New resources from Dick Lucas
St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London has made available a swathe of talks on preaching by Dick Lucas – recorded in the last decade.
They are featured in the most recent talks on their website, as well as in the special Teaching from Dick Lucas section.
The “New Normal” and the Same Old Story: Evangelism in a Virtual World
“I just want to see my friends!” This was the frustrated – and completely understandable – cry from one of our teenagers as we entered another week of isolation with no clear end in sight.
Although these friends had been chatting (and gaming) online, they knew it was a far cry from seeing each other. Yet this is the “new normal” under COVID-19.
By necessity rather than choice, online interactions are rapidly taking the place of physical contact. And this is all happening in the midst of other serious challenges: uncertainty about finances, job loss, unfulfilled dreams, loneliness, increased anxiety, depression, bereavement, and the ever-present fear of sickness and death itself. …
– Lionel Windsor calls us back to the main game.
COVID-19, the restart & strategic change – The Pastor’s Heart
On this week’s edition of The Pastor’s Heart, Dominic Steele speaks with Bishop Gary Koo, chairman of the Sydney Anglican COVID-19 Taskforce and Adam Lowe, Senior Pastor of St. Barts Toowoomba, a psychologist by background.
Their topic? “COVID-19, the restart & strategic change”.
EMA 2020
This year’s Evangelical Ministry Assembly will be streamed live from London – Tuesday 23rd – Thursday 25th June 2020.
“We really hope that you will be able to join us for EMA online, no matter where you are in the UK or around the globe.”
Ideal evening viewing in Australia.
Paul, Philosophy & Knowledge — Edwin Judge
God on the Ground podcast speaks with Emeritus Professor Edwin Judge AM.
Fascinating.
Partnership is a special gift of God
“Our world is in great need. That is more obvious every day. People are lost without Christ and they do not even realise it. A culture that is moving at breakneck speed away from its gospel heritage is unravelling and doing immense but unrecognised harm.
We need more men and women who are deeply immersed in the Scriptures, whose lives and teaching consistently re ect God’s truth and his gracious, loving character, and who are gifted and thoroughly prepared for the joys and challenges of this moment and the moments to come.
We cannot afford to take shortcuts in preparing people for a lifetime of word ministry in the world and among God’s people. There is too much at stake, and Christian leadership in this form is under constant assault from the evil one. …”
– Moore College Principal, Dr. Mark Thompson, writes about the great value of gospel partnership in the latest (Autumn 2020) Moore Matters.
Read online or download the PDF file.
(Photo courtesy The Pastor’s Heart.)
The Pastor’s Heart: A three step plan to reopen Australia – with Peter Mayrick
“We are reacting quickly to the announcement today from Australia’s Prime Minister Morrison of a three step program to re-open Australia by July.
Peter Mayrick, from the Moore College Centre for Ministry Development joins us to unpack this.
Peter has recently completed a survey of churches and ministers on how we are negotiating COVID-19 (PDF file). Peter is clear that this is an opportunity for Churches to reflect on every aspect of ministry.”
– Watch here.
And do download the survey results.
Gospel hope for mental health
“Twice in my life I’ve had life-threatening anorexia – once as a teenager and again as an adult. Both times I’d have said I was a Christian. Both times I sought help from medical professionals and the Christian community. Yet still, I nearly died.
Christians helped me more than anyone else. Yet Christians also did most damage with some of the things they said …
If church is for shiny, happy people who are better than everyone else, then I don’t belong.”
– Emma Scrivener in the UK shares gospel hope at Church Society’s website.
Photo: emmascrivener.net
Fireside Songs — Colin Buchanan Online Concert for Adults Thursday 7th May
The Gospel Coalition Australia is partnering with Colin Buchanan to host an online concert for adults this Thursday, 7th May, at 7:30pm AEST.
Sounds like a great idea.
Why Evangelicals must engage Roman Catholicism
“Whether you live in a majority Roman Catholic region or in an area where Catholics are few, the presence of the Roman Catholic Church is pervasive. Unless you crouch in your little corner, not wanting to engage the world around you (wherever you are), you must deal with Roman Catholicism.”
– At Vatican Files, Leonardo De Chirico encourages Christians to understand and rightly respond to the Roman Catholic Church. (Link via Tim Challies.)
3 Minutes – 3 Thoughts – On Worry
Colin Adams, Pastor of Greenview Church in Glasgow, shares three encouraging thoughts at Unashamed Workman.
May 2020 Southern Cross now online
Anglican Media Sydney has released the May 2020 issue of Southern Cross – only available online – to read in your browser or as a PDF download.
Lots of encouraging articles.
For your prayers, there’s also a report (pages 9 and 10) on the coronavirus outbreak at Newmarch House at Caddens.
[Anglicare CEO Grant Millard] said the COVID-19 outbreak was “unprecedented and traumatic”. “Nothing actually prepares you for the trauma that our staff and residents and families are dealing with,” he said. “Please keep our residents and their families in your thoughts and prayers, especially those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones.”
Ashley Null on Cranmer’s Collect for the Second Sunday after Easter
“Cranmer’s Collect for the Second Sunday after Easter reminds us of his perennial concern to link justification to sanctification. In so doing, he answers the all-important question for Christians: where do we find the motivation to be more like Jesus?
An original composition, the prayer makes clear that the secret to godliness lies in gratitude for the free gift of salvation. …”
– Ashley Null continues his post-Easter devotions for GAFCON.
Coronavirus and Christ
“In Coronavirus and Christ, John Piper invites readers around the world to stand on the solid Rock, who is Jesus Christ, in whom our souls can be sustained by the sovereign God who ordains, governs, and reigns over all things to accomplish his wise and good purposes for those who trust in him.”
– Here’s a new, and very timely, resource from John Piper at Desiring God.
It’s available in printed, text and audio formats, and in multiple languages. See his video explanation at the link.
Treasurer clarifies JobKeeper rules
In a press release this evening, Federal Treasurer, The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, announced,
“Changes will allow JobKeeper Payments to be made to religious institutions in respect of religious practitioners (with the exception of those that are students only), recognising that many religious practitioners are not ‘employees’ of their religious institutions.”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…