March 2019 – Australian Church Record

Listening: why it matters and why it’s hard

March 24, 2019March 24, 2019 by Kylie Yip

“Australians,” quoted our chaplain, “spend the second half of your sentence thinking of an answer to the first half”. Well, I think, I’m a good listener, at any rate. I never—oh, wait, were you still talking? There are many times…

Christian Living

A rebuke in love: Fostering a culture of change in churches

March 19, 2019March 14, 2019 by Alice Brown

It had been an exhausting day and tired children were pushing all my buttons. I would love to say that I rose above the bickering with words of kindness, but that sadly was not the case! Later, children in bed and cup of tea in hand, my husband…

Doctrine

What’s in a name? (I AM)

March 17, 2019March 14, 2019 by Kate Hamer

In every culture, names carry significance. This is especially true in the Semitic culture of Bible where names are frequently used to define a person’s characteristics and actions. In this short series, we’ll explore the many and varied…

Christian Living Doctrine

Could someone open in prayer?

March 12, 2019March 12, 2019 by Amy Wicks

Is there any question in a Bible study that causes more awkward silence than ‘Could someone open in prayer?’ Well, maybe the classic ‘What colour is this passage?’ (a legit question, I might add, if used with appropriate care and caution.)…

Christian Living Ministry

The Pastor’s Heart: An interview with Dominic Steele

March 10, 2019March 11, 2019 by Dominic Steele

Dominic Steele is the senior minister of Village Church Annandale in Sydney, and also the host of The Pastor’s Heart—a podcast of deep-end interviews with senior pastors. Dominic has kindly agreed to speak to the ACR and share some of his…

Christian Living Ministry

The big problem in Christian marriages

March 5, 2019March 3, 2019 by Jocelyn Loane

Recently my husband Ed and I read a number of secular books on marriage in preparation for a seminar we were to give together. There were plenty of gold nuggets of advice in them and some revealing insights into what makes us tick in marriage. I learnt…

Christian Living Doctrine

Little ones to him belong

March 3, 2019March 5, 2019 by Peter Blair

Over 40 years ago, Jay E Adams opened his little book, The Meaning and Mode of Baptism, with an observation that still rings true today: “obviously, some immersionists speak overmuch on the subject; but just as truly, most of those who disagree…