15 September 2019 Vol 82 No 6 Free On Request: office@nlife.com.au

‘Tell the people the full message of this new life’ – Acts 5.20b www.nlife.com.au

FREE FOR YOU

ON REQUEST TO:

office@nlife.com.auTELLING THE GREAT WORKS OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD TODAY

Celebrate Messiah mission to Jew­ish people, operating in the heart of

the largest Jewish community in

Australia in the Melbourne suburb of

Caulfield, is establishing an exciting

and strategic mission opportunity:

the building of the first purpose-

built Messianic Centre in the South-

ern Hemisphere. The project began

seven years ago and now construc-

tion has finally started with the first

two stages. Praise the Lord!

Executive Director of Celebrate Messiah and Rabbi of Beit HaMashiach Messianic Congrega­tion Lawrence Hirsch, says: ‘I am

excitedly looking forward to having the Caulfield Messianic Centre in the heart of the Melbourne Jewish

Community fully moperational. This new facility will be a place of mission, ministry and training. The

Caulfield Messianic Centre will not only house two Messianic congregations – Beit HaMashiach and Dom

Misi’ee – but will also accommodate the first Messianic Bible College and Outreach Training Centre in

the Southern Hemisphere.

‘The Caulfield Messianic Centre will be a place of worship, community and outreach, training the

next generation of Jewish evangelists for Australia and abroad while being a light for Yeshua the Messiah

right in the heart of Jewish Melbourne. This historic and strategic project is a partnership between the

mission of Celebrate Messiah and Beit HaMashiach Messianic Congregation. The Boards of Celebrate

Messiah and Beit HaMashiach believe that the Lord is calling us to step out in faith and trust the Lord for

the provision of the needed finances for the third stage. Please join your faith with ours and stand with

us to see the Caulfield Messianic Centre completed for the glory of the Lord.’

Citing Luke 7.5, concerning the Roman Centurion, ‘for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built

us our synagogue’, Lawrence invites fellow Christians to follow the centurion’s example and assist in the

building of the Caulfield Messianic Centre as a testimony that Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel and Saviour

of the world, for both Jew and Gentile alike.

‘Please carefully consider partnering with us to complete the Caulfield Messianic Centre’, he says.

‘Later in the story, Yeshua commended him as a man of great faith: “When Jesus heard these things, He

marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed Him, said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I

found such faith’.” (Luke 7.9, ESV) Visiting Capernaum today, you will be able to see the ruins of the an-

cient synagogue built upon the foundations of the synagogue that the Centurion built for the Jewish peo-

ple. This Centurion has left us an enduring legacy of love, faith and generosity that has spanned two

thousand years, and is recorded for us in God’s eternal Word. His good deeds continue to challenge us

today. For further information go to: enquiries@celebratemessiah.com.au

Helping Jews To Celebrate Messiah

Let’s All Celebrate Messiah

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page TwoNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Two

VOLUME 82 NUMBER 6 ISSUE DATE: 15 September 2019 FILE NO: NL 2019-09-15 ISSN: 1033-7903 FOUNDER: Eric J. Daley (1910-1992) EDITOR: Rev Bob Thomas Phone: 0417 592 646 Email: editor@nlife.com.au Postal Address: PO Box 457 Mitcham VIC 3132 OFFICE MANAGER: Rachael Maskell Phone: 0415 612 646 Email: office@nlife.com.au WEB-SITE: www.nlife.com.au SUBSCRIPTION: Free On Request ACCEPTANCE OF ADVERTISING DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. NEW LIFE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ADVERTISING DEEMED UNSUITABLE. PUBLISHED BY: New Life Australia Ltd ABN: 15 005 035 138 NOTE TO CONTRIBUTORS: New Life is archived by the National Library of Australia. It is assumed that contributors agree with this arrangement and so are willing to be published on this basis.

Picture on Page One: Front elevation of

Caulfield Messianic Centre.

Page Two Top: Side

and rear elevation.

Page Two Centre: The

congregation at wor-

ship.

Page Two Bottom: Rabbi Lawrence Hirsch

leads in worship.

