Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Briefing, to go

Resource Talk, Sola Panel

|

Back in the mists of time, before mobile phones, before the internet, even before Michael Jackson’s Thriller, there were ‘The SOCM Papers’. (more…)

Water

Up front

|

Some symbols are hard to understand and some are arbitrary, but the symbol of water has immediate and obvious impact—especially to a dry continent like Australia. It works as a symbol because it creates the reality that it symbolizes. (more…)

The God of infinite power

|

It is easy to read about God in the wrong way. Yes (*yawn*), he is big. Certainly (*stretch*), he is powerful. Absolutely (*droop*), he does stuff in our world. These truths are so commonplace, they sound boring to sinful ears. But this extract from D Broughton Knox’s The Everlasting God unfolds the biblical witness to reveal a God whose power is so immense, it’s frightening. And yet his power is the only guarantee of comfort in a broken world. We pray that you might read this slowly and learn again of the God who is there—the God whose infinite power is directed towards you, his friend.

(more…)

A truly reformed pastor

Interchange

|

After reading Simon Flinder’s response to Gavin Parkin’s article (‘A truly reformed pastor’, Briefing #365), it occurred to me that Gavin has misunderstood Baxter’s approach to ministry in Kidderminster. Baxter didn’t leave his flock to evangelize; he evangelized his flock. Baxter understood his flock to be the whole town of Kidderminster. This is foundationally different to the way we see church today. Baxter even says he was blessed not to have any dissenters in his town, therefore his ministry responsibilities were clear. (more…)

ShareThis

Interchange

| |

Just wanted to say how impressed we were that you have an option to share old articles in your library via Facebook. Although personally I think Facebook is a tool of Satan, my wife loves it, and being able to quickly share articles for discussion and use in the church is a great benefit. Thanks for your technological insight. (more…)

Where to from here?

Resource Talk

|

As part of the 21st anniversary issue, Paul Grimmond shares his vision for the future of The Briefing, and tells us how we can be a part of it.

(more…)

The gospel and the quiet time

Interchange

|

Paul Grimmond’s article on ‘The gospel and the quiet time’ was fabulous. I have noticed over the past few years that The Briefing encourages us in the week between Christmas and New Years of the need to start again in our Bible reading and praying (i.e. in time to get in on our New Years’ resolution list). Paul’s article does this very graciously. (I’ve got to admit, this is actually the best way to win me over; I don’t usually respond well to the ‘firm rebuke’.) So thank you, Paul! (more…)

Investing in bookshops

Life, Sola Panel

| | 14 comments

A personal theological library is a vital tool for anyone serious about serving the gospel. It is important to invest in good Christian books. But have you ever considered the importance of investing in good Christian bookshops? (more…)

VJ

Life

| | 4 comments

Walked up to school with two of the three girls.

Taught Scripture, or helped anyway.

The message was about the Lord Jesus. He has the power even to give sight to someone who is blind from birth. (John 9) (more…)

Christian ministry and normal Christians

Up front, Sola Panel

|

I count it one of the privileges of my life to have grown up in a time and a place when so many people have accepted the challenge to go into full-time Christian ministry. Historically, it has been quite extraordinary: since the mid-1980s, here in Sydney several thousand gifted young men and women have abandoned jobs, careers and lucrative futures in order to give their lives to gospel work—as student workers, pastors, evangelists, youth workers, missionaries, and more besides. MTS-style apprenticeship training is now a standard feature in many churches. Moore College and SMBC are bursting at the seams. (more…)

So you think you can spell?

Up front

|

The Higher School Certificate (the final school exams before university entrance in New South Wales) is a strange beast: apparently it is the biggest test you will ever face in your life. Whoever got that rumour going among the high schools has obviously never tried to understand a mobile phone contract. But the rumour lives on, and it can be used to generate pressure on the students—sometimes a pressure that is too great for them to bear. It is sad to see such high hopes placed upon one exam. It is even sadder to see those high hopes end in tragedy. (more…)

We need more shack time

Interchange

|

I appreciated Paul Grimmond’s critique of The Shack: it is need­­ed. You might want to check out William P Young’s connections to C Baxter Kruger and his Perichoresis Ministries, especially given their November speaking tour of Australia. Kruger’s fascinating re-frame of the gospel is the next ‘evangelical’ gospel aberration requiring a vigorous response, I suspect. The novel is marinated in his theological perspective—a perspective which is intensely appealing. (more…)

Don’t wait ‘til you say goodbye

Up front

|

As some of you are aware, I left the ministry that I had been involved in for seven and a half years at the end of August. I look back on that time in my life with great fondness and thankfulness to God, even though I have come to the point of moving on because of certain personal struggles and weaknesses that I have not enjoyed being forced to face. It will suffice to say that I have learned all sorts of things about myself and others in the process of leaving. (more…)