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Sacred Agents #132: Highlighting problems is not the same as addressing them. But we serve a God who does actual things...
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Great Books to Give Away
We have so much good news – but how to share it? Lending or giving away a book is one great way to share Jesus. Here’s some good news books we recommend:
Great Short Videos We Recommend
SHORT CHRISTMAS VIDEOS WE LIKE
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Highly recommended - A documentary podcast (also in book form) telling the story of the demise of New Athiesm and how increasingly public intellectuals are turning back to Christianity.
A 4-week video-based series to facilitate discussion and encourage steps towards faith, baptism and service.
Sacred Agents #131: Who are you at the deepest level? And what difference does it make?
Crossover Recommends: A free 4-episode video course presented by Mike Frost - part of the Morling to Go series of training resources.
Crossover Recommends: A free 6-episode video course presented by Dan Paterson - part of the Morling to Go series of training resources.
Crossover Recommends: A free 6-episode video course presented by Bree Mills - part of the Morling to Go series of training resources.
Sacred Agents #133: Consent is key to life and mission - a guest post by Liam Conway
A free Christmas sermon series covering 4 Sundays of Advent and Christmas Day. Includes sermon outlines, slide templates and artwork ready to use in promotion - and even scripts for skits.
Brilliant holistic book on outreach and evangelism by Australian John Dickson.
Have natural conversations with your friends and family about your faith. Discover four key questions that invite people into engaging discussions about what matters most in life.
Sacred Agents #129: One of the beautiful strengths of the Baptist movement is our conviction that all believers are priests. Does that mean we all play an equal part?
A free Easter sermon series covering Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Includes sermon outlines, slide templates and artwork ready to use in promotion.
Crossover Easter Resource: A simple but powerful Easter series with adaptable artwork for promotion and invitation (and more), and Friday and Sunday message outlines.
Sacred Agents #128: There's a need for boldness and courage in representing Jesus. But it's boldness of a particular kind
XP is a high-quality digital resource to help leaders start authentic conversations with young Aussies about life and faith. It has plenty of laughs and quirks and is highly watchable.
321 is a free course that invites people to see life the way Jesus does. 8x 20min interactive video sessions.
Sacred Agents #130: The gospel is news, an annoucement, but it's also an invitation. Here's what I learned from Google Maps about guiding people home.
Sacred Agents #123: Non-church Australians are now more inclined to accept an invitation to church, than we are to extend it...
Sacred Agents #127: What do we make of a 34% increase in baptisms? Does it line up with other signs of change in wider culture?
A free Christmas sermon series covering 4 Sundays of Advent and Christmas Day. Includes sermon outlines, slide templates and artwork ready to use in promotion - and even scripts for skits.
Free Christmas outreach series designed to be highly invitable and accessible for newcomers. Includes 5 sermon outlines and customisable artwork for promotion and presentation.
A free Easter sermon series covering Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Includes sermon outlines, slide templates and artwork ready to use in promotion.
13min video message by Andrew Turner. Baptism seems to be for the fervently religious - but what does Jesus say? Luke 14:25-33 video resource
Sacred Agents #126: How Can We Compete with the instant appeal and endless choice of Netflix, social media etc?
Sacred Agents #124: Can You See Seekers? Jason Hoet reflects on a significant shift in his evangelism - from hunting strays to welcoming refugees
Crossover Recommends: 4-part short video series by Bulls+Arrows (Youth Dimensions) youth focused, outlining essentials of the gospel.
A short baptism information booklet available in either a screen-scroll-friendly PDF or printable tri-fold brochure. Free to download.
Sacred Agents #122: If culture eats strategy for breakfast, what eats culture for lunch?
Our top recommended short videos for Christmas outreach and services. (And we're always taking recommendations)
Sacred Agents #125: At the end of a long year, Christmas can come and go like a hazy dream. How can we keep it real?
Sacred Agents #121: The Scandal and the Wonder. When is a person ready for baptism? At birth? At death? OK somewhere in between. But what's best for the formation of new disciples?
Sacred Agents #110: What is the 2021 Australian Census data on religious affiliation telling us? I try to interpret columns of numbers into meaningful narrative.
Recommended giveaway book: "This is a swash-buckling adventure-ride of a book. It’s academically grounded, culturally attuned, and full of evangelistic chutzpah. I’d put this into the hands of any of my secular friends in a heartbeat." - Review by Rory Shiner
Crossover Recommends: 12 Episode documentary from Olive Tree Media sharing stories of faith from around Australia
Recommended testimony video (7:51) from NewLife Church Gold Coast
Excellent, original, Australian evangelism training course for churches written and presented by Belinda Lakelin. Features sermon outlines, small group, coaching opportunities and more.
Crossover Encouragement Resource: 3x 1-min episodes to encourage believers to share their news. Easy to share in services or embed in weekly emails.
Present People is a training program for churches based on Sport
Chaplaincy Australia’s unique approach to ministry, practiced and
refined in sporting communities over
almost 40 years.
SCA partner closely with churches to
deliver the program, follow up each
trainee, and provide additional support.
