Telling the Story of Jesus

Posted on June 16, 2022 
Filed under Good News, Resources Comments Off on Telling the Story of Jesus

“Have you ever been in a situation where you would love to leave a gospel message with someone but had nothing with you to give? Or the person didn’t read English and that’s the only language you have available? Global Recordings Network has a unique solution to this dilemma: 5fish! …

The International Orality Network tells us that 4 out of 5 people in the world communicate primarily or exclusively through oral, not textual means. This means that only 1 out of 5 people are happy when you give them something to read – regardless of whether it is a book, magazine, or tract. Everyone else wants to listen or watch!

The Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted a survey in 2006 that informs us that approximately 7 million (46%) Australians aged 15 to 74 years did not reach the minimum standard required for individuals to meet the complex demands of everyday life and work in the emerging knowledge-based economy. Almost half of the Australian population would struggle to read and understand the Bible if you handed them one.”

– At AP (The Australian Presbyterian), Global Recordings Network’s Christine Platt makes a case for 5fish, now in its tenth year.

No Mere Mortals: Understanding Myself through Biblical Lenses

Posted on June 15, 2022 
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“In my first article in this series, I showed some different approaches taken in response to the contemporary question, Have I the right to be who I am?

The deep question, however, is the older question: Who am I? In this article I will outline the four biblical lenses necessary to make sense of who we are. …”

– Rob Smith continues his series at The Australian Church Record.

Pursuing Revival While Avoiding Revivalism — 9Marks Journal

Posted on June 15, 2022 
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The latest issue of 9Marks Journal is now available for download.

Eight ways to help build the church

Posted on June 14, 2022 
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“We should continue in prayer for the conversion of many. Expect God to bring many into his kingdom. Continue to ask God to do what he said he would do. We need Christian communities that are both different from the culture but confidently outward focussed. …”

– What can we do to help build Christ’s church? Bishop Peter Hayward has some encouragement for us at SydneyAnglicans.net. (Also in the May-June 2022 issue of Southern Cross.)

Photo: Bishop Peter Hayward at last year’s one-day Synod in Sydney.

Archbishop Welby denounces as un-biblical the decision of African Primates to skip the Lambeth Conference

Posted on June 13, 2022 
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“The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has written to the Primates of Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda to tell them that his invitation to bishops from their provinces to attend the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops remains open.

In a joint letter with the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Archbishop Justin said: ‘God calls us to unity and not to conflict so that the world may know he came from the Father. That is the very purpose of the church globally.‘…”

– Published last week by Anglican Ink.

See Archbishop Welby’s letter here (PDF file).

The Archbishop of Canterbury states that “the Church of England, has not in any way changed its teaching on marriage or the place of sexual relations”.

However, Archbishop Welby, who promised in his consecration vows to be “ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God’s Word; and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage others to the same” has invited several bishops who are in same-sex marriages to the Lambeth Conference.

Honoured for fostering love

Posted on June 13, 2022 
Filed under Australia, People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Honoured for fostering love

“North Shore couple Carolyn and David Stedman, who have fostered 74 children, are among several Sydney Anglicans honoured in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours…”

– SydneyAnglicans.net has the story.

Image: Seven’s Sunrise via Anglican Media Sydney.

Bishop Mark Calder and BCA National Director Greg Harris on the latest partnership for Bathurst Diocese

Posted on June 11, 2022 
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Bishop of Bathurst Mark Calder and BCA National Director Greg Harris recent spoke about the opportunities to serve the Lord in West Wyalong, Cowra and Cobar – fully funded in partnership with and thanks to the vision and generosity of the Bush Church Aid Society.

Do pray that the right people will be found to serve in those key towns.

(There’s a longer version of the video here.)

Have I the Right to Be Who I Am?

Posted on June 10, 2022 
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“My wife and I enjoy watching the documentary series, Who Do You Think You Are? In it, various British celebrities are taken on a journey of discovery to uncover their family histories. What they find is often quite moving.

JK Rowling, for example, discovered that she comes from a long line of single mothers. Kate Winslet discovered that she has Swedish ancestry on her mother’s side and that her great-great-great-great grandfather had to steal to feed his family, before losing his baby son and dying in prison.

