When the Content Police came for the Babylon Bee

Posted on June 9, 2018 
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“Facebook has always been the main source of traffic to my websites. When I started out, I was just excited that so many people were reading my stuff – I wasn’t worried about the implications of it all.

The first hint I got that something troubling was afoot was in November 2015 …“

– Adam Ford, who has just sold The Babylon Bee to focus on his new website, Christian Daily Reporter, says “it’s time to push back”.

North West Network, June 2018

Posted on June 8, 2018 
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The latest edition (June 2018) of North West Network, the newsletter of the Diocese of Northwest Australia (the largest diocese in Australia — by geographical size) is now available.

Download the PDF file and use it to inform your prayers on behalf of the people of the North West.

Here’s a snippet from the latest issue –

“Meet Ross, a visitor to the North West. In August 2017 he left Perth needing a break from caring for elderly parents and looking for direction in his wayward life.

Ross stopped in Geraldton and went to the Bluff Point Anglican Church. That Sunday he heard God speak to him from 1 Peter 2:13-16,

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Ross realised he wasn’t holy. He was cut off from God because of his sin. A church family invited him to lunch and over the course of three days Ross became a Christian. He went from spiritual death to life knowing that God’s love and forgiveness came to him through Jesus Christ. This was life changing for Ross.

But that’s not the end. …”

– Read the rest of the story on page 2 of the June 2018 NWN.

John Piper interviewed at Dundonald Church

Posted on June 8, 2018 
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John Piper spoke at Dundonald Church in London last Sunday (03 June 2018).

Before the sermon, he chatted with Richard Coekin in this encouraging 13 minute video.

You can also listen to his sermon that day, “Enjoying God”.

Queen’s Birthday Conference 2018 — The Cultures of Death and the Death of Culture

Posted on June 8, 2018 
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The Two Ways Ministries Queen’s Birthday Conference is coming up on Monday 11th June –  Read more

GAFCON – Uniting and Reforming: Part 4 – Bishop Tito Zavala

Posted on June 8, 2018 
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“In the Anglican Church of Chile, we are very expectant for GAFCON 2018.

This event is much more than just a conference, it is the manifestation of a living movement of Anglicans, led by God, which seeks to change the world through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ.

We return to Jerusalem together this year, but what does this mean for us? …”

– GAFCON has published part 4 of their ‘Uniting and Reforming’ reflections from GAFCON participants. This one is from Bishop Tito Zavala.

30 years of Matthias Media

Posted on June 7, 2018 
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Here’s a real reason to give thanks to the Lord – Marty Sweeney asks Ian Carmichael about the first thirty years of Matthias Media.

Watch the video here.

David Peterson on Romans — one of Albert Mohler’s ’10 Books Every Preacher Should Read’

Posted on June 7, 2018 
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“Dr Albert Mohler, theologian and current President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, sees the personal collections of preachers as an indication of their preaching priorities, style and engagement. In his annual book review for Preaching Magazine, he highlights the ten books that he believes essential in 2018 for pastors to be reading, reflecting on and shaping their own ministry now and into the future. …”

– Good news from Moore College.

‘Embrace pluralism’ — Gippsland Bishop-elect

Posted on June 7, 2018 
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“Bishop-elect Richard Treloar says Anglicans can offer the wider world a more relational understanding of truth as an alternative to binary thinking that accentuates differences …”

– The Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Gippsland speaks to The Melbourne Anglican about his ‘inclusive’ thinking.

Related: New Bishop for Gippsland.

Review: The Bible Project – Brilliant but Flawed

Posted on June 7, 2018 
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“Understanding and teaching the Bible can be hard work so it feels like a win to find a resource that can help us do it well. Over the last few years, many people have watched and enjoyed The Bible Project videos and started to use them more in teaching.

In this post, I want to raise a few concerns about the theology taught in The Bible Project and invite you to think about how you use them for yourself and in teaching.

Firstly, though, let me say there’s a lot to like about these videos. …”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Richard Sweatman raises some important questions about a popular teaching resource.

Ploughing Concrete in Australia

Posted on June 6, 2018 
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At the recent Geneva Push conference in Melbourne, Greg Lee (Hunter Bible Church) delivered a strong encouragement to keep evangelism central – even if we live in a culture where most people see no need for God. Listen here.