TELLING THE GREAT WORKS OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD TODAY

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page ThreeNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Three

STANDING STRONG STANDING STRONG

Dispelling Scientific Myths And Defending Biblical Truth – Creation Ministries International Meetings At Essendon Baptist Church

There were four speakers on Saturday 31 August, the featured speaker being Professor Stuart

Burgess from Bristol University in UK. This report is limited for space reasons to the lectures by Prof

Burgess, and doesn’t reflect in any way on the worth of the other speakers, who were also excellent and

inspiring. Prof Burgess made several very telling assertions, which were a challenge to the estimated

200 people present.

A multi­talented person, Professor Burgess designed the revolutionary chains and transmissions for

the British Olympic team bicycles at the Tokyo

Olympics. In men’s and women’s events, as well as paralympics they swept the field with gold medals.

One nation called for an investigation because of the record results. The Euro satellite, the biggest ever

launched into space, (with 100,000,000 components), and therefore nicknamed the Envisat, depended

for its entire functioning in space on the operation of the solar panel arms designed for deployment by

Prof Burgess. He also built, for surveillance purposes, a life-sized and perfectly functioning dragon fly

with a microscopic wing gearing system. On and on we could go with the genius inventions God has en-

abled this unique brother to build, while copying the Lord’s own perfectly designed systems.

Above all else he is a Bible believing born­again Christian (is there any other kind of Christian?) who

strongly defends in its entirety the plain, simple and obvious meaning of Genesis 1, as historical narrative.

He declared that modern secular and atheistic ‘science’ is not open. Freedom in both research and dis-

cussion is forbidden by peer pressure and work safety concerns, in the sense that if the scientist Christian

incorporates his faith into his work and publications, he will normally lose his job. Scientists who declare

their faith, at bare minimum (if they don’t lose their job), have to make a disclaimer. There are hundreds

in the scientific world who have rightly rejected evolution, but are cowered into silence by the fear of

losing their employment. Many wait until they retire in order to speak up. So the myth of evolution is

perpetuated by the silence of these academics.

One high profile opponent of Genesis called our belief in the Biblical age of the Earth, to be ‘black

magic’, and that ‘Creationists know nothing’. Professor Burgess declared that the perpetuation of the evo-

lution myth through fear, and the silence of the believers in this ‘war zone’ is both breathtaking and in-

credible. One UK academic claimed that if Prof Burgess is correct in his assertions, then the whole edifice

of ‘science’ would collapse! So he has had immense battles in the academic world of his University to

hold on to his job.

Scientists are pressured into silence, even though rejecting any form of evolutionary theory (now

taught everywhere as fact). They are black listed (named and shamed). They are ridiculed – one high

profile atheist calls them ‘ignorant, stupid, or insane’, and called one scientist who is a vocal Christian

‘the most dangerous man in the UK’. Freedom of expression is almost completely shut down in the name

of ‘science’, which is by definition investigative and open, and subject to freedom of speech and comment

in the cause of finding the truth about any matter. Consequently evolution is freely taught at every level

of education as fact, and has permeated western society in a dangerous and highly toxic manner.

This ‘accomplishment’ by atheistic evolutionists has adversely affected morals and the sense of

personal self-worth, and across western society has caused a massive disbelief in the very existence of

God. There have been fightbacks and encouragements. One such event occurred when a personal and

direct report was recently made to British parliamentarians, about the persecution of believing scientists.

Many were horrified, while others typically remained silent and inactive. The outcome here is yet to be

realised, if anything at all will happen. I would also add that the work and courage of Professor Stuart

Burgess, is a massive fightback under God against this horrendous decline in our civilisation, with its

lies and its myths.

Prof Burgess gave a mountain of evidence for the super intelligent designs of God (so called intel-

ligent design or ID) seen all over the Creation, which he pointed out was all accomplished to serve and

magnify the pinnacle of God’s Creation – Man, and so ultimately to bring glory to His Name.

Firstly, the air we breathe with its incredible composition, is transparent, but with the sun’s injection

it causes a beautiful blue sky, a red sunset, and a rainbow, (Continued on Page Four)

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page FourNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Four

STANDING STRONG STANDING STRONGDefending Biblical Truth (Continued from Page Three) Firstly, the air we breathe with its incredible composition, transparent, but with the sun’s injection it

causes a beautiful blue sky, a red sunset, and a rainbow, while transmitting sound and smell, and with

its density finely tuned for bird and aeroplane flight, while absorbing water and holding clouds.

