Anglican Future Conference videos
Posted on June 10, 2015
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Videos of talks from the Anglican Future Conference in Melbourne in March 2015 (programme) are now available, thanks to the Peter Corney Training Centre.
They are terrific resources – check them out and consider how you might use.
30 Days of Prayer
Posted on June 9, 2015
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Food for Prayer. 18 June – 17 July 2015.
Church and religious leaders send letter on Same-Sex Marriage to Prime Minister Abbott
Posted on June 9, 2015
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“Archbishop Glenn Davies has joined other church and religious leaders in signing an open letter to the Prime Minister against same-sex marriage.
Parliament could take steps to redefine marriage as early as August.
The letter, signed by Dr Davies and the Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher as well as 36 other religious leaders including the heads of Pentecostal and orthodox churches as well as senior rabbis from the Jewish community and leaders from both the Sunni and Shia Islamic communities, expresses ‘grave concerns’ regarding ‘Bills that have or will be introduced into the Federal Parliament to change the definition of marriage in Australian law’.…
It ends with a request for a meeting with the Prime Minister and MP’s to further discuss the issue.”
– read the full report at SydneyAnglicans.net – and please be encouraged to pray about this matter.
and a Media Release from Catholic Communications.
Leland Ryken and Sam Storms on J I Packer
Posted on June 9, 2015
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Justin Taylor sat down recently with Sam Storms and Leland Ryken – both of whom have written books on J. I. Packer. It’s a 20 minute video.
J. I. Packer is best known for his books Knowing God, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God.
The Huguenot Heart
Posted on June 8, 2015
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Bishop Paul Barnett spoke at the Huguenot Heritage Church service for the Huguenot Society at Scots Church in Sydney yesterday and shares his notes from the event –
“I am not of Huguenot descent. But let me speak today about the Huguenot heart…”
$65 million jet for prosperity preacher?
Posted on June 8, 2015
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“The Gulfstream G650 isn’t just any private jet. The billionaires lining up these luxury jets, which sell for upwards of $65 million each, are willing to put their names on a waiting list for years just for the pleasure. … And now, televangelist Creflo Dollar’s ministry has announced that it will also buy a G650, a purchase the ministry says is ‘necessary’ to spread God’s word.”
– Story from The Washington Post. Photo: Creflo Dollar Ministries. (h/t Albert Mohler.)
The Dunkirk National Day of Prayer
Posted on June 7, 2015
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“When Britain was close to defeat during the Second World War, and the entire British Army was trapped at Dunkirk, in desperation George VI called for a National Day of Prayer.
This was held on 26th May 1940. In a national broadcast he instructed the people of the UK to turn back to God in a spirit of repentance and plead for Divine help. Millions of people across the British Isles flocked into churches praying for deliverance…”
– at Church Society, John Willans remembers an extraordinary time of prayer – and extraordinary answers.
The Bible and same sex relationships: A review article
Posted on June 6, 2015
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“The reason that homosexual relationships make so much more sense to people today than in previous times is because they have absorbed late modern western culture’s narratives about the human life.
Our society presses its members to believe ‘you have to be yourself,’ that sexual desires are crucial to personal identity, that any curbing of strong sexual desires leads to psychological damage, and that individuals should be free to live as they alone see fit…”
– Tim Keller responds to two celebrated books which argue that the Bible allows for, or supports, same sex relationships.
Focus on Evangelism: Church of North India
Posted on June 5, 2015
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“The Church needs to focus on evangelism and be united to take up challenging issues together, participants of a mission consultation held in New Delhi have concluded. …
Through his death on the cross and commission to ‘make disciples of all nations’, Jesus had entrusted the Church and individual Christians with a ‘significant responsibility’ to proclaim, witness to and transmit the Gospel to all people, [Provincial Secretary Alwan] Masih said…”
– an encouraging report from The Anglican Communion News Service.
‘Stoush over NSW public school enrolment forms’
Posted on June 5, 2015
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“Accusations that Rev Nile asked for the ethics changes in exchange for his support of the government’s power privatisation plans have also emerged, and have been denied by Rev Nile and the Christian Democrats.
While the media has focused on Rev Nile’s request to take ethics classes off the enrolment form, there has been barely a mention that the same request has been made unanimously by faith groups offering Special Religious Education in NSW schools…”
– helpful background from Bible Society Australia to a story that’s in the news.
Do you love me? Putting the carriage before the horse in the same-sex marriage debate
Posted on June 5, 2015
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“It’s important that we get our heads around the nature of this debate otherwise we’ll just continually be responding to the wrong point, nor will we be in any position to helpfully reflect back to our wider society just what is going on and, perhaps, get them to reconsider…”
– David Ould considers the nature of love and marriage. Check it out.
Words of encouragement from Gordon and Ruth Russell
Posted on June 5, 2015
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Moore College has posted four brief, but very encouraging, videos with College graduates Gordon and Ruth Russell.
Take the time to watch. At around three minutes each, the videos are ideal for screening in mid-week meetings or on Sundays.
2. Why Moore, and what’s next for you?
CMS-UK calls for prayer and fasting for ‘creation care’
Posted on June 4, 2015
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“On Sunday 7 June, members of the Church Mission Society are switching off their gadgets to write, pray and act for climate justice.
The CMS community invites people to join them for this day of action on creation care – the Anglican Communion fifth Mark of Mission – as they disconnect their electronic devices and contemplate lifestyle changes that can be made for the environment…”
– Report from the Anglican Communion News Service.
Related:
Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 1:20-25.
Stage Two exile – are you ready for it?
Posted on June 4, 2015
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“The Western church is about to enter stage two of its exile from the mainstream culture and the public square. And it will not be an easy time.
In case you missed it, Exile Stage One began a few decades or so ago, budding in the sexual revolution of the sixties before building up a head of steam some 20 years ago. Finally some Christians sat down to talk about it 15 or so years ago, and that set the ball, and the publishing companies rolling…”
– at The Gospel Coalition Australia, Steve McAlpine, Associate Pastor at Providence Church in Perth, calls Christians to be prepared for what is coming.
Sydney Diocese appoints Domestic Violence task force
Posted on June 4, 2015
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“The Standing committee of the Diocese of Sydney has voted to appoint a taskforce to develop a diocesan response to domestic violence. …
The taskforce includes a chaplain, a professional counsellor, the Archdeacon for women, Kara Hartley and several other members. …”
– from SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo of Archdeacon Kara Hartley by Sam Law.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…