Archives: phillip-jensen

Public lies and private lives

Life

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“Even presidents have private lives”, Bill Clinton told the American people following his statement to the Grand Jury concerning his “inappropriate relationship” with White House staff member Monica Lewinsky.

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I will build my church

Pastoral Ministry

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The challenge of church planting

Perhaps it is because whenever we read the verse, we think of claims to papal power and the need to prove that Peter was not the first pope. Whatever the reason, we often forget the other more positive side of Matthew 16:18: “I will build my church.”

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Have evangelicals lost their way?

Thought

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Originally published in Briefing #1 (April 1988).

We live in an age of change. Evangelicalism, as much as anything else, is going through transformation, but are the changes for better or worse? For some, Evangelicalism is maturing and evolving into a responsible contribution to Christianity. Others see the changes as a sell-out of principles, and a denial of the faith of our fathers. Whither Evangelicalism?

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The Risks a Preacher Takes

Everyday Ministry

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“Preaching can be a dangerous business”, Phillip Jensen told a group of trainee preachers at a recent conference. Because the gospel demands a response from people, preaching it faithfully means taking some big risks.

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The Spirit-filled man

Thought

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(Read the first article in this series.)

It is said that the proper study of mankind is man, but is the proper study of spirituality the spirit? Well, yes and no. How can you study a spirit? Eastern mysticism tells us to start the enquiry inside ourselves, whereas western materialism warns us to abandon the quest. But Luke’s writings show us that we needn’t seek a path to spiritual enlightenment; the proper study of mankind and the spirit-filled man is Jesus.

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Inspired aspirations

Thought

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Have you ever felt sorry for Nicodemus? He ventured out in the dark to talk with Jesus in the hope that the man he called ‘Rabbi’ could answer a few pressing religious questions. He found Jesus, who guessed the perplexed man’s questions before they were asked and then left him more confused than ever. We can imagine Nicodemus trudging home, shaking his head, muttering to himself: “Re-born? Born of the Spirit? And what’s the wind got to do with it?”

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Are You Ready, Mr Music?

Everyday Ministry

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As I move from conference to convention, from houseparty to church, and as we try and select music for our own church meetings, I am consistently left with a sense of dissatisfaction about our present music.

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Taking the protest out of Protestant

Thought

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Now that everyone calls themselves ‘evangelicals’, Bible-believing Christians are left to cast around for a new, distinctive name that captures their emphasis. Perhaps that old chestnut ‘Protestant’ could be a candidate. But these days, is Roman Catholicism still worth protesting about? This is the second of two articles about Roman Catholicism—the first appeared in Briefing #36.

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John Wimber changes his mind

Thought

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Just prior to the Spiritual Warfare Conference in March, John Wimber met with three of Sydney’s leading evangelicals. The discussions, which lasted just under three hours, were requested by some Sydney people who had reservations about the Signs and Wonders ministry. Present at the meeting with John Wimber were Jack Deere and Paul Cain from the Vineyard Ministries, Dan Armstrong from Kairos, and John Woodhouse, David Cook and Phillip Jensen from Sydney. Although the meeting was conducted privately at John Wimber’s hotel it was agreed from the outset that what was said privately would be published openly later. Careful notes were made of the discussion.

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When Christians disagree

Life

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In Mark chapter 9, the apostles encounter an alarming scene—they find someone casting out demons in the name of Jesus without official authorization. After a stop-work meeting, they decide that the scab exorcist is acting outside the provisions of the award and should desist immediately or face a campaign of rolling stoppages.

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Four ways to live?

Life

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In our world there are no absolutes. The opinion poll has become the arbiter of moral values. Having removed God from the system, modern man has discovered that the concepts of ‘truth’ and ‘authority’ have departed with him.

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