Secondly, water itself, without taste or smell, for drinking, cooking, boiling and freezing. It is ideal for

marine life while holding oxygen, and participating with the air in the brilliance of the water cycle, re-

turning pure water to Earth, as recorded in Job 36.27,28.

Thirdly, metals and minerals. We have every metal to build anything for our needs. There is nothing

missing and all the quantities we need. God could see when He created, just how Man would use all these

metals ahead of the time of their use. Carbon is wonderful, soft for graphite and the hardest of all in the

diamond. Designer rocks are used for walls, slate, marble. Then there are formable materials which pro-

duce bricks, pottery, and cement, etc.

Fourthly, wood and grass, low in density but with high insulation qualities, and a range of properties

for carpenters, engineers, boat builders, and for musical tone etc. Three trillion trees produce over 200

billion tons of oxygen every year to replenish the atmosphere. Grass is simple and soft yet engineers can-

not copy one blade of grass with the same properties, of which there are 12,000 types, including rice,

wheat, maize, oats, rye and barley, none of which need to have such prolific seeding, except God did it

for man.

Fifthly, fruit and herbs. They are multi coloured to have a mix of properties and health-giving qualities.

There are 2,000 types of fruit and in perfect designs. The banana is the perfect consistency for yoghurt,

but scientists can’t replicate it. The apple is 98% fluid, but you don’t need a straw to eat it. There are

80,000 edible herbs, some medicinal, others sweet, sour, salty, astringent, pungent, and bitter. Man has

10,000 taste buds which are replaced every two weeks for effectiveness. Special plants like the cocoa

tree has chocolate growing on it, then the coffee tree, and the tea leaf tree. Man can’t turn grass into milk,

but the cow is the perfect machine to do this. Then there is honey, the most nutritious food, especially

for us. It is absolutely brilliant. The bees have to land on one million flowers to produce a very small jar

of honey. One teaspoon of honey is the life-time work of 14 bees. They literally work themselves to death

for us in six weeks.

Sixthly, wool from animals and silk from the worm, with high insulation, light weight, absorbing

sweat in a way no man-made cloth can do.

Seventhly, animals created for man, especially horses and dogs. Horses are created perfectly for man

to sit on, for transport, military usage, towing. The whole of human history would be different without

the horse made especially for our needs. Horses have an affection for the human face. They have ten

times the work output of any man. Hence our modern usage of the term ‘horsepower’. Then there is the

dog, probably originally similar to the wolf but with immense genetic potential to develop all the dogs

of today, so useful for man’s companionship, and for herding, security, medical use, guiding. They just

love to work for their owner.

Then there is beauty itself, and the ability to appreciate it, with one example being flowers and scent,

majority colours being blue and green, so restful to the eyes. Each flower has 150 types of odour mole-

cules, produced by volatile organic compounds. We have the Earth exactly the right distance from the

Sun for heat and light. The Moon is there for you and me, to produce tides and to oxygenate the water,

and create habitats. It rules the night and creates our calendar, with its apparent size the same as the

sun, giving total solar eclipses.

Then there is the amazing human brain, created to appreciate all the above, and more. The healthy

eye, ‘wired’ to the brain appreciates 10,000 different colours, and enables the sensation of touch. Prof

Burgess has done spacecraft wiring where he had to lay out 1,000 wires from one end of the craft to the

other, the hardest job being to go over joints and all kinds of obstacles necessarily built into the con-

struction. This task by human standards is immense. Yet, there are tens of millions of sensors in the

human brain, with nerve ‘wires’ going to and from the brain, connecting to muscles and 20,000,000

working locations in the human body. The wiring system is mind-boggling.

Pray for Professor Burgess and those of his colleagues who actually and openly stand up for the won-

derful works of God, in an extremely hostile environment. – Len Pearce

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page FiveNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Five

NEW LIFE ADVERTISING NEW LIFE ADVERTISING

Now available at: Koorong Books (Australia) and Reformers Bookshop (Australia)

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page SixNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Six

NEW LIFE ADVERTISING NEW LIFE ADVERTISING

Download the f ree RefNet app or v is i t RefNet . fm today.

