Two huge errors
“One of the reasons that it is hugely important that we let the Pastorals influence our mode of ministry and the shape of our church life is that two huge errors have bedeviled the Western church for closing in on two hundred years now. …”
– Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds draws attention to this exhortation from Ligon Duncan at last week’s The Gospel Coalition conference. Dr. Duncan’s sermon was on 2 Timothy 4.
(Photo: First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi.)
Gospel Coalition 2009 Conference audio and video online
Audio and video files of the main talks at last week’s The Gospel Coalition 2009 Conference in Chicago are now online.
Archbishop Peter Jensen in Scotland
Archbishop Peter Jensen spoke last weekend at St. George’s Tron Church in Glasgow.
On Saturday night he spoke on ‘Contending for the Faith’, and on Sunday morning, ‘Striving side by side for the Gospel’.
The audio files of the talks are now available at the links above.
Some thoughts on Discipleship
Bishop Peter Brain contributed these challenging quotes in The Link – the magazine of the Diocese of Armidale –
JESUS said:
– “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)
– “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” (Luke 9:23-2)
– “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17)
– “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
– “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
What follows are some words of Christians over the years that might challenge and encourage you on the discipleship path. Read more
Watch The Gospel Coalition Conference live
The Gospel Coalition‘s 2009 National Conference in Chicago begins tomorrow (Wednesday) morning Australian time – and video of the main sessions will be streamed live on the web.
Chicago is 15 hours behind Sydney, so, for example, John Piper’s address at 4:00pm CDT can be seen live at 7:00am Wednesday in Sydney. To watch Don Carson’s closing address, you’d need to tune in at 2:00am Sydney time on Thursday. (Or hope for a replay!) Details here.
No cheap grace
John Piper:
“Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a gift to my generation of students. I pray that his costly message will be rediscovered in each generation. …
Bonhoeffer’s book was a massive indictment of the “cheap grace” that he saw in the Christian Church on both sides of the Atlantic. He believed in justification by grace through faith. But he did not believe that the faith that justifies could ever leave people unchanged by the radical Christ they claim to believe. That was a cheap response to the Gospel. …”
– From Chapter 4 of John Piper’s book “Don’t Waste Your Life”.
Available online in PDF format and for the iPhone.
(And, while you’re at it, listen to this challenging message.)
Resources for Bible teachers
The Proclamation Trust recently made available more audio resources – sermons and lectures – as an aid and encouragement for those whose ministry is to open God’s word for others.
See what’s available (much of it without charge) at the Proclamation Trust media website.
April 2009 Australian Church Record online
Latest issue of The Australian Church Record is now online – at the Church Record website. Included in this issue are some interesting nuggets of information recently discovered about the first Chaplain to Botany Bay, the Rev. Richard Johnson.
Issue number 1896 of The Australian Church Record is available as a 700kb PDF download.
Leon Morris on worship
“In some quarters today there is a suspicion of doctrine. Men think that religious experience is all-important and put their stress on “the life of the Spirit”. Theologians are held to be dry-as-dust fellows who do their best to fossilize living religion…”
– Forty seven years ago, Churchman published this article on “Christian Worship”, by Leon Morris.
It’s now republished on the web in PDF format (direct link).
A Conversation with Death on Good Friday
Hello, Death, my old enemy. My old slave-master. Have you come to talk to me again? To frighten me?
I am not the person you think I am. I am not the one you used to talk to. Something has happened. …
– from John Piper.
Greek & Hebrew Reader’s Bible
Greek a little rusty? See the helpful new online Greek & Hebrew Reader’s Bible by John Dyer.
And read his background to the project.
Carson on the Psalms
Todd Shaffer at Faith by Hearing has provided links to four addresses by Don Carson on the Psalms – given at the recent UCCF Staff Conference. Each puts the Psalms (Psalm 1, 2, 40, 110) in its Biblical-theological context.
As always: clear, thoughtful, and Christ-honouring.
Biblical theology of Christian Assembly
Back in October 2008, Trevor Cairney, Master of New College at UNSW, posted some thoughts on and a summary of the Sydney Doctrine Commission’s report on “A Theology of Christian Assembly”.
It’s worth reading his summary as a reminder to think about why we meet for church. At the Just in CASE blog.
Different by Design 2009
Don Carson’s two talks from last month’s mini-conference, Different by Design 2009: A Crucial Call to Faithfulness on Gender Issues, are now available from The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
Shepherds’ Conference 2009 audio
The Shepherds’ Conference at Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California (where John MacArthur is senior pastor) was held earlier this month. The talks covered a variety of topics relevant to preachers. John MacArthur, Al Mohler and Phil Johnson (pictured) were among the speakers.
Todd Shaffer at Faith by Hearing has a summary of the main talks and a link to free mp3 audio file downloads. (You need to set up a free account to access them.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…