Jul 20th, 2010
by craigm.
‘Encounters‘ is a new website focusing on ‘fresh expressions’ of church, particularly in the United Kingdom.The Sheffield Centre is a research group run by the Church Army, a Church of England evangelism movement. The have been producing a series of booklets called “Encounters on the Edge” for several years. You can now order these online.
The resources are helpfully bundled, so that, for example, you can order those resources that relate to ‘Cafe Church’, Community Development, Rural fresh expressions, youth ministry, etc.
The publications are also available at the Adelaide College of Divinity library in Brooklyn Park.
Posted in: Emerging Church, Evanglism, Resources.
Jun 15th, 2010
by craigm.
“Two Sons, one who kept the rules religiously and one who broke them all. One Father who loved both lost sons beyond anything they could have imagined” It sounds like the trailer for a Hollywood blockbuster. No, it’s a retelling of an old familiar parable but with a very powerful and challenging twist.
It shouldn’t really be twist at all. However, after years of superficial reading, Tim Keller shows us that many of us have really missed the point of the parable. Often when we study the parable of the two Son’s in the Luke 11 we think of it primarily as a story of grace to a repentant sinner and not a story of judgment against a self saving religious older brother. Tim Keller spells out the context of the story and its liberating message not only to the repentant sinners who know they need saving but also to the religious one who don’t think they do. Although we don’t like to admit it, that includes most of us ‘good’ church going folk! It is the type of story that causes many a Christian to wriggle in their chairs and look again at the prodigal grace of God.
“The Prodigal God” is a study series with DVD by Rev Tim Keller, Minister at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. The DVD curriculum consists of six sessions which correspond to the seven chapters in the book of the same name. It is a very profound book but also a simple read which most people should be handle well. It’s concepts and overall message are very accessible to a typical small group. However it is not “a walk in the park”. Some of the home truths that are revealed in the study are quite confronting, particularly where our hidden religiosity is exposed and bathed in the gospel. Continue reading →
Posted in: Bible Studies, Courses, Discipling Adults, Multimedia, Resources.
May 22nd, 2010
by craigm.
Luther Seminary in the US has a Youtube Channel called Working Preacher. It features short videos of preachers and professors talking about preaching – including people like Tom Long, Walter Brueggemann, Jim Wallis and Will Willimon. There’s a also a nice Pentecost animation that I’m going to use at the start of worship tomorrow (although with different music…). The site is run by Luther’s Centre for Biblical Preaching, and they also have a Working Preacher website, which features a weekly audio podcast on the forthcoming lectionary texts, as well as written commentary. The Centre produces a quarterly CD of preaching and teaching about preaching. You can download a free sample, as well as the Pentecost animation and an Easter animation for free.
I visited Luther Seminary in 2008, and we’ve had Dr Roland Martinson here in Adelaide. It is an excellent teaching institution with a world class faculty.
Posted in: Worship & Preaching.
May 17th, 2010
by craigm.
A Faith Sharing DVD Course by Red Earth Films and the Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia.
“Faith Sharing” is an Australian made small group resource designed to encourage disciples of Jesus to authentically share their faith stories with non Christians. It is an eight week DVD based curriculum which comes as a 8 video segments and an embedded PDF file with the study materials. These can be printed out easily enough for group participants.
The eight sessions are:
Session 1 – An Introduction to Faith Stories
Session 2 – Why Share Faith?
Session 3 – Relationships – The Key to Faith Sharing
Session 4 – Relationship Skills – Listening & Dialogue
Session 5 – Identifying the Divine Clues
Session 6 – Connecting Stories with Friends
Session 7 – Coaching for Faith Response
Session 8 – Discipleship in Community Continue reading →
Posted in: Courses, Evanglism, Mission, Multimedia.
Feb 28th, 2010
by craigm.
Well we may be a few days late with this, but the Anglican Church Mission Society in the UK has produced a 40 day lenten prayer and reflection guide. We think its pretty good, and free! It has been designed for CMS workers and has a strong focus on mission.
Thanks to Jonny Baker, CMS worker for making the resource available online.
Download ‘40 Days of Yes’ (1.5 mb PDF)
Posted in: Lent, Resources.
Dave Andrews
Dave Andrews, author and mission activist, will be the keynote speaker at the SA Presbytery & Synod meeting on Saturday morning 27 February, Adelaide West Uniting Church, 9.00 am – 12.15 pm.
Dave will be speaking about “Plan Be: Be-Attitudes for 21st Century Disciples”. We are promoting Dave’s book, “Plan Be”, and accompanying study and personal reflection resources to congregations for use in 2010.
Continue reading →
Posted in: Bible Studies, Books, Discipling Adults, Discipling Young Adults, Plan Be.