The show taps into our fascination with how individual lives fit into the broader tapestry of history. At the end of the day, that’s a quest we’re all on, in one way or another. We are trying to work out who we are, where we’ve come from, and what our place is in the world. …”

– The Australian Church Record has published the first of a three part series by Rob Smith.

Holy Holy Holy

Posted on June 9, 2022 
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Emu Music have released a new arrangement of ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’.

“This is the third single from our upcoming album ‘Songs of Grateful Praise’. We don’t often sing about the trinity, so this is an important song to keep in our church song list! We hope you enjoy our version.”

GAFCON Sunday 2022

Posted on June 8, 2022 
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GAFCON Sunday 2022 is coming up on June 26.

Clarity, Truth, Sufficient and Efficient – with Mark Thompson

Posted on June 7, 2022 
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From The Pastor’s Heart:

“How do we start with Jesus in formulating a view of Scripture today?

What is Jesus’ view of scripture? How do clarity and simplicity relate? How do we move from the speech of God to the word of God written? How does the doctrine of the sufficiency of scripture play out in the different stages of biblical revelation?

Can you give us a sixty second answer on canon formation? And how does speech-act theory impact the issues of the inseparability of Word and Spirit, and the efficacy of Scripture.

Principal of Sydney’s Moore Theological College Mark Thompson has a new book ‘The doctrine of Scripture: An introduction’.”

– Always encouraging to hear someone who loves and thinks clearly about the Word of God.

See also:

How do we read the Bible differently as Followers of Jesus?

More Moore Q&A videos released

Posted on June 6, 2022 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on More Moore Q&A videos released

See the latest videos released in the Moore College Q&A series.

Available so far:

Coming soon:

On Moore College’s YouTube Channel.

A celebration of uncommon leadership — Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s sermon for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Posted on June 5, 2022 
Filed under History, People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on A celebration of uncommon leadership — Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s sermon for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

“Princess Elizabeth was 25 years old and on tour in Kenya on her way to Australia, when she learnt the tragic news of the early death of her father, King George VI.

King George had acceded to the throne only after the unprecedented abdication of his brother King Edward VIII.

It had shaken the nation, and its impact on her father, the royal family and the kingdom is undoubtedly part of the background to Her Majesty’s unswerving devotion to her role.

Her uncle’s reign was the shortest of any British monarch. Her Majesty’s eclipsed that of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, more than six years ago. …”

— Archbishop Kanishka Raffel preached at a special service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney today on the Occasion of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Photo:

Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with Bishop Jack Dain outside St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, on 13 March 1977. Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane is at the Queen’s side, and Bishop John Reid is at centre. At right, Dean of the Cathedral, Lance Shilton, stands with Prince Philip. Photo courtesy Ramon Williams.

I contend that twelve bishops did defy the will of the General Synod over human sexuality

Posted on June 3, 2022 
Filed under Anglican Church of Australia, General Synod Comments Off on I contend that twelve bishops did defy the will of the General Synod over human sexuality

“In a recent opinion piece, Matthew Anstey provided an account of the recent debate in the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia over the meaning of marriage.

While this piece largely elaborated the Archbishop of Brisbane’s recent letter to his clergy, it contained such egregious errors of fact and attribution of motive that it calls for a response. …”

– Principal of Moore Theological College (and former ACL President) Dr Mark Thompson writes for ABC Religion and Ethics.

He concludes,

“This General Synod was remarkable for one other thing. It brought to light the remarkable work God is doing among Anglicans across the country. Anglicans with a vision for reaching the nation with the message of salvation, hope and life in Jesus Christ — Anglicans from every diocese in the national church — are joining together. Joyful in the grace they have received and wish to share with others, confident in the teaching of Christ given to us in the Bible, prayerfully dependent upon our heavenly Father, led by the Spirit as they live as disciples of Christ, they see the future as full of opportunity.

The shape of Anglicanism across the country is changing, and I believe that is a very good thing.”

Take the time to read to better understand what happened at General Synod.

Quiz Worx would be glad of your support

Posted on June 3, 2022 
Filed under Australia, Resources Comments Off on Quiz Worx would be glad of your support

Quiz Worx is running their 2022 End-of-Financial-Year Appeal – to help them share Jesus with kids everywhere – using puppetry, music, drama, stories and fun. They have been such a blessing to so many.

See their website to learn more of what Quiz Worx does.

Click the image above for a larger version.

Download their appeal video from this link.

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