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page SevenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Seven

FAITH NEWS FAITH NEWS withwith Stan Hunt Stan Hunt

A Link To The Lord’s Miraculous Ministry Israeli Archaeologists have discovered a well­preserved mosaic apparently depicting the miracle of

Jesus feeding the 5,000. The mosaic is on the floor of an early Christian Church overlooking the Sea of

Galilee. Researchers from the University of Haifa exposed the mosaic during excavations on the 6th Cen-

tury church that was burned down.

When archaeologists broke through the ash layer, they found a colourful mosaic de-

picting images of baskets with loaves and

fish, a miracle that is believed to have oc-

curred close to the Sea of Galilee. Michael

Eisenberg, head of the excavation team says

the mosaic matches the New Testament de-

scription of five loaves in a basket and two

fish.

The mosaic also has a depiction of 12 bas­kets, and the New Testament tells how the

disciples, at the end of the miracle, were left

with 12 baskets of bread and fish.

– Christian Headlines

Elizabeth Kendal’s New Book ...

War! Destruction! Violent Persecution! Martyrdom! Forced Displacement! For hundreds of thousands of now destitute Christian families, this is the new reality.

Yet contrary to all appearances, God is at work in the Middle East. ‘Kendal’s book is a godsend to anyone who is at a loss to understand what lies behind the suffering in the Middle East. Drawing on authoritative voices from the region, her clear-eyed analysis untangles the conflicts with the heart and insight of a prophet.

– Jeff M. Sellers, Editor, Persecution News Service, Morning Star News.

For more information go to: www.ElizabethKendal.com

Shocking People Into Action World Vision has set out to shock Australians into

acting on Africa’s escalating Ebola crisis with a

grim new catalogue that features body bags. In a

radical departure from fluffy chickens, goats and

bicycles that are offered as Christmas presents, the

confronting limited-edition catalogue offers items

that would not look out of place in a forensic inves-

tigation of a murder scene. That’s because hand-

washing kits, rubber gloves, chlorine and body bags

are essential to stopping the spread of the fearsome

disease. World Vision Australia CEO Claire Rogers

warns that with more than 70,000 Australian

tourists travelling to Africa each year, it only takes

one person to infect a population. Ebola knows no

borders, and it carries a 67% fatality rate. More

than 2,000 deaths have been recorded since Au-

gust. Funds raised from the catalogue will go di-

rectly to fighting Ebola.

– Eternity News at biblesociety.org.au

Learning Carpentry Helps Boys Follow The Master Through a carpentry business in Southeast Asia,

Operation Mobilisation is equipping young men to

learn a trade and encounter God’s love. OM reports

the business is creating quality furniture that is af-

fordable to expats and locals with more modern

tastes. José, an OM worker from Latin America, who

has a background in carpentry, says furniture in the

area is either very expensive, or of poor quality that

easily breaks. José saw a market in this gap to pro-

duce worthwhile furniture at a reasonable price.

The business is set up in a warehouse, which also

includes a teaching space and living quarters. José

instructs young men in the trade and in the Chris-

tian faith. He says he wants to give young people

good job opportunities and a spiritual foundation

on which to extend the outreach of the church.

Some of the new tradesmen are active in church

planting. – Operation Mobilisation

A mission worker in Hong Kong is distributing Christian literature on the streets amid the ongoing rioting.

Three months after they began, protests are continuing in Hong Kong with no end in sight. The mission

worker, who can’t be named for security, sets up Bibles and Christian books. He plays music and sings

and people come by and take the literature. Mission Cry is supplying the worker, having sent a shipping

container of books and Bibles. Jason Woolford Mission Cry executive director says he believes God is

doing something in Hong Kong and they want to resource it. He told Mission Network News they can

legally get the containers into the city and the shipment contents are released through a partner ministry.

