murray's blog

6 possible reasons why people don’t like preaching

2012-01-24T11:31:00.001+11:00

(in no particular order)
1. we’re accustomed to the 30 minute sitcom that contains 7 and a half minutes of advertisements. Sitting for an extended time and engaging with a humourless monologue is hard work (against this, uni students sit through hour long lectures every day and everyone enjoys 2 hours at the cinema).
2. We have talked up the singing time in Church to the point that we have relegated preaching to a secondary and uninspiring place.
3. We’ve accepted the lie that theology is unimportant
4. We are a culture of doers not thinkers.
5. We have sat under years of boring and irrelevant preaching
6. We have hard-hearts, not wanting to hear what God has to say

why preachers should listen to Shostakovich

2012-01-17T15:49:00.001+11:00

don't you agree, it sounds really cool?

more on preachers

2012-01-17T08:32:00.002+11:00

here's another way to look at the question of Melbourne needing more preachers -

Do you think churches should prioritize other ministries over preaching (except of course prayer)?

Do you think there should be less preaching in church and more of other things?

Do you believe our churches will grow up into Christ without preaching?

If your answer to any of these questions is 'yes', then may I suggest that you are out of sinc with the NT, with Jesus and the Apostles.

Melbourne Churches need more preachers

2012-01-16T12:37:00.003+11:00

The pages of the Bible are crammed with preachers, preaching the words of God to the people of God and to the world. From Moses to Nathan, from Elijah to Jeremiah, from Ezra to John the Baptist, Peter, Stephen, Paul and standing over all of the above, Jesus Christ. There are countless sermons recorded in the Bible and many others alluded too. When pressured to perform more miracles Jesus corrected his followers, telling them that the reason for his coming was preaching. (Mark 1). In addition, word ministry, and in particular preaching, is taught in the New Testament as being central to the life and health of the Church (Eph 4:11-13; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 4:2, etc), and for evangelizing the world (Rom 10:14-15). In fact, I don’t think it is hyperbolizing to suggest that the whole Bible can be described as one long sermon preached by God himself.

The only occasions when preaching is denounced in the Bible is when it comes from the lips of false-preachers (false-prophets, false-teachers, wolves and the like).

My argument is simple:
If preaching was understood by the OT prophets and by Jesus and by the Apostles to be essential for the faith and life of God’s people, how can we think anything less? If the Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to preach the word (even when it was unpopular), how can we argue otherwise? Have we attained to some Zen level spirituality that we no longer need preaching? Will sitting down in a café sipping our soy lattes (yuck!) and chatting about the lowest common denominator be suffice to see our churches ‘reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ’? Should we be pitching for a goal less than what God has revealed for his Church?

Our Churches need preachers, not only preachers, but nonetheless preachers – faithful preachers of God’s Word, preachers who will teach with conviction and clarity in order to see people repenting of sins, believing God, obeying God, following God, loving God, enjoying God, and serving their neighbours.

I hesitate in saying Melbourne needs preachers, for it is not so much the city that God has in mind, but his Church and those in Melbourne who will become followers of Jesus and join his Church. Melbourne needs preachers insofar as Christ’s Churches in Melbourne need preachers and the people of Melbourne who until they hear the Gospel (whether through preaching or one-one conversations or however) will be deaf to God and dead in their sins.

Researchers are saying that Churches are declining and yet many Melbournians have an interest in things spiritual. Who will tell them the good news? And what of the people of God who remain in our Churches? They remain the people of God, for whom Christ died. They are important to God; Jesus shed his blood for them. Who will preach the Gospel to them? Who will feed them and guard them? The only way to turn Churches around is to pray and to preach; there is no other way. Pray for more preachers, pray for God to powerfully use faithful preachers, and pray for God to silence false-preachers and send them to Macquarie Island!

I haven't done the research but there must be at least a couple thousand Protestant Churches in Melbourne. Do we have 2000 preachers? Sure, there are a couple of preachers whose names are known across the city, but do we have even 200 evangelical expositors in Melbourne?

Is God wanting you to be a preacher of the word? Is God wanting you to open and expound his Scriptures so that people will hear and understand and be convicted by the Holy Spirit to respond in faith? How can grow as preachers? How can we best preach in our culture of Melbourne?

Check out xposepreaching.com and register for the conference (Feb 17-18).

connecting Jesus, the Bible and history

2011-12-19T14:31:00.002+11:00

take a look at Paul Barnett's website - http://paulbarnett.info/

Stetzer is coming to Melbourne

2011-12-19T09:02:00.002+11:00

Check out his latest blog :

http://www.edstetzer.com/2011/12/saturday-is-for-seminars-febru.html

preaching on propitiation

2011-12-19T08:42:00.004+11:00

As I was preparing for an evangelistic Christmas sermon last week, I asked myself this question, how often should we talk about propitiation in our preaching? After all, it is a core aspect of the Gospel.

My answer is, often.

Here are some questions that will help us decide whether to talk about it or not in a sermon. As we move down the list, I suspect the degree to which we expound propitiation will lesson:

First up, does the text I'm preaching on explicitly mention propitiation?
Second, does the text I'm expounding infer propitiation?
Third, does the text speak about sacrifice?
Fourth, does the the text speak about the wrath of God or the judgement of God?
Fifth, does the passage talk about sin?
Sixth, does the passage speak about the death of Jesus?
Seventh, when explaining the Gospel (in any sermon).

In other words, let the text dictate what we preach and how we preach. And yet, like every sermon which ought to explain the Gospel (I remember a pastor asking me once should he mention Jesus in a sermon he was preaching from Exodus!), we must understand that propitiation is a central aspect to that Gospel. We shouldn't be obligated to mention it every time (in case people start doubting our orthodoxy), but we should mention it often, sometimes with an lengthy explanation, more often with a helpful reminding one-liner. In some Christian circles the preacher feels the pressure to say the word every week, but I suspect the greater issue today is that we rarely speak of it, and to avoid it is to lose the heart of the Gospel, and to lose the heart of the Gospel is to lose its power to save.

So did I mention propitiation in my Christmas sermon last night? No. The reason being, the Bible passage I was speaking on spoke about the cross in different categories and so I went with them.

throw away thought for the afternoon

2011-11-13T14:07:00.002+11:00

From my experience wealthy* Christians are generous Gospel givers, and so are those with little. Those who give least are the comfortable middle - the 80%

*I am using the above categories in a relative sense, as can be broadly described in Australia

there's an Imp on your lawn

2011-10-21T14:07:00.004+11:00

I was walking down Swanston street a couple of days ago and noticed a very strange object parked on the lawn outside St Paul's Cathedral: a 6metre black statue of a baby with demon like features, wearing a nappy!*

I'm assuming the demon isn't there to communicate anything about the Cathedral or the Melbourne synod that is currently taking place in side!

When they're finished, I'd like to move it around the corner to another venue in the CBD...please

* and yes it is meant to be a demon

over contextualising Acts 17

2011-10-21T14:00:00.004+11:00

Paul's sermon to the Athenians is frequently used as the paradigm for contextualising the Gospel and as the contextualised sermon. in the past I have preached the passage this way, and I do think that there is much we can learn from here on how to communicate the Gospel to people. But don't you think, we've stretched the point too far? I mean, when we actually read Paul's address we discover that there is much which is counter-cultural and which outrightly rejects the Athenian way of life and view of reality.

