Into the World — new video from Moore College
Posted on May 18, 2024
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This seven minute video from Moore College features the partnership with churches in Madagascar.
Most encouraging and food for prayer. Take the time to watch.
It would also be suitable to show in church or in home groups.
Meet Jesus: The Missiology is Right
Posted on May 18, 2024
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“In 1959 the Billy Graham Association conducted Australia’s most successful evangelistic mission. Large venues, huge crowds, and compelling preaching. It was extraordinary. Six decades on, however, some features of that mission look quaint, even odd. …
It was a different world. Evangelising Australia now is a different sort of challenge. Consider the 2024 Meet Jesus campaign—the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students’ (AFES) effort to invite Australians to meet Jesus in the pages of Gospels. I think the missiology is right.”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Rory Shiner commends Meet Jesus.
After 20 years of partnership, there’s still work to be done
Posted on May 17, 2024
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“The link between Sydney and the gospel work of African Enterprise is continuing, with clergy about to relaunch teaching Moore College’s Preliminary Theological Certificate in African cities under the AE umbrella. …”
– Encouraging news via SydneyAnglicans.net.
“The Coming of the Holy Spirit” book Q&A videos
Posted on May 17, 2024
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Phillip Jensen’s book The Coming of the Holy Spirit has been a real blessing to many. Now there’s an extra resource you may find helpful. Phillip writes:
“We have now made a series of short videos answering the questions I’m most often asked about the book. …
It is so important that we carefully study why Jesus sent his Spirit. The confusion in the minds of many Christians about the work of the Holy Spirit is very sad and leads people into strange and unhelpful beliefs and practices.
I hope the book will be of use not only for you … but also for your conversations with others who may never have studied the Bible on this topic.”
It includes a strong suggestion on how you shouldn’t read the book.
The book is available from Matthias Media.
And the audiobook version is available from Audible.
You Are Not Alone: Standing with the Global Faithful
Posted on May 16, 2024
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“Standing up for the authority of Scripture begins in loving obedience to the Lord and all the roles he has given us to play.
For the Revd Philip de Grey-Warter, a Gafcon leader in the UK who stepped out in faith from the Church of England, his joy is evident as he serves first his family and parish, and also gives generously of his time to the growing global fellowship of orthodox Anglicans.
Philip tells how Gafcon has given many worldwide Anglicans a renewed sense of belonging, and he encourages those among us who feel isolated to reach out and serve.”
– Episode 5 of Gafcon’s Global Anglican Podcast has just been released. Gafcon General Secretary Bishop Paul Donison speaks with the Rev. Philip de Grey-Warter.
Very encouraging, and food for your prayers for the faithful – both those who remain in the Church of England, and those who have stepped out and found support and fellowship through Gafcon.
The pornographic awfulness of Eurovision
Posted on May 16, 2024
Filed under Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on The pornographic awfulness of Eurovision
“I have been meditating recently on chapter fifteen of St Luke’s gospel which contains three well-known parables of Jesus. There is one key word, ‘lost’ which recurs five times in the chapter: the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost (prodigal) son.
These parables are generally relegated to Sunday School, and the children’s bible will show a picture of the Good Shepherd (Jesus) with a little lamb over his shoulders, surrounded by happy, smiling children.
But the true meaning of the parables is much deeper and darker, speaking as it does of the utter lostness of humanity when separated from the creator. …”
– After watching the latest iteration of the Eurovision Song Contest, Dr Tom Goodfellow reflects on its emptiness. At The Conservative Woman.
Talking Back to Death
Posted on May 16, 2024
Filed under Good News, Theology Comments Off on Talking Back to Death
“One of the most anguished stories I’ve ever read was about what happened to Martin Luther’s daughter Magdalena. Barely fourteen years of age, she was stricken with the plague.
