The Church Record thanks Abp Peter Jensen
Posted on June 14, 2013
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The Australian Church Record has published an appreciation of the ministry of Archbishop Peter Jensen. Read it here.
Praying for the election of a new Archbishop
Posted on June 14, 2013
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The next Archbishop of Sydney will be elected at the special session of Sydney Synod beginning Monday 5th August. These prayer suggestions (PDF file) were distributed at the ACL-organised prayer meetings around Sydney in June.
Even if you couldn’t attend, these may be of some help as you pray. Here is the text from the PDF file –
Part 1 – Praying more generally for the spread of the gospel in Sydney and beyond – Read more
Farewell service to be streamed live
Posted on June 14, 2013
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Tonight’s Farewell Service for Archbishop Peter and Mrs Christine Jensen will be livestreamed from St. Andrew’s Cathedral from just before 7:00pm. You can see it here, thanks to AudioAdvice.
Calvin’s chair
Posted on June 14, 2013
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“Calvin’s original pulpit is no longer there within St. Pierre’s, though a similar one has been built on the spot he preached. Not many relics can survive nearly 500 years of history, but one remains: his chair.”
– Tim Challies continues his series on the history of Christianity in 25 objects.
The Gospel Coalition National Conference 2013
Posted on June 12, 2013
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Audio and video files from this year’s Gospel Coalition Conference are now available. The main talks –
Jesus the Son of God, the Son of Mary (Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-21) – John Piper
Jesus Despised (Luke 4:14-30) – Colin Smith
Jesus’ Transforming Power on Behalf of the Afflicted (Luke 8:26-56) – Crawford Loritts
Jesus’ Resolve to Head Toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:18-62) – Don Carson
Jesus and the Lost (Luke 15:1-32) – Kevin DeYoung
Jesus and Money (Luke 16:1-31) – Stephen Um
Panel Discussion: Did Jesus Preach the Gospel? – Don Carson, Kevin DeYoung, Tim Keller, John Piper
Jesus Betrayed and Crucified (Luke 22:39-23:43) – Gary Millar
Jesus Vindicated (Luke 24:1-53) – Tim Keller
And many more talks and workshops here.
Sydney’s next Archbishop — The Briefing
Posted on June 11, 2013
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“While it is perhaps inevitable that some silly things will be said and done during this ‘homework’ period, it is still a necessary and good process in my view. There has to be some means of weighing up the pros and cons of different candidates, and to do so openly and honestly in advance, in fellowship with another, seems both wise and necessary…”
– Tony Payne briefly explains the Archbishop’s election process to an outsider.
(And don’t forget the Prayer Meetings being run across the diocese this week and next. All welcome.)
Bible Society gives away ‘original script’ at Jesus Christ Superstar opening
Posted on June 11, 2013
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Members of the Bible Society gave away free copies of ‘the original script’ of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Sydney opening last week.
The Heart of Marriage — Loving your spouse with a Christian mind
Posted on June 10, 2013
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“There is no other book on marriage like this one. It is threaded with scholarship: we see moments where the arcane world of biblical scholarship is put to very good use. It gives a basic primer in biblical anthropology—that is, in the Bible’s unexpected way of describing what it is to be human.
It uses biblical theology: rather than plucking out isolated texts and pressing them into service, Hill works with the whole counsel of God, the entire story arc of the Bible. It exhibits philosophical nuance, as he makes distinctions that helpfully change our thinking.
But all of those big-sounding things are very readable. He visits them with a light touch, using crisp sentences. And it’s woven with stories and examples. It’s a book that is good for anyone who can read at a senior-high level.”
– Andrew Cameron at Moore College reviews Dr Michael Hill’s latest book, The Heart of Marriage.
It’s available from Christian Education Publications in Sydney, Pilgrim Books in Orange and other bookshops, and can be pre-ordered in the UK from IVP.
Tom Frame to resign from St Mark’s
Posted on June 9, 2013
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“Professor Tom Frame has announced that he will resign as Director of St Mark’s Theological [Centre in Canberra] before the start of the 2014 academic year.”
– News from the diocese of Canberra & Goulburn.
Presbyterian Principal Profile
Posted on June 8, 2013
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The latest issue (June/July 2013) of The Pulse, the magazine of the Presbyterian Church of NSW, has a profile of Moore College graduate Ian Smith, now Principal of their theological college at Burwood.
Pages 9 and 10 of the 4.1MB PDF file.
Mark Thompson installed at Moore
Posted on June 7, 2013
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“Dr Mark Thompson preached at St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney last night at his installation as the 13th Principal of Moore Theological College.
– See the story, photos and Mark’s sermon from Moore College.
Can the new St. John’s Shaughnessy really tell you anything about God?
Posted on June 7, 2013
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From their website –
“St. John’s Shaughnessy is a small but flourishing congregation, living our calling as Christians by faithfully walking the Anglican path. Our road is less travelled.
We do not claim absolute knowledge of the Divine. We really welcome everyone and are enriched by the dynamic tension of differing beliefs. We embrace doubt. Pray hopefully. And celebrate diversity.”
This is the new Diocese of New Westminister congregation using the building vacated by St. John’s Vancouver. (h/t Anglican Essentials Canada blog.)
Canterbury’s Lords Speech leaves door open for Same-Sex Blessings
Posted on June 7, 2013
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“Welcome though the Archbishop of Canterbury’s opposition to the same-sex marriage bill is, Dr Justin Welby’s speech in the House of Lords on Monday made some significant concessions that bode ill for local churches. …”
– Julian Mann takes a look at Archbishop Welby’s address in the House of Lords this week.
The Gentle Temeraire
Posted on June 7, 2013
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“The book is a devotional gem.
It is also a reminder that perhaps the most important voices in the church are not those of the young and the beautiful, of the middle aged who cannot accept that their teenage years are behind them, least of all of the Twittocrats who can reduce any profound and subtly beautiful truth to 140 banal and clichéd characters; instead, they are the voices of the old and the weak who know whereof they speak when it comes to the cross and suffering and weakness.”
– Read all of Carl Trueman’s commendation of J I Packer’s Weakness is the Way.
Women Bishop Proposals may bar many evangelicals from parish ministry
Posted on June 6, 2013
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“New proposals for introducing women bishops run counter to the Church’s desire to see those on both sides of the debate flourish in the Church of England, according to Reform …”
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…