Oxygen18 Refreshment For Gospel Workers

Transcription

1 FREE FOR YOU ON REQUEST TO: TELLING THE GREAT WORKS OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD TODAY 1 July 2018 Vol 81 No 1 Free On Request: office@nlife.com.au Oxygen18 Refreshment For Gospel Workers Nine hundred Gospel workers from across Australia and across several denominations and ethnic backgrounds gathered at Sydney Showground June for Oxygen, the biennial time of refreshing organised by Katoomba Christian Convention. Australians Mike Raiter, Sam Chan and Kirk Patston headed a list of outstanding and inspiritual speakers in a packed program on the theme Run Refreshed: God s Wisdom And Power; Standing Under Pressure; Engaging With A Secular World. The focus of the event was firmly on the word, work and will of God, a focus too easily lost under the burden of ministry. This writer confesses to being a conference/convention junkie, seeking over the best part of 50 years to compensate for a deficient, largely liberal, theological education. But we all need such gatherings to revive, restore and renew us. Oxygen does this superbly. Mike Raiter observed that immigration was becoming the salvation of the Australian church, and this was evident simply in the appearance of many delegates, workers and speakers. All One In Christ, the convention movement s theme, was evident throughout. Kirk Patston deftly wove together a threestrand cord of teaching on dreams, difficulties and laughter as he spoke on Joseph, Esther and Daniel all models for the Lord s people of standing firm in the midst of difficulties but arriving joyfully at their journey s end. Their experience turned on dreams, he said, weaving their experiences into the words of Psalm 126. Some speakers are given to prancing around the platform as they make their points. Standing still at the lectern, Kirk led us in a merry dance through the Scriptures, carefully applying the text at every step as he enumerated a multitude of difficulties that Gospel workers face, and urging us to leave Oxygen as dreamers who smile after coming through great difficulties. (Continued on Page Three.) Tell the people the full message of this new life Acts 5.20b PSALM 126 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

2 VOLUME 81 NUMBER 1 ISSUE DATE: 1 July 2018 FILE NO: NL ISSN: FOUNDER: Eric J. Daley ( ) EDITOR: Rev Bob Thomas Phone: editor@nlife.com.au Postal Address: PO Box 457 Mitcham VIC 3132 OFFICE MANAGER: Rachael Vrieze Phone: office@nlife.com.au WEB-SITE: SUBSCRIPTION: Free On Request ACCEPTANCE OF ADVERTISING DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. NEW LIFE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ADVERTISING DEEMED UNSUITABLE. PUBLISHED BY: New Life Australia Ltd ABN: NOTE TO CONTRIBUTORS: New Life is archived by the National Library of Australia. It is assumed that contributors agree with this arrangement and so are willing to be published on this basis. TELLING THE GREAT WORKS OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD TODAY Clearing The Rubble, Restoring The Fortunes In the book of Nehemiah, we learn that the walls of Jerusalem were broken and the gates burnt. Being a true ambassador of God, the news of destruction brought great empathy to the heart of Nehemiah. Mukti Mission has just finished our Revival Anniversary Meetings and they were a blessing to us. As I meditate on the season of Revival, clearing of the rubble and restoring of the fortunes come to my mind. The book of Nehemiah is appropriate for a study on this subject. I was fascinated by the prayer patterns that Nehemiah used to seek the Lord and enquire of Him with regard to the devastation and restoring the fortunes: 1. Praying with compassion (Nehemiah 1.4). The earnest prayer of Nehemiah, filled with deep compassion, was the kind of prayer that moved God s heart. 2. Praying with repentance (Nehemiah 1.7). On behalf of his people, Nehemiah confessed his sins together with the sins of his people. Their corruptness and disobedience against God came before his eyes and he begged for mercy. 3. Praying with remembrance (Nehemiah 1.8,9). Nehemiah remembered God s faithfulness in Moses time. God warned the Israelites but made room for repentance if God s people returned to Him. 4. Praying with focus (Nehemiah 1.11). Nehemiah knew that his job to rebuild would not be easy. His focused prayer melted the heart of God. His prayer was a prayer of perseverance. 5. Praying with action (Nehemiah 2.12). Nehemiah was a man of action. He prayed but also acted upon what he wanted to do. He arose in the night with a few trusted men, keeping his goals in confidence. As God used Nehemiah and his co-workers to rebuild the broken walls, God is using you and me to clear the rubble that the enemy has accumulated for years. Will you pray that the Lord will use us in Mukti Mission and that we will live lives that are fruitful for the new generation to know who our God is! Isaiah 62.6,7 says: You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the Earth. Lorraine Francis, Mission Director, Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission (India) (Mukti Prayer Pulse and Newsletters may be obtained from their website: Ed) ON A PERSONAL NOTE... ON A PERSONAL NOTE... On 30 June I retired from parish ministry. I am now looking forward to being able to devote more of my time to editing and promoting New Life. If possible I would also like to see the publication of other materials aimed at assisting Christians to gain a clearer knowledge and understanding of evangelical Christian faith, work and practice. I would also welcome preaching opportunities. Bob Thomas NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Two