Perhaps it's more of the, let's start with what you understand and then blow it up and then replace it with the Gospel approach!

preaching is easy

2011-09-15T20:21:00.003+10:00

There are not many professions that require you to give a 40 minute speech every week (or more):

Where you are speaking on behalf of an authority greater than any Prime Minister or President
That requires many hours of quiet study and reflection which will leave you simultaneously weary and excited
Where speaking with complete truthfulness and clarity is essential
Where you need unction
That requires expert skills in reading texts, interpreting texts, understanding both history and contemporary culture, philosophy and anthropology, theology and psychology
Where people listen voluntarily, not because they are paid
Where people come to be rebuked and corrected (as well as encouraged).
Where you are not to speak any new ideas, but repeat ideas that have been taught for 2000 years
Where those listening will have their lives changed by what they hear
Where the ultimate outcome means life or death
Where the speaker invests his whole being into communicating the message, to the point of exhaustion
Where you know that your words cannot achieve anything unless your boss makes it happen
Where you may end up without a job, and even in prison or dead because of what you said
That may change a whole city in 40 minutes

my sermon vault

2011-08-22T15:14:00.000+10:00

Last week I had a look at my sermon vault and compiled a summary of all the series I (and others) have preached at Mentone over the last 6 ½ years. Part of me feels like we’ve covered so much, but another part sees that there is so much more to do (and much of what I did, especially early on, I want to do better and again)

Books we’ve preached through

Genesis 1-11, 12-25

Exodus

Joshua

Ruth

Proverbs

Song of Solomon (as one sermon)

Daniel

Jonah

Mark

Luke

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

1 John

we’re about to preach through 1 & 2 Samuel and the book of Revelation

Books that we’ve tackled sections of

15 of the Psalms

John 14-17

Matthew 5-7

Acts (following the theme of mission)

Topical series

Biblical church & biblical worship (preached series twice)

Guidance

Pure Sex

Prayer

The Cross

Plus some stand alone evangelistic sermons

What stands out most to me, in terms of what we’ve yet to cover, is that we're mission one of the big 3 NT Epistles (Rom, 1 & 2 Cor), and the major/minor prophets. We’re probably preaching through John’s Gospel in 2012, but might break that up with a series from one of the OT prophets. Wait and see.

new Church in St Kilda

2011-08-22T15:10:00.000+10:00

If you live in and around St Kilda here's a church you should check out.

Arkhouse Church began earlier this year when Mentone Baptist commissioned and sent out a group (from Mentone and other churches) to plant a new church in one of Melbourne's very cool but spiritually very empty regions.

They have a really neat website - http://www.arkhousechurch.org.au/

If you're looking to find a loving Christian community and interested to learn about Jesus get in touch with Arkhouse

like this short clip about mentoring

2011-07-14T09:59:00.002+10:00

ht gospel coalition

How Does A Pastor Mentor His Staff? from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

Hope for the Depressed

2011-07-07T14:21:00.000+10:00

Hope for the Depressed

response to Volf's 'Allah: a Christian response'

2011-06-29T09:36:00.002+10:00

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God? from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

ht Gospel Coalition

Should I Want to Be Such a Worm

2011-06-10T09:11:00.001+10:00

Should I Want to Be

ht Desiring God

Andrew Cameron on Asylum Seeker Policy

2011-06-10T08:52:00.000+10:00

thoughtful article. Christians and Aussies in general ought to have a read

it's official: Australia is unfair

Music

2011-06-09T13:57:00.000+10:00

Singing is a great way to rediscover God each day. Music lifts our eyes beyond ourselves to enjoy God.

Next time you're absorbed in yourself, sing. take attention away for your fluffy naval and gaze toward heaven and the glory that is God.

the ultimate answer to racism

2011-06-08T14:32:00.000+10:00

Racism has raised its ugly head again in Melbourne with 2 incidents taking place in the footy last weekend.

A number of AFL players have come out with the backing of the player's association, to stand against racism. The slogan is, 'our team is made up of many colours. Wear them with pride, not prejudice'. Well done.

This Sunday morning at Mentone I am preaching on Ephesians 2:11-22. This is a passage that articulates God's vision to bring an end to racial hostility. It is a vision that goes further than the attempts of the AFL and dare I say it, even the brilliant 'I have a dream' speech by Martin Luther King, (although many of his words find sharp resonance in Ephesians).

Come and join us this Sunday as we share in the dream that will be a reality - God's plan to redeem men and women from every nation and colour and language and reconcile them together in Christ in a new world where racism will be no more.

Piper interviews Rick Warren

2011-06-02T09:27:00.000+10:00

I found this interview very informative and also a useful corrective on how 'not' to assume what others believe
the interview

5 views of God that shape our understanding of prayer

2011-05-31T19:27:00.000+10:00

1. The atheist. God doesn't exist, therefore prayer is speaking into the deaf and dumb darkness.
2. The mystic. God is essentially unknowable. God is so mysterious we cannot be certain about who God is or what he is like. Even when God discloses himself to us we are in doubt as to whether this self disclosure is know anything true about him, it’s guess work., it’s imagining. Prayer is like a blind throwing darts at a target
3. The religious. God as the angry despote who demands appeasement
4. The consumer. God is the genie in the bottle that we rub when we want something from the supermarket of life
5. The Christian. God is the loving and gracious Father.

Whereas the atheist believes there is no God to pray too, Christian theism asserts there is a God who lives and who reigns and who invites us to speak to him

Whereas the mystic conceives of God as ultimately unknowable, the Bible declares the most astonishing message, God can be known, and he can be known truly and personally. To be sure, there is mystery in God. We cannot know God exhaustively for God is greater than us. We cannot deduce all that is God, and everything we know about God must be revealed by God. This is so, not only because of our cognitive limitations, but also because of our fallenness as human beings due to sin. In fact the greater barrier between God and humanity is not an intellectual one, it is spiritual. Sin fractures everything; it distorts our cognitive faculties as much as our heart and will and body. The good news of Jesus Christ is that God has come to earth, he has suffered and died our death and been raised to life, and that through him we are reconciled to God. God can be known, through Christ. And God reveals himself truly and personally in his word. The Bible is God's words to us, making known to us his character, his plans, his desires.

Whereas the religious frequently see God as a distant and frequently ferocious if not capricious figure, God has come close. He took on human flesh and lived among his own. And while God is a God of anger, his anger is not capricious but arises out of his righteousness and hatred of sin. God's anger may include an aspect of emotion, but it is totally righteous and is an exhibition of complete justice. But for the Christian, by grace, God is no longer angry, but we know his love and care and generosity. Those who do not know God and who are very religious may know of God as angry, but it does not have to be so. Christ experienced the just anger of God in our place.

The consumer god is perhaps the most commonly prayed to god in Australia, by Christians and non Christians alike. The god is like the genie in the bottle who exists to pay attention to all our wants and whims.

The God of the Bible, however, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, asks us to call him Father. He is our Dad who loves us more than we could ever imagine. He is the Father who gave us his only Son that we might be adopted into his family. He is our Father who has given us every spiritual blessing in Christ. He is the Father who loves to give us good gifts. He is the Father who lovingly disciplines us and who at times refrains from giving us what we ask but he is wiser than our strongest desires. He loves us enough to say no to us. He loves us enough to say yes. He is powerful enough to do what he promises us.
Praying to this God is the most satisfying and beautiful communication act there is, except one, that this God should write down for us a book, entirely his own trustworthy words, that are written for us that we might know him and know ourselves

Hearing the Voice of Satan | Mission thinking | Sydneyanglicans.net

2011-05-30T11:23:00.001+10:00

Hearing the Voice of Satan | Mission thinking | Sydneyanglicans.net

the issue of gay marriage remains with us

2011-05-20T19:18:00.001+10:00

This week an important and very helpful paper was published by the NSW Churches on the subject of marriage; a response to current political and social pressures to alter the definition of marriage that is adopted by Australian law.

you can read the paper and accompanying press release here - revising marriage
It is worth taking the time reading it.

Via a friend on facebook another piece on gay marriage has been published in the past 24 hours, this time, by a baptist pastor in Melbourne who strongly disagrees with both the content and manner of the above paper. Simon Carey Holt's blog piece can be read at simoncareholt.com

Simon makes clear that he disagrees with the theological position presented by the NSW Churches paper. That, I find interesting, as the paper represents the view congruent with orthodox Christianity, and as such, the paper presents a position that would be line with most Baptists (I suspect).

