A Thin Gruel For The Soul

Posted on August 15, 2020 
Filed under Anglican Communion, Theology Comments Off on A Thin Gruel For The Soul

“The great Christian philosopher and theologian, Dallas Willard, once wrote that every compelling and coherent worldview must address four questions:

What is reality?
What is the good life?
What is a good person?
How does one become a good person?

Christianity, including the Anglican way of following Jesus, has answers to these questions. Reality is the unshakeable Kingdom of God (Hebrews 12:18-29). The good life is not about consumption, but rather righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). The one who is blessed by Jesus (in every counter-intuitive and counter-cultural way he names in Matthew 5:1-12) is the good person. And one becomes such a person, a “disciple” according to Jesus, by denying oneself, taking up one’s cross, and following Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:24).

Sadly, you will find no answers to these questions in What do Anglicans Believe: A Study Guide to Christian Doctrine from Anglican and Ecumenical Statements, published by the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) last week …”

– The American Anglican Council’s Canon Phil Ashey points to a better way than a new book which has just been published.

A Prayer for VP Day

Posted on August 15, 2020 
Filed under History, Resources Comments Off on A Prayer for VP Day

A prayer for the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the Pacific – by the Rev Mark Charleston.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said:

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Almighty God and Heavenly Father,

Whose kingdom rules over all and in whom there is perfect freedom. We give thanks this weekend for all who served in the defence of this country during the Second World War.

As we remember those men and women who served – in the ranks of our Navy, Army, Air Force and Merchant Navy – we thank you for their sacrifices, in conflict and in captivity, for the cause of peace and freedom.

We pray today for peace in our world.

Have mercy on our broken and divided world and banish the spirit that makes for war. We ask that leaders of nations and governments will pursue freedom, justice and the welfare of all peoples.

In an uncertain world, marked by senseless violence and selfishness, we pray for ourselves. Fill us with courage and love to share the good news of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Have mercy upon all who do not know life through faith in Him. By your Holy Spirit, turn the hearts of nations to our risen Lord Jesus – and to the peace with you that passes all understanding.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.

What if there’s a place with no crying, mourning or pain?

Posted on August 14, 2020 
Filed under Evangelism Comments Off on What if there’s a place with no crying, mourning or pain?

“Crying.
Mourning.
Pain.

Though we desperately try to avoid them, we also accept them as a part of what it means to be alive.

But what if life could be lived without them? What if a place existed where there was no crying, no mourning, no pain – would you want to go there?…”

– Steven Kryger at Communicating Jesus has a great question to share.

Palliative Care

Posted on August 13, 2020 
Filed under Encouragement Comments Off on Palliative Care

“When I was a university student, our medical school dedicated just one week of our degree to teaching us about Palliative Care. We were to spend five days in the hospice to learn about caring for people at the end of life.

When we arrived, we were surprised at our task for the week. Apart from some afternoon tutorials on medical matters, we were to spend our time with a patient getting to know their story. More specifically, we were not to study the story of their illness, but the story of their life.

I was randomly allocated a man in his 60s and I honestly don’t even remember what he was dying from. But I remember his story. …”

– Jordan Cox shares encouragement at The Australian Church Record.

ACR Winter 2020 Journal

Posted on August 11, 2020 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on ACR Winter 2020 Journal

The Australian Church Record’s Winter 2020 Journal is now up on their website.

Grab your copy for plenty of stimulating reading. And pass on the link to others!

The doctrine of God in Ephesians

Posted on August 11, 2020 
Filed under Theology Comments Off on The doctrine of God in Ephesians

Recently, Lionel Windsor at Moore College, posted the key reflections on the topic of The doctrine of God in Ephesians in his series Lift Your Eyes: Reflections on Ephesians.

See them here.

 

The Gathering Storm over Human Life

Posted on August 11, 2020 
Filed under Culture wars Comments Off on The Gathering Storm over Human Life

“The culture of death seems to advance hour by hour in the United States—this is no mere political issue or policy debate; this is an issue dealing with real lives, real human beings, legally murdered on a massive scale.”

– In this excerpt from his new book, Albert Mohler calls for Christians to think and act clearly in protecting human life.

The benefits of a long-term ministry

Posted on August 10, 2020 
Filed under Opinion Comments Off on The benefits of a long-term ministry

“I was ordained in 1971 and retired in 2012, and I spent 33 of those years as the vicar of St John’s Felbridge, a small Surrey village which is effectively part of East Grinstead, a town in West Sussex. It is a long time to spend in one place, and in my retirement I have been reflecting on the positive and negative aspects of ministry of that sort of length. …

Staying in one parish for 33 years would be disaster without a commitment to expository preaching. Over the years I have benefited enormously from the ministry of the Proclamation Trust, which encouraged me to keep working at opening up the Scriptures.”

