Why we don’t pray for the dead

Posted on April 30, 2017 
Filed under Theology Comments Off on Why we don’t pray for the dead

“Recently I came across an article written on Anglican Pastor by a fellow Anglican Priest entitled Why We Pray for the Dead.

What surprised me was the not only his endorsement of the practice, but the implication behind the title that it is normal Anglican practice to do pray either for the dead or to the dead. …

Here are 10 reasons why we are not to pray for the dead …”

– Joshua Bovis, Vicar of St. John The Evangelist in Tamworth, writes at Thinking of God.

Marriage booklets out

Posted on April 28, 2017 
Filed under Culture wars, Resources, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Marriage booklets out

“More than 65,000 booklets discussing God’s plan for marriage in light of the current push for its redefinition are being distributed to Sydney churches.

The 20-page booklet opens up the question (which is also its title), What has God joined together? Jesus’ good message about marriage for Australia. The publication outlines the biblical view on marriage and answers some common challenges to that view in the context of the same-sex marriage debate.…”

– Story from SydneyAnglicans.net.

See above for Archbishop Davies’ video introduction to the companion website.

Elevation of the Blessed Asparagus: a Church of England pantomime

Posted on April 28, 2017 
Filed under Church of England, Opinion Comments Off on Elevation of the Blessed Asparagus: a Church of England pantomime

“Did the Dean of Worcester Cathedral not pause to think for just one second how utterly, utterly absurd this would look? Really, words fail (though some must necessarily follow).

A sacred procession down the Cathedral nave becomes an infantile pantomime as a block of asparagus is elevated and adored like the Blessed Host, and two men dressed up like Monty Python pay some sort of vacuous obsequious homage. …”

– Big news from England this week. Adrian Hilton (“Archbishop Cranmer”) comments.

Image via Archbishop Cranmer.

Ideas that Changed the World

Posted on April 28, 2017 
Filed under History, Resources Comments Off on Ideas that Changed the World

Re-post:

Here’s a very helpful resource from Matthias Media:

“Around 500 years ago a momentous change was spreading across Europe—a change that has become known as the Reformation.

At the heart of the Reformation were four ideas and four leaders. The ideas: faith alone, grace alone, Bible alone and Christ alone. The leaders: Luther, Calvin, Tyndale and Cranmer.

In the four sessions of this course, join Dominic Steele as he explores these four simple yet profoundly important ideas, the key role these four men played in rediscovering and spreading them, and the stunning European locations where these historic events took place.

But it’s not just a course to watch. You’ll also open up your Bibles and do some exploring of your own, reading the same parts of Scripture that Luther, Calvin, Tyndale and Cranmer read that radically changed their world.”

Doctrine and Theology of Two Ways to Live

Posted on April 27, 2017 
Filed under Resources, Theology Comments Off on Doctrine and Theology of Two Ways to Live


Phillip Jensen unpacks the doctrine and theology of Two Ways to Live in six lectures – recorded last year, and just posted at phillipjensen.com. A wonderful resource.

Watch it all, but be sure to start with the first lecture.

1 Two Ways To Live: Creation February 2016
2 Two Ways To Live: Sin March 2016
3 Two Ways To Live: Judgement March 2016
4 Two Ways To Live: Atonement March 2016
5 Two Ways To Live: Resurrection March 2016
6 Two Ways To Live: Repentance And Faith March 2016

Why I didn’t sing when I visited your church

Posted on April 27, 2017 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Why I didn’t sing when I visited your church

“It was a joy to finally visit your church a couple of Sundays ago, and to worship with the believers there. You know I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. Just as you promised, the pastor is an excellent communicator and a man who loves God’s Word. His sermon was deeply challenging and led to some great conversations with my children.

Now, you asked me why it looked like I wasn’t singing. I know that was probably a little awkward, so thought I’d send along a brief explanation. Primarily, it’s because…”

– Posted last month, here are some thoughts from Tim Challies on congregational singing (or the lack of it).

‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross…’

Posted on April 26, 2017 
Filed under History Comments Off on ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross…’

“Horrible violence was not the fault of one side only in the Reformation struggle.

But that is no reason for us to forget the men and women whose stand for the Reformation of the Church of England in the interests of Biblical truth, cost them their lives. In particular, the fact that the three great episcopal witnesses, Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer were put to death in Oxford during the years 1555 and 1556 is one from which we should draw courage and confidence. …”

– Dr. Peter Jensen, GAFCON General Secretary, writes the fourth of his postsstrong>on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, and reflects on how Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer gave their lives in service of the biblical gospel.

Truthing in love

Posted on April 26, 2017 
Filed under Encouragement, Resources, Theology Comments Off on Truthing in love

“Have you heard the saying ‘speak the truth in love’?

It appears quite often as a heading in blog posts that have titles such as ‘Seven top principles for using social media’. The phrase is normally used to mean something like ‘say true things in a charitable way’. The idea is this: sometimes you have to say hard and challenging things; when you do, make sure you’re using a gracious tone.

But do you know where the saying comes from? …”

– Even if you know the answer, you will be encouraged by this article from Lionel Windsor, at GoThereFor.com.

ANZAC Righteousness

Posted on April 25, 2017 
Filed under Australian dioceses, Opinion Comments Off on ANZAC Righteousness

“ANZAC Day reminds us that morally some wars have to be fought. Everyone must grapple with the issues of a just and moral war and the leaders of our nation need our prayers for wisdom.

