Evangelism in Tough Times?
Posted on January 6, 2023
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His topic: “Evangelism in Tough Times”.
Looking at our context in Australia, he argues –
- These are not tough times.
- The has been no substantial change, and
- The difficulty evangelism faces is seduction and persecution.
It’s a challenging talk and is very much worth your time. Good to share too.
Recorded at Moore College, 22 November 2022.
Bishop of Tasmania’s Training Event 2022
Posted on January 4, 2023
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From the Diocese of Tasmania:
“On 17 and 24 September, over 500 Anglicans from across Tasmania gathered in Hobart and Launceston to attend the annual Bishop’s Training Event.
In its 6th year, it was our biggest year yet, and we enjoyed encouragements from Bishop Richard and Wei-Han Kuan (the State Director of CMS Victoria). We are making the videos of the keynotes available and you can watch them below.”
Pope Benedict XVI — His Life and Legacy
Posted on January 2, 2023
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“According to Benedict, the evangelical understanding of the church is a ‘new concept’ whereby the church is only a community summoned by the Word. Benedict looked at evangelicals with a mixture of spiritual curiosity and Roman perplexity.
Benedict did have a high view of Scripture, and his last books were focused on the life of Jesus according to the historical accounts of the Gospels. Yet we must understand his true position. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition, Leonardo De Chirico reflects on the life of Pope Benedict.
See also:
Remembering Benedict XVI – Carl Trueman at WORLD.
“A deeply learned theologian rather than a philosopher, Benedict made signal contributions to thinking about the nature of the secular world. Indeed, though many of his most significant intellectual contributions predate his papacy (2005-2013), the accuracy of so many of his observations and analyses has given his work a mantic quality.”
Why Religion will Return to the West
Posted on January 1, 2023
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David Robertson writes:
This is an important article by Greg Sheridan – which we republish with permission. Please do read the whole article – but this quote stuck out for me –
“Christianity was just as weird to the sophisticated first-century Graeco-Roman civilisation of the Mediterranean as it is to the most disillusioned sophisticate of today.Happily for contemporary Christians, they have a readily accessible account of how the first Christians spread the gospel in a hostile, alien and comprehensively pagan culture. It’s a primary source, uniquely immediate and reliable, and still in print.It is found in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament, and in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. It’s worth reading these two short books – only 50 pages between them – straight through, as they offer a gripping, vivid picture of the first Christians. …”
Photo: Greg Sheridan, Foreign Editor, The Australian.
Amazing Grace shown to sinners like us
Posted on January 1, 2023
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Two hundred and fifty years ago today, the hymn Amazing Grace was first sung. The Rev. John Newton wrote it to accompany his sermon on 1 Chronicles 17:16-17 on New Year’s morning 1773.
At the time, Newton can have had no idea of what a blessing that hymn would be to millions.
There’s no better way to begin a new year than by remembering God’s grace shown to us in Christ, to bless God, and to tell others of him.
JohnNewton.org has resources linked from their front page.
Update: Marylynn Rouse, Director of the John Newton Project, has contributed this piece just published in The Times.
(What is the good news Newton knew? Glad you asked.)
Twenty-three years closer to Eternity
Posted on December 31, 2022
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Sydney celebrated the beginning of 2000 by displaying on the Harbour Bridge the word Eternity in the iconic copperplate handwriting of Arthur Stace.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, and in many ways the world has changed. But the basic and urgent need of men and women is the same – to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved.
In 2023, be encouraged to continue to trust Christ, and to live in the light of eternity. Romans 13:11.
Don’t Check the Boxes
Posted on December 31, 2022
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“Over the years, as far as I can tell, perhaps the single most significant ‘breakthrough’ for me in daily Bible intake was learning to ignore those little boxes next to each of the daily readings.
If you’re a box-checker, I cast no stones. I simply share my own weaknesses and flaws by testifying to the breakthrough. Silly as it may sound, when I stopped checking the boxes, something started to change in my attitude toward God’s word. …”
– Here’s some encouragement from David Mathis at Desiring God.
Canadian assisted suicide activity book for kids
Posted on December 30, 2022
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“Canada’s new official religion of death now does kids outreach!
The country’s government has discovered it can save A LOT of money by encouraging citizens to kill themselves in its MAID program (Medical Assistance in Dying).…”
– Not the Bee highlights a Canadian activity book for children.
From the activity book (PDF file):
“The word ‘medical’ means the science of medicine, and ‘assistance’ means help. So MAiD means that medicine is used to help someone with their death. A doctor or nurse practitioner (a nurse with special training) uses medicines to stop the person’s body from working. When their body stops working, the person dies.
This is done in a way that does not hurt the person. …”
Successful religious discrimination claim in foster-carer case
Posted on December 28, 2022
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“Just before Christmas, a significant religious discrimination decision was handed down in the Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal. …”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster gives background to a decision handed last week.
(Image: Assoc Prof. Foster at a Sydney Diocese training day.)
King Charles’ Christmas Message Reflects a Post-Christian United Kingdom
Posted on December 28, 2022
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“The New Testament commands us to pray for kings and all those in authority, so that we will be free to live quiet lives of godliness and to share the good news of the Savior who is the one mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:1–3). We can be thankful that in this regard our prayers are being answered.
British Christians should continue to pray for King Charles and his government that our long-established constitutional rights to freedom of worship will be upheld.
At the same time, the lack of gospel clarity and comprehension in his message will cause us to pray even more fervently, in the words of our national anthem, ‘God save the King!’…”
– John Stevens, National Director of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches in the UK, reacts to King Charles’ Christmas message. At The Gospel Coalition.
If you haven’t seen it, watch the message here.
Faith in the historical Jesus
Posted on December 27, 2022
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“One of the great joys of 2022 has been The Rest is History podcast with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook. I don’t think I have missed any of its 288 episodes! It is informative, entertaining, accurate, stimulating, challenging and never dull. It is also remarkably balanced and fair in its treatment of Christianity. Nonetheless I was a little apprehensive when I heard that they were doing a double edition on the historical Jesus.
I need not have feared. As usual it was interesting, informative and fair. There was much I could agree with but there were some things that were a little more challenging.
Tom and Dominic demonstrate the historicity of Jesus and offer some insightful and helpful historical background details. For example, no credible historian thinks that Jesus is a myth. They also acknowledge the enormous impact of Christ on human history. It is interesting to note that the name of Jesus is used every minute of every hour of every day on this planet! …”
– David Robertson writes at about the historicity of Jesus.
Moore College events calendar for 2023
Posted on December 27, 2022
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Moore College has put online a very handy calendar of their events planned for 2023. (PDF file.)
The Library Showcase on 1st November (“Howard Guinness and the beginnings of university ministry”) sounds particularly interesting.
Archbishop Foley Beach’s 2022 Christmas Message
Posted on December 25, 2022
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Archbishop Foley Beach – Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council – shares his 2022 Christmas Message.
Freedom, Faith and Forgiveness — Os Guinness
Posted on December 23, 2022
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In another ‘must see’ interview, John Anderson speaks with Os Guinness.
55 minutes, well worth your time.
Thoughtcrime is now a reality in Britain
Posted on December 23, 2022
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“Whatever your view on abortion, even if you are strongly pro-choice, this whole episode should worry you immensely. The implications for personal liberty are terrifying. If an arrest for silent prayer is not an instance of Orwellian ‘thoughtcrime’, then I don’t know what is. …”
– Spiked. Further coverage and commentary from Not the Bee.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…