3 OXYGEN 18: ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS Oxygen18 Refreshment For Gospel Workers (Continued from Page One) Mike Raiter, Director of the Centre For Biblical Preaching, gave the opening and closing addresses: God s Wisdom And Power: The Message Of The Cross In A Secular World and Genuine Christian Leadership In A Secular World. Beginning with a perceptive analysis of the modern-day world and the Australian psyche in particular (so arrogant and proud of itself that it can even afford to brag about its losers, confident, anti authoritarian and fiercely independent), Mike said, It s to a nation like this that we re called to preach the Gospel of weakness, folly, defeat and death and tell them that they cannot save themselves. Comparing our situation to that of ancient Corinth, as in 1 Corinthians , he said that the most surprising word there for him is saints those called to be saints this group of believers who have been sanctified set apart by God and for God. So for all their many and serious flaws, Paul still addresses them as the saints even though the church in Corinth was dysfunctional because it had absorbed the surrounding (pagan) culture. Paul set out to counter this situation by telling them that there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who are perishing cut off from God and blissfully unaware that they are walking down the road that leads to destruction. And there are those who are being saved, walking along the narrow road that leads to eternal life. For the first group the word of the cross is foolish, but for us who have believed and been transformed by this message it is the power of God, and God will always destroy the wisdom of the wise. Encouraging us to focus on preaching the cross ( This the pow r of the cross: Christ became sin for us; took the blame, bore the wrath we stand forgiv n at the cross ) Mike said that preaching the cross in a secular world is tough, and white Anglo Saxon Aussies are one of the toughest mission fields in the world. So, without being oratorical, we must preach well. Don t Throw the Homiletical Baby out with the Bathwater, he urged. I teach preaching and I only have two rules: Be faithful to God s Word and don t be boring. If you re boring, they re not listening and if they re not listening there s no communication. God has wired into our world principles for effective communication and we re foolish to ignore them. Work hard on your sermons. Use a full text, because every word counts. Use illustrations, as Jesus did, because they teach, and they can be emotionally powerful. And practise again and again and again. Finally, don t compare. The Corinthians were holding popularity contests for their preachers. It s easy for any of us in ministry and this isn t just true of preachers to be competitors. You might know the famous quote of Gore Vidal: Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies. Regarding others, Paul s attitude was: As long as Christ is preached. KOREA: Not Such Good News The ongoing peace initiatives on the Korean peninsula have put an end to South Korean ministries sending Gospel leaflets via balloons into North Korea. The South Korean government has now banned the activity. Eric Foley, with Voice Of The Martyrs Korea, says South Korea does not want to upset its northern neighbour and endanger the peace talks. A number of Christian ministries and organizations have participated in balloon launches to North Korea for more than 12 years, using GPS technology to track the success of their efforts. The government has also banned private citizens from launching balloons into North Korea, which beside Bible messages also typically contain USB sticks and information about the outside world. Christian Today Share Your News With Us To Enquire Or Submit News Items Etc Call Bob Thomas On Or editor@nlife.com.au NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Three