Mr Woolford says the hope is that these Christian resources impact lives and hearts in Hong Kong, espe-

cially in this time of unrest. – Mission Network News

When Faith Is An Asset A new study by the Christian research firm Barna Group suggests that faith can be an asset when dealing

with mental health concerns. The study is the research firm’s first global look at what it calls ‘the con-

nected generation’ – those from 18 to 35. In partnership with Christian relief agency World Vision, Barna

surveyed more than 15,000 people from 25 countries, including people from a range of faiths and people

with no faith affiliation. The survey was conducted in nine languages. It found that four in ten young

adults report they often feel anxious about important decisions, uncertain about the future or afraid to

fail. Christians reported that when facing mental issues, Christ gives life value, purpose, hope and eternal

security. The study did not address conditions requiring the assistance of mental health professions.

– Religion News Service

Medical Missions In Southeast Asia Reaching People With The Gospel The poor in a remote town in the Philippines were visited by a team of 40 doctors and nurses offering

free medical consultations, treatment and medicines. After a convoy of six vehicles arrived, patients

crowded a makeshift clinic which treated 279 patients including 61 children in one day. The nearest

medicine that the people could otherwise access was hours away. After each medical consultation, pa-

tients were introduced to missionaries who presented the Gospel. Ministry leaders say that medical out-

reach is one of the best ways to reach people with the Christian message. Though the government has

increased spending on health care, demand is outstripping the supply. – Christian Aid Mission

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page EightNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Eight

PTEE Delivers Leadership Training To Arab Church Program For Theological Education By Extension is

providing education for Arab church leaders across

the globe. The courses are structured for remote

learning, so students never have to leave their com-

munities to receive their degree. Kris Kuhlman with

the program says the studies also allow church

leaders to apply their new knowledge while leading

their congregations. Based in Jordan, the Program For Theological Education By Extension is bringing

leadership training and education to the Arabic

speaking Christians wherever they live. Mr

Kuhlman says there are great benefits in support-

ing the theological education and training of indige-

nous church leaders who already know the

language and culture.

Christians Involved In Hong Kong Protests Since protests began in Hong Kong more than 12

weeks ago, over an extradition bill that would allow

Hong Kong residents to be sent to mainland China

for trial, the city’s Christian community has taken

an active role. Groups of Christians regularly par-

ticipate in the marches that have coursed through

Hong Kong’s streets every weekend. More than

15,000 people last month attended a political rally

for Christians. They used social media to spread the

information and people from different churches

showed up. Christians plead for peaceful protests,

and their hymns and prayers are often heard along

with protest chants. One hymn, Sing Hallelujah To The Lord, has caught on as an anthem of the

protests, and is sung by believers and nonbelievers

alike. The city’s Christians number about 900,000,

or 12% of Hong Kong’s population of around 7.5

million.

– Religion News Service

Mission Goes On Regardless ... FAITH NEWS FROM ABROAD FAITH NEWS FROM ABROAD with with STAN HUNT STAN HUNT

Luke 5.5,6 Luke 5.5,6 –– Obey His Leading Obey His Leading

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page NineNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Nine

FROM ALL QUARTERS FROM ALL QUARTERS

TURN BACK THE BATTLE: TURN BACK THE BATTLE: Isaiah Speaks To ChristiansIsaiah Speaks To Christians Today.Today. With persecution escalating globally, Elizabeth Kendal calls us to revisit the prophecy of Isaiah, maintaining that Isaiah 1-39 provides an unambiguous treatise on how God's people are to respond to persecution, suffering and existential threat. For purchasing options, visit: www.ElizabethKendal.com

Events Upcoming: 2019 Leon Morris Lecture The people of the ancient world val-

ued memory as a central organ of

the intellectual life. They talked

about memory. They trained the

memory. They believed memory

was the foundation of creativity.

Into this world, the first Christians

proclaimed their message about a

recently crucified and raised

teacher, healer, and Lord of the

world. Like the philosophical clubs

before them and the synagogues

around them, churches treasured

the apostles’ remembrances of

Jesus and found ways to commit

those traditions to memory with

vigour and accuracy. At Ridley Col-

leges 2019 Leon Morris Lecture, Dr

John Dickson tackles these impor-

tant topics. Also on the night, God Of All Comfort, a new book by Ridley

Faculty member, Scott Harrower

will be launched. The lecture will be

given on Tuesday 17 September,

with refreshments at 5.30 pm for a

6 pm start, at Ridley College. Fur-

ther details at: info@ridley.edu.au

Music To Our Ears One of our readers sent a generous

donation recently with the following

note: ‘I’ve been reading New Life for

a couple of years and my parents

now enjoy reading it as well.’

