Three lies of Pride Month
Posted on June 29, 2023
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“From a Biblical perspective, there are remarkable parallels between Pride Month and idol worship under King Nebuchadnezzar II. Just as the Babylonians were mandated to worship the golden image, LGBT activists demand that we pledge allegiance to the rainbow flag. While the stakes aren’t as high as they were under Nebuchadnezzar, there are real risks involved in refusing to bow the knee.
If my suspicion is correct, most Australians are not particularly concerned about Pride Month. In fact, many are beginning to feel uncomfortable with how politicised and intolerant the LGBT movement has become. In response, many people have flocked to culture warriors like Jordan Peterson for answers.
While figures like Peterson are insightful and worth listening to, their answers are ultimately psychological rather than spiritual. They don’t acknowledge that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only truth that sets people free. It is only the grace of God in the person and work of Jesus that gives answers and hope to a world lost in sexual confusion.
What follows are three of the lies paraded during Pride Month, along with the gospel answers Jesus provides. …”
– A very helpful article by James Jeffery in AP, the National Journal of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.
What is a Christian? — book by Dave Jensen
Posted on June 29, 2023
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Here’s a new book by Dave Jensen which is worth checking out –
“What Is A Christian?” is a short book explaining Christianity and what it means to be a Christian.
This book can be read in one sitting and clearly explains why Jesus came, what he did and what it means for us today.
This book is great for churches to have on book stalls or to give away to new Christians or those seeking to learn more about Jesus and Christianity!”
Here’s the structure of the book:
Introduction: What is a Christian?
Part 1: God made it
What kind of life do you want to live?
God created everything
What does Jesus say?
Part 2: We broke it
What’s wrong with the world?
We’re to blame
Reality check
Part 3: Jesus fixed it
Why did Jesus live?
Why did Jesus die and rise from the dead?
The consequences of what Jesus has done
Conclusion: What is a Christian and how do you become one?
Copies also available from The Wandering Bookseller.
Evangelicals in the Church of England are running out of options
Posted on June 28, 2023
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“The Prayers of Love and Faith bus has departed and there is nothing CEEC can now do to stop it.
At the pre-Synod press briefing on June 22, the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, said the new services ‘are on track for November’. CofE evangelicals now belong to a denomination whose leadership has forsaken the traditional Christian sexual ethic and has earned the condemnation of the overwhelming majority of the worldwide Anglican Communion for doing so. …
It is actually not too late for CEEC to start to co-ordinate an exit strategy out of the CofE. The large evangelical churches among its members have resources and they could lead the way. Of course, leaving would be difficult, risky and messy.”
– An opinion piece in Christian Today by former CofE vicar Julian Mann.
Image: Members stand to seek the call at the Church of England’s General Synod in February 2023.
Related, from the General Synod meeting – good news is preached, even if the majority choose to close their ears:
Be encouraged again by Ben John’s appeal to the Church of England General Synod.
Preachers should be great storytellers
Posted on June 28, 2023
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“Stories are captivating, inspiring, and memorable. Perhaps some of our greatest childhood memories are having stories read to us, and the privilege of parents, and grandparents to read stories to our children, to curl up with them, and do funny voices, and laugh along with them at the silly ones.
The Bible, is, in effect, a story.
Jesus told stories, he was the master story teller, bar none. …”
– At The Expository Preaching Trust, Jim Mobbs has encouragement for preachers.
A homiletical health check – the state of preaching in Australian Churches
Posted on June 27, 2023
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From The Pastor’s Heart:
“We take a pulse check on the health of preaching in Australian Evangelical Churches with one of our leading preachers, from Melbourne’s Centre for Biblical Preaching, Mike Raiter.
Mike has just spent a few weeks surveying twenty different Australian Churches – watching their sermons online – and analysing them on type of sermon, biblical genre, who was being preached to, faithfulness to text, length of sermon, appropriateness of application, and how well the preacher addressed the heart?
Mike listened to ten evangelical Anglican Churches from across the country, and ten evangelical churches from a range of denominations from the Queensland capital Brisbane.
Mike’s detailed review of the sermons is published in the EFAC Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion Magazine, and shares his findings with us here.”
Fascinating and worthwhile discussion.
Preachers: Should you aim to make your sermon five minutes shorter? How can you better preach to the heart?
Locums in Bathurst Diocese
Posted on June 27, 2023
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From the Diocese of Bathurst Facebook page:
“Clergy recently retired? Great opportunities to be a blessing to parishes who haven’t had an ordained minister for years! Like the Rev’d Ross (with Mrs Alison) Hathway, locum out at Trundle parish for three months. We are so thankful for them!”
A Theological College Principal’s pastoral wisdom and prophetic prayer from 2008
Posted on June 26, 2023
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“You blink and current affairs become modern history. The lived experience of your youth becomes archival data for reflection and analysis.
In chapter fifteen of John Woodhouse’s 2008 commentary on 1 Samuel, he reflects on the state of gospel ministry at Moore Theological College, where he was principal, and in the Sydney Diocese more generally…”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Mikey Lynch has a word for all who might be feeling tired or wrung out in gospel ministry.
Photo: John Woodhouse.
