Greg Clarke and Roy Williams with James Valentine on ABC Radio
Posted on May 24, 2017
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Bible Society Australia CEO, Greg Clarke, and author of “God, Actually”, Roy Williams, chatted with James Valentine about the Bible and the Sydney Writers Festival. Aired 23rd May 2017 on 702 ABC Sydney.
17 minutes. Listen here.
Photo of Roy Williams and Greg Clarke courtesy Bible Society.
The Justification Summit
Posted on May 24, 2017
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Coming up in Marcus Loane Hall at Moore College, 1:30pm – 5:00pm on Friday 26th May and 9:30am – 12:00pm on Saturday 27th May 2017 –
“Come along to an in depth look at the central doctrine of the Reformation, justification.
This afternoon and following morning event, held at Moore College, will reflect on the Reformation doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone, and how it bears upon our Christian life today.
Speakers include Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore College, Peter Orr, Will Timmins …
This event is FREE but we ask you to RSVP for catering purposes.”
Details of topics and speakers here.
Anglican Voices episode 1
Posted on May 23, 2017
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Kevin Kallsen at Anglican TV has begun a new project – Anglican Voices.
His first interview is with Church Society’s Director, Dr. Lee Gatiss.
Maintaining spiritual vitality in the midst of ministry
Posted on May 23, 2017
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At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Andrew Heard shares some practical, personal tips that have helped him maintain spiritual vitality in the grind of day-to-day church planting.
Related book: Going the Distance: How to stay fit for a lifetime of ministry by Peter Brain.
Pushback: Appeal to Bishops of British Columbia and Yukon
Posted on May 21, 2017
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“Dear Archbishop Privett, Bishops Andrews, McMenamie, Robertson and Skelton, Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
As the chief Ministers of Reconciliation and Apostles of Grace, I implore you to reverse your decision of objection to the episcopal election of the Rev. Jacob Worley in the Diocese of Caledonia.
The Diocese Of Caledonia prayerfully gathered at their electoral Synod. They elected the Rev. Jacob Worley to be their bishop. Your opposition is ungracious and calls our church’s credibility into question. …”
– “Diocese of the Arctic responds to the barring of bishop-elect Rev Jacob Worley.” from Anglican Samizdat.
Though unsourced, letters from the Bishop of The Arctic, David W Parsons, to the Bishops of British Columbia and Yukon, appear to reveal some of the confusion and unhappiness caused by that Province’s decision to overturn the election of a new Bishop of Caledonia.
Update: Retired Bishop of Caledonia responds to the barring of bishop-elect Rev Jacob Worley. – also via Anglican Samizdat.
“This is a terrible development and should leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that the much lauded promise of a conscience clause in the proposed new marriage canon is completely worthless.”
Photo of Bishop Parsons from the Diocese of The Arctic.
Luther, his Friends and his Legacy
Posted on May 21, 2017
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“Luther was a gregarious man. During his regime Wittenberg became thronged with people. Thousands flocked to Wittenberg to hear him preach (he preached 4000 times in thirty years). His home was effectively a combination of an inn and a lodging house. When he travelled from Wittenberg to Worms in 1521 he was greeted like a rock star from town to town. Wherever we see Luther, we see a man surrounded by people. …”
– Dr Paul Barnett shares some reflections on Dr Martin Luther, his friends, and his lasting legacy. (Photo via Aquila Press.)
Isaiah in five minutes
Posted on May 20, 2017
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“Oak Hill’s third year students have been busy this term producing short video presentations as part of their work on the book of Isaiah.
One of the videos unpacks the message of Isaiah by using Lego characters, and another uses live sketching, and each of them was produced by a team of four students working in collaboration. …”
– Something different – from Oak Hill College in London.
“As it had been the face of an angel”
Posted on May 20, 2017
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“The Christian ministry has never been for the faint of heart. The ministry, biblically defined, is combat duty in spiritual warfare. These graduates have been prepared to be front-line officers in that warfare. …
At every Southern Seminary graduation we remind one another of the great and essential fact that the Christian ministry is not a mere profession — it is a divine calling. The ministry is one of Christ’s gifts to his church. it is the most serious and joyous of all callings.
