Moore College Lectures 2023

Posted on August 12, 2023
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Coming up on 14 – 18 August.

NSW Gay conversion law would ban suppression of gender identity

Posted on August 11, 2023
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“The NSW government’s plans to ban gay conversion therapy will be expanded to include making it illegal to change or suppress a person identifying as trans or gender diverse.

Attorney-General Michael Daley has confirmed the government is pushing ahead with its own new laws, rather than backing independent MP Alex Greenwich’s bill later this month. …”

– Report from The Sydney Morning Herald.

Nigeria’s Archbishop demands security for Christians (and everyone else)

Posted on August 11, 2023
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“The Most Rev. Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba, in a lengthy address August 2 to other leaders of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, has renewed the church’s demand that the nation’s government protect the security of Christians.

‘The Church demands that [the] government put high priority on the security of lives and property of citizens by providing adequate security for all citizens,’ Ndukuba said. ‘The present state of insecurity and attacks on Christian churches, communities, and indeed the citizens of this country, is worrisome.’…”

– Report from The Living Church.

The Gospel Speaks a Better Word than ‘You are Enough’

Posted on August 11, 2023
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“We are currently in the so-called fourth wave of feminism, and it is not defined by people or texts so much as by cultural moments.

The Barbie movie will become part of feminist history for many reasons, but I am particularly interested in it because its central storyline conveyed something of a paradigm shift within liberal feminism, one I had been noticing for some time. …”

– At The Australian Church Record, Christine Bransdon has some very helpful observations about where we are in our culture – and the good news we can bring.

Spate of scam texts from ‘vicars’ at Melbourne churches

Posted on August 11, 2023
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“Parishioners have received scam text messages claiming to be from their vicar at several Melbourne churches during the past week.

The texts named the vicar of the relevant church, and several asked the recipient to transfer money to an account for ‘mission giving’. …”

– Report and image from The Melbourne Anglican.

ACL Synod Dinner 2023

Posted on August 10, 2023
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The Anglican Church League invites all members of the Sydney Synod to the 2023 ACL Synod Dinner.

It will be held on Monday 11th September from 5:30pm (or when Synod rises), at the Bishop Barry Centre, 51 Druitt Street, Sydney. The cost is $30.

Hear Archdeacon Simon Flinders on The Importance of the Local Church.

Simon Flinders is Archdeacon to the Archbishop of Sydney. He has served in parish ministry in Georges Hall, North Sydney and Northbridge.

Dinner bookings are absolutely essential as space is limited.

Sorry – the dinner is sold out.

The new Chinese Measures for Religious Activity Venues come into force on September 1

Posted on August 9, 2023
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“Last April, ‘Bitter Winter’ revealed that a draft of new ‘Administrative Measures for Religious Activity Venues,’ intended to replace those of 2005, was being ‘circulated for comments.’ Normally, this is a cosmetic exercise of pseudo-democracy, comments are ignored, and drafts become laws.

In this case, however, it appears that some comments came from official agencies and were taken into account. The final text of the Measures, which will come into force on September 1, is even worse than the draft. …”

– Report from Anglican Ink, and a cause for continued prayer.

“Article 3

Places of religious activity shall uphold the leadership of the CCP and the socialist system, thoroughly implement Xi Jinping’s ideology of socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era, abide by the Constitution, laws, rules and regulations and relevant provisions on the management of religious affairs, practice core socialist values, adhere to the direction of Sinicization of China’s religions…”

Image: Autograph book entry for September 2nd 1938 is a reminder that “China [still] needs our prayers!”

Be encouraged – God is at work!

Posted on August 9, 2023
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“I recently preached at a church from Luke 15 about the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son and the lost brother – a great chapter of the Bible for you to read and reread.

It’s one of the great joys of my role with Evangelism and New Churches (ENC) that I get to speak at many churches in this way.

