Advent, tyranny and freedom

“‘Free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny.’ These words come from the much-loved Advent carol, ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’. We sing it most years, and it has always moved me. The Lord Jesus comes to set me free.

Tyranny, though. Doesn’t that sound a little odd?…”

– Mike Ovey writes at the Oak Hill blog.

Digital Advent Calendar

In this 2 minute video Greg Clarke at The Bible Society introduces 25 days. 25 people. 25 words. for Christmas.

Sounds like a great idea – and ideal to pass on to your friends.

Preaching Christmas 2012

“Suspend your disbelief, pastor. December is about to arrive on your pastoral doorstep. … Advent sermons will soon need preparing. Ere long we will stand before the old and young, the believer and skeptic, proclaiming the message that Angels once declared!

So how can we make the most of this opportunity?”

– Colin Adams at Unashamed Workman has some great advice, under these headings:

1.  Be sure the incarnation is thrilling your soul.
2.  Do not get original with your content.
3.  Keep “the packaging” of Christmas sermons fresh.
4.  Preach the full range of passages that address the Christmas theme.
5.  Consider consecutive Christmas preaching.
6.  Consider preaching individual texts.
7.  Remember to preach the Christmas narratives as fact not fiction.

Daily readings for Advent — free eBook from John Piper

“Advent is just around the corner. It starts the fourth Sunday before Christmas — this year, that’s December 2 — and is a season of preparation for Christmas Day.

The team here at Desiring God did a deep dive into our thirty-plus-year reservoir of sermons and articles, and selected brief devotional readings for each day of Advent. Our hope is that God would use these readings to deepen and sweeten your adoration of Jesus this Advent.”

– free eBook, Good News of Great Joy, from Desiring God. Worth checking out.

Anti-Santy Ranty — Christmas resource

Check out this 3 minute video from Christian book distributors 10ofthose.com in the UK. You can probably think of ways of using it evangelistically this Christmas.
(h/t Gary Ware.)

Dick Lucas: Judgment, Salvation, the Living and the Dead

As we remember Chappo, we must not forget what drove him – and what should drive every Christian.

At The Proclamation Trust, Adrian Reynolds links to this video of Dick Lucas, recorded on November 11 in Dundee. Six minutes of your time well spent.

Chappo talks about his conversion

John Chapman speaks about how he came to Christ – in this 3 minute video recorded a couple of years ago for St Mark’s Pennant Hills. Thanks to Craig Schafer for making it available.

Trusting God — free kindle version

The Kindle edition of Trusting God by Jerry Bridges is currently available (for an unknown period of time) as a free download from Amazon. h/t Gary Ware.

Encountering God Together

Dr David Peterson has a new book to which we can look forward…

“In January 2013, IVP UK will publish my new book Encountering God Together. …  This paperback was written to help everyone involved in planning and leading church services think more biblically and creatively about this important ministry.” – Details here.

Time for a grown-up debate on what sort of children will be allowed into the world

“Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia John Anderson last night strongly criticized the level of public debate in Australia and Western society.

Speaking at the launch of Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Ethics and the beginning of human life, Mr Anderson lamented the lack of understanding of what a civilized debate requires, and observed that valuable contributors to society’s understanding of complex matters are often put off by the way debates unfold in the public sphere and by the demonisation to which contributors are frequently subjected. …”

– Ian Carmichael at Matthias Media, has news of an important book by Dr Megan Best.

There’s also audio from the book launch. The book is available from Matthias Media.

A Mormon President?

In January, Michael Horton spoke with Adam Christing, writer and director of a documentary about a relatively unknown aspect of the life of Joseph Smith, namely his candidacy for President of the United States.

Whatever the outcome of the US elections this week, this programme gives some useful insights into what Mormons believe. Hear it via this link.

Free audiobook – What is the Mission of the Church?

This month’s free audiobook from Christian Audio in the US is What is the Mission of the Church? by Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert. Get it here.

Australian Church Record, Nov 2012

The latest issue of The Australian Church Record is now available from their website.

This edition reflects on Sydney Synod, the Diocesan Mission, and the election of a new Archbishop.

Trust and obey?

“The survey reveals 64 percent of churchgoers agree with the statement: ‘A Christian must learn to deny himself/herself in order to serve Christ.’

Nineteen percent disagree with the statement.”

– Ed Stetzer has new research from the US.

Jesus Is …Beyond Fiction

“I cannot believe how often educated people pull out the claim that Jesus probably never existed. Except that it’s not PC to say so, it really deserves the title of Old Wives Tale!

Down in my neck of the woods, Gospel for the Gong has been running a ‘Jesus Is ________.’ month of mission. …”

– Sandy Grant shares some resources – as well as news of a terrific evangelistic initiative – at The Briefing.

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