An Australian Creed for Sexual Integrity
From Mark Powell at AP, the Australian Presbyterian national journal:
“Glenn Davies, the current bishop for the Diocese of the Southern Cross and former Archbishop of Sydney, discusses why he helped to produce an Australian creed for sexual integrity.
This document seeks to faithfully uphold the teaching of the Bible and provide a positive vision for human flourishing.”
See The Australian Creed for Sexual Integrity.
Also mentioned:
Diocese of The Southern Cross.
Presbyterians extend hand of fellowship to Bishop of the Diocese of the Southern Cross – August 2022.
2025 Summer Prayer Diary
Tara Sing at SydneyAnglicans.net has produced a very helpful resource:
“It’s summertime and we’re getting out into the sunshine, sharing the good news of the gospel and diving deep in understanding the word of God.
With the weeks packed with camps, conferences and missions, we’ve put together an eight-day prayer diary featuring some of the great kingdom initiatives that we can bring before the Lord. …”
– Find it here.
The God Who Does Not Wipe Out Rebels
From The Gospel Coalition, part 2 in a series of 14 talks from Don Carson about the message of the Bible:
“In this lecture, Don Carson examines Genesis 3, focusing on the Serpent’s deceit and humanity’s rebellion, which leads to shame, guilt, and broken fellowship with God.
He discusses the curses placed on Satan, Adam, and Eve, highlighting the introduction of sin and the long-term effects on creation. Carson emphasizes the need for reconciliation with God, pointing to the promise of redemption through Jesus. …”
– Listen (or read the transcript) here.
Photo: Don Carson speaking at The Next Level conference in Sydney in 2016.
I was adopted twice
“I always knew I was adopted. Growing up, my parents were open about it – they had fostered children before adopting my sister and me.
On my shelf, I kept a book titled You Are Adopted. Whenever I had questions about my identity, I would pull it off the shelf and read it, trying to make sense of my place in the world. I remember many tearful moments with my Mum and Dad, asking, ‘Why didn’t my birth parents want me? Who am I? Where do I fit in?’ …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Matt Redmond speaks of his own experience, and a book (The Forgetful Prince) he hopes will help children and adults to understand the most wonderful adoption of all.
Photo: SydneyAnglicans.net.
Why did Saul change his name to Paul? — Tyndale House Podcast
A podcast from Tyndale House in Cambridge:
“Steve Walton and Tony Watkins discuss why Saul changed to Paul in the book of Acts.
In the book of Acts, the apostle Paul is referred to as Saul up until chapter 13, where he begins to be referred to as Paul. Steve explains how names worked in the Roman world to shed light on this name change. He also shares about some of the research he has done in the book of Acts over several years.”
– If you are reading the Book of Acts, you’ll find this most interesting. 29 minutes on YouTube.
Taking his own medicine
“Friends in Christ, Christmas Eve is the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin at about 10pm, December 24, 1974. …
Boxing Day is the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, which hit on 26 December, 2004 … It is the deadliest natural disaster of the 21st century so far. …”
– Dean of Sydney Sandy Grant reflects in the Cathedral newsletter.
Image: USGS Preliminary Earthquake Report, 26 December 2004.
New edition of “The Link” from Armidale — Dec 2024-Jan 2025
The latest issue of Armidale Diocese’s magazine The Link is now available for download form their website.
On the cover is the Rev. Julie Cook, just announced as the new Diocesan Deacon for Women.
Download your copy here (PDF file) – and do pray for the continued ministry of the gospel in the Diocese of Armidale.
Church Society announces Digital Subscriptions to The Global Anglican
From Church Society:
“We are delighted to announce that our theological journal, The Global Anglican, is now available to purchase in both print and digital subscriptions.
While print journals continue to have an important place in libraries, archives and personal collections, for many people, a digital format saves space, money and delays due to international posting. Individual issues of The Global Anglican are made available in digital format some years after their initial publication, but now we have the facility to provide this as an annual subscription for the current content. …”
– Perhaps the last-minute Christmas gift you’ve been hoping for.