It’s a great example of enjoying,

supporting and sharing New Life –

and encouraging us in New Life’s on-

going ministry.

(See ad, Page 12 for more details,)

Grant Thomson Is Bible Society’s New CEO Bible Society Australia

has announced the ap-

pointment of its new

Chief Executive Officer,

Grant Thomson. Grant

Thomson resigned from

his role as Global Chief

Marketing Officer for Hill-

song Global to take on the

CEO position of Bible Society Australia.

BSA chair, Anne Robinson, said the Board is excited about the

qualities and expertise that Mr Thomson will bring to the 202 year

old organisation, believing that he is the right person to take BSA

into this new season. ‘Grant is a man who loves God and the Scrip-

tures. He already spends his life living the vision of Bible Society

– championing the Bible to share the love of Jesus.’

Mr Thomson’s faithful grandmother prayed for her grandson

every day when as a boy he was growing up in a non-believing

family. A further seed was sown by his Anglican Scripture teacher

in primary school. His Catholic neighbours took him to Mass as a

teenager and then later he ended up at a Hillsong Church and it

was there that he gave his life to Christ.

He still carries his highlighted leather bound Bible, blue inked

scrawls in the margins, that he purchased from Koorong bookshop

in his early days as a Christian. Mr Thomson began his working

life in pharmaceuticals, but his new calling led him to an MBA, an

MA in Biblical Studies and a 20 year career at Hillsong, first as a

pastor, then executive pastor and finally the global role he is just

concluding. Grant will remain a member of the Hillsong Australia

Board.

‘Grant is a proven Christian leader who facilitates and enables

people, as well as being an outstanding business person who un-

derstands spreadsheets, digital marketing, publishing and strate-

gic planning,’ Ms Robinson said. ‘The board is excited about the

possibilities presenting themselves under Grant’s leadership.’

‘I am truly humbled and a little overwhelmed to come and help

lead the Bible Society as CEO,’ Mr Thomson said. ‘I have a quiet

belief that in the next season of the Bible Society, God is going to

do something phenomenal in and through all of us.’

Mr Thomson will take up the role on 1 October.

– Penny Mulvey

‘WITNESSING FOR CHRIST ‘WITNESSING FOR CHRIST –– BY ALL MEANS EVERYWHERE’ BY ALL MEANS EVERYWHERE’

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page TenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Ten

Just as Nicodemus (John 3.4) and the woman (4.11) misunderstood Jesus, so

now His disciples take Him literally when He is speaking figuratively (11.12). In an-

other example of Jesus’ perfect knowledge, Jesus knows Lazarus is dead (v.14), but

refers to him as being asleep (v.11). He also refers to the little 12-year-old girl in

Mark 5.39 as being asleep, even though the mourners had arrived and knew a dead

body when they saw one.

Lazarus was certainly dead. When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he had been dead

for four days (John 11.39). However, the Christian conviction about death is that

it is temporary. The English word for a burial place, cemetery, literally means ‘a

place of sleep’. Death is as temporary as sleep. All will be raised from the dead at

the general resurrection, to appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

For those trusting in Jesus, death will be followed by an intermediate state,

more present with the Lord than now (Philippians 1.21) and yet not final, for we will receive our

glorified bodies at the Second Coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4.16). When we accompany Christ at

His return, we will receive our new, resurrection bodies. His resurrection

is the guarantee of our own (Acts 17.31; 1 Corinthians 15.20).

Lazarus has died and Jesus says He is glad He wasn’t there when

Lazarus died (vv.14,15). Jesus knows that what He is about to do will

bring glory to God (v.4). Now He is glad for the sake of the disciples, ‘that

you may believe’ (see John 11.42,45,48).

They already believe, but their faith will now have a content and depth

which it did not have before. Thomas, unusually, takes the lead and his

gloomy words (v.16) are prophetic. The way to life is via death (see John

12.24).

