How to do evangelism with courage, humility and love By Rod Benson Some Christians gladly speak with friends about their children, sport, favourite books or recent holidays, but hesitate to speak about Jesus Christ. We fear embarrassment, difficult questions or damage to a valued friendship. We may feel poorly equipped, remember an awkward conversation, or …
On sympathy and empathy
Jon Cattapan, Sister, 1984 (oil on canvas), University of Melbourne Art Collection. Understanding two forms of human concern Rod Benson Human concern takes many forms, from the quiet acknowledgement of another person’s loss to the sustained effort to understand an unfamiliar experience. Sympathy and empathy name two important dimensions of this concern. Although frequently used …
The Jesus model of social cohesion
How many of us read books by Enid Blyton as a child? I’m thinking especially of her “Famous Five” series, and “Secret Seven” series, but there were hundreds more. Blyton also wrote adaptations of biblical stories for children. The Man Who Stopped to Help was first published in 1965, with illustrations by Elsie Walker, and reissued in …
Morning prayer for Wednesday 7 October 2026
Invocation + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Pause for reflection Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;his faithful love endures for ever (Psalm 106:1). Good morning, heavenly Father.We worship you, the creator and sustainer of the universe. Good morning, Lord Jesus.We …
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The Jesus model of power
Marco Basaiti (1470-1530), "Call of the Sons of Zebedee" (detail), 1510. Now and then in the Gospels, we stumble upon the most extraordinary and unexpected interactions with Jesus. One of the most unexpected and divisive is recorded in Mark 10:35-40. Presumably, the twelve disciples were together, until they weren't. James and John, the sons of …
