One of the things I’ve been meaning to put together at some point is a list of online resources that I’d recommend.  Perhaps we can make it part of the Campus Church website.

For now there’s a couple of one’s that I’ve found helpful recently that I thought some people might be interested in.

We’ve been promoting Tim Keller’s ‘Reason For God’ as a helpful read for communicating the gospel effectively in a postmodern and secular context.  Our bookstall sold out recently and we ordered 5 more copies.  We’re also looking forward to the paperback version - expected in 5-7 weeks.  That will bring the price down from around $35 to a much more manageable $15-20.  With volume we’re hoping to get it down even lower than that.  What was great to see was Katherine Orr listening recently to the online mp3s related to the book and putting a copy on CD from some people from church.  That was really thoughtful!

If you are interested you can download them directly from here

For readers on the journal ‘The Briefing‘ you may be interested to know they’ve now got a blog called ‘The Sola Panel‘ - a collaborative blog by a bunch of friends who love the five ‘solas’ of the Reformation, and want to promote a Bible-driven passion for theology, holiness and gospel ministry.

I was interested to hear there’s a podcast associated with The Briefing as well - and that they recently interviewed Col Marshall.  Col has affected more people than most through his model of ministry at UNSW over 25 years.  The formalisation of that model in courses we run on UC campus like ‘Growth Groups’  and the widely known apprenticeship scheme MTS are examples of the kinds of things he’s had a hand in.  I haven’t listened to it yet, but am looking forward to it!

We’ll try and get some other recommendations together sometime soon!  Let me know what you think…

Dave Morgan is a friend who works in Armidale with a university congregation next to then University of New England.  He was mentioning that a number of their students run into troubles living in flats - mainly because they’ve never lived away from home before.

Their church put together a document full of ideas for flats to help prevent problems before they come up.

You can download it from here.

Thanks Dave!

Do we really need reasons? It’s currently popular to say people aren’t interested in hearing arguments for Christianity, and that relationship is the key. Just show people that Christianity works, we’re told, and post-moderns will come to faith. But as Tim Keller points out elsewhere, this approach to truth is itself part of the non-Christian worldview which declares the ’self’ as sovereign, rather than Christ. We must experience a ‘worldview’ shift. The gospel must challenge our presuppositions. 

This is what Keller seeks to do in his New York Times best seller, The Reason for God. The book tackles common doubts about Christianity he has encountered frequently in his ministry among urban professionals at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. The material is the fruit from many years of engaging with sceptics, and this adds much to the book’s clarity and credibility. It is particularly impressive how well he has understood the objections that he explores. He shows familiarity with scholarship on issues of philosophy, history, sociology, literary criticism, and more. But far from being dry and academic, there is a warmth and surprisingly personal tone to the book. 

The first half of the book deals with seven objections, including the exclusive nature of truth, the problem of suffering, and the injustice carried out by Christians in history. The chapters seek to show that behind each of the doubts or objections, there is an unchallenged ‘belief’ which under closer inspection are less credible that originally assumed. In an artful way, Keller often turns the objection around, and shows that the Christian message actually provides a more satisfying solution to the problem raised than other solutions. The second half of the book deals with the positive reasons for faith, including evidence for God, and the consistency of the gospel message. Keller is at his best when describing the shape of Christian theology in creative and relevant language. Many have described him as a modern day C.S. Lewis, and it’s a good comparison. 

The Reason for God is a great resource for both believers and sceptics. It invites the reader to think further, to doubt their doubts, and to at the very least come to a better understanding of Christian faith. Although the book’s Northern American context is evident in a few places, it is a good fit for our highly postmodern and agnostic kiwi culture. Keller’s book has the potential to unsettle many from their comfortable apathy towards spiritual things.

Scott and I recently flew over to the might city of Sydney for TWIST 08, which stands for ‘The word in song together’.  TWIST is held annually, and over the last six years has become one of the premier music ministry training events in Australia.  With a focus on quality bible teaching and practical application, TWIST seeks to challenge church musicians to grow theologically and practically in their ministries.  So then, what did we learn?

Well, I’d like to share with you guys a few thoughts on the theology of singing, and three possible reasons why people don’t sing in church.

Singing is, and has always been, an important way for God’s people to respond to His character and acts.

“Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.  The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:1-2)

“Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.  Declare his glory among all the nations, his marvellous works among all his peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, he is to be feared above all gods.” (Psalm 96 1-4)

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant… He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (Luke 1:46-8, 54-5)

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people for nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)

Singing edifies and encourages.

“What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.  Let all things be done for building up.” (1 Corinthians 14:26)

Singing helps express emotion.

“Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise” (James 5:13b)

Singing can evangelise.

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25)

Music ministry is a Word ministry!

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)

Now I’d like to share with you three possible reasons why people don’t sing in church:

(1) Songs are chosen that are too hard for either to band to play or the congregation to sing.

(2) The song leaders/singers aren’t doing their job properly. In other words, they are inadequate at leading the congregation to sing along with them, especially if a new song is being introduced.

(3) The church is struggling with a spiritual issue, by which I mean the people don’t know how to respond or might not want to respond to God in praise, thanksgiving or adoration.  This reason had never occurred to me before, and would probably be the most challenging for everyone!

Church music has got to be one of the most contentious topics around, so if anyone has questions or comments, please holla back…

Peace.

Matthias Loong