Ten years closer to Eternity
Ten years ago, Sydney celebrated the beginning of 2000 by displaying on the Harbour Bridge the word Eternity in the iconic copperplate handwriting of Arthur Stace.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge (literally) since then, and in many ways the world has changed. But the basic need of men and women is the same – to hear the gospel and be saved.
In 2010, please be encouraged to continue to trust Christ, and to live in the light of eternity. Read the story of Arthur Stace in our Resources section.
Bible reading plans for the new year
Justin Taylor, at Between Two Worlds, has links to some helpful Bible reading plans.
Objections to Christmas
“Column 8 of the Sydney Morning Herald last week had an interesting entry from a man identifying only as a ‘Canberra Anglican parish priest’. In the lead up to Christmas he had organised some community carols in his local shopping centre, but met some resistance.
‘To my great amusement,’ he wrote, ‘the manager of the centre objected, because she thinks the “[expletive] Christians want to take over Christmas.”
I’d always assumed that the “Christ” bit in both words might serve as a clue.’ …”
– read the full article by Simon Smart at the Centre for Public Christianity.
J I Packer interviewed at Oak Hill
In May 2009, Dr Jim Packer spoke at Oak Hill College’s annual School of Theology.
While at the college, he was was interviewed on camera by Principal Mike Ovey.
Each segment runs for about 10 minutes.
Part 1: Knowing your stuff – theological training in a climate of cultural scepticism.
Part 2: The faith taught not caught – the challenge of being a pastoral theologian.
Part 3: Training the congregation – the greatest challenges facing Christian ministers today.
Also see the new Commentary magazine online.
‘Being Faithful’ now available
“Being Faithful: The Shape of Historic Anglicanism Today” is now available for purchase. Details from GAFCON.
Christmas songs for download
At Between Two Worlds, Justin Taylor has received permission to make some Christ-centred Christmas songs and hymns available for free download.
12 Days of Christmas
Each day, for twelve days, the Centre for Public Christianity is releasing a short video on a Christmas-related theme.
“There’s a mixture of vox pops drawing on the public’s attitudes to the meaning of Christmas, interviews, book reviews, and brief discussions on the historical and philosophical questions surrounding the birth of Jesus.”
– See them (as they are released) here and consider how you might use them.
J I Packer on New Mission
Dr J I Packer recently preached on “New Mission” from Acts 8:1-25, at St. John’s Shaughnessy.
Characteristically helpful, encouraging, and challenging. Hear it from the St. John’s website. (Direct link to mp3.)
Photo: Oak Hill College.
Mark Dever plugs The Trellis and the Vine
Mark Dever recently gave a very strong plug for The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne.
Watch the video of his unsolicited endorsement here – any get the book here. (Video from WST Books.)
Timothy Partnership commended
Bishop Glenn Davies commends The Timothy Partnership – the new joint project of Anglican Youthworks College and Presbyterian Youth.
Video from Glenn and others here.
(h/t SydneyAnglicans)
True wealth
Vaughan Roberts, Rector of St Ebbe’s Church in Oxford, recently spoke evangelistically at St Helen’s Bishopsgate in London on the topic of True Wealth.
St Helen’s have posted the video online, with the question time here.
Don Carson on Spiritual gifts
The Gospel Coalition has posted online the audio files of Don Carson’s exceedingly helpful talks given at the 1985 Moore Theological College Annual Lectures.
This series formed the basis of his book, Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12–14. They are –
The Unity of the Body and the Diversity of Gifts (1 Cor. 12)
The Most Excellent Way: When Does Perfection Come? (1 Cor. 13)
Prophecy and Tongues: Pursuing What Is Best (1 Cor. 14:1-15)
Order and Authority: Restraining Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor. 14:26-40)
Unleashed Power and the Constraints of Discipline: Toward a Theology of Spiritual Gifts.
Well worth downloading and hearing – again. The second file – on 1 Corinthians 13 – is incomplete (but you can always get the book!). h/t Justin Taylor.
Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly 2009
Last month Hugh Palmer and Voddie Baucham spoke at the Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly – the theme was Christ & Culture: Preaching that connects.
Hugh Palmer is Rector of All Souls’ Langham Place, and Voddie Baucham is Pastor of Preaching at Grace Family Baptist Church, near Houston, Texas. The audio files of their talks have now been made available on the NIMA website. (h/t Unashamed Workman.)
Leadership in the Home
“This is a series about leadership in the home. It is geared specifically to men and I hope it will be of some use to guys of any age though perhaps it will be most at home in the hands of young men—those who are newly married or those who are to be married in the near future. I hope it is also the kind of series that a wife can pass to her husband and say, ‘Honey! Read this and tell me what you think of it…’”
– Tim Challies has begun a series on ‘Leadership in the home’. Part 1. Part 2. Plenty of food for thought, with more to come at Challies.com.
In such a tongue as the people understandeth
“One of the great principles of Reformation was the use of vernacular languages. Though faith, as the Reformers described it, was not merely giving assent to propositions, but trust, it was trust in the Word of God. And for that the Word of God was something that needed to be heard and understood by the people.
It is no surprise that so much energy was given to Bible translation – the great William Tyndale’s vision was that the ploughboy could read it and understand it for himself. This was a cause for which he was to give his life. …”
– Michael Jensen has continued his series on The Thirty Nine Articles at Thirty Nine – and is now up to Article XXIV: “Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth”.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…