However, Simon does make a valid point: the listings of authors is accompanied with the bodies the represent. Rod Benson's name is accompanied by 'Baptist Union of Australia'. While I am in agreement with the views Benson has articulated, in what capacity can he represent the Baptist Union of Australia in this paper?* I wonder though, is Holt's 'anger' foremost anger at the Baptist label being used, or that it is being used to promote a position that Holt disagrees with.

One thing is sure, issues over homosexuality are not subsiding in Australia and in the Australian Christian scene. And as the two polar opposite Baptists have proven today, this is a real and serious issue confronting baptists today.

*(I've since spoken with Rod and am satisfied with his response)

the end of the world is coming

2011-05-20T12:38:00.002+10:00

...but not on May 21 2011

10 things submission is not

2011-05-18T07:45:00.000+10:00

ht the resurgence

The Incarnation Is About a Person, Not a Mission

2011-05-17T14:51:00.000+10:00

The Incarnation Is About a Person, Not a Mission

xposepreaching talks now uploaded

2011-05-17T13:21:00.000+10:00

xpose preaching

the address given by Mikey Lynch on the new calvinism is a must

before signing up for NCLS...

2011-05-11T20:33:00.000+10:00

I'd recommend reading pp.75-77 in 'Sticky Teams' by Larry Osborne.

Not saying don't participate, just saying, understand how surveys work

shallow group

2011-05-11T19:19:00.003+10:00

ht Jon Coombs

Lloyd-Jones on the Efficacy of Preaching Today

2011-05-11T16:22:00.001+10:00

as a preacher and pastor I'm interested to follow this thread

Lloyd-Jones on the Efficacy of Preaching Today

working theme sentences for Ephesians

2011-05-06T08:53:00.000+10:00

'God’s Sovereign plan and power manifested through his Son, by his Spirit, in the Church, to the world.'

'God manifesting his plan and power by redeeming a new humanity, in Christ and by his Spirit'.

I'm convinced that both God's power and plan are central to the letter's message (it doesn't take much to see the frequency of both these themes and their word groups in the letter), but it is a power and plan revealed in Christ and presented by the Holy Spirit (thus combating the false spiritualities in Ephesus) and central to this manifestation is God creating a new humanity (chs. 2-4).

a gentle word for pendulum swingers

2011-05-05T11:35:00.000+10:00

it's not doctrine full-stop
it's not life full-stop

The Biblical mandate is, it's both doctrine and life together, always.

Whether we articulate it or not, there is always doctrine at work shaping our lives. The only questions are 1) is it good doctrine that we hold, 2) is it a godly life that is growing?

does it matter if we have one or not the other, or that one is faulty and the other sound? "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Tim 4:16)

better believe in predestination

2011-05-04T11:32:00.001+10:00

we can't be a Christian and say you don't believe in predestination; we can, however be a Christian and say I don't understand predestination.

we have to be careful here, I'm not saying that unless one comes to a Calvinist view of predestination one is not a Christian. Hardly. I'm simply making a point about how we talk about theology. It is in fact wrong to say i don't believe in predestination, for God clearly in his word affirms predestination. The issue is not, do I believe or reject what the Bible says (for that is the position of the unbeliever), but how do I understand what the Bible says about election, or perhaps many will come to a place whether they are uncertain. A confused Christian and an arminian could scarcely say God is wrong; the way to communicate your position is, I don't understand but I believe God at his word, or I believe God at his word but my interpretation differs to that of Calvin or Arminius or de Molina, or whoever.

I cannot for a moment imagine Billy Graham saying I don't believe what God says about predestination in Ephesians 1 and Romans 8!

important debate taking place among NSW baptists

2011-04-21T13:05:00.000+10:00

link here to read baptist evangelicals today

John 3:16

2011-04-20T12:04:00.000+10:00

One of the most beautiful musical renditions of the the most extraordinary revelation of God in history

it's both

2011-04-20T09:07:00.000+10:00

We mustn't be so focused on reaching the outsider that we fail to love the Church, and we must not love the Church to the degree that we fail to love the outsider and bring them in.
We must do both.
Live with the tension.
Embrace the two.
Be passionate about both

from the elephant room

2011-04-14T12:52:00.000+10:00

Oxygen

2011-04-14T08:01:00.001+10:00

John Piper, John Lennox, 1000s of Pastors, and I'll be there, why wouldn't we go?

Invitation to Oxygen 11 from kcc on Vimeo.

Rego here - Oxygen

some great missional suggestions tweeted by Steve Timmis

2011-04-12T12:27:00.000+10:00

What is a Gospel Community? A group of Christians doing life-on-life-on-mission.

What does a Gospel Community look like? You're in and out of each other's lives throughout the week.

You arrange to do your weekly shop at the same place, at the same time.

You pop into each other's homes at breakfast, lunch or dinner

A number of you join a local book/film/knitting/car repair/sport/volunteer club together.

When you stop off at a pub with some of your work mates, you call ahead and a couple of folk from the GC join you

You're not afraid for others to know what you own or earn and there is freedom in mutually resourcing one another

When you fall out with each other it does not take you by surprise and it doesn't jeopardise your relationship

People use their gifts to serve others: electricians put in new sockets; cooks bake cakes.

We walk the dogs, feed the cats, water the plants, look after the kids and wash the dishes

We are each others sons & daughters, brothers & sisters and the kind of neighbours everyone wants as neighbours.

You slowly but surely learn to pray, play, laugh, cry, sit, study, work and engage with friends together

would be prophets read Jeremiah 23

2011-04-12T09:46:00.002+10:00

Play the Man: Would You Die for Doctrine?

2011-04-11T20:14:00.000+10:00

Play the Man: Would You Die for Doctrine?

Is fantasy and Christianity one and the same?

2011-04-08T09:40:00.001+10:00

During the week I was quoted in the Herald Sun:

"I don't have a problem with people enjoying sci-fi, but church isn't the place to encourage escapism and fancy dress," Mentone Baptist minister Murray Campbell said.

"It is the time where real people with real lives need to hear the real God speak his word, the Bible.

"We really ought to get our theology and world view from the Bible, not Frodo Baggins - as cool as he is."

Contrary to the newspaper, I didn’t suggest, "it was blasphemous and could encourage witchcraft and supernatural ideas." I just think it’s stupid and makes a mockery of something very precious.

I must say I’ve found the response in bloggers sphere amusing.

To those who got my irony (fancy dress) and understood it as deliberate irony, well done. To the bloggers who thought I was unwittingly funny, hah!

One common response to my statement about ‘escapism’ has been to equate Christian theism with fantasy. Some of them are very funny. However such an equation is intellectually dishonest and reminds me of the kind of level of debate six year olds engage in – if I call you enough names you must be stupid and I am in the right!

3 brief response:

1. Jesus is an historical figure. No serious academic (other than one or to militant atheists) doubts this. Most atheistic scholars affirm the historicity of Jesus.

2. The Bible is affirmed as the earliest and most reliable source for learning about Jesus Christ (by Christian and non Christian scholars).

3. The Bible, contrary to fantasy, sci-fi and fairy tales (and contrary to almost every other religion in the world), is grounded in history, time and space. It allows itself to be attested by history, archaeology, philosophy and other disciplines.

None of the above necessitates that the Bible is God’s word or that Jesus is God’s Son, but it does prove that Christian belief does not belong in the realm of fantasy. It intersects with the real world, and if we are to have integrity in our deliberations we must engage with it at least on this level.

It is easy to dismiss a world-view by ridiculing it, but it’s not how real scholars approach questions about the hows and whys of reality.