The law of the LORD is perfect
Posted on June 26, 2023
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“During the lead up to the same-sex marriage plebiscite in 2017, I remember being surprised at the number of Christian people in my own circles who could confidently say ‘I know what the Bible teaches about homosexuality’, whilst at the same time having no idea why that teaching is right and good, other than for the bare fact that God says it is.
I have even heard people make apologies on behalf of the Apostle Paul’s teaching on marriage, as if to say, ‘I’m sorry he says what he says, but because he does, I’m afraid that’s the way it is.’ …”
– Andrew Leslie helps us see why we can cling to God’s Word even when our culture demands we change. At The Australian Church Record.
Why ChatGPT can’t produce great sermons
Posted on June 26, 2023
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“In Ridley Scott’s 1982 classic Blade Runner, Harrison Ford plays an LAPD bounty hunter who hunts ‘replicants,’ bioengineered humanoids that are identical to adult humans except with vastly superior intellect and strength. When Ford’s character is told to ‘retire’ a replicant, he faces the initial task of discerning whether the subject before him is human or not. Christians may soon be asking a similar question: Are the sermons and Bible lessons we’re hearing human or not?
The advent of ChatGPT and other accessible AI programs has thinkers positing all the ways it can aid, or even replace, our work. A pastor’s work isn’t immune from this danger …”
– At The Gospel Coalition, Aaron Shamp argues some key aspects of biblical sermons can’t be replaced by clever computers.
Gafcon Collect
Posted on June 25, 2023
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“Eternal God and gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ died for our redemption; commissioned His disciples to preach the good news; and sent the indwelling Holy Spirit in every generation to embrace and proclaim salvation in Christ alone:
Arise and defend your Church, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. Shine the light of your Holy Word upon hearts darkened by error and strengthen the work of Gafcon so that the Anglican Communion throughout the world proclaims Christ faithfully to the nations, that captives may be set free, the straying rescued, and the confused restored. Bind your children together in truth, love, unity, and courage, that we, with all your saints, may inherit your eternal kingdom, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.”
– from GAFCON.
What is conversion?
Posted on June 25, 2023
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“Conversion is a U-turn in a person’s life. It is turning with one’s whole person away from sin and to Christ for salvation. From idol worship to God worship. From self-justification to Christ’s justification. From self-rule to God’s rule. …”
– 9Marks has a brief and helpful reminder of what conversion is – and isn’t.
Image: NSW Government.
Bishop Jay Behan gives thanks for GAFCON
Posted on June 24, 2023
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“I rejoice at our relationship with Gafcon. We at CCA owe so much to our Gafcon family.
At a time when we had left the old structure in New Zealand (ACANZP) and had lost buildings, monies, status and structure, and when we were feeling pretty small and isolated, it was Gafcon who said to us: ‘We recognise you as authentically Anglican. We stand alongside you. Please know you are part of a global Anglican family.’
They did that in word, in decision (as the Gafcon Primates formally recognised the establishment of CCA), and in action as many of the global Gafcon leaders came to New Zealand for my consecration in 2019. …
It makes us part of a global family. It allows us to be in gospel partnership with brothers and sisters around the planet, and it requires us to care about and be involved in ministry outside of our own context.”
– In the latest edition (19 June 2023) of Ministry Matters from the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa New Zealand, Bishop Jay Behan gives thanks for Gafcon.
Other encouraging articles in thus issue, edited by Geoff Robson.
Tomorrow (25 June 2023) is Gafcon Sunday!
Southern Cross, June-July 2023
Posted on June 24, 2023
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The latest issue of Southern Cross magazine from the Diocese of Sydney is now out in churches – and also available online.
Why is sexuality such a big deal?
Posted on June 23, 2023
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“Why is the debate on sexuality and marriage in the Church of England (and other churches) such a big deal? Why can’t we just agree to disagree—to get on together and learn to live with difference?
Two groups regularly say that to me.
The first is those who want change in the Church’s teaching. Why are evangelicals making such a fuss? they ask. The Church has altered its practice on marriage in various ways in the past? Why can’t we make this adjustment now?
But the other group are those who are busy getting on with the business of planting new churches, growing current ones, and reaching young people. They are often younger, and have not been engaged so much with the ‘politics’ of the Church (lucky them!). Why can’t we just get on with the business of ministry? Will this issue really make much difference? After all, we have continued with gospel ministry in the past when the leadership has believed all sorts of questionable things—so why is this different?
An immediate response to both groups might be to say – you are right, it is not such a big deal. We are not talking about central Christian doctrines like the incarnation, salvation, or the Trinity. But here’s an interesting test case …”
– At Psephizo, Ian Paul lays out why sexuality is such a big deal, and a huge debate for the Church of England.
The Global Anglican 2022 Digital Digest
Posted on June 23, 2023
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Church Society has published a Digital Digest with excerpts from Volume 136 of The Global Anglican:
“This new digital digest aims to make some of the best content from the previous year accessible to everyone.
Included are all four editorials from Peter Jensen, as well as an extra editorial piece from Bishop Keith Sinclair, published ahead of the 2022 Lambeth Conference.
There are four further articles and ten book reviews, selected from the four issues that comprise volume 136.”
It’s available for free download on this page – as an encouragement to subscribe.
Photo: Church Society Director Dr Lee Gatiss with Global Anglican Editor Dr Peter Jensen.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…