Monday, December 29, 2008

Naomi in Myanmar

From the 29th Dec to the 19th Jan one of our partners, Naomi Penney, will be on a mission trip in Myanmar.



Naomi writes:

The team will be visiting Kalay, Mandalay, Myitykina and Yangon; running 3 day seminars in each location. They are aimed at pastors and their wives but others will be welcomed if there is space (and money to pay for their food). The guys will be running fairly practical sessions in biblical preaching skills for the pastors, while the girls' team will be aiming to encourage the women who attend with straight bible teaching.

Steve is doing - Preaching with Purpose - based on the book by Jay Adams
Ted is doing - Why preach; What is preaching; The preacher; What to preach; How to preach
Joseph is doing - 1. Understanding Literary types, context of books or of a passage, dangers of direct application of scriptures, etc. 2. Select a passage. 3. Read it many times. 4. Study its context. 5. Determine the big idea 6. Turn the big idea into a sentence. 7. Find sub points from the passage. 8. Form a conclusion for your sermon 9. Determine an introduction for your sermon.
Naomi is doing - Studies in the book of Hebrews
Norma is doing - Studies in the book of Exodus
Jill is doing - Studies in the Gospel of John


Prayer points:

- That the team will remain healthy and safe while travelling.
- That we'll handle with grace the inevitable last minute changes that occur in a culture like Myanmar.
- That local authorities won't hinder the running of the seminars.
- That many will be able to attend.
- That we will be godly and speak God's word faithfully.
- That we will be able to communicate well and share in peoples lives. That we will have good translators when we are speaking to groups.
- That God who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine will meet the physical and spiritual needs of his people in Myanmar. That he will break down barriers and unite them in love for one another. That he will grow, strengthen and equip his church depsite and even through the hardships they face.

Naomi

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Rhys & Cris in Currarong

From 28th December until 5th January Rhys and Cris will be on a Scripture Union Beach Mission at Currarong.

I became a Christian at age 10 through the ministry of a scripture union beach mission (at Easts Beach Kiama), so I am really excited that Rhys and Cris are taking this opportunity to share about Jesus with people who might not otherwise hear about him.

Please join in praying for Rhys & Cris:
- for opportunities to speak about Jesus with the campers
- that they would be good witnesses of Jesus in all that they do and say
- for good working relationships with other team members
- for energy and enthusiasm for the duration of mission

Friday, December 19, 2008

From the Dean - Materialistic Christmas

Christmas is a time when the whole community can agree on enjoying themselves. It is a time of family, fun and food. It is the time of giving and receiving presents and messages of goodwill from old friends.

In this way, Christmas is good for society. It is good that we take time out to relax and enjoy ourselves. It is good that we keep up contacts with family and friends. It is good that we keep the retail industry busy and profitable. It is good that we are able to be generous and teach generosity to another generation. It is important to preserve our cultural heritage.

Even such an ardent opponent of Christianity as Richard Dawkins would not like to stop Christian traditions like Christmas. He would not want to purge our culture of its Christian history. He has expressed his opposition to de-Christianising greetings like "Happy Holiday Season". He professes to enjoy singing Christmas carols.

This year the calls about Christmas being too materialistic have been muted. The Prime Minister's desire that we spend freely so as to boost the economy has made materialism in Christmas 2008 morally responsible, if not mandatory.

But can Christians agree with the materialistic celebration of Christmas? Should we not stand against such crass hedonism and debasement of spiritual issues?

The debasement of spiritual issues in Australian society is often pretty crass, for the hedonism of our society is often expressed in alcohol-fuelled stupidity.

Materialism as a philosophy of life is a self-defeating, inadequate sub-human myth. The idea that "there is nothing in reality other than matter" reduces all of us to worms, to dust and ashes. It makes values, virtues and, even thought, into nothing other than the twitching of disordered grey matter. Justice, love, mercy, and kindness are all nonsense in a materialistic universe. They are all the tools of the masters to manage and oppress the masses.

And the hedonism that flows from philosophical materialism is also a self-defeating and inadequate myth. Those who say “let’s eat and drink for tomorrow we die” - pursue a goal of pleasure that always evades them. They often hasten their death while missing out on the pleasure and pleasures of life.