A great place to begin a proper investigation of Christianity is the Bible itself. Actually read it for yourself. In addition, the works of Dr John Dickson (Senior Research Fellow of the Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University) and "Reason for God" by Tim Keller are worth reading

summary of today's Herald Sun article

2011-04-06T13:18:00.000+10:00

For those who didn't read it, don't bother. Sci Fi Church

For those who read, I tweeted the following. Read from the bottom up

MurrayC1 Murray Campbell

don't like mockery

10 minutes ago Favorite Reply Delete

MurrayC1 Murray Campbell

I like creativity and humour in the Church

11 minutes ago

MurrayC1 Murray Campbell

If it requires dressing up as a wookie to connect with the culture, don't you think you're trying a little too hard? Wot about being normal?

14 minutes ago

MurrayC1 Murray Campbell

...except for those really awesome battle scenes in Lord of the Rings

20 minutes ago

MurrayC1 Murray Campbell

I want people reading the Bible in Church, not Tolkien or watching Buffy.

23 minutes ago

MurrayC1 Murray Campbell

@jpcoombs ggrrrr

24 minutes ago

MurrayC1 Murray Campbell

I think fancy dress in Church is stupid (whether as a Hobbit or a priest in cassock).

24 minutes ago

MurrayC1 Murray Campbell

I think Sci-fi is dull, not sinful.

32 minutes ago

MurrayC1 Murray Campbell

I am NOT a traditionalist!

9marks interviews...

2011-04-01T09:29:00.000+11:00

I recently discovered this great resource. Mark Dever interviewing various Christian pastors/preachers/leaders from around the world

9marks interviews

that time of year again

2011-03-24T15:51:00.000+11:00

my predictions for season 2011 (will i be as wrong as I was last year? probably)

1 Collingwood
2 St Kilda
3 Hawthorn
4 Bulldogs
5 Carlton
6 Geelong
7 Freemantle
8 Adelaide
9 Melbourne
10 Sydney
11 Essendon
12 North Melbourne
13 Richmond
14 Port Adelaide
15 West Coast
16 Brisbane
17 Gold Coast

for a Christian view on alcohol

2011-03-24T14:31:00.000+11:00

and from a baptist!
alcohol and the gospel

sermon on heaven and hell

2011-03-24T13:32:00.000+11:00

preached 2 weeks ago at Mentone Baptist Church
heaven and hell

Xpose Preaching Conference 2011 - registration is open

2011-03-23T15:15:00.000+11:00

to register for this year go to http://xposepreaching.com/conference.html

3.5 weeks to go. Young preachers and coaches don't want to miss this great opportunity to be challenged and refreshed to be faithful preachers of the word

Religion set for extinction ?

2011-03-23T13:00:00.000+11:00

that's what a new study has concluded bye bye religion

1. clearly these people don't have much grasp on history. How many times have we heard this cry in the past 100 years alone and how many times was it proved wrong?
2. It appears that they have ignored the vast number of nations where religion is on the incline.
3. Keller has made the observation that while unbelief in God is on the rise, so also is belief in God. The two are happening concurrently

MSNBC Host Makes Rob Bell Squirm: "You're Amending The Gospel So That It...

2011-03-17T07:29:00.000+11:00

want to see conversions?

2011-03-15T11:22:00.001+11:00

It beats me, our Churches want to see people converted, but how much of our focus and time and finances are given to doing this specific task?
How can we expect to see people becoming Christians if, 1) we're not praying for them, and 2) we're not speaking the Gospel to them, and 3) not equipping and encouraging others in this, and 4) not redirecting ministries to this end or closing them down and releasing resources elsewhere?

Challies review's Rob Bell's new book

2011-03-10T13:45:00.002+11:00

review

Commissioning sermon for Arkhouse Church now uploaded

2011-03-07T16:09:00.000+11:00

parable of the tenants

sounds good

2011-03-07T08:44:00.002+11:00

transformational church
ht Ed Stetzer

Time for some nuance between the gay and the god-fearing

2011-03-04T19:35:00.000+11:00

the drum

well done John Dickson. Thoughtful, gracious, truthful

christianity isn'ty dying, it's being eradicated

2011-03-03T08:47:00.002+11:00

telegraph blog

Christchurch quake and gay community

2011-02-24T12:33:00.000+11:00

Another erroneous, hate-filled, speculative, toilet belonging accusation by a group of whacked 'Christians' has been published in the media.

The Age is reporting a religious website in Utah posting a statement about how the NZ earthquake is God's judgement for Christchurch accepting gays & lesbians in their community. despicable

I said this at the time of the Victorian bushfires 2 years ago and I'll say it again, we cannot speak for God when he has not spoken. This is one of the ongoing issues we are facing today in Churches because of the pursuit of dodgy theology that claims God speaks today outside of Scripture.

We (mentone baptist) do not support such claims as the ones being reported by The Age today. Our views on sexuality and marriage are well known, but we do not follow the insensitive, and worse, false words being attributed to God

Also annoying, is that a journalist has deemed it time well spent, surfing in google land looking for crazy 'Christian' statements about gays and the earthquake. And then they find their catch with a web address originating somewhere in Utah, by an unnamed source? It’s not as though it’s the first website that appears when you search ‘Christchurch earthquake’. In fact it requires some digging to find it. . This is not investigative journalism, this is not news of public interest, it sounds more like, 'I have an agenda' and let's find someone somewhere who can give me the story I'm looking for. Of what public value is it to report an off-beat anonymous website in the States that no one cares about it?

Ok, I've just quickly surveyed the said website and it's so bad (in every way), it's obviously been put together by a nut. So why bother writing an article that needlessly creates a bad taste in everyone's mouths? If the media is really interested in what Christians are doing in response to this tragedy, why not interview Christians in Christchurch or speak to mainstream churches in Australia? Ask them how they feel about the earthquake. I suspect though, such interviews won’t deliver the kind of journalistic furore that Megan Levy intended for today.

Xpose Preaching Conference 2011

2011-02-22T12:48:00.000+11:00

It's on again in 2 months time.

This conference is for young punks who've either never preached before or who are just starting out.
It's also for pastors and preachers who are coaching young guys in their churches and university campuses.

Bio info about this year's speakers:

Mikey Lynch lives in Hobart with his wife and 3 kids. Mikey works for AFES at the uni of Tas, and he is a director of thegenevapush (an Australian church planting network). We are a wrapped to have Mikey back with us.

Peter Ko is married to Karen and they have 4 children. They living in south western sydney where Pete is pastor of a church that he planted a couple of years ago. Pete is also involved in the RICE movt & lusting after Melbourne's cultural life (in a very healthy way).

Come along, be challenged, be changed and be convicted to get involved in the greatest work there is, to be preachers of the word

Sermon on the Trinity

2011-02-18T08:15:00.000+11:00

Our Doctrine series is up and away, kicking off with a sermon on the doctrine of Revelation, and last week a sermon on the Trinity.

click here for a listen

this Sunday we're looking at the 2 natures of Jesus.
Then it's -
the atonement
angels and demons
heaven and hell
science and religion
complementarianism
predestination

how to view non Christians

2011-02-17T08:58:00.000+11:00

'When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.' (Mark 6:34)

When we see non Christians how do we perceive, what do we think about them? Jesus saw the crowds (and remember Jesus could decipher their hearts, he was fully aware of the sinfulness) and he had compassion on them. There we have it, have compassion; they are lost, wandering through life without the good shepherd to protect them and feed them and direct them.

Jesus' compassion was no stand-offish 'i feel sorry for them', he did something about it, and Mark tells us what he did - he taught them. The compassionate Christian is the teaching Christians, explaining the word of God to those who don't know God. Of course, Jesus also fed the people, he showed practical care for the people, but Mark makes it clear that compassion led Jesus to teach.

Let's not look down on those who are not Christian. View people as Jesus views them. Be careful how we speak of them and to them. be compassionate, and point them to the true Shepherd by graciously explaining the words of God.

pastoral worry

2011-02-08T11:06:00.001+11:00

I'm not one to lampoon postmodernism, but I am seeing one of its negative side effects more and more in the Church (especially among the under 35s) - an hermeneutic of suspicion. The Bible repeatedly calls us to believe, to submit, to accept the word of God, and yet increasingly our disposition is to doubt, to question, to deconstruct.