– In this article from Church Society’s Crossway archives, Stephen Bowen looks at the challenges and advantages of staying in one church long term.

Praying for our leaders

Posted on August 10, 2020 
Filed under COVID19, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Praying for our leaders

Some have remarked how tired many of our state and national leaders seem to be – and this is not surprising, given their heavy burdens in this time of crisis.

It’s a reminder to pray for them, in line with 1 Timothy 2:1-7, and also to pray for those who don’t know the Lord, that they may find life and hope in him.

Pray also for Christian leaders:

Today would have been the start of the Diocese of Sydney Election Synod. Archbishop Davies would have been enjoying retirement. Please pray for him as he continues in the role of Archbishop until March 2021. Pray also for the Election Synod now planned for April 2021, and for all those who may be nominated.

Pray for local church leaders, coping with the many strains of the current environment. Many are tired.

Also please pray for the ACL’s Annual General Meeting this week.

And there’s the Archbishop’s call “for fervent, daily prayer for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the spiritual health of Australia” at 1900 local time each day.

Related:

How We’re Praying for Victoria – Gospel Coalition Australia.

Ministering from a distance: Paul’s ministry from prison

Posted on August 9, 2020 
Filed under COVID19, Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on Ministering from a distance: Paul’s ministry from prison

“Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon from prison. He would doubtless have preferred to be with them in person (Phil 1:8), but as he was kept apart from them he ministered from where God had placed him as best as he could.

We don’t get any sense that Paul felt his life was on hold: he continues to make the most of his daily circumstances (Col 4:3ff), preaching to the palace guards and all those around him (Eph 6:19; Phil 1:13), and sending out messengers with hand-written letters to the churches to encourage them and receive news for his own prayers and encouragement (Eph 6:22; Phil 2:18; Col 4:7-9). And we see clearly that although his relationships with these churches were different, his priorities – for clear gospel teaching and for the church to be built up in maturity in his absence – remained the same. …”

– A very relevant article by Caroline Clark at The Australian Church Record.

Matters of moment from Luke 15 — Dick Lucas

Posted on August 9, 2020 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Matters of moment from Luke 15 — Dick Lucas

St. Helen’s Bishopsgate is continuing to post helpful resources for preachers from Dick Lucas.

In the latest release, he wants to help preachers “dig for treasure” in Luke 15.

David Short remembers J I Packer standing for the gospel

Posted on August 8, 2020 
Filed under GAFCON, People Comments Off on David Short remembers J I Packer standing for the gospel

As part of an online GAFCON tribute to Dr J I Packer, Canon David Short in Vancouver remembers and gives thanks.

David’s contribution begins here. He goes on to recall the crisis in the Diocese of New Westminster from 32 minutes – but watch it all. Archbishop Ben Kwashi, Dr. Leslie Thyberg and Dr. Joel Scandrett also take part.

David mentions Packer’s essays “Why I walked” and “Speculating in Anglican Futures”.

Most encouraging.

CMD Media Training for churches

Posted on August 7, 2020 
Filed under COVID19, Resources Comments Off on CMD Media Training for churches

“We at CMD are very conscious of the enormous challenge it has been for many churches to conduct their services online since late March and now the challenge continues in another form.

Many church leaders need to consider how to continue providing church online whilst beginning to conduct live services on site with reduced numbers.

For many this will mean that pre-recording services is not realistic and therefore they are considering running a ‘hybrid model’ or church services whereby the live service is streamed live to those at home. …”

– The Centre for Ministry Development at Moore College is looking at how they might support churches with all these changes.

Evaluating Evangelistic Courses

Posted on August 7, 2020 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Evaluating Evangelistic Courses

“Pastors regularly ask for a recommendation on evangelistic courses. What works best? What do you think of X or Y course? Do you have something that suits English second language contexts or a less literate demographic?

Recently, that question has been sharpened around the course best suited for an online ‘digital’ presentation of the gospel (as COVID 19 has revealed more engagement than expected through digital platforms/social media). …”

— Phil Wheeler, Director of Evangelism and New Churches in Sydney, wants us to ask key questions in looking at various evangelistic courses.

What is your heart’s desire?

Posted on August 7, 2020 
Filed under Encouragement, Theology Comments Off on What is your heart’s desire?

“We all have them. They may be wishes on a wish list. Or we call them dreams and talk about ‘my dream holiday’ or ‘our dream home’. The poet Longfellow wrote of ‘longings wild and vain’. The Bible speaks in Psalm 37 about ‘the desires of our hearts’.

Some people have clearly defined ambitions. CS Lewis splendidly described the ambition to get inside what he called ‘The Inner Ring’, to be accepted into a particular group, an outsider no longer.

Can you identify your heart’s desires – the things that rank as priorities in your life? …”

– Encouragement from Allan Blanch at The Australian Church Record.

← Previous Page — Next Page →