Themelios April 2010

Themelios is out and, as usual, is packed with worthwhile articles. The main index is here.

Among the many book reviews are –

Paul Barnett’s review of James D. G. Dunn’s Beginning from Jerusalem, and

Con Campbell’s review of Daniel B. Wallace’s book Granville Sharp’s Canon and Its Kin: Semantics and Significance (“Rarely is a book on Greek syntax enthralling, let alone immensely significant. Daniel Wallace’s new book on the Greek article is both.”).

Mission in your own back yard?

Four Sydney churches say ‘yes’ in this 9 minute mini-documentary from CMS NSW.

(Download it and use it in church! – Sign up to Vimeo and then find the download link on the bottom right of this page.)

Together for the Gospel 2010

Audio and video files from last week’s Together for the Gospel Conference 2010 have been made available on their website.

John MacArthur on ‘The Theology of Sleep!’ is particularly helpful for all who care about evangelism and church growth.

Save our Scripture

The Australian Christian Lobby has launched a campaign called “Save our Scripture” and is working with churches (including the Presbyterians) to answer the threat from the NSW ‘Ethics’ trial in schools.

The website includes background and contact information and suggestions for how churches can helpfully respond. ‘Action packs’ for churches are also available. From the website:

“In brief:

  • NSW Government trialling ‘Ethics’ classes in primary schools in competition with Scripture classes.
  • Because they are being pitched to all parents, not just conscientious objectors, this could lead to the demise of special religious education (SRE) in schools.
  • Ethics classes should be rescheduled so they are available to all students, regardless of religion, leaving the SRE classes in place.”

Read more at MakeAStand.org.au and see what you can do. Also on Facebook.

CMS Global Vision

CMS is sending copies of the Autumn 2010 Global Vision to churches, but if you would like to read it online, you can find it here – cms.org.au/globalvision.

Global Vision is all about ‘encouraging and equipping churches to be globally minded’.

Using God’s name as a comma

“Praying in public is hard. Praying in public week after week is very hard. Praying in public week after week in a fresh and edifying way is almost impossible. Ask any pastor. Preaching is easy, in comparison. Here are some things I’ve found helpful…”

– David Murray, at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, offers some tips. (David and Tim Challies have just started a weekly blog.)

Dealing with disappointment in the church

At his Gospel Coalition blog, Kevin DeYoung has been writing about ‘Dealing with disappointment in the church’ – both for members and for leaders.

While churches, their sizes and leadership styles vary enormously, there is much that is worth thinking through – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Free wallpaper from Southern Cross

SydneyAnglicans.net has made available (for a limited time!) wallpaper for your computer screen – from a cartoon by Southern Cross Art director Steve Mason. Wonderful.

Scroll to the bottom of this page to download your copy.

Kept low for your own safety

Wise words from C H Spurgeon –

“God blesses us all up to the full measure and extremity of what it is safe for him to do. If you do not get a blessing, it is because it is not safe for you to have one. If our heavenly Father were to let your unhumbled spirit win a victory in his holy war, you would pilfer the crown for yourself, and meeting with a fresh enemy you would fall a victim; so that you are kept low for your own safety.

When a man is sincerely humble, and never ventures to touch so much as a grain of the praise, there is scarcely any limit to what God will do for him. Humility makes us ready to be blessed by the God of all grace, and fits us to deal efficiently with our fellow men. True humility is a flower which will adorn any garden.”

– Charles Spurgeon, Morning & Evening, April 5 – via Of First Importance.

9Marks on Deacons

Yes, it’s written from a Baptist perspective, but as usual, the 9Marks eJournal is full of helpful and through-provoking ideas.

“Jesus came to deacon (Mark 10:45; Rom. 15:8).

So did Paul, Apollos, and Tychicus (1 Cor. 3:5, 6; Eph. 3:7; 6:21; Col. 4:7). And the greatest among us will be deacons (Mark 10:43). It’s not a bad label to wear, apparently.

The New Testament only mentions this unassuming office two, maybe three times (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-13; cf. Rom. 16:1). But pay attention. It seems to direct the deacon’s attention to the church’s physical good, which in turn will serve the church’s spiritual good. The deacon is a unity builder—and shock absorber! There should be nothing unspiritual about a deacon.

What about your church? Do you officially recognize anyone as a deacon? Doing so publicly holds forth models of Christian love and service. We hope these articles will stimulate you to consider why and how to employ such individuals in your congregation.”

Rise Up, O You Sleeper, Awake: Jesus Makes All Things New!

Andrew Peterson has made available a free song from his album The Resurrection Letters volume 2. A beautiful reflection on the new creation.

“Come broken and weary
Come battered and bruised
My Jesus makes all things new
All things new …”

See the lyrics and download the mp3 file at Between Two Worlds.

L’Abri & Francis Schaeffer Online

The L’Abri website has made its library available online. Many lectures and talks, including a large number by Francis Schaeffer, are available for download.

(h/t Todd Shaffer at Faith by Hearing.)

The answer to my doubts

“I find no balm for a sore conscience, and a troubled heart, like the sight of Jesus dying for me on the accursed tree.

There I see that a full payment has been made for all my enormous debts. The curse of that law which I have broken has come down on One who there suffered in my stead. The demands of that law are all satisfied. Payment has been made for me, even to the uttermost farthing. It will not be required twice over.

Ah! I might sometimes imagine I was too bad to be forgiven. My own heart sometimes whispers that I am too wicked to be saved. But I know in my better moments this is all my foolish unbelief. I read an answer to my doubts in the blood shed on Calvary. I feel sure that there is a way to heaven for the very vilest of men, when I look at the cross.”

— J.C. Ryle, Old Paths. (With thanks to Of First Importance.)

The Weekend that Changed the World

Bishop John Harrower shares the notes he used at today’s Good Friday service of reflection at St John’s Launceston.

The audio files of his sermons are already up on the St John’s website.

The Death of Death in the Death of Christ – Packer’s introduction

J I PackerDr Jim Packer’s introductory essay to The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen remains a classic essay on Christ’s atonement. Written in 1958, it is probably even more relevant now than it was then.

Among other things, Dr Packer gives a helpful introduction to Calvinism. The essay will repay careful reading.

There are several copies of the essay on the Internet – Monergism has one here.

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