4 BY ALL MEANS EVERYWHERE Overcoming With The Word Guidelines International Ministries has planted a community radio station in Tacloban City, the site of the worst storm in history to hit the Philippines. Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 claimed more than 6,000 lives and left almost four million homeless. During the crisis the Far East Broadcasting Company constructed a low power FM station under a tent to provide emergency information. ASSIST News reports that now in partnership with FEBC, Guidelines has launched 97.5 DYFE FM.The station offers a variety of programming including Bible teaching by local pastors, business and agriculture programs and features for women and seniors. Guidelines mission is to transform entire communities by renewing individuals with the message of Jesus Christ. The ministry looks to establish Community Radio Stations in places that have few or no radio stations and no Christian voice at all. They also distribute solar powered radios to families wanting to tune in. ASSIST News Service Sharing The Faith On Social Media Almost thirty percent of Christians are sharing their faith with non believing friends on social media, according to a report by the Barna Group. The research found that many Christians believe technology and digital interactions have made evangelism easier. A spokesman for the Barna Group told The Christian Post that technology and rapid cultural shifts may have altered the face of evangelism, but the Great Commission remains. He says their new report tracks what has changed so that leaders can coach Christians to be effective in sharing the unchanging Good News. Tony Whittaker, Internet Evangelism Day co ordinator, says social media offers new opportunities for any Christian to engage in evangelism. In recent years, many church and parachurch organizations have looked more to using the internet for evangelism, especially as social media becomes an increasing presence in people's lives. Data for the Barna report was drawn from a sample of 1,714 adults. The Christian Post Learn The Bible In A Year Catches On Since its inception in January, Bible For The World s Learn The Bible In A Year program is being aired on almost 600 radio stations around the world. The two minute daily programs are based on the book, Learn The Bible In A Year: From Genesis To Revelation In 365 Daily Readings. Bibles For The World President John Pudaite told Christian Newswire the daily broadcast of Learn The Bible In A Year aims to help listeners understand how the story of God s love is woven through Scripture. He says lots of Bible reading plans help Christians to read through the Bible in a year. But this one focuses on understanding what is read or heard. The ministry hopes that enabling Christians to better understand Scripture will heighten their interest in helping provide it where it is not readily available. Christian Newswire Sharing Is Good For Heart and Soul Sharing Bible stories from memory is becoming an effective evangelistic ministry to non literate and literate people alike. Missionaries have realized that teaching in a way that suits oral learners is also applicable to literate learners. He calls this story telling ministry The Heart Bible. Mr Fornelli told Mission Network News that a big difference between Christ s disciples and us today is that while we have the Bible in our hands, they had it in their hearts. The Heart Bible is the idea of learning the stories in the Bible and committing them to memory. Mr Fornelli says the heart Bible is proving very effective for both literates and non literates. By creating a heart Bible, people can see the glory and power of God through the story. Mission Network News TURN BACK THE BATTLE: Isaiah Speaks To Christians Today. With persecution escalating globally, Elizabeth Kendal calls us to revisit the prophecy of Isaiah,For purchasing options, visit: NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Four

5 FROM ALL QUARTERS A Right Royal Visit To The Middle East Britain's Prince William last week toured Jerusalem's sacred sites, wrapping up a politically delicate visit that both Palestinians and Israelis were able to embrace. Assuring Palestinians they were not forgotten and ending what Israelis had seen as an undeclared British boycott of official visits to their country by the royal family, William followed an itinerary carefully scripted for balance. Charisma News reports that the four day tour was an opportunity to show goodwill in areas Britain ruled from 1917 to 1948, the year of Israel's creation. Prince William visited several sites in Jerusalem including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried. He wrote in the Western Wall's official guest book: May the God of peace bless this region and all the world with peace. Until now it had been British policy not to make an official royal visit until the Israeli Palestinian conflict was resolved. Charisma News Paul Getty To Receive OBE A record number of politicians, church leaders, and charity leaders have attended a UK National Prayer Breakfast at the Palace of Westminster. The breakfast was themed around the question, What Can Christianity Offer Our Society In The 21st Century? Rev Dr Tim Keller, Founding Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York, was the guest speaker. Worship was led by hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty in front of the 140 strong audience which included British Prime Minister Theresa May. Mr Getty says it was fantastic to see all in attendance committing to praying for the country and its leaders. Mr Getty is to receive an OBE award from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to hymn writing. Inspire Magazine Wycliffe Asks: Please Pray For Support Staff Please pray for our Finance Office staff. They are dedicated, humble and service oriented people. Please pray for Rohan, Rachael. Remy, John, Peter, Kevin and Rosemary, as well as the volunteers. (We can expand this request to include all unseen workers in all the mission societies they keep the wheels turning and the missionaries on the front lines. Ed) NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Five

