Archives: sandy-grant

A second anniversary for Sunday

Pastoral Ministry

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Many North Americans readers will know the second great anniversary that occurs this Sunday is that 200 years ago today, Adoniram and Ann Judson sailed from Massachusetts, on February 19, 1812, apparently the first Protestant American missionaries to travel overseas. (more…)

Anniversary number 1 for Sunday

Life

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This Sunday, on February 19, two very different anniversaries occur.

Because Australians are not always very good at history and The Briefing originates here, I think they are worth noting. They may be of interest to others too. (more…)

Christmas Poetry

Life

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Thanks to the CASE team (CASE = Centre for Apologetic Scholarship & Education) at New College, I’ve enjoyed receiving their quarterly journal for the past few years. Each one has a theme, and they’ve had some real winners in the last two years, including on: (more…)

Exploding Fenella Souter’s Myths of Christmas

Review, Thought

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Last Saturday, the ‘Good Weekend’ magazine published by the Sydney Morning Herald (and the Melbourne Age?), ran an article by Fenella Souter entitled “Truth, Lies and Santa Claus: Exploding the Myths of Christmas” (not available online). (more…)

Problems with the hymn on guidance

Everyday Ministry

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Recently, we’ve been preaching on Guidance, and to reinforce the theme, I selected “Guide me, O my great Redeemer” as our hymn of the month.

After church, a very sharp Christian (that’s you, Bernie), said, “What’s with that hymn?” Wrongly presuming he was just noting some of its uncommon imagery, I replied, “Read my Minister’s Letter” (which explained it). (more…)

Don’t get fleeced by Gideon’s guidance!

Everyday Ministry

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We’re in the middle of a short doctrinal sermon series on that perennial topic of Guidance here at St Michael’s. I follow the Guidance of the Voice of God line.
Some people critique without reading carefully enough, because I don’t think it is cessationist per se as some claim. It’s essence is not cessanionism or not, but understanding:
(more…)

After the NIV: Appendix 2—1 Timothy 2:1-6

Pastoral Ministry

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This is a good passage to illustrate the difficulty of selecting appropriate gender neutral language for a modern translation. It’s particularly helpful because it takes it away from the more divisive issues like 1 Timothy 2:12. Here I compare the NIV84, ESV, HCSB and NIV11. (more…)

After the NIV: Appendix 1—Gender

Pastoral Ministry

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The NIV11’s approach to gender—variously described as gender neutral, gender inclusive or gender accurate—has been its most controversial aspect and deserves a special comment.

A starting point is to observe that all recent translations, including the ESV and HCSB (e.g. 1 Tim 2:1, 4), are more gender inclusive than the NIV84, when it wasn’t an issue. As Rod Decker suggests, “The issue involved is not if some form of inclusive language should be used, but what specific types of language are legitimate and how extensive should they be.” (more…)

After the NIV, then what?

Pastoral Ministry

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Sometime soon every church that uses the NIV for their public reading and preaching of Scripture will have to decide on a new English version. Sandy Grant looks at the options, and the implications. (more…)

SSM – Not Again

Life, Thought

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Friends, this is a post I’d prefer to avoid. Same-sex marriage (SSM) is not something I want to focus on. But we don’t always get to choose which issues to discuss. And SSM really is the issue of the times. Everyone agrees, even if they’re weary of the topic. (more…)

Psalm 46:10 – Stop Fighting

Thought

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Like many people on September 11, my thoughts turned to the Scriptures.

In particular, I wondered what I should read to our congregations, since the ten year anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington occurred on a Sunday. (more…)

What are we reading in Oz?

Life, Review

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It seems the new Briefing is getting into the analysis business, so I thought I’d have a go in regards to Christian literature in Australia.

But before you read on…

  • What do you think would be the most popular genres?
  • Whom do you think would be the most popular authors?
  • How influential do you think reformed theology might be on the general Christian book scene? (Guess a percentage of reformed literature among the most popular titles.)

    • (more…)