It is not wrong to ask questions, to investigate and to study hard. The Bible urges Christians to use our minds and to struggle and labor hard. Indeed, it is not uncommon to find men and women in Scripture asking questions of God and grappling with his revelation. Even Jesus asked questions of God. But there is a difference between the faith and suspicion, between trusting God at his word and doubting, between assuming God is right and assuming my unbelief is valid.

An hermeneutic of suspicion is inconsistent with Christianity. like with Luke and John, they want us to know, not to doubt, to believe not to deconstruct. And their exhortation is not for an irrational faith, but a faith based on revelation, in history, that affects real change in lives. So I guess my exhortation is, study the Scriptures hard and carefully and humbly ask God our questions and share our theological struggles with him, but do not approach his word with unbelief, for that is to place ourselves over God and that's exactly what brought sin into the world in the place

how many new churches does melbourne need?

2011-02-01T10:07:00.000+11:00

I often hear it said that it requires 10% of the population to affect a cultural change in a city. Perhaps it's true.

In order for Melbourne to have 10% of the population as born again believers, we need 3200 new churches of 100 people in each. On top of that, as our population grows by up to 90,000/year, we need 90 new churches every year to accomodate this growth. All this, simply to have churches for 10% of the population

The task is immense.

pray to the Lord of the harvest for workers.

why I blog

2011-01-26T09:55:00.000+11:00

One of my church members commented to me yesterday that they didn't think it was the job of the pastor to blog. While I both disagree and agree with them, it was helpful for me to assess again the reasons for blogging.

Blogging is not formally part of a pastor's job description; he is to be a minister of the word and of prayer. He is a Shepherd guarding and feeding the flock under his care. Having said that, pastors have always written letters and essays and books to their churches, to other pastors, to other churches, and to civil authorities, all in order to teach the word of God and call for faith and repentance in Christ. Blogging, whilst a new invention, is really just a different form of written communication. Instead of using a type writer and postage stamp I use a blog (of course this doesn't apply for all correspondence)

There is an issue with blogging when the online posts take the pastor away from his chief responsibilities of praying, of reading Scripture and preaching, of spending time discipling people. It's like an auxiliary ministry

here are 4 reasons why I blog:
1. The original purpose of starting this blog was for me to raise the profile of Mentone Baptist Church. I want people to know we exist and that there is great group of people in Mentone who love Jesus, who are preaching his word, and who are seeking to engage with the culture around them in order to see lives transformed by the Gospel.
2. It is a viable way to communicate ideas and instruction to the Church. Many of the folk at Mentone read the blog and there have been occasion when I have encouraged the whole church to read a particular post for various pastoral reasons.
3. It is an easy and effective way to throw out ideas and concerns to the wider Christian community
4. It is an easy and effective way to inform the non Christian public about Christian views and values

6 guidelines for my blogging:
1. Be Christian in all I say. What I write is in the presence of God and as a follower of Jesus
2. When I say something wrong I publicly correct it and when necessary repent.
3. Don't air confidential matters
4. Don't always be serious
5. Don't feel obliged to blog every day. There are times in the year when I take a break altogether (as in the past 4 weeks)
6. Don't let the blog interfere with my preaching and pastoral responsibilities

So whilst blogging is not essential, nor particularly part of the job description, it can be a helpful tool for the pastor.

thanks for yesterday's question! :)

6 of my favourite sites for Christian resources, reflections & news

2011-01-26T09:33:00.000+11:00

in no particular order and with examples of what kind of articles/talks I look at:

http://www.thegenevapush.com/ (for things church planting, church health and growth)
http://thegospelcoalition.org/ (for everything)
9marks.org/ (ecclesiology, book reviews and everything baptist)
http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/ (news stories, mission ideas)
http://theresurgence.com/ (topics that relate to what I'm preaching on right now)
http://www.proctrust.org.uk/ (word ministry)

announcing the 5 best coffees in 2010

2011-01-24T09:59:00.000+11:00

The quality of coffee in Melbourne has improved immeasurably over the past 3 years, not least with the invasion of Campos to Carlton at the end of last year.

(for what it's worth) Here is the list of what I deemed the 5 best coffees that I enjoyed in 2010:

1. My second visit to Campos (flat white using their house blend). It had everything right. Only issue for me is that Elgin st is a long way from Mentone. Otherwise. I'd be there way more regularly.
2. Campos again (my first visit)
3. Brother Budan (I tried an Ethiopian blend, the name escapes me at the moment)
4. St Ali (always a great cup)
5. Liar Liar (they may use St Ali's beans but they make it with a different texture. It's lighter and softer, yet still a great cup)

It all begins again for 2011 and am looking forward to what Melbourne and the Sydney import have to offer

back from vacation and getting ready for another year of blogging

2011-01-24T09:37:00.002+11:00

a must for revivalists

2010-12-14T09:38:00.000+11:00

carson on growth

ht Mikey

thegenevapush

2010-12-08T09:01:00.002+11:00

They've upgraded their website. Worth a look. Great content here for church planters and pastors
thegenevapush

book list for guys investigating pastoral ministry

2010-12-06T13:12:00.001+11:00

I'm putting together a reading list for young guys at Mentone who are considering pastoral ministry. These are books I'd be asking them to read for next year

What do you think? What's missing? What shouldn't be there? I'm trying to cull it to 10 books. I know historic texts are missing, that's ok. This is just to introduce guys to some topics. Next step would be to read some Augustine, Calvin, etc as well as some systematics. Something I noticed is missing and I can't think of a suitable text, is a book on preaching.

1.The Trellis and the Vine - Marshall and Payne
2. Humility - True Greatness - CJ Mahaney
3. According to Plan - Goldsworthy
4. The Deliberate Church - Dever
5. When people are big and God is small - Welch
6. The cross of Christ - Stott
7. Prayer and the voice of God - Jensen & Payne
8. Counterfeit gods - Keller
9. Reason for God - Keller
10. the cross and christian ministry - Carson
11. Written for Us - Adam
12. Desiring God - Piper
13. Don't waste your life - Piper
14. Memoirs of an ordinary pastor - Carson
15. True Worship - Vaughan Roberts

Mikey blogging from NTE

2010-12-05T14:43:00.000+11:00

christian reflections

Jesus said this would be so

2010-12-03T09:03:00.000+11:00

believe this or else

example of senseless Christian persecution

Gifts or Need

2010-11-30T09:10:00.002+11:00

Great little piece on the Geneva Push by Andrew Heard on gifts
check it out
fit for ministry

please read Bible verses in their context

2010-11-26T09:13:00.000+11:00

I still get surprised and disappointed how people, in particular Pastors, read a verse with total disregard for the context in which it was written by the author. In doing so they change its meaning, then they wrongly apply it. In effect they misspeak for God and they give erroneous pastoral advice and give people bad models for reading the Bible.

Also reminds me how much Pastors/teachers need real theological education.
Also reminded how little we need crappy 'Christian books' that misuse the Bible.

Xpose Preaching Conference 2011

2010-11-25T12:14:00.002+11:00

Lock in April 15-16th. Details to come, but it's lookin good

quietly amused

2010-11-22T14:31:00.000+11:00

I am quietly amused by people who think they've sussed out my political leanings. Some think I'm a right wing redneck, while other reckon I'm a left wing socialist. Either I'm very confused or I'm neither.

A Christian in principal is neither left nor right, nor progressive or conservative. We're Christian and on occasion that's going to totally surprise and confuse any aspiring political pundit.

a pro-evangelism Atheist

2010-11-22T13:52:00.002+11:00

ht Dan

Has N.T Wright righted himself?