I invited people to come back home to God, made possible through Jesus; to be found by our loving God, who has not given up on searching for them no matter how far away from him they may feel. …”

– John Lavender has this wonderful encouragement for you at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Mission & parenting in a post Christian world – with David Rietveld

Posted on August 9, 2023
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From The Pastor’s Heart:

“There have been massive social changes as the western world has shifted from a Christian world view to a post Christian world view. In his new book ‘Being Christian after Christendom’, the senior pastor of Dapto Anglican Church David Rietveld analyzes the changes that churches, pastors and parents face in this transition.

Six weeks ago on The Pastor’s Heart David gave his explanation of the problem.

David is back today to paint a positive way forward for evangelism and parenting amongst the post Christian world view.”

– Watch or listen here.

God gives the growth, but we must sow the seed – Matthew 13:1–23 – Bishop Richard Condie

Posted on August 8, 2023
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Bishop of Tasmania Richard Condie speaks at Moore College chapel on the Parable of the Sower.

Great encouragement to 1. preach Christ, and 2. pray for the churches of Tasmania as they hold out the Word of Life.

How intermediate and experienced preachers can improve their preaching

Posted on August 7, 2023
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“How do you make sure you continue to improve as a preacher?

You’ve learned the basics about big ideas and supporting ideas and introductions and applications and full notes versus bullet points and eye contact and hand gestures and preaching pyramids and illustrations and why it is better or worse to preach longer than twenty-five minutes. You are able to consistently research, compose and deliver a solid sermon every week without having a meltdown.

But how do you keep improving? …”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Mikey Lynch has a simple suggestion.

Why I felt sick watching ‘AI Jesus’

Posted on August 6, 2023
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“Whatever their motives and whatever they meant to do, it comes out as next-level stupidity and holding Jesus up as a joke.

I actually felt sick watching it, to see the saviour of the world, the greatest figure in human history, being portrayed like this. …”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Russell Powell describes his reaction to the ‘AI Jesus’, and shares some positive things you can do.

A year on from the Lambeth Conference

Posted on August 6, 2023
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“This time, last year the University of Kent’s campus was awash with bishops and their spouses …

Despite a third of the bishops boycotting the event, there were more than 600 bishops present from about 165 countries. So much could have been achieved, but the organisers of the Lambeth Conference could not risk public dissent so there were no resolutions and no votes …

the Archbishop of Canterbury announced that matters of human sexuality were now matters indifferent, the ultimate adiaphora…”

– At Christian Today, Susie Leafe, Director of Anglican Futures, reminds us that the Lambeth Conference was worse than a monumental exercise in futility – it had catastrophic consequences for the Anglican Communion.

Link via Anglican Mainstream.

Bishop of Bathurst’s Newsletter — August 2023

Posted on August 5, 2023
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The Bishop of Bathurst’s Newsletter — Winter edition, August 2023 — has been published by Bishop Mark Calder.

Be sure to download your copy to help you pray for the ministry of the gospel of the Lord Jesus in Central and Western NSW. (There is also information on how to support the work financially, if you are able.)

From the newsletter –

“Pray for all our stipendiary clergy

– that they would be refreshed, sustained and encouraged in their work – Andy Martin, Andrew Thornhill, Bec Choi, Ben Connelly, Ben Mackay, Brett Watterson, Carl Palmer, David Blackmore, James Boardman, James Daymond, James Hodson, Jonny Lush, Jono Williams, Phil Howes, Bob Cameron, Roger Phelps, Sally Phelps, Steven Klouth, Tim Smith and Wally Cox. Pray also for our many other clergy who serve and help so wonderfully!

Pray too for our stipendiary lay ministers: Lizzie Watterson, Levi Kowalczyk and Jo Watts + Glenn and Wendy Murray.

Parishes without clergy – Dubbo, Cudgegong Valley, Kelso, Narromine, Gilgandra, Coolah-Dunedoo, Condobolin, Trundle, Coonamble, Warren, Bourke-Brewarrina, Cumnock and Warren. Please pray that the Lord would raise up 13 godly, able and passionate people to serve in ALL of these parishes, to his great glory! And please thank the Lord for all who serve these parishes in the meantime – both lay and ordained.”

– PDF file here.