So how can Christians share in the materialistic hedonism of Christmas?

The Bible does not advocate the opposite of materialism or hedonism. The opposite of materialism is the denial of matter and the opposite of hedonism is the denial of pleasure. Combined they lead to a miserable asceticism that finds no joy in the pleasures of this world. This is never the teaching of the Bible. According to God such a denial of the pleasures of creation is the teaching of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-5).

The trouble with materialism and hedonism is not that they are completely wrong, but that they profoundly distort the truth. The truth is that God has created the material world and this created world is good. It is to be received with thanksgiving to its creator "who provides us with everything to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17). We are not to worship the world like materialistic hedonists in idolatrous sensuality. Rather we are to worship the world's creator with thanksgiving and joy - for his wonderful creation.

All this comes into sharp focus at Christmas because at Christmas time Christians celebrate when God becomes man. We celebrate the creator becoming part of the creation. It is even more forcefully expressed in John 1:14: "the word became flesh".

Though God is Spirit and those who worship him must do so in Spirit and truth (John 4:24), in the person of Jesus, God is incarnated - becomes flesh. So our spiritual worship is to include the enjoyment of God's creation.

That is why we celebrate by giving presents and rejoicing in the good things of creation - feasting with our families. This is why Christmas is a time when the community as a whole can agree on enjoying themselves.

However, there is a profound difference with our non-Christian neighbours. They enjoy the music of the carols while we enjoy both the music and the lyrics. Even an anti-God "cultural Christian" like Richard Dawkins, can enjoy singing the carols with the rest of the community. But Christians enjoy the musical emotions of lyrics that express our deepest delight.

Non-Christians celebrate the food and the family - while we celebrate God become man with food and family. They enjoy giving presents and feasting with their family while we enjoy God become flesh by giving presents and feasting with our family.

For at Christmas we Christians rejoice in the creator of food and family who has given the ultimate presents - His Son to the world and the world to His Son. "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11).

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Children's Christmas Concert

Children's Christmas Concert at the Cathedral, Monday 10am. Details here:

Financial Crisis

The global financial crisis may provide better opportunities for the gospel. As people's faith in the market is shaken, they often question their worldview. This is a great time to be promoting the gospel - the best product on earth.

Pray for those who have lost or will lose their jobs. Members from TBT have already been laid off, sadly.

Read more at this article at the New York Times.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

2009 Summer Sesssion

Our 2009 Summer Session (the old Summer School) will be on how to do ministry in the city. That is, how to do ministry in an urban environment.

We've asked Mark O'Dohonue to speak and offer wisdom and insight. He'll open the Scriptures at the beginning of the evening. Mark is on the staff team at Bishopsgate in the heart of London, so it well qualified to speak on city and urban ministry. Mark will speak about the unique advantages of city ministry and how to minimise the problems of city ministry. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the great opportunities that we have in the city. Mark will speak at the first two Summer Session evenings - Tuesday January 20 and 27.

I will be taking the last two Summer Session evenings - Tuesday February 3 and 10.

On all four evenings we will be sharing a meal together beforehand. It's a great opportunity to gather for fellowship and to think about how to do ministry, how to best reach the city, how to overcome the problems of city ministry, how to make the most of the great advantages that we have located right in the centre of our city.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Not the TBT Strategy

Christmas at the Cathedral

Christmas at the Cathedral is always fun and exciting. This year is no exception. Here are the details.





Anyone want to read the Bible and pray?

This post over at the solapanel picks up on something that I have been thinking a lot about recently as I've been thinking about TBT.

You might have noticed that as we've asked people to prayerfully consider how they might be involved in serving next year, one of the options on the 'Looking forward to 2009' form is to meet with someone one-to-one to read the Bible, and we've also asked if you'd like to be trained in how to meet up with someone to read the Bible.

We heard on Sunday night that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling with us. It is in the Word of God that we come to know God. And he has given us the Bible, the words of God, so that we can come to know who he is and what he has done for us in Jesus. It is through his word that the Spirit works in us to change us to be more like Jesus. It is in his word that our sin is exposed and we are convicted of the need to repent.