Broken-hearted, Luther knelt beside her bed and begged God to release her from the pain. When she had died and the carpenters were nailing down the lid of her coffin, Luther screamed out: ‘Hammer away! On doomsday she’ll rise again.”…”
– At AP, Mark Powell, with help from John McClean, speaks of every Christian’s sure confidence.
‘The hardest talk I’ve ever given: Loving God’ – with Ray Galea
Posted on May 15, 2024
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“‘God wants all of me to love all of God all the time’ says Senior Pastor of Fellowship Dubai, Ray Galea.
We want our staff and leaders to live and serve in ministry out of an overflow of the love of God for them. Grasping this love properly lifts our service from duty to desire.
As pastors we are so committed and focused on encouraging our congregations to love God with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. But do we stop to consider that our own love for God might be the limiting factor?
The pastor’s love for God will be a limiting factor for the congregation’s love for God. If we do not truly have hearts for God, how could we possibly lead others to the same?…”
Growing fellowship among gospel-minded churches in the UK?
Posted on May 15, 2024
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In the latest Church Society podcast, Lee Gatiss speaks with Affinity‘s Graham Nicholls (pictured) about the possibility of a “Gospel Coalition UK” – as well as about helping Christians commend Christ in the public square.
– Listen here.
Armidale Preaching Conference Review
Posted on May 14, 2024
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From The Expository Preaching Trust:
“On 6-7 May we held a fully subscribed Preaching Conference in St Peter’s Cathedral, Armidale.
The conference was sponsored by the Trust and co chaired by Rod Chiswell, the Bishop of Armidale, and David Cook of the Trust. …”
– Read here.
LLF Working Groups – is it just the next step on the travelator?
Posted on May 14, 2024
Filed under Church of England, Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on LLF Working Groups – is it just the next step on the travelator?
“The Church of England finally announced the membership of the three Working Groups that will continue the work of implementing the outcomes of Living in Love and Faith. The press release says that the role of the Working Groups is to:
‘…feed into the Programme Board, helping to shape recommendations to be presented for consideration at the House and College of Bishops ahead of bringing an outline proposal to the July meeting of the General Synod.’…”
– This piece, published a few days ago at Anglican Futures, argues that the process within the Church of England has been well organised to provide the desired result.
Inside the hidden assumption in Albanese’s ‘misinformation’ bill that undermines its entire premise
Posted on May 13, 2024
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on Inside the hidden assumption in Albanese’s ‘misinformation’ bill that undermines its entire premise
“As Claire Lehman of the Quillet puts it: ‘In universities across the world, humanities departments have, over time, come to reject the notion that there is such a thing as objective truth.’
If they are right, there is no point in any debate or discussion about either the news or our opinions of the news. …”
– At Sky News Australia, Kel Richards points out the fatal flaw in all ‘misinformation’ legislation.
Showing Christ’s love to children in need
Posted on May 13, 2024
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“Are you constantly amazed by the depths of God’s love described in these verses like we are?
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (John 4:9-10)
God loved us by sending his son Jesus into the world, who laid down his life for us. And as the Apostle John writes, this truth gives us a powerful reason to love others.
We love because he first loved us! (John 4:19)
All around the world, Anglican Aid’s partners are taking these verses to heart. …”
– At Anglican Aid’s website, Anna Grummitt shares some encourgement and also a way you can help.
The church as our village
Posted on May 11, 2024
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For Mother’s Day, SydneyAnglicans.net has published a version of a talk Jocelyn Loane gave the Mothers’ Union Sydney conference in March:
“During COVID lockdowns I started collecting memes about parenting to get the vibe of how the internet portrays being a mum.
I came across memes that played on the old African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child. One said this: ‘They say it takes a village. I believe it also takes a vineyard’. Which might tell you something about how people found those months of home learning! …”
– Read it here.
The heavens declare the glory of God
Posted on May 11, 2024
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“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” – Psalm 19:1.
Photo: Aurora Australis as seen from Tasmania, 11 May 2024.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…