God’s Smuggler
God’s Smuggler is the free audiobook from Christian Audio for February 2013.
Epiphany – Five Reflections from a Lifetime
Bishop Paul Barnett spoke at the Mere Anglicanism Conference in Charleston, South Carolina this morning.
He’s posted his fascinating and encouraging talk on his blog. Even without the accompanying slides, this is worth reading and passing on.
Keep yourself from idols
Adrian Reynolds briefly reviews Derek Tidball’s book, Preacher, Keep yourself from Idols.
“Tidball’s book is neither radical nor novel; it will not teach you anything you didn’t already know nor will it take you long to read. However, unlike other books on idolatry, this one is targeted. It is like a laser-guided missile that strikes right at a minister’s heart.”
– from Church Society (PDF).
Proclamation Trust audio
From Adrian Reynolds at The Proclamation Trust:
“We’ve decided that from now on ALL our online audio will be free.
That means that the last few EMAs [Evangelical Ministry Assemblies] are all now available online for download at no cost. Spread the word!”
EMA 2012 – Heart Matters
EMA 2011 – Preaching that connects
EMA 2010 – Not by might, nor by power.
And more here – thanks to Proc Trust.
Living in the Last Days
AFES has the audio made available the audio and video from the most recent National Training Event. Check it out here.
Teaching Historical Sense
“I was asked last week why some evangelicals convert to Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism.
Reasons vary, I am sure, but I commented that one theme I have noticed over the years is the fact that evangelicalism lacks historical roots. That is not to say that it has no history; rather it is to say that a consciousness of history is not part of the package. …”
– Carl Trueman has some excellent ideas you can use in your church – Ref21.
As Christ is to His church
St. Helen’s Bishopsgate has published a four-minute video excerpt from William Taylor’s sermon on Marriage and Relationships last weekend, addressing Steve Chalke’s recent statements on same sex unions.
Richard Coekin also addressed the topic last Sunday morning at Dundonald Church in London. (“Is Steve Chalke wrong? Marriage Divorce & Celibacy.”)
Testimony of an Unlikely Convert
David Murray at Head Heart Hand writes:
“There are some stories that just need to be told – some testimonies of the Lord’s grace that are so unusual and so encouraging that they will bless everyone who hears them.
This is exactly the case with Rosaria Butterfield who recently authored The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert.”
– He and Tim Challies interviewed Rosaria Butterfield in October 2012 (audio: 20 minutes) – and just last week she was interviewed by Marvin Olansky at Patrick Henry College in Virginia (YouTube: 65 minutes).
She speaks about her journey from a homosexual lifestyle to trust in Christ, and bears witness to those who moved out of their comfort zone to care for her.
Challenging and with much food for thought.
Preaching matters (2)
The team at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate have been adding to videos to their Preaching Matters series.
In the latest additions, Charlie Skrine from St. Helen’s shares thoughts on preaching persuasively while Phillip Jensen answers questions on how to apply the Bible.
Both well worth watching.
Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference — 4th February 2013
“Amongst a plethora of conferences to be run this year, one that should not be missed will be held on 4 February at Moore College. It will be run by the Priscilla and Aquila Centre, fast becoming one of the most important venues worldwide for creative thinking about how a commitment to biblical complementarianism might be lived out in the churches and in the world.
This year the conference is entitled ‘Teaching Truth Together’ and the keynote speaker is James de Costobadie from St James Latimer Square in Christchurch.”
– Dr. Mark Thompson commends the coming “Teaching Truth Together'” conference at the Priscilla & Aquila Centre. (Registration closes Monday 21st January!)
Sword of the Spirit — True Spirituality
The Australia Day Convention is coming up on Monday 28th January at the Cathedral.
“The person and work of the Holy Spirit is so important and so misunderstood that instead of doing 1 convention on this topic, we thought we’d do 3! In 2013, Australia Day Convention VI, Easter Convention, and Queen’s Birthday Convention VI will become a trilogy on the Holy Spirit.” Details here.
Prayer in time of Bushfire
(Re-post – with severe conditions in NSW and the ACT.) With bushfires raging in Tasmania, the Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower, is calling Christians to pray.
Still Not Professionals — free eBook
Free eBook from Desiring God.
Contributions by John Piper, Douglas Wilson, R. C. Sproul, Jr., Daniel L. Akin, Thabiti Anyabwile, Jeff Vanderstelt, Sam Crabtree, Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr., & Mike Bullmore.
Seeking the living among the dead
“While I was preaching at communion services in Kinloch, in Lewis, I visited the old cemetery in Laxay where my maternal grandparents are buried. To stand by the grave of loved ones, even at a distance of thirty years from their deaths, is a solemn thing. But the hope of resurrection is as exhilarating as the westerly winds that swirled around me that day. …”
– Iain D Campbell, who blogs at Creideamh (as well as Reformation21) reflects on his visit to the old cemetery on the Isle of Lewis in the far north of Scotland.
Greco-Roman Slavery
“Many modern readers assume that slavery in the New Testament is equivalent to the race-based slavery of the African slave trade. While not defending the Greco-Roman institution of slavery, Tim Keller and Don Carson explain why it’s important not to equate it with the race-based slavery that we may be more familiar with. …”
– Andy Naselli summarises some important facts.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…