Sharing the good news of Jesus with others

In his book, What is Happening to Religion in Australia? Understanding the Trends, social researcher Philip Hughes observes a fundamental change in Australian values in the past century. He charts a shift from duty to family life to personal fulfilment.  Perhaps the most notable example of this is changing attitude towards same sex marriage, with two-thirds of all …

Discovering my gifts and serving others

When my eldest son Michael was about four years old, he graduated from watching me mow the lawn to actively helping out. Donning over-sized protective wear โ€“ gumboots, gardening gloves, and a full adult face shield with earmuffs โ€“ he bravely ventured out onto the lawn at Blakehurst to โ€œhelpโ€ me with the mowing. The lawn …

Connecting with others who follow Jesus

According to Wheaton College professor Wayne Martindale, C. S. Lewis, the creator of theย Narnia Chronicles,ย โ€œhad no natural fondness for church-going.ย He found the sermons often dull, and he disliked hymns and organ music, which he described as โ€œone long roar.โ€ He felt like โ€œthe most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.โ€[1] Yet Lewis discovered the …

Celebrating God’s presence in worship

Let me ask you a question: What is the most important thing the church does? I expect, in any crowd, there would be a range of answers: prayer, preaching, teaching, fellowship, pastoral care, social justice, mission, evangelism. Probably not committee work, or building maintenance! Each of these features is vital to the life and effectiveness …

Why am I here? Thoughts on vocation

Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, discussing his book, The Purpose Driven Life. I work at the Donald Robinson Library, the centrepiece of Sydneyโ€™s Moore Theological College. Near the front doors to the Library is a glass-wrapped display case that often shows rare items from the Samuel Marsden Archives, another hidden jewel of the Anglican …