2010-11-22T12:38:00.002+11:00

a justification debate long overdue
ht Gospel Coalition

TEAR Christmas catalogue

2010-11-21T08:35:00.000+11:00

How to spend money this Christmas and not be a materialist and help someone in need:
http://www.usefulgifts.org/

For Mentone people, the TEAR stand will be available after morning and evening church from today

Great sermon on 'Jesus and Anxiety' by Driscoll

2010-11-19T09:26:00.000+11:00

take time to meditate on Proverbs

2010-11-18T13:28:00.002+11:00

I love reading through Proverbs

for example (from ch.15)

⁹ The LORD detests the way of the wicked,
   but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
¹⁰ Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
   the one who hates correction will die.
¹¹ Death and Destruction^[a] lie open before the LORD—
   how much more do human hearts!
¹² Mockers resent correction,
   so they avoid the wise.
¹³ A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
   but heartache crushes the spirit.
¹⁴ The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
   but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
   but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
¹⁶ Better a little with the fear of the LORD
   than great wealth with turmoil.
¹⁷ Better a small serving of vegetables with love
   than a fattened calf with hatred.
¹⁸ A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
   but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

quiet reflections on yesterday's "unleashed"

2010-11-18T10:23:00.000+11:00

When one writes an article on the ABC discouraging gay marriage, one writes expecting vitriol. On good advice from a couple of friends I resisted reading the comments section (over 500!), apart from a few. Although other friends gave me a gist of what was being said.

In the article I called for 'reason, rigour, love and grace' for the debate. Sadly that's not what took place (on the whole anyhow). Why is that the case?

I understand that gay marriage is a emotional filled issue. For some people in the community this is a real issue, for others, they are simply using the issue as an excuse to attack Christian values and ultimately Christian theism. The former group I want to engage with, the latter is pretty pointless. When debating I don't think it is a case of leaving aside our emotions, but of not letting them cloud reasoned argument.
People read what the want to see, rather than what is in fact argued. For example, some people wrongly asserted that I was equating gay marriage with incest and polygamy. Nothing of the sort was said. The point of the whole article was that the undefined and unqualified 'equal love' mantra is an inadequate argument for permitting gay marriage. If love is the only category for basing marriage then we are not in a position to exclude any consenting relationships. I know that is an unacceptable outcome, and critics also pointed out. So then, the question - on what grounds do those arguing for gay marriage affirm that some forms of loving relationships are appropriate for marriage and others not? They are forced into talking about 'kinds' and 'purposes', but as soon as we travel into that territory the case is substantially weakened. But this level of discussion is not advantageous and therefore largely ignored, and in my thinking it fills this whole debate with an air of dishonesty
vitriol is not debate, it is an immature way people shut down debate and silence those who have differing views.
Yesterday affirmed the tragic irrational mindset we are promulgating in our culture, that if I disagree with you I must hate you. I disagree with Collingwood supporters but do we hate them? Ok, bad example. I disagree with heterosexual couples with live each other outside of marriage. Do I hate them? I strongly disagree with their ethic but I can't count how many people in that position that we've welcomed into Mentone and spent time with them and even counselling them. It is a difficult state of affairs when the only view permitted is the one which affirms the more liberal (social not political) agendas in our community. Indeed it is anti-democratic. No number of statements about loving homosexuals or stories told would, I suspect, have much impact. After all when Jesus spoke about the love of God the populace had him crucified (I am not equating myself with Jesus, for those who don't understand how analogies work).
I can't help compare debate on 'unleashed' with debate on Christian forums. How different the two are. It is possible to be rigorous, humble, loving and open. But limiting our writings to Christian blogs all we do is reaffirm the converted and the majority hear nothing.

This leads to the question, is it worth writing on these public forums? I was in 2 minds before yesterday and remain in 2 minds this morning. In one sense I would say, no, it is not a platform for real and serious debate for it is too easily hijacked. And yet, if alternative views are not presented, then the public are not given opportunity to hear the other side. I would encourage better thinkers and writers than myself to find appropriate platforms to share their views and encourage both politicians and the public alike to ask the serious questions that need to be asked of this debate

For any homosexuals who are reading this blog or yesterday's article, I want to be clear: I believe everyone is a sinner, separated from God. I belong to that camp as much as anyone. Homosexuality at Mentone is not seen as a lifestyle worst than others. Mentone is a Church not for the self-righteous, but for people who are broken and tired and looking for God's grace and his forgiveness and life. Jesus himself said that he had not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. God is loving and sent Jesus into the world to show us real love, a love that is not simply exemplary but efficacious. He died for our sins, he died to forgive us and to change us, give us hope and new life. We do not affirm homosexual practices anymore than we affirm any sex outside of marriage, and yet we welcome all.

you can read the article here

Haiti Cholera Outbreak worsens

2010-11-17T09:42:00.000+11:00

latest update

We've used groups such as TEAR and churcheshelpingchurches.com for giving funds to people in Haiti.
Let's not, when we have so much, neglect those in need

John 14-17 and how God speaks

2010-11-17T09:15:00.000+11:00

Jesus' discourse in John 14-17 is too infrequently used in building our doctrine of Revelation. I think it is not only sublime, but so helpful for our understanding in how God speaks to us today.

Jesus is speaking to his disciples and unpacking for them, teaching on a range of issues to prepare them for what lay ahead, namely, his death, resurrection and ascension.

In essence this is Jesus' doctrine of revelation in these chapters:
1. Jesus makes the Father known. To know Jesus is to know the Father
2. When Jesus returns to the Father, Father and the Son will send the Holy Spirit.
3. The Spirit will "teach you all things and will remind you [the disciples] of everything I have said to you"
4. Through the disciples message (revealed to them by the Spirit about the Son) others will 'believe in me [Jesus]'. We come to know Jesus, and therefore God, through hearing and believing the message preached (and now as written Scripture) by the Apostles under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Couple of further points to glean:

notice how the Trinity is involved in revealing God
notice how key the Apostolic testimony is in Jesus' view
Notice how the Spirit speaking is tied to the Apostolic testimony, to Scripture, and to focusing us on the Son

in modern weddings anything goes

2010-11-15T16:29:00.000+11:00

here's the link to the original article

It's worth noting the temperature rising on the political debate over gay marriage. I reckon there's been 1-2 articles/opinion pieces in The Age every day over the past week.

This morning's one annoyed me sufficiently that I wrote an article in response, sent it to The Age, to which they responded (at least they wrote back) that it's not their policy to publish 'response article to the op-ed page'. So here it is, without The Age's readership but nonetheless here (and yes, I know the lasta couple of paras are similar to a pot from last week, I'm plagarising myself):

I used to think that Ronald McDonald was a scary looking clown who sold hamburgers and that pumpkins were for making soup, but I was wrong, they have become bricks in the foundation for affirming gay marriage.

After reading Annie Stevens’ piece, ‘In modern weddings anything goes, but same-sex ban stays’, I felt not only the need to rescue hamburgers and pumpkin (although, to be honest I don’t like the taste of pumpkin much), but to respond to the growing number of columns of words being given by the media to those calling for a radical redefinition of the Marriage Act.

In Monday’s article, Stevens’ attempted, by illustration, to demonstrate that marriage has been expressed in ‘unconventional’ ways, therefore gay marriage ought to be permitted. But let’s look some of her examples:

Stevens’ cites Katie Roiphe’s book, Uncommon Arrangements: Seven Marriages in Literary London 1910-1939, retelling the story of H.G Wells and the arrangement he had with his wife which permitted him to keep an ‘harem’. Stevens’ proceeds to then speak of this example in terms of an acceptable form of marriage. The problem with that assumption is twofold: one, it assumes that this expression of sexual activity is marriage (when in fact Wells’ was contravening marriage), and 2) it assumes that Wells’ sexual exploits are socially acceptable. In other words, Stevens’ prime example for affirming a fluidity of marital norms is in fact an example of anti-marriage.

