Ambition?
Posted on July 31, 2025
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Ambition?
“I have a simple question: What is your ambition in life?
The themes of royalty and service stand out in Dr. Luke’s record of the life and work of Jesus of Nazareth. Although he is demonstrably God’s king, he never used his divine powers out of self-interest or self-aggrandizement, but for the good of others. His service is a constant theme.
In the opening lines of Luke chapter 10, we read that Jesus sent out seventy (or seventy-two) of his followers on a training mission so they could experience first-hand what ministry in his name means. Three themes stand out. …”
– John Mason writes in this week’s Word on Wednesday at the Anglican Connection.
Growing by five percent conversion growth — how might this work?
Posted on July 30, 2025
Filed under Evangelism Comments Off on Growing by five percent conversion growth — how might this work?
From The Pastor’s Heart:
“What change would a leader and church need to make for a congregation, denomination or movement to grow by five percent annual conversion growth?
The Gospel Coalition pulled together a mini summit of evangelical movement leaders from across Australia in June.
That gathering set an aspirational goal of doubling the number of evangelicals over twenty years.
They said a key way to do it is by pursuing a target of seeing five percent of the average attendance saved each year.
David Jensen leads the Evangelism part of the Department of Evangelism and New Churches in the Sydney Anglican Church.
Chris Braga is senior pastor of Grace West Church at Glenmore Park in Western Sydney.”
A Biblical Theology of Faith — 2025 Annual Moore College Lectures — with Dr Peter Orr
Posted on July 29, 2025
Filed under Moore College, Theology Comments Off on A Biblical Theology of Faith — 2025 Annual Moore College Lectures — with Dr Peter Orr
From Moore Theological College:
“Since 1977, the Annual Moore College Lectures have showcased leading contemporary biblical and theological scholarship on topics ranging from a theology of the Christian life with Kelly Kapic, the use of the Pentateuch in the New Testament with T Desmond Alexander, and last year’s series on the Book of Galatians with Tom Schreiner.
This year, Peter Orr, lecturer in the New Testament Department at Moore Theological College, will be delivering the 2025 Annual Moore College Lectures on the topic of faith.
What is faith? Is faith with knowledge still faith? What did Jesus mean when he said that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can uproot a tree or move a mountain (Luke 17:6; Matt 21:21)? And why does Paul tell us that we are declared right with God by “faith apart from works of the law” (Rom 3:28), while James insists that “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (Jas 2:24)?
Join us on the mornings of Monday 4 to Friday 8 August and hear from Peter Orr how God provides us with an unfolding revelation of faith across the whole Bible.”
A new era of support
Posted on July 29, 2025
Filed under Anglican Church of Australia, People Comments Off on A new era of support
“More than a century after Anglican chaplains first went on to the battlefield with soldiers, chaplaincy has been established to veterans of Australia’s Defence Force.
The historic move was marked at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney with the collation of the inaugural Archdeacon to Veterans, the Ven Andrew Nixon. …”
– Russell Powell has this report at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Photo: Former Governor General David Hurley, Mrs Jenny Nixon, Mrs Linda Hurley, Archdeacon Nixon.
Of Snakes and Satan
Posted on July 29, 2025
Filed under Theology Comments Off on Of Snakes and Satan
From Phillip Jensen;
“Strangely, some people find it easier to believe in Satan than to believe in God. But what they think of Satan can be so different to the Bible as to not be recognisable.
Moving to Genesis 3 has given us an opportunity to pause and think about Satan: his character, his nature, and his ways of operation. I don’t want you to enjoy a discussion on Satan, but I do hope you find it stimulating and informative.”
– Listen here.
Inaugural Archdeacon to Veterans appointed
Posted on July 28, 2025
Filed under Anglican Church of Australia, People Comments Off on Inaugural Archdeacon to Veterans appointed
From the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs –
“Reverend Andrew Nixon has been appointed as the inaugural Archdeacon to Veterans by the Anglican Church of Australia (ACA) during a ceremony at St Andrews Cathedral in Sydney today.
The ceremony was led by the Primate of the ACA and the Bishop to the Defence Force, and was attended by over 200 guests, including former Governor-General David Hurley AC CVO DSC, Rear-Admiral Chris Smith AM CSM RAN, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Secretary Alison Frame, and other senior Defence, government and religious representatives.
‘This appointment is about bringing to the fore the importance of supporting our veterans and recognising that there are veterans right across the country in all our parishes, in our suburbs and in our neighbourhoods,’ Reverend Nixon says.
Reverend Nixon served as a Navy officer from 1989 until 2001 …”
– Read the full story here.
(2020 photo of Andrew Nixon.)
Unless a Grain of Wheat…
Posted on July 28, 2025
Filed under Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on Unless a Grain of Wheat…
“Over two weekends in June and July I attended farmers’ camps, one in Gippsland and one in Yackandandah, both in Victoria.
Gippsland was made up mostly of dairy farmers battling to be more efficient to reduce costs as they receive less and less for their milk.
At Yackandandah many of the farmers were graziers, their concern is late rain …
At both camps I preached on John 12:20-26, where the Lord Jesus announces that his hour has finally come.”
– David Cook writes at The Expository Preaching Trust.
Image: A 2024 photo of Armidale’s Bishop Rod Chiswell with David Cook.
From campus to classroom: An interview with Jeanette Chin
Posted on July 28, 2025
Filed under People Comments Off on From campus to classroom: An interview with Jeanette Chin
At The Australian Church Record, Jocelyn Loane interviews Jeanette Chin, asking about her journey to school ministry.