6 MATTERS FOR PRAYER Elizabeth Kendal Updates On Recent Events Affecting Persecuted Christians NORTH KOREA Summit A Qualified Success To all intents and purposes, the historic US NK Summit was a success. The only people to be disappointed were those with pre existing biases or unrealistic expectations. Since the summit, North Korea has agreed to return the remains of more than 250 American servicemen who died behind enemy lines during the Korean War ( ). Furthermore, North and South Korea have commenced talks on: closer co operation in the area of sport, resuming family reunions, re opening the Kaesong Industrial Park, restoring a cross border military hotline, relocating North Korea's long range artillery systems away from the border and connecting the railways across the border. Meanwhile, Russian officials have visited Pyongyang and South Korea's President Moon Jae in has met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The ultimate goal, which would be transformative, is to integrate North Korea into the wider north east Asia framework. Pray that the issue of political prisoners (including many thousands of Christians) will soon be on the agenda and for wisdom about how the release of political prisoners will be handled, for stability is integral to the process of openness. There can be no doubt that Kim Jong un has made a significant 'strategic policy shift'. Please continue to pray. ERITREA: Release Of Imprisoned Pastor Thank God for the unexpected and inexplicable release of Pastor Oqbamichel ('Oqba') Haiminot of the Kale Hiwot (Word of Life) Church in Asmara, Eritrea. This father of three had spent time in prison in 2003 and again in 2005 during which time he was severely mistreated for refusing to recant his faith. The mistreatment, which included 10 months in solitary confinement and hard labour in a military camp, was so severe that he suffered a breakdown and had to be released. Pastor Haiminot was arrested again in October 2007 and imprisoned without charge. After eleven years in an Eritrean prison, Pastor Haiminot is in need of medical care. Please pray for the Haiminot family, that the Lord will sustain and protect them and provide their every need. IRAN: Persecuted Christian Family On 18 June Ramiel Bet Tamraz (an ethnic Assyrian Iranian Christian) and another believer (a convert) faced Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on charges pertaining to national security. Ramiel's father, Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, is currently appealing a ten year prison sentence while his mother, Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh, is appealing a five year prison sentence, both on similar charges. That a powerful state would persecute a peaceful, faithful family in this way is truly shocking. Ramiel is awaiting the judge's verdict, due any day now. TURKEY: A Pivotal General Election THE PARLIAMENT: Erdogan's Justice and Development Party failed to secure a majority in the parliament (polling only 42.5%). However, the ultra nationalist, extreme right Nationalist Action Party secured 11.1%, meaning the AKP MHP coalition will control over half the seats, and the AKP will be dependent on the MHP to get legislation through parliament, giving the MHP enormous undue influence. THE PRESIDENCY: Erdogan has claimed victory in the presidential poll, reportedly securing 52.5% of the vote. He will govern under a new constitution which grants the president sweeping executive powers. Israeli commentator Zvi Bar'el writes: 'With Erdogan's re election, Turkey faces a future as a purely autocratic state, persecuting political rivals and settling scores... [Erdogan] will now begin to build the new Turkish Republic in his own image.' Indeed; this is a terrifying scenario. How Erdogan will weather the economic storm now visible on the horizon is anyone's guess. Please pray for Turkey, her Church, and her ethnic minorities. 'We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places... Elizabeth Kendal is the author of Turn Back The Battle: Isaiah Speaks To Christians Today (Deror Books, Melbourne, Australia, Dec 2012) which offers a Biblical response to persecution and existential threat; and After Saturday Comes Sunday: Understanding The Christian Crisis In The Middle East (Wipf and Stock, Eugene, OR, USA, June 2016). See NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Six