Stevens doesn’t stop there, but then proceeds to suggest that ones’ dress sense on the wedding day, and the place in which the ceremony is performed, also adds weight to the argument for gay marriage. I didn’t realize that dressing up in a lobster costume proved anything other than some people enjoy a good crustacean. In this instance, Stevens is comparing apples with seafood. What I wore on my own wedding day, even if it was a batman costume, is in no way a legitimate argument for allowing two men or two women to marry. If anything, Ronald McDonald officiating at your wedding or turning up in a pumpkin carriage only serves to paint a mockery of what is the significant human covenant.

Stevens then concludes with the call for ‘equal love’. This is fast becoming the key argument for proponents of gay marriage: If two persons of the same sex love each other, who are we to tell them they cannot marry? But of course, if ‘equal love’ is the only prerequisite for marriage, then why not legalise marriage between uncles and nieces, and mums and sons? I doubt if many people would accept such sexual unions, yet if 'love' (and take note that love in much of this debate is left undefined) is the only requisite for marriage how can we exclude a union between any two consenting persons, regardless of their status? Let's not stop there, what if 3 people love each other, should they not be permitted to marry? And if marriage is so malleable why not introduce, as one newspaper article recently suggested, fixed terms for marriage rather than being for life? You see, even amongst proponents for gay marriage there is more to their ethical framework than simply 'love'. Particulars such as 'kinds' and teleology must play a role in defining marriage: what is a man and what is a woman, and what is the purpose or goal of marriage? This is also proves that marriage is never purely a private matter, it is social and has implications for many people beyond the immediate couple, including children, wider family, and a community in general.

My point is, Stevens’ adoption of the clarion call for ‘equal love’, is at best weak, and at worst, hides the reality of other assumptions that exist and shape our thinking. As soon as we begin talking about kinds and teleology in marriage, it becomes much more difficult to sustain the argument for gay marriage.

Being a Christian minister, some people will dismiss my position as the viewpoints of a traditionalist or even of a homophobe. Neither are the case. Homosexuals and lesbians have been and will continue to be welcomed at the Church in which I am serving. Welcoming is not synonymous with affirming though.

Debates about marriage are not inconsequential; they move us to the very foundations of our society. This is a debate that requires more than superficial argument (from either side), and even in the midst of serious disagreement, Christians must remember not to resort to cheap caricatures or ‘silly-bring on the-rapture talk’, but with reason, vigour, love and grace, articulate our position. At the same time, those who are pushing to redefine what is the basic building block of our society, need to be open about their presuppositions and agendas.

10 characteristics of a repentant people

2010-11-11T20:06:00.000+11:00

1. repentant people are people of faith. We are no longer trusting ourselves but trusting Jesus and following him

2. repentant are saved people. Repentance is turning from sin and from idols, and turning to Jesus and accepting his free gift of salvation.

3. repentant people are humble people. We can’t do it; God has done it for us in Christ.

4. repentant people are confident people (because of Jesus). We have received the fullness and sufficiency and finality of the benefits of Christ’s cross and resurrection: we are forgiven, we are justified, we are being sanctified, we have certain hope, and all because of Jesus

5. repentant people are obedient people. Obedience is doing what God asks of us through his word in the power of the Holy Spirit.

6. repentant people are sanctified people. The Holy Spirit is the one who changes our hearts to seek after God and he is the one who gives us the strength and wisdom to do so.

7. repentant people are joyful people. Not focusing on our fallenness, but on God’s great saving power.

8. repentant people are loving people.

9. repentant people are generous people

10. repentant people are God glorifying people. Repentance pleases God, it acknowledges that God is God and we are not, it demonstrates that God saves and we cannot, and it evidences that life is not about us but God and loving him and enjoying him forever.

Gay Marriage

2010-11-09T12:35:00.000+11:00

I watched Q&A last night with all the other nerds, left leaning wannabee activists, and the over 60s. Like most weeks, the issue of gay marriage was raised.

Here's a couple of things i don't understand:

1) the % of population that are homosexual/lesbian is around 1-2%. The myth that 10% of the population is gay has been well and truly buried as Kinsey's research has been exposed for the non science it is. Also, not all homosexuals want marriage or believe in marriage, thus the percentage of people who are pushing for change in the Marriage Act is really quite small. In fact I suspect that there may be more heterosexuals pushing this agenda than homosexuals.

Small numbers doesn't make a group insignificant or irrelevant. Not saying that. I am saying let's not confuse the amount of social and political heat with the actual number of people who want for themselves the law to change.

2) I don't get the logic people are applying when arguing for gay marriage. It goes something like this, if two people of the same sex love each other why not let them marry? Leaving aside questions about long term fidelity amongst homosexual couples, what is the underlining assumption here - that if 2 adults love each other they ought to have freedom to marry? If this is the prerequisite for marriage, then what of an Uncle and niece marrying, or of a Mum and son marrying? I doubt if many people would accept such sexual unions (although I remember a story in the media about 2 years ago in South Australia), yet if 'love' (and take note that love in much of this debate is left undefined) is the only requisite for marriage how can we exclude a union between any two consenting persons, regardless of their status? Let's not stop there, what if 3 people love each other, should they not be permitted to marry? And if marriage is so malleable why not introduce, as one newspaper article recently suggested, fixed terms for marriage rather than being for life? You see, even amongst proponents for gay marriage there is more to their ethical framework than simply 'love'. Particulars such as 'kinds' and teleology must play a role in defining marriage: what is a man and what is a woman, and what is the purpose or goal of marriage?

My point is, the argument most commonly used for gay marriage is at best weak, and at worst, hides the reality of other assumptions that exist and shape our thinking. As soon as we begin talking about kinds and teleology in marriage, it becomes much more difficult to sustain the argument for gay marriage.

Debates about marriage are not inconsequential, they move us to the very foundations of our society. This is a debate that requires more than superficial argument (from either side), and even in the midst of serious disagreement, Christians must remember not to resort to cheap caricatures or silly-bring on the-rapture talk, but with reason, vigour, love and grace, articulate our position

God's mission at Mentone (part 1)

2010-10-22T09:32:00.000+11:00

Proclamation (Acts 2)

new Calvinism with Deyoung, Mohler, Duncan

2010-10-19T09:24:00.000+11:00

DeYoung, Duncan, Mohler: What's New About the New Calvinism from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

ht Gospelcoalition

Mission in Acts and Repentance

2010-10-18T10:08:00.000+11:00

following Jesus, Peter's Pentecost sermon makes a big deal out of calling people to repentance. And Peter's call is not an anomaly in Acts but the norm.

How central to our preaching is calling people to repentance

Mission in Acts

2010-10-18T10:06:00.000+11:00

As I write the talks for 'Back to the future Church' I thought I might post some of the ideas that have struck me as I've read through Acts.

In Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples, they are accused of being drunk and they proceed to proclaim the Gospel. In Ephesians 5 Paul exhorts the Church don't get drunk on wine, but instead be filled by/with the Spirit and such filling leads to speaking/singing.
The first formal act of the Church in history is a sermon
Peter preached the word of God which is about the Son of God, calling hearers to repentance.
Peter's sermon is the start of a pattern that continues throughout the book of Acts: speaking the word of God, explaining the person and work of Christ, and calling people to repentance. In fact Acts 2 is not the starting point, Peter's sermon is both living out Jesus' commission to his disciples in Luke 24 and Acts 1, and following the pattern set by Jesus. Jesus' self explanation as to why he had come was to preach the kingdom of God and call people to repentance.
It is worth noting the book ends in Acts - Acts not only opens with the Church proclaiming Christ as Lord from the Scriptures, it ends with Paul in Rome doing likewise:

From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets...³⁰For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.³¹Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The sermons in Acts take serious note of the people who were being reached. The Apostles believed in contextualisation. That's evident in 2 ways: 1) how they spoke, 2) and the angle taken to get to Jesus. 1. Proclamation in Acts is not limited to the monologue exposition in front of a crowd, we se proclamations taking the form of teaching, lecture, one-one conversation, dialogue, debate, argument, testimony, legal defence, etc. 2. The Apostles take into consideration factors such as peoples ethnicity, social & religious background, education, etc. How Paul preaches in Athens is different to how he preaches in Pisidian Antioch, which is again different to Peter speaking with Cornelius which is again different to Phillip evangelizing the Ethiopian eunuch. Having said that, while the starting point may differ and the method flexible, these elements remain constant - it's the same word of God, it's the same message, and the message needs to be spoken.
Proclamation is verbal (ie Romans 10:14-15)
The outcome of the first Christian sermon was 3000 people saved and joining the Christian community.