ANZAC Day reminds us that in every age the reality of human sinfulness can become so deep that its lunacy, its terrorism, its attacks on the best of our humanity must be stopped.

ANZAC Day reminds us of the best of men and women in the fight for righteousness. Oh that all Australians would realise that when righteousness is under threat we have no alternative but to fight. The alternative to not fighting is to succumb to evil. …”

– Bishop of Armidale, Rick Lewers, reflects on ANZAC Day, and the need to pray.

The prosperity gospel — no gospel at all

Posted on April 25, 2017 
Filed under Theology Comments Off on The prosperity gospel — no gospel at all

“What do you long for the most? The answer to this question will help you identify your god.

Preachers of the prosperity gospel call people to turn to Jesus. But the motivation they give people is health, wealth, husbands, wives, jobs, promotions etc.

In this version of the gospel, Jesus is not what is truly desired, pursued, and treasured. Jesus is the means to the things that the individual truly wants, he is merely the way to receive the material things that our worldly hearts hunger for. And what your heart wants more than God has become your god.”

– GAFCON has published four posts on the prosperity gospel by the Rev Ken Mbugua, Senior pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Nairobi, Kenya.

Related:

The pernicious evil of the prosperity gospel and the theology of the cross – Dr. Mark Thompson.

Moore Matters — Autumn 2017

Posted on April 24, 2017 
Filed under Encouragement, Resources, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on Moore Matters — Autumn 2017

The latest issue of Moore Matters, the Moore College newsletter, is now available.

Copies have been sent to churches, but if you missed out, you can download your copy from the College – on this page – or here’s the direct link to the file (a 10.5MB PDF file).

Among the articles is this one from Colin Bale on Marcus Loane’s Masters of the English Reformation:

“Marcus Loane’s Masters of the English Reformation was first published in 1954 and remains in print sixty-three years later.

The long period of the work being in print is a testimony not only to its important focus but also to its readability for successive generations.

The book presents biographical profiles of five key English reformers—Thomas Bilney, William Tyndale, Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer—showing how they contended for the truth in the period 1516 to 1556. Loane describes the vfie men as ‘Masters’ because, convicted of the truth of the gospel, their contributions were incredibly significant to the cause of Reformation in England.”

Read it all on page 10.

Also in this issue:

 

Bishop of Oxford and the relational dilemma for Reformed Anglicans

Posted on April 23, 2017 
Filed under Church of England, Opinion Comments Off on Bishop of Oxford and the relational dilemma for Reformed Anglicans

“On Palm Sunday in St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford, their new diocesan Bishop, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, made a statement that epitomises the relational dilemma facing Reformed Anglicans in the Church of England.

Introducing his excellent sermon on our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem as recorded in Matthew 21, Dr Croft said:

‘It’s my hope to come as a servant to this very large Diocese, to respect and honour all traditions within it and cherish the life of the Church in its many different forms and do my best to lead us in God’s mission.’ …

His sermon was most edifying, biblically faithful and Christ-honouring. Lord willing, he will do a lot of good in Oxford Diocese.

But the difficulty for a Reformed Anglican church such as St Ebbe’s surely comes in their Bishop’s apparently intentional commitment to theological diversity within the Church of England. …”

– The Rev Julian Mann wonders what reformed Anglicans should do when their bishop endorses ‘theological diversity’.

Photo of Bishop Croft: Diocese of Oxford.

‘Congo sacks British canon over gay marriage’

Posted on April 23, 2017 
Filed under Anglican Communion Comments Off on ‘Congo sacks British canon over gay marriage’

“An African diocese has stripped a high profile English priest of his title of canon, declaring the Rev. Jeremy Pemberton’s same-sex marriage and his agitation for change in the Church of England’s teachings on human sexuality renders him unqualified to hold the honorary title in the Congolese church.

In a letter dated 25 March 2017 to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s advisor for Anglican affairs, the Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo, the Bishop of Boga in the Anglican Province of the Congo stated the Rev. Jeremy Pemberton is “no longer recognized” as a canon of Boga Diocese. …”

– Report from George Conger at Anglican Ink.

(Map: Province of the Anglican Church of Congo.)

Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer

Posted on April 23, 2017 
Filed under History, Resources Comments Off on Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer

Back in January, we noted that this documentary on Martin Luther (featuring contributions by R.C.Sproul, Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, Carl Trueman and other reformed theologians) would be released in April. 

It is now available – on DVD or as on-demand video. Check it out and see how you might use it during this 500th year of the Reformation.

“Discover the story behind the man who sparked the Protestant Reformation. Told through a seamless combination of live-action storytelling and artistic animation, Martin Luther’s daring life is presented in extensive detail while still making the film relevant, daring, and accessible.”

Five reasons Reformation Anglicanism is relevant

Posted on April 22, 2017 
Filed under History, Resources Comments Off on Five reasons Reformation Anglicanism is relevant

“The church is meant to be a beacon, marking out the safe path to true wholeness and hope. Sadly, however, the church today often capitulates to the world’s narrative without ever being aware of it. Our preaching can easily reinforce that we are what we do, telling people they must focus on doing things pleasing to God so he will continue to accept them. Yet true Christianity bases all its hope on what God has promised to do in, through, and for us because of his love—not on what we must try to do to earn it.

Here is the core message of Reformation Anglicanism. Forged in a time when the Western church had lost its way, its five characteristics illumine the authentic gospel once again for the 21st century. …”

– from Ashley Null, via The Gospel Coalition.

(Photo courtesy Trinity School for Ministry.)

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