Planning for the Lord’s Day

“In his book Expository Listening Ken Ramey offers a list of ways you can ‘Plan Ahead, and Schedule Your Week Around the Ministry of the Word.’

‘For the majority of people, even church members, church is not the priority of their week. Too often school, work, sports, and other activities take precedence over going to church. They make the mistake of letting their time be ordered by the world, which views the weekends as a time to relax, to play sports, to stay up late and sleep in.

For Christians, however, Sunday should be the most important day of the week. You should try to schedule your work, activities, get-togethers, and vacations around church.’…”

– Tim Challies posts some of Ramey’s helpful suggestions we could all learn from.

Try not to be cool like this

This satirical video from North Point Media in the US says it all.

(h/t Justin Taylor.)

Why expository preaching protects preachers

Many of our readers will be convinced of the importance of expository preaching. Here’s some more encouragement – Tony Reinke writes:

“During the second T4G panel discussion Mark Dever and Al Mohler discussed evangelism, preaching, and the hesitancy among some Christians to speak openly on tough subjects like God’s judgment…”

– At the Sovereign Grace Ministries Blog.

The Heart in the New Testament

Barry Newman is still working away on his posts on ‘the heart’ – he’s now looking at ‘the heart’ in the New Testament, and is up to part 7.

Prayers for pastoral ministry

Serving in the bush — especially if you the bishop — can involve a great deal of travel. Bishop David Mulready of North West Australia writes:

“On May 7, we leave Geraldton again and fly to Perth in order to fly to Broome, Kununurra and Wyndham for our annual visit. Whilst at Broome, I will drive 600km with Tim Mildenhall to visit Michael and Faye working in the Looma Community, then Derby to visit Pastor Timothy Iga. After a few days in Broome, we’ll fly 1200km to Kununurra to visit the ministry team and Congregations in Kununurra and Wyndham.

On May 14 I will Induct Gary Alexander as the Minister-in-Charge of the East Kimberley Parish and Ordain Andrew Hadfield who is working amongst Indigenous people in Oombulgurri, Wyndham and Kununurra. We fly home via Perth on May 17.

Late June and most of July will be huge with the three week visit of Bishop Joseph and Ann Abura from our link Diocese of Karamoja in Uganda.

On top of that, Maureen and I will be on the road for four weeks visiting Parishes in the Pilbara and Gascoyne, driving 4,000+kms.

That gives you a small taste of what we’ll be doing in the weeks ahead.”

Please keep David and Maureen and those they serve in your prayers.

(More from the DNWA website. Photo with thanks to Outback Magazine.)

Col Marshall, MTS, The Trellis and the Vine, and Cricket!

Mark Earngey recently interviewed Col Marshall for his podcast (Pilgrim’s Podcast number 30).

Among other things they speak about his book The Trellis and the Vine – hear it here.

J. C. Ryle on SermonAudio

SermonAudio has gathered many readings from J. C. Ryle and posted them on their website.

(h/t Faith By Hearing.)

Songs For Little Rooms

Emu Music Australia has released their latest album, Songs For Little Rooms.

“Songs For Little Rooms presents an intimate live recording of new and classic Emu songs. Our aim is to demonstrate how a small music group can provide a big lead in church and how to use your instruments and singers effectively and creatively.”

Sounds great, and includes a DVD. Details and sample audio from the Emu website.

Page CXVI album free download this week

The US-based Christian band Page CXVI has just released a new album of Hymns (called Hymns II) – and to help publicise it, they are making their first album (not surprisingly called Hymns) available as a free download this week.

You can preview their albums before you buy / download. See their website here.

Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild

“This is a wonderful book with amazing insight into the hearts of women (and men!) who feel pressured by today’s ‘wild’ culture – and also deep, spiritual insight into the Bible’s wisdom regarding the beauty of true womanhood as God created it to be.”

—Wayne Grudem on Mary Kassian’s new book, Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild.

More endorsements at Between Two Worlds. Available from Moore Books.

Reaching the unreached

Tim Chester, in Sheffield, writes –

“Last year I ran some posts on the Reaching the Unreached conference organised by the South-East Gospel Partnership at St Helen’s, Bishopsgate, London with a view to raising the profile of mission to the council estates and disadvantages areas in the UK…”

There are also links to last year’s conference audio, and info on this year”s conference. (Melvin Tinkler’s talk is very challenging.)

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.

← Previous Page — Next Page →