7 GOOD NEWS FROM ABROAD Church Of England Reaching Out The Church of England is beginning a new effort to reach young people and plant more churches. This follows a report prepared for next month s General Synod that claims almost half of Anglican Churches in the UK have fewer than five 16 year olds. The church has appointed a new Youth Evangelism Task Group to plan the strategy. The report says that the Evangelism Task Group recognises the priority of empowering and equipping the people of God, including reaching and discipling young people. It says young people are open to new or deepening faith when they discover that the Jesus of the Gospels actively challenges the injustices they and their communities face. Meanwhile, the Bishop of Islington, Ric Thorpe, the lead bishop for church planting, says the church has committed to planting more than 2,400 new churches by Anglican News Was Blind, But Now I See A blind Iraqi refugee has memorised an astonishing 87 chapters of the Bible using a solar powered audio Bible. 'Fadhil' is a refugee in Jordan. He was given the device, which is smaller than an iphone, by a team from the evangelistic ministry Leading The Way. A Leading The Way partner who visited him in his home says it was humbling to hear him. He says, We memorise a couple of verses. But he memorised whole chapters. He just meditates on Scriptures day in and day out. Leading The Way has distributed more than 116,000 Navigator devices in 25 different languages. The Christian Post And Inspiring Talk Phone: listen@96three.com.au We re Encouraged! One Of Australia s Major Mission Agencies has advised us they send each edition of New Life around to everyone in the office and the members of their National Council. Who Can YOU Forward New Life To? READ: The Judgment Of God And A Place Called Hell To Look Up Back Issues Of New Life Right Back To August 2007 Go To: And Click On: Previous Issues Bound Volumes Back To Vol 1, No 1 Are Held In The Library Of MST, 5 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna 3152 VISITING MELBOURNE? You re welcome at The Faith Factory: ST KILDA: Cnr Alma Rd/Barkly St. Every Sunday 11am & 5pm; Living Stones Korean Presbyterian Church. Every Sunday 1pm; BALACLAVA: Cnr Hotham St/Denman Rd. Every Sunday 9.30am. Rev Paul Lee (03) You re Welcome At The Faith Factory A Friendly, Caring, Bible-Believing Christian Fellowship NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Seven

8 FAITH NEWS... With Stan Hunt The Cost Of Discipleship Ninety thousand Christians were murdered for their faith in 2016, according to a report from the International Prayer Council. This makes Christians the most persecuted religious group in the world. Of the Christians who lost their lives in 2016, 70% were killed in Africa. The remaining 30% lost their lives in persecution worldwide. The figures are the result of a study by the Centre for the Study of Global Christianity, who say that highlighting the number of martyrs gives some dignity to those who have died, and it also keeps up the pressure on those who have the power to do something about the situation. The number of Christians martyred in the last decade is 900,000, which amounts to one death every six minutes. International Prayer Council Not To Choose To Embrace Jesus Is To Choose To Reject Jesus. This stirring call to Jesus centred mission came from Ugandan Bishop Alfred Olwa at the start of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON 2018) in Jerusalem. The meeting is the third GAFCON which was established to promote Bible based, mission focussed ministry in the Anglican Church. Bishop Olwa told the conference that some people in churches are rejecting Jesus because they avoid taking a stand for Him. The line is drawn by Jesus, he said. You are either in or you are out. There is no sitting on the fence. Hundreds of Australians were among the 2,000 delegates in Jerusalem. Sydneyanglicans.net Alfred Stanway Lecture In Global Mission The Future of Contextualisation: The Next Ten Years in Missions is the title for the 2018 Alfred Stanway Lecture to be given by Dr Scott Moreau on Thursday 19 July at 5.15 pm for refreshments before the lecture 5.45 pm. Scott Moreau is the longstanding Professor of Intercultural Studies at Wheaton College, Illinois. Famous for his work on contextualisation, Dr Moreau will consider what has given shape to current missiological theories and practices. This provides the basis for projecting some of the trends in contextualisation and globalisation that will shape the coming decade in crosscultural engagement at home and around the world. RSVP is essential. More details are available on the Ridley Website, Church Finds A Friend In High Places A donation of $50,000 from Ivanka Trump is helping a church s efforts to care for immigrants. The Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas is working to provide solutions to care for children during the immigration crisis. The president s daughter responded to a tweet