Power and Promise – studies for Lent 2015

Lent is coming up shortly (it starts Wednesday 18th February).

Some churches observe Lent – others don’t. Either way, the forty days leading up to Easter are a great time to encourage church members to reflect on God’s Word, and to understand how all of God’s promises find their ‘yes’ in Christ.

“This Lent, join Dr Peter Jensen in his new book, Power and Promise, as he explores God’s faithfulness and sovereignty from Adam to Abraham.

The opening chapters of the Bible are a majestic introduction to God, his Word, and the world as we know it. In Power and Promise, the former Archbishop of Sydney marvels at the intricacies of the rich landscape that is Genesis 1–15.

Through these chapters we also see the heartbreaking history that stemmed from humanity’s rejection of its Creator, and the certain hope offered in God’s covenants.

With 40 daily devotions and questions for group discussion and personal reflection, this book is an ideal resource for challenging Christian faith, devotion and obedience in the lead-up to Easter.”

Learn more, and order your copy from Christian Education Publications.

Theological College and the New People of God

“The new academic year is upon us. In my brief visit to GWC for the annual language Summer School, I’ve seen new students arrive, as well as old students and faculty return. One of the joys in this is seeing the diversity of people coming to the college. I’m reminded that when the gospel is preached, the Spirit draws people from all nations into Christ’s church to the glory of God the Father…”

– George Athas from Moore College has been visiting George Whitefield College in Cape Town. He’s written this encouraging piece for their website.

Kanishka Raffel — Do not lose heart

In the latest Preaching Matters video, Kanishka Raffel, who has been visiting St. Helen’s in London, speaks about why we should not lose heart as we preach the gospel.

Be encouraged.

Committed to the Gospel

At the Thinking of God Conference, held last November, Dr Peter Bolt spoke on Evangelicalism, calling his hearers to be discerning and uncompromisingly gospel-focussed.

Take the time to be challenged and encouraged. Watch or listen here.

How then, should we live?

“Defective theology will inevitably lead to defective Christian living.

There are three areas of systematics which require our careful attention – these truths often get lost in larger theological tomes, but they need to be taught thoroughly to our people.

I intend to write about each of them in my next three columns.

The first is the place of the law in the believer’s life, this bears on the relationship of old and new covenants…”

– Presbyterian Moderator-General David Cook begins a short series on key aspects of theology.
(Photo: St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.)

25 Truths about Preachers

At Unashamed Workman, Colin Adams has some reminders and encouragements for preachers, drawn from 2 Timothy.

Read them here.

Worthy of double honour — Expository advocating

“Paul was telling the truth when he said that preaching the gospel is folly, but he also says, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise” (1 Cor 1:27).

A commitment to expository preaching takes a firm belief in the power of God’s Word and a humble recognition that the God-appointed means of preaching is better than whatever impressive or efficient model we might devise. God will build his church through expository preaching, and it takes a committed fool to believe it and do it…”

– encouragement from the Southern Blog.

We do not listen to Jesus in prayer

A sermon bite from William Taylor at St. Helen’s.

Authentic Christian ministry

In the latest Preaching Matters from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, William Taylor speaks about authentic Christian ministry in the context of preaching from Acts.

It’s a 10 minute video.

Lord Carey ‘wrong to support State-sanctioned suicide’

“Apparently the UK is ‘closer than ever’ to introducing legislation which will permit the terminally ill to end their lives at a time and place of their choosing. Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill simply will not die: it is deemed to be the virtuous and noble solution to the problem of unbearable suffering; the only ethical and justly moral response to a heartless society which insists on sustaining lives which simply no longer wish to be lived. We treat dogs better.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey is amongst the signatories to a letter demanding that the political parties pledge to giving this Bill parliamentary time after the General Election, in order that the issue might be finally resolved. By “resolved”, they mean, of course, that the Bill must be passed, or the issue has not been “resolved” to their liking and will simply need to be revisited until Parliament votes correctly. The only settled conclusion that is acceptable is the one which concludes a settlement in favour of ‘assisted dying’. The argument is teleological; the trajectory is locked…”

– UK Christian blogger ‘Archbishop Cranmer’ weighs in on the hot issue of ‘euthanasia’.

On the elimination of the suffering – Dr Megan Best. (SydneyAnglicans.net.)
Euthanasia lives again – Social Issues Executive of the Diocese of Sydney.

From Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower:
Euthanasia resources.
Depression, disability & ‘safe’ euthanasia.
A Response to Giddings & McKim’s euthanasia proposal.

Advancing the Gospel on the Front Line

As many gather for CMS Summer Schools around the country, this interview with Dr Tim Keesee, the man behind the Dispatches From the Front video series and book, is appropriate.

This interview is an extract from Ligonier Ministries’ Tabletalk magazine. The January 2015 issue is available as a free download, and is packed with encouraging and worthwhile articles, as well as a Bible reading guide on the theme of Wisdom.

Getting Justification by Faith right

It’s vital to understand Justification by Faith correctly.

At The Australian Church Record, Matt Olliffe seeks to clarify the issues after a response to an article he posted on the ACR website.

“This essay seeks to vindicate the teaching that according to Paul, we are not justified before God at the judgment by our faithfulness, but by faith as ‘trust’, ‘reliance’, or ‘dependence’ on God and his promises for final salvation in Christ.”

– Read it here (PDF file) from The Church Record.

Oak Hill Commentary magazine Winter 2014-15

The latest issue of Commentary, the twice-yearly magazine of Oak Hill College in London is now online.

Lots of good reading – the articles by Nick Tucker on A Confessing Church (page 11), Levi Booth on Identity in Japan (page 14), and David Potter on Philosophy (page 17) are good places to start!