Barry Webb on Esther and the ESV
Gordon Cheng has interviewed Moore College’s Dr Barry Webb on the book of Esther. Barry wrote the notes on Esther for the forthcoming ESV Study Bible.
“Would I try to preach bit by bit? I doubt it. Stories mean what they do as a whole, not as parts. Once you dismantle the story, you dismantle the thing that gives meaning to the events. I might just preach one sermon on the whole of Esther, and it would be about God being present for his people, working all things to their good.”
– Read the full interview at The Sola Panel.
And the sample PDF file from the ESVSB is available as a free download.
John Woodhouse on OT Narrative
Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds has this for us –
If you want to learn how to read/preach OT narrative, John Woodhouse (Principal of Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia) is an excellent guide.
If you want to learn by watching him do it, check out his expository commentary on 1 Samuel.
If you want to learn by hearing him teach on it, check out the following six one-hour lectures on OT narrative delivered for the Charles Simeon Trust:
Lecture 1 Lecture 2 Lecture 3 Lecture 4 Lecture 5 Lecture 6. (Photo: Moore College)
RC Sproul on Christless Christianity
Last weekend, at The White Horse Inn, Michael Horton interviewed R C Sproul.
Sproul: “conservatism here in America has not been evangelical for a long, long time.” He also argues that Deism is alive and well in even the most rigorous of American ‘evangelical’ churches.
Watch the video 54 minute here at YouTube or download the full 120MB mp4 file (direct link).
Mark 13 in perspective and preaching Christ today
Recently at the Lowestoft Living Word convention, I chose to speak on Mark 13, sometimes called the ‘Little Apocalypse’ because it appears to anticipate the themes of the book of Revelation (The Apocalypse of John).
I think it is fair to say that most Christian interpretation assumes this passage is about the end of the world…
– Moore College graduate John Richardson blogs at the Ugley Vicar.
G W Bromiley on Nicholas Ridley
Church Society has published online a four-part series on Bishop Nicholas Ridley by Geoffrey Bromiley –
“Nicholas Ridley was one of those three confessor-bishops whose names are linked indissolubly with the English Reformation.
Of the three, Cranmer had the widest sphere of opportunity, and if he lacked the most conspicuous gifts of leadership, he had nevertheless his own capacities which allowed him to exploit many of the advantages of his position. Latimer was an older man. As a contemporary writer put it, “He came earlier in the morning, and was the more ancient workman in the Lord’s vineyard.” Latimer was no great scholar, but he was a moral preacher of singular power, able to catch the ear both of those in high places and also of the common people.
Ridley himself was the youngest of the three, but in many ways he was also the most talented. He excelled not only as a scholar, but also as a diligent and forceful ecclesiastic, and by his activity and learning he came to be recognized in his own day as perhaps the foremost champion of the Reformation movement. …”
– From Church Society.
Codex Sinaiticus coming online
Codex Sinaiticus, a hugely important manuscript of the Bible from the middle of the fourth century, is now becoming available in a scanned form online as the result of a major international collaboration.
Part of the manuscript is now on the website, with more to come.
See it here. (Hat tip: Russell Powell.)
Chappo says… Just start talking
In characteristic style, John Chapman says: “This could be just the very thing you’ve been waiting for. It mightn’t be the very thing you’re waiting for – but it’s the very thing you should have been – so if you haven’t been, I’d give it a go anyway.”
John’s commending “Just Start Talking”, a terrific new resource from Sydney’s Evangelism Ministries in time for Connect 09.
Written by Lesley Ramsay and Baden Stace, and presented on DVD by Colin Buchanan and Samantha Boog, “Just Start Talking” is a three week course designed to help ordinary Christians get Jesus into their day-to-day conversations.
Read more about “Just Start Talking” at SydneyAnglicans.net and order copies from Evangelism Ministries (phone 02 9265 1582). To see a video preview, follow this link.
Evangelical – by Phillip Jensen
What is an “evangelical”? There is a series of similar words that are commonly confused such as “evangelical”, “evangelism”, “evangelistic”, “evangelise”, “evangelist” and “evangelicalism”. These words carry so much meaning to the initiated but are quite confusing to others.
They all start with “evangel” for they are all about the gospel. “Evangel” is the anglicised version of the Greek word for gospel. These different English words are just different grammatical forms of the word gospel. …
– Dean of St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney, Phillip Jensen, unpacks the meaning of “evangelical” in the Cathedral’s weekly newsletter for August 10.
John Piper on abortion
An 8 minute video clip – “Abortion is about God”.
From Desiring God – at YouTube. (Hat tip to Justin Taylor.)
Thinking about the Thirty Nine Articles
“The doctrine of the Church is grounded in the Holy Scriptures and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures. In particular, such doctrine is to be found in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the Ordinal…”
– Thus the Jerusalem Declaration at the conclusion of GAFCON called Anglicans back to the Thirty Nine Articles. But who is familiar with the Articles these days?
At his blog Thirty-Nine, Michael Jensen is writing a response to and commentary on the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion. He’s has begun working through the Articles and is currently up to number 4. Check it out – you may like to start with the Introduction.
Mark Dever interviews Os Guinness
Mark Dever interviewed Os Guinness earlier this year – the audio is now online at Nine Marks.
He speaks on his life and shares fascinating insights on his time with Francis Schaeffer at L’Abri.
Direct link to 28MB / 62 minute mp3 file.
Choosing a children’s Bible
At Nine Marks, Justin Taylor reviews his three favourite children’s Bibles – including one that draws on Graeme Goldsworthy’s Gospel and Kingdom.
– see the review at Nine Marks.
(The Big Picture Story Bible is available from Moore Books – as is Graeme Goldsworthy’s Gospel and Kingdom.)
Jesus: Made in America
Last week’s broadcast from The White Horse Inn features an interview by Michael Horton with Stephen Nichols, author of Jesus: Made in America, published by Inter-Varsity Press.
The interview is helpful (especially for Australians unfamiliar with the American landscape) in understanding some of the historical reasons so much US “evangelicalism” isn’t at all evangelical.
The audio (37 minutes long) is available from One Place.
Related: This 1995 article by Michael Horton, The Legacy of Charles Finney, is also well worth reading. Charles Finney (1792–1875) is regarded as the Father of the Altar Call –
“one need go no further than the table of contents of his Systematic Theology to learn that Finney’s entire theology revolved around human morality…”
Charles Simeon: Prince of Evangelicals
“Much has been written about Charles Simeon by biographers, historians, and ecclesiologists that it may appear unnecessary to write more. But in dealing with his ministry, achievements and widespread influence, the spiritual principles that motivated his life and character may be largely by-passed.
It is needful to ask, What made him the man and Christian he was as outstanding preacher, servant-leader of countless students, co-founder of missionary societies, voluminous correspondent, and counsellor of many who were in need? …”
– Church Society has republished this 20-year old Churchman article by Canon Arthur Bennett. Good weekend reading – available as a 260kb PDF file (direct link).
Mark Driscoll in Sydney
SydneyAnglicans.net have posted a 23 minute video interview with Mark Driscoll – conducted by Russell Powell.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…