(As you may be aware, The Global Anglican is edited by Peter Jensen.)
12 Fresh Ways to Read your Bible in 2025
“A new year offers a new opportunity—an opportunity to rethink and refresh the way you read your Bible.
While some have found a pattern or habit they love and will never deviate from, others like to look for new ways to read, digest, and apply the Word.
For those who may be interested in trying something new, here are a few ideas that may be worth considering. …”
– Tim Challies shares some great ideas to help you read your Bible in the coming year.
Christmas isn’t Pagan
“Growing up I was taught that the date of Christmas, December 25th, was a borrowed pagan festival. I couldn’t tell you exactly when or where, but I remember being told (more than a few times) that there were a myriad of ancient pagan festivals like Sol Invictus, Saturnalia, Brumalia, and European feasts like Yule, that also took place on the 25th of December.
‘The Christians,’ the narrative went, ‘moved the celebration of Christ’s birth to the place of these other pagan festivities in order to make it easier for converts and/or to encourage pagans to convert.’
In many ways this story made sense. …”
– Published two years ago at Gospel Coalition Canada, Wes Huff sheds some light on the alleged origins of Christmas.
Parents, Talk to your Teens about Pornography
In his The Briefing broadcast for Tuesday 17th December 2024, Dr Albert Mohler looks at why pornography is immoral and what opposition to restrictions on porn reveals.
He underlines the importance of Christian families.
Disney movies, Moana and the human heart
“I’ve always been a fan of Disney movies. As a child growing up in the 90s, I was there for every new release, ready to sing along to songs that would become classics.
I haven’t yet seen the new Moana movie, but I loved the first one. I loved that it was set in Polynesia; I loved the gorgeous animation; I loved that Moana was a strong, independent woman unafraid of big challenges; and I loved that Moana was one of the first Disney princesses whose storyline did not revolve around finding Prince Charming.
But as I watched, I remember thinking that something wasn’t quite right. It took me a while to work it out because the movie was so very entertaining. But eventually I figured out my discomfort …”
– Susan An analyses the problem, at The Australian Church Record.
A Devotional on the Most Glorious of Birthdays by Charles Spurgeon
“The angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10)
The birth of Christ should be the subject of supreme joy. We have the angelic warrant for rejoicing because Christ is born. It is a truth so full of joy that it caused the angel who came to announce it to be filled with gladness. …”
– Crossway has republished this excerpt from an 1976 sermon by Charles Spurgeon, plus some commentary by Leland Ryken.
(It’s to raise awareness of a new book of classic Christmas devotions.)
You can be Certain — Luke 1.26-38
“What do we do with Mary? We don’t pray to her or worship her, or claim she remained a virgin – for the very same reason we believe the virgin birth… because we trust the Bible to tell us what is true and real… and if it’s not here – in the orderly account – we don’t claim it or teach it or embrace it! But we ARE moved by her beautiful submission and surrender… and we endeavour to live with her level of trust: ‘I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to be me fulfilled.’ ”
– Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder continues his Advent series.
Also from the Diocese of Bathurst:
“This morning Bishop Calder announced the appointment of lay stipendiary ministers for an initial period of 6 months to the parish of Nyngan – praise God for the generous sacrifices involved for Philip and Deanne Gerber.”
Prepare Him Room
“We all know that Christmas is a great evangelistic opportunity. Yet with the gun going off to tie up work, attend all kinds of events, plan gatherings, buy gifts, and somehow still function after it all … how could I ever add evangelism into the mix?
Rather than tell you simply to ‘share the gospel’, I want instead to spend a moment together pondering the glory of Christmas. Because before Christmas is a time of proclamation, it is a time to make room in our hearts for adoration. And it’s from a full heart that our mouth will speak. …”
– Callan Pritchard writes with this encouragement at The Australian Church Record.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…