Being a good pastor of Christ’s flock
Sovereign Grace Ministries in Maryland have posted online downloads from their Pastors Conference held last month.
Both audio files and PDF files of notes of the main sessions and the seminars are freely available at their website.
Strong words of encouragement to all who are entrusted with the ministry of caring for Christ’s flock.
Even better than forgiven
“The voice that spells forgiveness will say: ‘You may go: you have been let off the penalty which your sin deserves.’
But the verdict which means acceptance [justification] will say: ‘You may come; you who are welcome to all my love and my presence.’”
– Sir Marcus Loane, quoted in John Stott, The Message of Romans. (Thanks to Of First Importance.)
Archbishop Peter Jensen in Ireland
The Evangelical Fellowship of Irish Clergy has posted online the video of two addresses by Archbishop Peter Jensen – given at St. Saviour’s, Dollingstown in Ireland on 20th April 2009. A large crowd of lay people and clergy was on hand to hear Peter speak.
The first message is from Jeremiah 9 (15 minutes), and is a call to repentance.
The second talk, ‘Refresh the Vision’ (49 minutes), is a commentary on the situation in the Anglican Communion and is a strong call to faithfulness, courage and sacrifice. Worth passing on.
The Gospel in three minutes
This three minute video was produced for the UCCF New Word Alive 08 conference.
h/t Unashamed Workman.
Foxes Book of Martyrs
Foxes Book of Martyrs is the free audio book from ChristianAudio during May.
Richard Dawkins and John Lennox on The God Delusion
This debate – on Richard Dawkins’ celebrated book The God Delusion – took place in Birmingham, Alabama, in October 2007.
The video is well worth watching – right to the end.
April 2009 Themelios online
The latest version of Themelios – now published by The Gospel Coalition – is available from their website.
Worth downloading and reading!
Escaping Anonymity
“Left to our own devices, we will soon devise or succumb to all kinds of evil. As Christians we know that we need other believers to hold us accountable to the standards of Scripture. …”
– Tim Challies writes at Ligonier Ministries’ Tabletalk.
Gospel Coalition 2009 Conference audio and video online
Audio and video files of the main talks at last week’s The Gospel Coalition 2009 Conference in Chicago are now online.
Better Bishops
“Reform is sometimes heard as being, at heart, opposed to episcopacy itself. Occasionally we are accused of being ‘congregational’. This is where Mark Burkill’s booklet is so helpful. He carefully reviews the history of how episcopacy has developed and shows that while it cannot be regarded as ‘essential’ to the life of the church, it is nevertheless a wise way to order our affairs. … Mark’s booklet highlights the benefits of a biblical approach to episcopacy and helps us to see how we can support godly bishops. …
He finishes with a plea that something which is a secondary feature of church life should not be regarded as primary.”
– Rod Thomas, Chairman of Reform, writes about Mark Burkill’s booklet Better Bishops – published by Reform in December 2008, and now made available on their website.
Archbishop Peter Jensen in Scotland
Archbishop Peter Jensen spoke last weekend at St. George’s Tron Church in Glasgow.
On Saturday night he spoke on ‘Contending for the Faith’, and on Sunday morning, ‘Striving side by side for the Gospel’.
The audio files of the talks are now available at the links above.
Some thoughts on Discipleship
Bishop Peter Brain contributed these challenging quotes in The Link – the magazine of the Diocese of Armidale –
JESUS said:
– “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)
– “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” (Luke 9:23-2)
– “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17)
– “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
– “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
What follows are some words of Christians over the years that might challenge and encourage you on the discipleship path. Read more
Watch The Gospel Coalition Conference live
The Gospel Coalition‘s 2009 National Conference in Chicago begins tomorrow (Wednesday) morning Australian time – and video of the main sessions will be streamed live on the web.
Chicago is 15 hours behind Sydney, so, for example, John Piper’s address at 4:00pm CDT can be seen live at 7:00am Wednesday in Sydney. To watch Don Carson’s closing address, you’d need to tune in at 2:00am Sydney time on Thursday. (Or hope for a replay!) Details here.
No cheap grace
John Piper:
“Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a gift to my generation of students. I pray that his costly message will be rediscovered in each generation. …
Bonhoeffer’s book was a massive indictment of the “cheap grace” that he saw in the Christian Church on both sides of the Atlantic. He believed in justification by grace through faith. But he did not believe that the faith that justifies could ever leave people unchanged by the radical Christ they claim to believe. That was a cheap response to the Gospel. …”
– From Chapter 4 of John Piper’s book “Don’t Waste Your Life”.
Available online in PDF format and for the iPhone.
(And, while you’re at it, listen to this challenging message.)
Resources for Bible teachers
The Proclamation Trust recently made available more audio resources – sermons and lectures – as an aid and encouragement for those whose ministry is to open God’s word for others.
See what’s available (much of it without charge) at the Proclamation Trust media website.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…