Why you should ditch your digital Bible

Posted on June 14, 2020 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Why you should ditch your digital Bible

“When I started working in university ministry, I thought I knew the issues facing Christian students: money, church attendance, dating unbelievers, overseas holidays, grades. What I didn’t expect was a run-in with the digital Bible. …”

– Matt Smith makes a clear argument at The Australian Church Record.

The biblical meaning of righteousness and justification Parts 2 @ 3, with Chris Thomson

Posted on June 14, 2020 
Filed under Theology Comments Off on The biblical meaning of righteousness and justification Parts 2 @ 3, with Chris Thomson

Lionel Windsor at Forget the Channel continues his interviews with Chris Thomson, lecturer in Old Testament at Moore College:

In the first part, we saw that “righteousness” is essentially a moral quality: it’s about being “right” or “good” rather than “wrong” or “bad”. We also saw that this moral righteousness can be “credited” to someone by God.

In the second part, we saw that “justification” is about finding in a person’s favour, on the basis of their moral quality of righteousness. Justification can happen either because a person is actually righteous, or because they have been “credited” as righteous even though they aren’t.

In this third part, we talk about how getting the meaning of the words right helps us to understand what the apostle Paul is talking about in Romans. What is the “righteousness of God” in Romans 1:17? Is Christ’s righteousness is “imputed” to us? And why is this so important for our assurance of God’s love and salvation?

The Monotony of the Wilderness: Are you just marking time?

Posted on June 14, 2020 
Filed under COVID19, Encouragement Comments Off on The Monotony of the Wilderness: Are you just marking time?


“I’m reading through the Pentateuch. There’s much that happens in these books, especially during the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land.

The trip is action-packed, especially at the beginning. Consider the many memorable events: the crossing of the Red Sea, the miracle of manna, water from the rock, the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, and the Golden Calf incident.

We tend to remember the high and low points, but for most of the forty years it took for the Israelites to reach Canaan, the days were probably pretty monotonous. …”

– At the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, Mike Emlet writes to encourage a heavenly perspective on these times.

God’s concern for greater Sydney

Posted on June 13, 2020 
Filed under COVID19, Encouragement, Resources, Theology Comments Off on God’s concern for greater Sydney

“If you were to look for one sentence that summarises the teaching of the Bible, it would be hard to find a more succinct candidate than the final words of the prophet Jonah’s prayer: ‘Salvation belongs to the Lord!’ (Jonah 2:9).

Jonah is a remarkable book for many reasons. One example is that it contains, in the Hebrew text, only five words of prophecy (3:4), whereas both the minor and major prophets of the Old Testament contain hundreds and thousands of words of prophecy addressed to Israel or the nations.…”

— Archbishop Glenn Davies points us to the message of Jonah and God’s concern for the city.

Francis I. Andersen, Scholar who used computers to study the Bible

Posted on June 11, 2020 
Filed under People Comments Off on Francis I. Andersen, Scholar who used computers to study the Bible

“Francis I. Andersen, an Australian scholar who spent more than 35 years analyzing the syntax of the Hebrew Bible and created a powerful computer dictionary of the Scriptures’ clauses, phrases, and text segments, died last month at the age of 94. …”

– Christianity Today has this obituary for Frank Anderson, former Vice Principal of Ridley College, Melbourne.

Photo: The Andersen-Forbes website.

Freedom of Religion and the impact of COVID-19 on Christian life and worship

Posted on June 10, 2020 
Filed under COVID19, Resources Comments Off on Freedom of Religion and the impact of COVID-19 on Christian life and worship

“It was always clear that measures designed to lessen the impact of, and prevent the spread of, COVID-19, would have an impact on the usual patterns of church life.

Church meetings on Sundays are one of the places where many people regularly gather together physically- indeed, in an increasingly isolated and fragmented society, we may say one of the ‘few’ places.

So, the arrival of a disease which spreads through droplets that are exhaled naturally meant that large gatherings had to be put on hold temporarily in the interests of public health. …”

– At Law and Religion Australia, Assoc Prof. Neil Foster shares a paper he is presenting on the subject., “Freedom of Religion and the impact of COVID-19 on Christian life and worship”.

Leading change in the number and/or size of congregations post COVID-19 with Peter Mayrick

Posted on June 9, 2020 
Filed under COVID19, Resources Comments Off on Leading change in the number and/or size of congregations post COVID-19 with Peter Mayrick

“We are talking Kotter’s principles of change managment and how they apply to church leadership in this post COVID-19 season where the immediate steps forward may not be clear.

We need to lead to change. But for some of us senior pastors (as things keep changing) it’s not obvious where we want to go!  And yet we need to take everyone with us. …”

– Peter Mayrick from the Center for Ministry Development is back to speak with Dominic Steele at The Pastor’s Heart.

GAFCON Moment & Prayer 8 June 2020

Posted on June 8, 2020 
Filed under GAFCON Comments Off on GAFCON Moment & Prayer 8 June 2020

From GAFCON:

Global Anglicans Moment & Prayer is an initiative for churches around the world so that each week they are kept up to date with news and a prayer item. Please share these in your church’s bulletins and media announcements.

