This week, we continue our annual mission series – especially looking at Mission in Australia. Each week we will explore different aspects of mission in our great country, considering how we as a church can be more prayerful and more involved in God’s mission.

This week we are joined by Jackie Stoneman, the Director of Studies for Mary Andrew College. Mary Andrews College exists to equip women to serve Christ throughout a whole lifetime. For this reason, St Philip’s and many women of our church have partnered with MAC over the years – and we will hear from some throughout the day.

So we pray that you benefit greatly by Jackie’s time with us.

On another note, thank you for all who attended the Freedom for Faith seminar this week. It was encouraging to join with so many other churches to consider the important issue of religious freedom. We need to (1) continue praying for God’s work in the world – especially in line with 1 Tim 2:1-6; (2) Pray that we are not silent but continue standing up for Jesus; (3) Pray that God will raise some amongst us who will be shining lights for Christ in politics, law, teaching, industry, etc.

You may find this quote by NT Wright helpful:

“When we examine the wider movements of thought and culture in the eighteenth century, we find something of enormous significance for understanding why the gospels were being read in the way they were. At the heart of what called itself “the Enlightenment” was a resolute determination that God ― whoever “God” might be ― should no longer be allowed to interfere, either directly or through those who claimed to be his spokesmen, in the affairs of this world. Once “man had come of age,” there was no room for theocracy. It was as simple as that. God was pushed upstairs, like the doddery old boss who used to run the company but has now been superseded.

But the whole point of the gospels is to tell the story of how God became king, on earth as in heaven. They were written to stake the very specific claim to which the eighteenth-century movements of philosophy and culture, and particularly politics, were reacting with such hostility.”

Cited from https://www.abc.net.au/religion/cross-and-kingdom-putting-the-christian-story-together-again/11021300

St Phils Editorial