So how are you going in your prayer and Bible reading? Why not get together with someone from TBT next year to read the Bible together regularly. Not sure how to do it? Then let us know and sign up to get some training next year so that you can be better equipped!

Monday, December 15, 2008

The Bible Talks Vision

We've spent a lot of time thinking and praying this year about who we are at The Bible Talks and what we are trying to do. On Thursday 4th December we launched our new vision and strategies. If you have been looking closely, you'll notice that our new vision has been on the Sunday outlines for the last two weeks.

So what is our vision?

VISION
To glorify God by reaching the city with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How are we going to, under God, try and achieve that vision?

STRATEGIES

Pray
Pray: for an outpouring of God's Spirit to serve him better and save the lost.

Gather
Gather: to be equipped for service. Teach, rebuke, correct and train in righteousness.

Follow
Follow: to be disciples of the Lord Jesus.

Serve
Serve: to love as Christ loved and served us.

Witness
Witness: Proclaim Christ in our city by preaching the gospel.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

International Names at TBT

Next year at the Bible Talks we have some big name speakers for our edification and growth.

* Our Dean, Phillip Jensen will continue his Hebrews series throughout the year. Phillip will also bring us a topical series on the Holy Spirit in late summer.

* Dr William Phillip will open God's Word January 11. Dr Philip is the senior minister of St George's-Tron Church of Scotland, in the centre of Glasgow.

* Mark O'Donoghue will be speaking to us at our Summer Series (the old Summer School) on the unique challenges of urban ministry. He'll also preach at TBT on Sunday 25 January. Mark is on the staff at St Helen's, a church community in the heart of the city of London.

* Mark Ashton is our guest on the 8th March. Mark is speaking at Mens Convention this year, and we've asked him to speak to us at TBT. Mark is the rector at The Round Church at St Andrew the Great, Cambridge.

* William Taylor will open the Scriptures with us on August 16. William is the is on the staff at St Helen's in central London .

* Mark Dever will be our guest August 23. Mark is the senior pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist in Washington DC.

We are blessed to have these wise and godly men bring us God's Word.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Men's Convention 2009


Next year THE BIBLE TALKS men will be attending Katoomba Men's Convention over 27 and 28 February. The topic is the book of Daniel. The speakers are Al Stewart (ex TBT), and Mark Ashton who will be speaking at TBT the week after.

Further details are here. We will not need accomodation, since we are departing 6am Saturday morning from the Cathedral (with the obligatory good coffee) and returning Saturday night, so we can be fresh for church on Sunday.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Phillip Jensen's Hebrew's talks online

5 of Phillip's Hebrews sermons from this year are now available to download from the Cathedral Website.

Jesus: Greater than Angels

Jesus' Greater Salvation

Jesus the Greatest Man

Jesus the Greatest

Jesus Greater than Moses

End of Year Party

*** RSVP ESSENTIAL ***

When: THIS Friday night (12th December)

What time: 7pm – 10pm

Where: 308 Pitt St, Sydney (Princeton Building, between Bathurst and Liverpool Sts). Feel free to meet outside the Cathedral on the forecourt at 6.50pm to walk over with other people.

How much: $5 for BBQ dinner

Please RSVP by Thursday 11th so that your name will be on the list at the concierge desk and you can get up to the BBQ area on Level 7. Any problems, ring Mike on 9265 1673 (will forward to his mobile). No RSVP, no dinner, and no entry to the building.

Look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP to: info@thebibletalks.org.au

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

TBT Vision

Tomorrow night, Thursday 4th December at 7pm in Upper Chapter House, we will be launching our Vision and specifying some of our strategies to help us achieve this vision. We are beginning with dinner and it costs $5.

Parking is available in the St Andrew's Carpark or the forecourt. RSVP to info@Thebibletalks.org.au if you have not already.

Monday, December 1, 2008

7 December at TBT

This week at The Bible Talks we are beginning the Psalter. We'll obviously pick it up with Psalm 1. Please read it and ponder the Blessed Man (v.1). What is the difference between the righteous and the wicked? To whom do they listen? Where is their focus? What passages in the New Testament have a similar feel to Psalm 1 (or, the more technical question: what genre is Psalm 1?).