John Piper’s prayer for Minneapolis

Posted on June 7, 2020 
Filed under Theology Comments Off on John Piper’s prayer for Minneapolis

John Piper has published a heart-felt prayer for Minneapolis, the city he has called his earthly home for the last forty years.

Church under Coronavirus: Bathurst Diocese

Posted on June 7, 2020 
Filed under Australian dioceses, COVID19 Comments Off on Church under Coronavirus: Bathurst Diocese

“Why was there no special gathering to mark the 150th anniversary of the Diocese of Bathurst on 5 May 2020? Was there much to celebrate anyway?

Consider the state of the Diocese. Spasmodic rainfall has not broken an extended drought in the region. In recent decades the church has been impoverished. Successfully sued for a multi-million dollar debt, it had to sell much church property. Griefs for these losses endure. Only the generosity of Sydney Diocese keeps things going.

More property still must be sold to help redress wrongs done to victims of sexual abuse. The Diocese is clouded with sadness for those ‘scarred and forever damaged’, as Mark Calder, Bishop of Bathurst, recently described the victims. …”

– In The Australian Church Record, ACL Emeritus Vice President Allan Blanch writes of much encouragement in Bathurst Diocese, despite much stress.

(Allan is the author of From Strength to Strength – A Life of Marcus Loane and A Pioneering Pastor: Thomas Sharpe of Norfolk Island and Bathurst.)

Paul Harrington at the ReLaunch Australia Conference

Posted on June 5, 2020 
Filed under COVID19, Resources Comments Off on Paul Harrington at the ReLaunch Australia Conference


Paul Harrington spoke from Adelaide to the ReLaunch Australia Conference last week.

How should we move forward as churches re-open? He urges pastoral patience, and careful thinking to build ‘gospel capacity’.

Very helpful, with plenty to think about. A number of others also spoke at the conference, with a panel discussion.

Watch his address at the link.

Ridley College gives thanks to God for Maurice Betteridge

Posted on June 5, 2020 
Filed under People Comments Off on Ridley College gives thanks to God for Maurice Betteridge

Maurice Betteridge, Principal of Ridley College in Melbourne from 1979-1992, has been called home.

“His death this week will be grieved by many Christian leaders in different parts of the globe.

Maurice was a New Zealander, the second to be appointed as Principal of Ridley with Stuart Barton Babbage the first. …

He had studied at the General Theological Seminary in New York City, served as Chaplain to the University of New England, and based in Sydney was General Secretary of the Church Missionary Society from 1973-1978.”

– Rhys Bezzant at Ridley College pays tribute to Maurice Betteridge.

CMS Australia also pays tribute. Image credit: Ridley College.

Pray for America

Posted on June 4, 2020 
Filed under Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Pray for America

Anglican Church, Diocese of Sydney

Public Statement

Most Australians have watched with horror the video of a policeman crushing the airways of George Floyd as he died on the streets of Minneapolis. The anger pouring forth on the streets of every major city of the USA is evidence of deep-seated racial tension and inequity in that country. While the street violence and looting of shops is to be deplored, the needless death of George Floyd is an outrage and an injustice that needs to be addressed. I echo the call of the Primate of the Anglican Church of North America, Archbishop Foley Beach, for Christians to come together for reconciliation and peace across North America. May God have mercy on the United States, that the authorities will heed the outcry for justice, not only for George Floyd but for all African Americans who suffer oppression and inequality.

As we pray for the situation in the United States, we must also continue to pray for our own country, because the underlying racial tensions and inequalities are just as serious.  Tragically, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate is more than 17 times the national average, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people account for almost 30% of those in prison.  There have been more than 400 Indigenous deaths in custody in the past 30 years. We have our own shameful history of police and prison brutality against Indigenous people, which sadly re-emerged this past week, marring National Reconciliation Week.? I recognise that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are feeling overwhelmed and saddened, longing for true justice to be done. I share your sadness and concern for justice, and on behalf of Anglicans across NSW, I extend my sympathy to you.

As Christians, we know that all people are made in the image of God, and deeply loved by him. In the gospel, race has no bearing – we are one in Christ. Racism and violence are grievous evils, which Christians must speak out against. I urge us all to pray for, and make every effort to further, a deep and lasting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

Archbishop Glenn Davies,

June 4, 2020

Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.

“Eternity to be proclaimed above Sydney Harbour” — Friday 5th June

Posted on June 4, 2020 
Filed under History, People Comments Off on “Eternity to be proclaimed above Sydney Harbour” — Friday 5th June

Here’s a media release relating to a planned documentary on Arthur Stace:

“20 years after ETERNITY was shared with the world at the Sydney Millennium Fireworks and in the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the one-word sermon will appear above the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Friday 5 June at 8.30am. (and again at 3:00pm)

Read more

‘Resuming public gatherings’ – with Michael Stead

Posted on June 3, 2020 
Filed under COVID19, Resources Comments Off on ‘Resuming public gatherings’ – with Michael Stead


New guidelines have been released for churches in NSW. But they have been changed since the original ones we discussed on The Pastor’s Heart with Bishop Michael Stead a fortnight ago. …

Bishop Michael Stead is back for an extra discussion…. On social distancing and implementing the health department guidelines.”

– The latest from The Pastor’s Heart.

← Previous Page — Next Page →