
– Maybe this ought to be common sense, but it’s a good reminder (h/t Tim Challies).
Probably few use the Prayer Book’s The Order for the Visitation of the Sick these days, but if you haven’t read it lately, take the time to do so. Here’s the 1552 version. And the 1662 version.
Related: A visit means more than a text – Jean Williams.
J.C. Ryle on Sickness, and Some Thoughts on Affliction, by Neil Prott (both on the old part of our website).
Phillip Jensen & Kel Richards in The Chat Room — The Bible, Old & New Testaments
In the latest edition of The Chat Room, Phillip Jensen & Kel Richards talk about the Big Picture of the Bible, and the perils of reading it without seeing that bigger picture.
33 minutes. Well worth showing in small Bible Study groups, for example.
Related: At The Proclamation Trust, Adrian Reynolds has been blogging about “The New Testament Use of the Old” – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.
‘Strange Fire’ Conference audio now available
Two weeks ago, the Strange Fire Conference, organised by John MacArthur, was held to “evaluate the doctrines, claims, and practices of the modern charismatic movement”.
Speakers included John MacArthur, Conrad Mbewe, Joni Eareckson Tada, R.C. Sproul and Steve Lawson.
As expected, this unique conference generated quite a bit of interest. Tim Challies blogged summaries of each of the main messages, and the audio and some video have now been made available.
Effective personal evangelism
Over at Reformation21, Jeremy Walker has been writing brief encouragements relating to ‘Effective personal evangelism’.
So far he’s written: Introduction, Love, Tenacity, Boldness, Consistency, Understanding and Prayer.
“Could it be that one of the reasons why, with our children, friends, colleagues and communities, we are less effective than we wish to be is because we have not proved to be men and women of earnest, pleading prayer, borne of a love for God that seeks his glory above all else and a love for people that longs to see them saved from sin?”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…