from senior Pastor Jack Graham asking people to pray for this ministry. Pastor Graham shared with his congregation how the church plans to use the funds. He and his advisors will visit detention centres near the border with Mexico to determine the needs of families and how best to assist. Pastor Graham told The Christian Post that education and the basic needs of children are being met. He says what they need most is someone to brighten their days and make them smile again. So as well as providing financial aid to families the church is planning to run Vacation Bible Schooltype activities. The Christian Post Book Fair In Seoul Points To A Coming Day North Korean books were exhibited for the first time at this year's International Book Fair in Seoul, South Korea. New Definition was the theme of the 24th annual Book Fair which was held in the Peace Pavilion. This year's event invited 234 publishing companies from Korea and 91 foreign publishers from 32 countries. Organisers say that following the South and North Korea Summit in April and the President Trump Kim Jong Un meeting in May, the peace mood opened the door for North Korea at the book fair. South Korean Christians continue to pray that North Korea will open for the Gospel. Rev Dr Jaerock Lee, whose book My Life, My Faith was exhibited at the fair, told the ASSIST News Service he believes that day is coming. South Korean Churches have pastors and laymen preparing for missionary work in North Korea. ASSIST News Service Chapel Of Peace To Be Built In Korean DMZ A new chapel is to be built in the Korean Demilitarized Zone In what is known as the truce village, it is hoped the structure will act as a chapel of peace. The Christian Post NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Eight Persecution is coming Franklin Graham

9 NEW LIFE ADVERTISING WHO CAN YOU INVITE TO SIGN UP FOR A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO NEW LIFE? Jerusalem - where Jesus walked Via Dolorosa Come To Israel And Petra Come to Israel & Petra You ll-never-be-the-same-again You ll never be the same Bible Bible tour! Tour! 30 January 18 February January 30 - February Stand where Jesus and other great Biblical figures Stand where Jesus of Jewish and other history great have biblical stood, figures of Jewish history have enabling stood, your enabling Bible your to Bible become to become clearer, clearer, your faith to become your faith deeper, to become and your deeper, passion for the Lord to and become your stronger. passion for the Lord to become stronger. Dr Arthur & Thelma Sweeney invite you to join this tour Dr of Arthur authentic Thelma Bible places, Sweeney and invite welcome you to your join this questions tour of authentic and Bible requests places and for welcome additional your information. questions and requests Price: for from additional A$6975 information. per head, inclusive Price: from of A$6975 all costs per head, subject inclusive to of exchange all costs subject rates at to the exchange time of rates travel. at the time To of travel. be sure To of be a sure place, of a place, book book by 31 by July 31 July [Mobile: ; [Mobile: arthur@sweeney.id.au] ; arthur@sweeney.id.au] NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Nine

10 SPREADING THE WORD John A New Beginning Reprinted from Our Daily Bread Journey Through Series Journey Through John by David Cook (Copyright 2017) published by Discovery House. Used with permission of Discovery House. All rights reserved. For further enquiries please visit: journeythrough.org or australia@odb.org New Life gratefully acknowledges Our Daily Bread Ministry s permission to serialise Journey Through John, David Cook s latest Bible study book. In book form it mat be obtained from the addresses above. Our Daily Bread Ministry says: We re glad you ve decided to join us on a journey into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ! For over 50 years, we have been known for our daily Bible reading notes, Our Daily Bread. Many readers enjoy the pithy, inspiring, and relevant articles that point them to God and the wisdom and promises of His unchanging Word. Building on the foundation of Our Daily Bread, we have developed this devotional series to help believers spend time with God in His Word, book by book. We trust this daily meditation on God s Word will draw you into a closer relationship with Him through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. How To Use This Resource: READ: This book is designed to be read alongside God s Word as you journey with Him. It offers explanatory notes to help you understand the Scriptures in fresh ways. REFLECT: The questions are designed to help you respond to God and His Word, letting Him change you from the inside out. RECORD: The space provided allows you to keep a diary of your journey as you record your thoughts and jot down your responses. NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Ten... David Cook John begins his Gospel with words that remind us of Genesis: In the beginning. In John s Gospel, we