I think often of the venerable words of the old Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England for the ordering of the ministry. These words are spoken to new ministers of the Word:
‘You have heard, brethren, as well in your private examination, as in the exhortation which was now made to you, and in the holy Lessons taken out of the Gospel and the writings of the Apostles, of what dignity and of how great importance this office is, whereunto ye are called. …’ ”
– Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks at the Commencement of Ministry for this year’s SBTS graduates.
Letter to the Archbishop of York: Please consecrate a second Reformed Anglican Bishop
Posted on May 19, 2017
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“Your Grace, It would be quite understandable for you to be less than enthusiastic about receiving a missive from a ‘conservative evangelical’ in the light of the recent consecration of the episcopally licensed Curate of Jesmond Parish Church as a missionary bishop by the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church in South Africa. But I am writing if I may to set forth the case for a second conservative evangelical bishop, in addition to the southern-based Bishop of Maidstone, to serve as senior pastor to churches and ministers in the north of England who desire his episcopal care. …”
– Julian Mann, Vicar of The Parish Church of the Ascension, Oughtibridge, in South Yorkshire, writes an open letter to the Archbishop of York.
He also responds to comments made in the last week by Church Society’s Lee Gatiss and by Gavin Ashenden.
(Photo: Julian Mann with Bishop Dr. Ben Kwashi.)
Encouragement from Edinburgh to support GAFCON
Posted on May 18, 2017
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The Rev. David McCarthy, Rector of St. Thomas’ Church, Edinburgh, urges support of GAFCON in the midst of uncertain times – and asks for your prayers.
Broughton Knox: servant of Christ Jesus
Posted on May 18, 2017
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“More than a hundred years ago, Broughton Knox, Principal of Moore College from 1959 until 1985 and one of the most influential figures in the history of the Diocese, was born.
He was a man loved by many and yet he deeply irritated others. For forty years he was a dominant force in the Diocese of Sydney, shaping generations of clergy and impacting the core convictions of the diocese.
He shaped its theological college, Moore College, into a modern institution capable of making a significant contribution on the world stage. Then, after retiring from a record principalship of the College in 1985, he accepted an invitation to found another college in South Africa, George Whitefield College, which today is playing a strategic role in equipping the burgeoning churches on that vast continent.
What was it that animated Broughton Knox throughout his ministry and his life as a disciple of Christ? …”
– Moore College Principal, Dr Mark Thompson, writes about his renowned predecessor – at the Moore College website.
Why so many churches hear so little of the Bible
Posted on May 18, 2017
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“In many churches, there is almost no public reading of the Word of God. Worship is filled with music, but congregations seem disinterested in listening to the reading of the Bible.”
– Albert Mohler writes at the Southern Seminary blog. We would hope things are better in Sydney.
Evangelism in the Latter Days – Sharing the gospel with ageing parents
Posted on May 17, 2017
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“Ever since I became a Christian at the ripe old age of 18 I’ve been trying to share the gospel with my parents.
Not surprisingly, they weren’t receptive to my early methods, driven as they were by excessively youthful enthusiasm. My decision to give up all for gospel preaching in my late twenties only increased their hardness towards that message. …”
– Here’s some encouragement from The Australian Church Record.
Related: Keith Green – Song to my Parents.
Duty to Die? — ‘Australian Presbyterian’ on Euthanasia
Posted on May 16, 2017
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In the light of today’s news of a proposed “Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill” to come before NSW Parliament (ABC News story here), the current issue (Winter 2017) of Australian Presbyterian magazine is particularly timely as it addresses the issue of euthanasia.
Article 1: Opening Pandora’s Box. Why Christians must stand firm against euthanasia. An interview with Dr. Scott Rae.
Article 2: A bad move. By Moore College graduate Dr Neil Chambers.
(In addition, Marylynn Rouse from the John Newton Project reflects on John Newton’s experience of God’s amazing grace.)
The issue is available as a PDF file at this link.
Objections to the election of the Rev. Jacob Worley as Bishop of Caledonia
Posted on May 16, 2017
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“Rev. Jacob Worley has been elected bishop of the Diocese of Caledonia. He was to replace Bishop William Anderson, one of the few remaining conservative bishops in the Anglican Church of Canada and is probably a good fit for the position.
Provided the wolves don’t eat him first. …”
– Canadian blogger Anglican Samizdat comments on the overturning, by the Provincial House of Bishops of BC & Yukon, of the election of a new Bishop of Caledonia. (Photo via Anglican Journal.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…