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page ElevenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Eleven

JOURNEY THROUGH JOHN JOURNEY THROUGH JOHN withwith David CookDavid Cook

Death Is The Way To Eternal Life – Read John 11.9–16

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION: Paul says to ‘encourage one

another with these words’

(1 Thessalonians 4.18).

How are you encouraged by

our hope, and who can you

encourage with this hope?

Reprinted from Our Daily Bread Journey Through Series® – Journey Through John by David Cook (Copyright © 2017) published by Discovery House. Used with permission of Discovery House. All rights reserved.

For further enquiries please visit: journeythrough.org or email: australia@odb.org

SEEN ON FACEBOOK:SEEN ON FACEBOOK: Words Of Wisdom:

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page TwelveNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Twelve

NEW LIFE ADVERTISING NEW LIFE ADVERTISING

We’re Count ing On YOU!We’re Count ing On YOU! YOURYOUR

Donat ions Keep Us Go ing!Donat ions Keep Us Go ing!

Through the generous donations of members of the New Life family, New Life is now available free on request by email to everyone, everywhere,

who wants to receive it.

PLEASE CONSIDERPLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION:MAKING A DONATION:

• By Cheque To: New Life, PO Box 457, Mitcham 3132 Vic. (Please make cheques out to: ‘New Life Australia Ltd’.)

• By Direct Deposit To: Account Name: New Life Australia Ltd. Bank: Westpac. BSB: 033-112. Account Number: 16-8239.

(Please email office@nlife.com.au when you direct deposit). • From Our Web Site: (www.nlife.com.au)

using the Make A Donation button.

And Inspiring Talk www.96three.com.au Phone: 03 5241 6550 Email: listen@96three.com.au

We’re Encouraged!We’re Encouraged! One Of Australia’s Major Mission Agencies

has advised us they send each edition of New Life around to everyone in the office and

the members of their National Council.

Who Can YOU Forward Who Can YOU Forward NewNew LifeLife To? To?

You Can Advertise Here Call Rachael on 0415 612 646

for help and advice. Email: office@nlife.com.au

FOLLOWING JESUS: The Essentials Of Christian Discipleship, Andrew M. Randall, Edinburgh: Banner Of Truth Trust, 2018. ISBN 978­18471­8­241 The fifteen chapters on various aspects of following Jesus are written to

help new believers to lay strong foundations and grow in their Christian life

and service. Randall believes that it is vital to get the basics right. Three fun-

damental convictions lie behind this book: love for the Christ should shape

our lives; theology matters (books on Christian basics often fall down here);

the Gospel is the truth about everything, namely it has implications for the

whole of life. The Gospel is not just about how we become a Christian, it is the

motivation for all that the believer goes on to do and it throws light on every

issue of Christian living.

Randall writes in an engaging way, echoing the great reformer Martin

Luther when he tells his readers that ‘we have to beat the Gospel into our

heads continually’. Randall assists our walk of faith by doing just that, one way

or another, in every chapter of this helpful book, showing how the Gospel ap-

plies to different aspects of our lives.

For example, with regard to our view and use of Scripture as God’s Word, he says that ‘the Bible does not give us good advice but good news, and there

is a world of difference between the two’. In other words, the Bible provides,

not just rules for living, but the message of Jesus that expands our vision, cap-

tures our heart, and equips us for every good work, guided always by Scrip-

ture. Randall goes on to give practical advice to young Christians about how

to know the Bible better.

Randall shows that the idea of an individual Christian or unconnected

Christian is completely alien to Biblical thought. We are part of a body, and in-

volvement in the life of that body (the church) is a non-negotiable aspect of

genuine discipleship. He insists that church membership (= signing up) is es-

sential, including being humble enough to submit to godly leadership and dis-

cipline. Such involvement can only be continued by means of Gospel values,

including forgiving and reconciling with our faulty brothers and sisters.

The author is refreshingly honest in what he says about prayer. Prayer is

hard, and he explains why this is (e.g. Satan hates and fears prayer). Randall

goes on to explain the work of God’s Spirit in history, in the church and in be-

lieving individuals. He shows what holiness and change look like in Christian

experience: expecting development, not excusing sin, but also being honest

about failures so that the Gpel of God’s forgiveness continues to be claimed.