have a new Genesis, a new beginning, the coming into flesh of the Lord of the new creation. The major theme of John s gospel is that Jesus is the source of life of the new creation. We read that eternal life is [knowing] You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent (John 17.3). God bestows new birth for the new creation (John 3.3,5); the children of God are those who are born of God (1.13); and new birth is the giving of this eternal life. In John s Gospel, Jesus states His claims: I AM the bread of life; the light of the world; the gate to the sheepfold; the good shepherd; the resurrection and the life; the way, the truth, and the life; the true vine. He backs His words with signs: healing the sick and paralysed; giving sight to the blind; raising the dead; feeding the five thousand; walking on water; turning water into wine. John allows the witnesses to testify about Jesus: John the Baptist (John 1.20); Andrew (1.40); Philip (1.45); Nathanael (1.49); the woman (4.29); Moses (5.46); John himself (21.24); and God the Father (8.18). The key truth here is to realise that Jesus is one with God. He is the Son of God! See the signs, hear the witnesses, listen to the claims, examine the evidence, and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so become representatives of the new creation, living out a new quality of life eternal life in this crumbling old creation. All Glory be to Him! Don t Mess With Theology Survey Finds Most churchgoers will put up with a change in music style or a different preacher, according to a new LifeWay Research study. But don't mess with a church's beliefs or there may be an exodus. The survey of more than1,000 Protestant churchgoers to see how strongly they are tied to their local congregations found most are committed to staying at their church over the long haul, but more than half say they would strongly consider leaving if the church's beliefs changed. Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research says that pastors often worry about changing church music and setting off a worship war. But few people say they would leave over music. Mess with the music and people may grumble, he says. Mess with theology and they're out the door. Baptist Press

11 NEW LIFE ADVERTISING Elizabeth Kendal s New Book... War! Destruction! Violent Persecution! Martyrdom! Forced Displacement! For hundreds of thousands of now destitute Christian families, this is the new reality. Yet contrary to all appearances, God is at work in the Middle East. Kendal s book is a godsend to anyone who is at a loss to understand what lies behind the suffering in the Middle East. Drawing on authoritative voices from the region, her clear-eyed analysis untangles the conflicts with the heart and insight of a prophet. Jeff M. Sellers, Editor, Persecution News Service, Morning Star News. For more information go to: Glorious Things A Protestant s Guide To London Revised! Updated! Illustrated! Now Available As An e-book! Glorious Things will help visitors to London arrive well prepared to make the most of their time there. The guided tours will take you to places like Westminster Abbey and St Paul s Cathedral, but Glorious Things will take you to important sites linked to our Protestant heritage. COST: $10 for the PDF version, with the right to print two hard copies. PAYMENT OPTIONS: 1. Cheque for $10 payable to New Life Australia. Mail to: PO Box 457, Mitcham Vic (Please include a letter with your name and address so that we can the PDF to you.) 2. Direct deposit $10 to Bank: Westpac; A/c name: New Life Australia Ltd BSB: ; A/c No: (Please also notify us by ). We re Counting On YOU! YOUR Donations Keep Us Going! Through the generous donations of members of the New Life family, New Life is now available free on request by to everyone, everywhere, who wants to receive it. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION: By Cheque To: New Life, PO Box 457, Mitcham 3132 Vic. By Direct Deposit To: Account Name: New Life Australia Ltd. Bank: Westpac. BSB: Account Number: (Please editor@nlife.com.au when you direct deposit). From Our Web Site: ( using the Make A Donation button. NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Eleven

12 STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED TEE The New Face In Ministry Training In 2016 there were about 2.2 million pastors globally. Only 5% had any formal training. Having untrained pastors with large churches of new believers can be a road to ruin. Training does not make a pastor, nor does its lack mean that someone cannot lead a church. However, training has been much used of the Lord to help prepare His undershepherds. The traditional theological colleges seem to be at a crossroads. Richard Pratt from Third Millennium Ministries comments that the traditional college model is not working in the West and should not be copied in the majority world. This is where Theological Education by Extension comes in. TEE keeps learners in their home setting throughout their training. It uses a mix of