Colorado Wedding Cake Baker wins before US Supreme Court

Posted on June 6, 2018 
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“In Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd v Colorado Civil Rights Commission … the US Supreme Court by 7-2 overturned previous decisions against a Christian cake maker, Jack Phillips, who had declined to make a wedding cake for a same sex wedding. While the basis of the decision of the majority is fairly narrow, the outcome is clearly correct, and even in the narrow reasons offered by Justice Kennedy, there are a number of important affirmations which support religious freedom.

I have commented previously on cases which involve a claim that a cake maker or other “wedding industry professional” should not be allowed to decline to devote their artistic skills to the celebration of a relationship their religion tells them is wrong … But the Masterpiece decision is the first time such a case has made its way to the final appellate court in a common law jurisdiction, and for that reason is particularly important.”

– Assoc. Professor Neil Foster comments at Law and Religion Australia.

GAFCON Chairman’s June 2018 letter

Posted on June 5, 2018 
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“Some 2,000 delegates will be welcomed to Jerusalem this month and many more will be able to share in GAFCON 2018 as it unfolds with reports through each day and live streaming accessed through the Gafcon website.

We thank the Almighty God for the privilege of being able to gather in this city where the great events of our salvation were enacted, but it is not now necessary to go on pilgrimage to encounter the living God. Through God’s Word and by the power of God’s Spirit, every local church becomes the household of God and an anticipation of the heavenly Jerusalem. …”

– GAFCON Chairman, Archbishop Nicholas D. Okoh, writes less than two weeks before GAFCON III.

He also provides a link to GAFCON’s Fuel for Prayer booklet (PDF).

The Purpose of Romans — Gwilym Davies, Preaching Matters

Posted on June 5, 2018 
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In the latest edition of Preaching Matters from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, Sam Manchester asks Gwilym Davies about the Purpose of Romans.

12 minutes – well worth watching.

Brazil’s Anglican Church changes its canons to permit same-sex marriage

Posted on June 5, 2018 
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“The General Synod of the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil – the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil – (IEAB) has approved changes to its canons to permit same-sex marriages. Civil same-sex marriages have been legal in Brazil since 2012. In a statement, the Province said that the move would not require liturgical changes, because gender neutral language had already been introduced into its service for the solemnization of marriage in the 2015 Book of Common Prayer.

The move was overwhelmingly carried by the Synod members with 57 voting in favour and three against. There were two abstentions. …”

– Report from the Anglican Communion News Service.

By contrast: The Anglican Church in Brazil and the Anglican Communion – Dr. Peter Jensen:

“The basic reason why there is a division amongst the Anglicans of Brazil is because the Episcopal Church of Brazil has departed from the teaching of Scripture, and hence from Anglican teaching, concerning sex and marriage. The division is not over a matter of church politics or personal ambition. It is a matter of the fundamentals of the faith, of what makes a true church, of the authority of God’s word.

In 2005, the Diocese of Recife withdrew from the existing Church body over this issue. In so doing it was being true to Scripture and to the overwhelming majority view of the Communion’s Bishops as expressed in Lambeth 1.10 of 1998. …”

Anglicans joining Federal redress

Posted on June 5, 2018 
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“The Diocese of Sydney has agreed to participate in the Commonwealth Government’s Redress Scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse.

In March, the Diocese welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of the scheme and reiterated its commitment to ‘meeting its responsibilities towards those who have suffered because of the appalling acts which have been perpetrated on vulnerable children in our care’.

A Diocesan redress policy has provided care and assistance payments for survivors of child sexual abuse since 2004 but the Standing Committee of the Diocese has now officially confirmed its participation in the Commonwealth Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, welcomed the decision and commended the Federal Government for establishing the scheme, the legislation for which is currently before the Senate.

‘The suffering of those who have been abused can never be overestimated. We must face any failures of the past with integrity, honour, repentance and compassion.’ Dr Davies said.

As further details of arrangements become known, the Diocese will work in conjunction with the Federal Government, through the new company being established by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia.”

– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net. (Image: Crest of the Anglican Church of Australia.)

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