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 
Filed under Encouragement, Resources Comments Off on How intermediate and experienced preachers can improve their preaching

“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.

See also:

Expository Preaching Trust Preaching Workshop.

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 
Filed under Lambeth 2022 Comments Off on A year on from the Lambeth Conference

“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.

Brett Murphy explains why he had to leave the Church of England

Posted on August 5, 2023 
Filed under Church of England, People Comments Off on Brett Murphy explains why he had to leave the Church of England

In an interview with Dave Piper at TWR-UK, Brett Murphy gives some of the background why he felt compelled to leave the Church of England. Link via Anglican.ink.

Earlier:

Rev Brett Murphy leaves the Church of England – 08 July 2023.

Brett Murphy — I have joined the Free Church of England (GAFCON) – 14 July 2023.

The Barbie movie — Do you ever think about dying?

Posted on August 5, 2023 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on The Barbie movie — Do you ever think about dying?

“Barbie is big. Its $150 million marketing campaign was more than was spent on the film itself, as the makers decided early on that they wanted it to make an impact.

One of the most surprising takeaways from this film (alongside questions about gender roles, stereotypes, struggles and what it means to be men and women) has been its position on mortality. …”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Tara Sing shares some more ways to think about the Barbie movie – for the eternal good of others.

Preaching a good and powerful word

Posted on August 4, 2023 
Filed under Encouragement, Resources, Theology Comments Off on Preaching a good and powerful word

“As we start to explore what it means to tremble at God’s word, I want to suggest that our relationship with the Scriptures as God’s word is more complex than most of us are willing to admit.

On the one hand, we know that Scripture is powerful, it is the Word of God. The preacher’s job is to get out of the way so that God’s powerful word can work in the hearts of people. We quote Spurgeon’s famous, ‘Defend the Bible, I’d sooner defend a lion. Just let the truth free and it will defend itself.’ We exhort each other to ‘let the word do the work’ and we share those wonderful stories of people who were converted just by reading Scripture. …”

– The Australian Church Record has published this edited transcript of Paul Grimmond’s address at the Nexus 2023 Conference. He reminds us, “When we talk about God and his word, we speak of a relationship that is utterly unique in our experience.”

Image: Moore College.

Speaking with Two Voices

Posted on August 4, 2023 
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“In John Bunyan’s classic, The Pilgrim’s Progress, there is a character Mr Facing Both Ways who lives in the village of Fair Speech. Bunyan is exposing one of the temptations in life which is to speak out of both sides of our mouth in the hope that everybody will appreciate us.

Yet there is a very real sense in which the Christian message does come with two voices; there is indeed a double-sidedness to the Christian life. …”

– Presbyterian Moderator-General, Peter Barnes, writes to encourage believers to sing two notes at once.

Graphical overview of Peter Jensen’s “The Life of Faith”

Posted on August 3, 2023 
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Peter Jensen’s book The Life of Faith: An Introduction to Christian doctrine was launched at Moore College in March this year.

At his website by faith, not by sight (‘my little repository of diagrams and scribbles about Jesus’), Alan Au at Captivate Presbyterian Church in North Ryde has created a terrific graphical overview of the book.

See it here. And you can get the book from Matthias Media.

Societas 2023 from Moore College

Posted on August 3, 2023 
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Societas, the magazine produced annually by the students at Moore College, is now available.

Always interesting, and a great reminder to pray for the College.

You can read online or download your copy here.

Various clergy opportunities in central and western NSW

Posted on August 2, 2023 
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SydneyAnglicans.net highlights these opportunities for gospel work in central and western NSW –

“In central and western NSW, we find ourselves with a bountiful harvest but too few labourers.

Of our 28 parishes, 13 are in need of clergy – not so much to ‘run a church’, but to serve as loving shepherds to our people; to share the love of Jesus, open his Word, and provide guidance, nourishment, and protection. …”

– See the communities where there are specific needs.

August – September 2023 Southern Cross out now

Posted on August 2, 2023 
Filed under Encouragement, Resources, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on August – September 2023 Southern Cross out now

The August – September 2023 issue of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now out.

Printed copies will be available in parishes shortly, and you can read it on the web right now.

In his column this month, Archbishop Kanishka Raffel reflects on Our True Spiritual Condition –

“Recently I was walking through the city and, as I crossed Martin Place, I noticed the usual queue of men and women lining up to receive their evening meal, while others set up plastic folding tables and baskets of plastic cutlery and paper serviettes ready for that night’s food distribution.

The Sydney City Council says there are about 300 people sleeping on the streets of the CBD each night, with close to that number in city-based crisis accommodation. Across NSW, the number of people without adequate housing is more than 30,000. I am deeply grateful for the work of Anglicare and a number of city and suburban churches that provide assistance to people experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of homelessness in their local area.

As I continued on my walk, I soon passed another queue. This time it was a queue of people waiting to enter the Louis Vuitton store on George Street. It made for a jarring contrast, though the two queues were barely 500 metres apart. …”

Read it all on pages 13 and 14.

Barbieland and the Garden of Eden

Posted on August 1, 2023 
Filed under Resources Comments Off on Barbieland and the Garden of Eden

“Like millions of others, I fell captive to the marketing genius of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. On the movie’s opening day, I donned my pinkest outfit and joined my friends to see Barbie in all her glittery glory.

But for a movie purporting to be fun and light-hearted, I was fascinated to see how its characters also wrestled with questions of death, gender, and purpose. Barbieland reflects its own kind of Garden of Eden, inviting Christians to compare and contrast the film with Scripture while opening the door for worthwhile conversations. …”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australian Anna Hoole reflects on how the new Barbie movie could open the door to talk about something that’s truly important.

This major regional city needs a new minister

Posted on August 1, 2023 
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As the Bathurst Diocese Facebook page says,

“This major regional city needs a new minister. Read with encouragement who they are looking for. Please join them in prayer.

Maybe you’re the answer to their prayer. Seek a preliminary, confidential chat with our bishop – Mark Calder.”

See the details at the SydneyAnglicans.net jobs vacancy page.

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