Randall encourages not just individuals but also churches to mature, and his

description of churches that suffer from spiritual immaturity sadly looks like

a picture of many congregations in the modern West.

What strikes me about this book is its honesty, realism, good sense, and

sound grasp and application of Gospel principles. For example, he tackles the

vexed issues of guidance, marriage (God’s way), parenting, and evangelism,

which involves both showing and sharing, namely walking the talk and earn-

ing the right to speak. He mentions his own experience of growing up in a

Christian home, under the influence and example of godly parents, such that

he cannot remember a time when he did not believe, and states: ‘one of God’s

greatest gifts to me is a boring testimony’. In each case, there are rules and

principles, Gospel principles that we must apply with intelligence and in-

tegrity. Here is a great book to place in the hands of a young Christian!

– Greg Goswell

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page ThirteenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Thirteen

BOOKS WORTH READING BOOKS WORTH READING

‘What strikes me about this book is its honesty, real-ism, good sense, and sound grasp and application of Gospel princi-ples. For exam-ple, he tackles the vexed issues of guid-ance, marriage (God’s way), parenting, and evangelism, which involves both showing and sharing, namely walk-ing the talk and earning the right to speak.’

NOT HOME YET – How The Renewal Of The Earth Fits Into God’s Plan For The World. Ian K. Smith, Crossway, 2019. Where does the Gospel start and end? The great creeds start with creation

and end with the hope of ‘the life to come’. This fits with the Bible which begins

with the Word that summoned the creation into existence and which ends

with a winsome portrayal of life in the renewed creation.

Many contemporary expressions of the Gospel go straight to the Cross. They sketch our need of Jesus, announce the Cross and then call us to repen-

tance and faith, holding out the promise of forgiveness when Christ returns.

This exclusive focus on the Cross can mean that we miss the big creational

bookends of the Bible. It can also mean that we miss the significance of life in

between our conversion and the return of Christ.

This book, by the Principal of Christ College Sydney, calls on Christians to

take life now in God’s world seriously. It does it by sketching a creation to new

creation vista, centred around the Cross and resurrection of Jesus as the big

pivot points in the Lord’s saving plans. The whole Bible is within the scope of

this small book. Smith wants readers to see that our life now is to be lived in

the light of the resurrection as an anticipation of the life to come in our true

home. That home is not one of floating on clouds with harps in hand, but of

life in the renewed Heavens and Earth. God’s grand design is for a restoration

of our Earthly home, not a knockdown and rebuild. This undercuts the com-

monly held dualism between spiritual and secular. Instead, every part of life

in God’s creation is part of being ‘in Christ’.

Matter matters, and our life here matters. At first glance the book is ‘light’

in length and in the absence of the scholarly markers of footnotes and foreign

language words. However, it is not light in content. Smith brings years of re-

flection and attention to the text of Scripture into his discussion. It’s a book to

make you reach for your Bible and think. Key passages of Scripture are care-

fully studied, and Smith proves a dab hand at discussing textual variants in

the key passage of 2 Peter 3.10.

As Smith says, a longing for home is a powerful human emotion. In this

book he helps us to understand what God’s homecoming looks like. The result

is a book to arouse our longings for home in the new creation, and to help us

live now in anticipation of that home. – David Burke

BOOKS WORTH READING BOOKS WORTH READING

NEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page FourteenNEW LIFE – 15 September 2019 – Page Fourteen

Ian Smith helps us to understand what God’s homecoming looks like. The result is a book to arouse our longings for home in the new creation, and to help us live now in anticipation of that home.

THANKS TO OUR DONORS

New Life Thanks All Who Make Donations

From Time To Time. Your Generosity Enables Us To Continue This Ministry.

Please See Our Ad On P. 12 For Details About How

YOU Can Help.

WHOWHO CAN CAN YOUYOU

FORWARD FORWARD NEW LIFENEW LIFE TO?TO?

PLEASE NOTE:PLEASE NOTE: New Life comes to you as a PDF file.

You are free to FORWARD it to anyone you feel would like to read it.

You may also PRINT it in whole or in part for individual or church use.