Prodigal Son sermon

2010-10-18T09:29:00.000+11:00

Phil preached this last week. Cracking talk on Luke 15 that'd make Tim Keller rewrite his book!

luke 15

Back to the future Church

2010-10-15T15:28:00.000+11:00

Starting this Sunday (October 17th) @ Mentone we are exploring the book of Acts together as we begin a process for figuring out how we can be best serving Christ.

This week we're looking at Proclamation.
24th Oct - Growing
31 Oct - strengthening
7th Nov - sending

in conjunction with the sermons, our growth groups will be spending time in Acts, looking at how these themes are developed and how they relate to us as a Church

aborted Babies being left to die in Victorian hospitals

2010-10-07T19:46:00.000+11:00

Victorians ought to know what we legalized 2 years ago:

the age

differentiating promise and command for mission

2010-10-07T12:24:00.000+11:00

The Mission of the Church from Ben Peays on Vimeo.

h/t Gospelcoalition.org

Challenging Sermon by Chandler

2010-10-06T12:48:00.001+11:00

9Marks at Southeastern 2010: Matt Chandler from 9Marks on Vimeo.

h/t 9marks

getting prepared

2010-10-05T16:53:00.002+11:00

Just discovered what I have to look forward to next year when I turn 35 - mid life crisis

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/misery-of-impending-doom-strikes-early-for-midlife-males-20101004-1648a.html

Thoughts on the Final Draft for the Reimagining Process for the BUV

2010-10-04T16:44:00.000+11:00

This Friday the BUV is voting on a motion to adopt a new vision for the denomination. Having read through the final report I've jotted down some thoughts for those interested

Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? (Amos 3:3)

Over the past week as I have read through the documentation for the ‘Reimagining’ process my mind has turned to, among other places, Ephesians 4. In Ephesians 4 Paul stresses the importance and joy of Christian unity. He is focusing on the local church, but nonetheless, Paul’s theology extends beyond the parameters of the local gathering of believers. We do not establish Christian unity, that work belongs alone to Christ through his shed blood on the cross and by the Spirit of God who unites us firstly to God in Christ, and through him to one another (Eph 2:11-22). Yet Paul insists that we need to work hard at maintaining this unity and growing this unity. Growing unity will be expressed through works of service, love, speaking the truth in love, and Christian maturity (which necessarily includes theological maturity, not diversity). It is interesting that this increasing sense of unity grows out of the ministry of the word (4:11).

In the report we read this,

‘There is a consciousness that unity is commitment within the family of churches to living in relationship with each other and defining life together in and around community rather than around doctrine or uniformity of church practice.’(p.15)

Is this how the New Testament defines Christian unity? The statement is premised on a false dichotomy between relationship and doctrine. Unity is a commitment grounded in common assent to the Gospel. It is both relational and doctrinal (i.e. 1 Tim 4:16).

Aspects of the Report are sensible and even necessary; for example, ‘Re-framing the senior staff leadership structure’ and ‘Communication technologies.’ And yet it seems to me that there is a basic flaw under riding the whole vision (namely that of ‘embracing theological diversity’).

I’m not arguing for uniformity, but for Gospel unity, which is sadly becoming less evident among us. I understand some people will here strongly disagree with me, and others will nod in agreement, but even the document admits this ‘There is concern that in the current time of leadership transition the ability for the BUV to maintain its unity may be lessened’ (p.15) One of my chief concerns with the report is the enabler, ‘embracing diversity’; not those things enabling multicultural/intergenerational diversity, but theological diversity.

I am not talking about stifling different styles of Church, contextualising the Gospel for different sub-cultures across Victoria, or of having differing positions on eschatology or charismatic gifts, but those things that we find, for example, Paul spelling out as of first importance in 1 Corinthians 15. Many of us are aware that the rubber band is being stretched further and further; our Re-imagining Report is asking us to stretch it even further. Such a move, however, I think will negatively impact the following ‘Strategic Directions’ and ‘Enablers’:

1. Mission doesn’t work. Mission as a Strategic Direction is reflective of the Biblical priority. However embracing further diversity will only lessen agreement across the denomination as to what our mission is. And I wonder if this already evident by a distinct lack of clarity in the Reimagining Paper as to what our mission is. For example, the following paragraph articulating our missional purpose is highly ambiguous: ‘The central point of identity and purpose for Baptist churches is that they exist not for themselves but as communities called together to participate in God's purposes for the world. Baptist churches in Victoria consistently and strongly value active missional engagement in their localities resulting in personal and communal transformation’. (p.7)

Similarly, this quotation from Frank Rees, which has been adopted by the Report’s authors in their introduction on mission, may be true as far as it goes, yet it is so broad we are left wondering what in reality does it mean: ‘the Baptist vision of the church is a people who are called into being by God, called together to engage with who God is and what God is doing.’ (P.7)

Having said this, there are a few given examples of mission, such as the BaptCare initiative and ‘ministries which connect authentically to the poor, marginalized and disadvantaged’ (P.7), all which pertain to doing good works (and I am not knocking this). However there is nothing to indicate the necessity for word ministry, let alone the central place word proclamation must have in the life of the Church (just take a look at the book of Acts or the Pastoral Epistles, even the life of Jesus in the Gospels). Why, in a document indicating a future vision for the Baptist churches in Victoria, would something as key as the verbal proclamation of the word of God in mission be absent, or at best, assumed? This must be corrected.

2. Public statements don’t work. The more we stretch the theological rubber band the more difficult it will become to make constructive statements on social issues and ethical issues that are representative of the BUV (already, how difficult would it be for the BUV to make an affirmative statement about marriage being only between a man and woman?). Embracing more diversity will inevitably mean an increasing number of churches will be overlooked, misrepresented or marginalized.

3. Cultivating the art of association. This is a great concept to embrace, and yet again, if one of the key enablers for achieving our new vision is to embrace more diversity, this will prove increasingly difficult.

Final Thoughts

At a time when we are experiencing increasing tensions and ensuing numerical decline, it is all the more important for us to be clear about what we believe, what it is that unites us, and what it is we are about. Again this is not about squeezing everyone through the sausage factory and making one church identical to the next, but may I exhort us to return to the kind of clarity of vision, of concrete Gospel affirmation and declaration that we read of throughout the NT, and indeed for what we Baptist are historically renowned. As Steve Addison put it, in an article in the PRAC newsletter the other year, we need to get back to our evangelical roots.

I want to recognize the difficult work that has been set for the task group, and to acknowledge their diligence and hard work in putting this report together, and to even recognize the most recent revision in which I can see an attempt to address some of the said concerns. The process may (God willing) enable more proficient structures and enablers for Church’s to assess their health, etc, however I believe it will fail to adequately address the two fundamental issues facing us today, ensuing decline and a theological rubber band that has potential to snap.

At this stage I would like to make a suggestion, that at this Friday’s Gathering we break down the motion into its constituent parts. Instead of a single motion that accepts or rejects the whole lot, we motion each Strategic Direction and Enabler separately. Will that be more labour intensive? Yes, but given the importance of what we are deliberating I think it is time well spent.

Tips to improving coffee in ministry

2010-09-30T09:20:00.000+10:00

My rationale for posting this article

perfect coffee

Personal but Never Private | LeadershipJournal.net

2010-09-17T08:47:00.001+10:00

Personal but Never Private | LeadershipJournal.net

Mark Dever & Jim wallis talking together about justice. That'll be interesting