“As high school drew to a close, I started thinking about what to do with my life. In God’s sovereign goodness, he exposed me to the pain of death in multiple ways.
While hard, this clarified my priorities (as Psalm 90 says). This life is very short – eternity is forever. So how could I use my life to promote Jesus?
When I got to university and discovered there were hundreds of students eagerly thinking the same way, I was thrilled! AFES and Beach Mission (with Scripture Union) were very formative in training me for a lifetime of loving Jesus. I learnt how to read the Bible for myself, how to run Bible studies, how to think theologically about different things, and how to talk to unbelievers about Jesus. …”
– Read here.
Bathurst Diocesan Prayer Diary — July 2025
Posted on July 27, 2025
Filed under Australian dioceses, Resources Comments Off on Bathurst Diocesan Prayer Diary — July 2025
The Bathurst Diocesan Prayer Diary has been updated with the latest points for prayer and thanksgiving.
Maybe you could use it to help you pray for the work of the gospel in this huge area of New South Wales.
“Please pray for our diocese as a whole, that the Lord
…would fill us with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that we may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.
See Colossians 1:9-10”
Download here (PDF file).
Sermons from Chappo for your edification
Posted on July 26, 2025
Filed under Encouragement, Evangelism Comments Off on Sermons from Chappo for your edification
Thanks to Moore Theological College, audio recordings of dozens of sermons by John Chapman (1930 – 2012) are available for your encouragement and edification.
If you are looking for a model of faithful evangelistic exposition, these will be a wonderful help.
The full collection can be found at this link.
Photo: Matthias Media.
I’ve seen more professions of faith in the past two years than the previous eight combined.
Posted on July 26, 2025
Filed under Encouragement, Evangelism Comments Off on I’ve seen more professions of faith in the past two years than the previous eight combined.
“I’ve been preaching evangelistically for 10 years now. I’ve preached at more than 100 different events and conferences. One thing strikingly obvious has been the increase of professions of faith of young adult men to gospel proclamation. As the word is preached, more and more young adults are becoming Christians or showing interest.
I would say that I’ve seen more young adults respond with professions of faith in the past two years than in the previous eight combined. …”
– At SydneyAnglicans.net, here’s some real encouragement from Dave Jensen.
Image: Dave Jensen speaking at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London, August 2024.
Graham Miller’s Method for “Personal Daily Bible Study”
Posted on July 25, 2025
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Graham Miller’s Method for “Personal Daily Bible Study”
“PERSONAL DAILY BIBLE STUDY is a simple way of studying the Bible without the initial help of commentaries or other reference books, but in humble dependence on the Holy Spirit to open God’s Word to us and ‘teach (us) all things’ (John 16.13).
It was devised and shared in this form (see example and template below) by the Rev Dr Graham Miller, late Principal of Melbourne Bible Institute then Minister of St Giles Presbyterian Church in Hurstville (Sydney, Australia) now ‘present with the Lord’. Dr Miller encouraged me to take it up, saying: ‘Bob, if you do this every day you will soon have a multitude of sermons rising up and crying ‘Preach me! Preach me!’ How right he was. …”
– At AP, Bob Thomas shares this helpful resource from Dr Graham Miller (1913-2008).
Photo of Graham Miller with thanks to the Banner of Truth.
A Surprising Power
Posted on July 24, 2025
Filed under Encouragement, Evangelism Comments Off on A Surprising Power
“With the current geo-political upheavals many fear what the future holds. The uncertainty today is exacerbated by the angry divisions within societies. Vindictiveness has replaced respectful and serious conversation. And we can feel utterly powerless when it comes to talking about our faith.
In Perelandra or Voyage to Venus, the second in CS Lewis’ science-fiction trilogy, Ransom, the main character, feels powerless in confronting an evil force at work on the untainted planet Venus. The crafty subtle evil power reflects the temptations in Genesis chapter 3. Despite being a learned scholar in philology, Ransom constantly finds himself defeated in his arguments. What can he do?
This raises an important question for us, for today people have little knowledge of the Jesus of the Gospels. …”
– John Mason writes with encouragement in this week’s Word on Wednesday at Anglican Connection.
The Quiet Power of a Courageous Word
Posted on July 24, 2025
Filed under Encouragement, Evangelism Comments Off on The Quiet Power of a Courageous Word
“Sometimes it is the simplest of matters that bear the greatest fruit. A simple deed, a simple gift, a simple word can make all the difference. They can even begin a cascade that changes lives and changes the world.
Charlotte Elliot, a satirist and skeptic, had become bedridden and embittered. One day a pastor from Geneva, Switzerland, passed through her town and was asked to meet with her. …”
– Tim Challies shares this encouraging story of how the Lord brings people to trust in Jesus.
Undated public domain photo of Charlotte Elliot (1789-1871).
Church of England Newspaper suspends publication
Posted on July 23, 2025
Filed under Church of England Comments Off on Church of England Newspaper suspends publication
The Church of England Newspaper’s Editor, Andrew Carey, has announced that there will be no further published editions of the CEN until further notice. Instead, a weekly newsletter (by email?) will be sent out “for the foreseeable future” –
“In 1828, a group of young evangelical clergy set up a newspaper called The Record. One of its earliest subscribers and supporters was a young John Henry Newman. The Newspaper formed what became known as the ‘Recordite’ faction in the C of E opposing Tractarianism. It was in the 1950s that the Record merged with The Church of England Family Newspaper to become CEN. …”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…