self study materials, group meetings and action projects to turn learning into deeds. TEE ticks all the boxes of low cost, multi level, quality assured, contextualised and transformative ministry training. TEE has now entered a new phase of development. This is reflected in The Increase Association which supports national TEE bodies across Asia ( ). Increase is training a new generation of TEE course writers. Three recent workshops took learners through full course development. As Dr Marvin Oxenham from London School of Theology and ICETE says: I just returned from three days in Malaysia where I had the privilege of meeting the new faces of theological education by extension. In the picture you see course writers from over a dozen nations that gathered with the INCREASE Association. These high quality courses are carefully researched and designed and are then delivered by trained tutors reaching nearly 100,000 students. The courses bring quality theological education where it would otherwise be impossible. TEE is not a thing of the past, but one of the most exciting delivery innovations that calls for our attention today. Nepal is a good example of the new TEE. Many of Nepal s 1.5 million Christians are new believers. ITeen provides TEE courses for about 8,000 people, including among the Nepalese diaspora. This Nepalese man (pictured) has been jailed and beaten for evangelising. He is both a student and teacher in TEE, as well as being a seminary graduate. TEE enables the Nepalese church to disciple new believers and to equip them for the present testing times. Nepal is just one example of the work of TEE in bringing quality and well accredited training to the poorest of pastors in the most isolated places. The Increase Association, also known as Increase, connects and strengthens TEE and other church based training movements across Asia and beyond. Please give it your prayerful support and learn more about it at: David Burke. David teaches at Christ College Sydney and is involved in several majority-world ministry training projects, including being part of the Increase Association. NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Twelve

13 BOOKS WORTH READING The Westminster Confession Of Faith, Published By The Banner Of Truth Trust, Edinburgh, ISBN Here is a handsome hardback edition of the Westminster Confession such as we have come to expect from Banner Of Truth Trust, who want good books to be available and to last, so that more than one generation of readers can benefit from them, and the present volume is designed to become a well used and beloved family heirloom. Alongside the Confession Of Faith are the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, together with other key historical documents that are more difficult to access, so that this is a leading feature of this edition. Appended to the Confession are details of the American (PCUSA) revisions (1788) to chapters XX, XXIII and XIX. There is a preface addressed To the Christian Reader, especially heads of families, and Thomas Manton s Epistle To The Reader, for the Confession and Catechisms were always intended as tools for Christian education in the home and the church. Other valuable documents included are the Acts Of Assembly And Parliament that approved the Confession and Catechisms, The Sum Of Saving Knowledge that makes clear the Gospel content of the Confession, namely its teaching on sin, its remedy in Christ, the need for faith and the signs of true faith, especially godliness. Next is the National Covenant (1639), the Solemn League And Covenant (1643), the Directory Of The Public Worship Of God, the Form Of Presbyterial Church Government and the Directory For Family Worship. Last of all, there is a useful table of contents facilitating easy access to the main topics in the Confession and Larger Catechism. Adding to the bulk of this 600 page plus volume is the fact that the Scriptural Proofs of the Confession and both Catechisms are provided in full text, not just Bible references, making this a uniquely valuable study of Christian doctrine and practice. Like the creeds of the early church, the Confession and related documents were forged in the fire. Their framers faced threats from heresies and the danger of persecution by authorities. They lived in a time of national or international crisis. Neither the creeds nor the Confession are the product of ivory towered academics on Sabbatical. Rather, they are the choice fruit of the efforts of wise theologians and faithful pastors who lived in turbulent times and sealed their confession with personal suffering for the faith. They provide a summary of the Faith that is worth living for and dying for. Greg Goswell These documents are the choice fruit of the efforts of wise theologians and faithful pastors who lived in turbulent times and sealed their confession with personal suffering for the faith. They provide a summary of the Faith that is worth living for and dying for. SEEN ON FACEBOOK: Words Of Wisdom: NEW LIFE 1 July 2018 Page Thirteen