Sacred Agents #120: It's a great instinct to want to include different generations, nationalities or other types of people in your church. But where to start?
Super simple 1 minute video on inviting your friends to church.
Crossover recommends: Scripture Union Ireland’s first film series, launched in 2017 is ideal for youth groups and young adults but accessible for all ages. NUA is a film series that encourages questions, acknowledges doubt, and offers an engaging perspective on the Christian faith. 8x 15min episodes.
Sacred Agents #115: There's lots of ways of speaking, but what is actually being heard?
Sacred Agents #119: We often think about how we talk to people about God. But how do we talk to God about people? Here's some simple but powerful suggestions.
Sacred Agents #113: What's happening with Australian young adults? They're checking out church in big numbers.
Crossover recommends: Channeling state-of-the-art research, personal stories, and careful biblical study, Confronting Christianity explores 12 questions that keep many of us from considering faith in Christ. Look more closely, Rebecca McLaughlin argues, and the reality of suffering, the complexity of sexuality, the desire for diversity, the success of science, and other seeming roadblocks to faith become signposts. Jesus becomes not a relic from the ancient world, but our modern world's best hope.
3x 1-min episodes - encouraging believers to share their most important news. Each episode can stand alone, but the story builds ... and twists!
Sacred Agents #117: Exscribo Divina. An Easter exercise, and how a passing conversation healed my fear of flying.
Book by Andrew Turner: What is real success for a church? What are we aiming for?
If it’s all about size and health, then why did Jesus curse that big, healthy-looking fig tree? Could it be that we are aiming to shape churches that will impress everyone but him? What does a truly fruitful church look like?
Fruitful Church exposes how, ironically, the typical aims of growth and health actually choke real life from churches. It explores an alternative vision that refreshes every aspect of local church life and compels it to awaken from static religious institution towards the dynamic missional movement that God first planted.
Sacred Agents #104: That 'the gates of Hades will not overcome' the church is even better news than we perhaps thought.
Short video about how God draws people to himself. Interesting twist at the end - discussion starter
Recommended book resource: Paperback for enquirers or skeptics. "This is the first book I would give to anyone who is investigating Christianity, or recently become Christian, or a Christian who wants to learn to better articulate their faith." - Reviewer.
A resource for pastors, youth leaders and evangelists to keep on hand. With discussion questions at the end of each chapter, this book walks through with people what it means and looks like to entrust their whole lives to Christ, and how the act of baptism encapsulates and enacts it.
Crossover recommends: Excellent 'apologetic apologetic' for thinking enquirers/skeptics. Interesting historical overview with theme of Christ's kingdom recurring.
Sacred Agents #108: Naming That Nothingness - Just what is this lack-of-faith so many Australians believe in?
Sacred Agents #118: A tiny change in the way we word things can make a huge difference. Here's two examples in key gospel moments.
SacredAgents #105: An exercise for small groups in articulating the good news ... and more
Sacred Agents #114: In which evangelism doesn't have to be at the intersection of conflict and public speaking...
Sacred Agents #116: The importance of baptism is re-emerging in our movement, and not before time. It is not a substitute for real discipleship, but a way into it.
Sacred Agents #103: Are our gatherings as inviting and accessible as Jesus is?
Crossover recommends: An immersive two-year partnership for church leadership teams to embed effective discipleship practices in their church's culture
Crossover Recommendation: Great Australian books by Chris Morphew for ages 9-13 on some of the biggest questions.
Sacred Agents #107: In which we tackle the fear of rejection head on ...not that any of us are afraid, of course
Recommended Christmas Give-away/present: A short (60pg) booklet outlining the good news in an accessible way using a Christmas theme.
Crossover recommends: Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that create a safe and honest space, online or in person, where people can explore life, faith and meaning.
Crossover recommends: Christianity Explored Ministries helps people to meet Jesus in the pages of the Bible. They publish a range of materials to introduce Jesus Christ to those who are unfamiliar with his message - including excellent 4 short courses and high quality associated materials.
Crossover recommends: Backed by state-of-the-art research, personal stories, Harry Potter illustrations (warning: spoilers!), and careful biblical study, this book doesn't dodge tough questions. Instead, it invites teenagers to ask their hardest questions about Christianity and to find surprising, life-giving answers.
Sacred Agents #112: The opposite of sharing is hoarding, and it's quite hard to hoard Jesus...
In troubled times, the message of peace, hope and joy through the coming of Christ is powerfully felt. A great short video produced by Crossover and Olive Tree Media.
Recommended giveaway book: "It’s not often that in a book about Jesus the first chapter starts off with a quote from the famous Australian film The Castle. That was enough to catch my eye and convince me to read further. By the time I had finished I’d found another resource I can use with plenty of my mates." - From review by Stan Fetting
In troubled times, the message of peace, hope and joy through the coming of Christ is powerfully felt. A great short video produced by Crossover and Olive Tree Media.
Crossover Recommendation: Very clear, warm and poignant book by Australian Ben Shaw (then based in the UK) - written as he fought a losing battle with cancer.
Crossover Easter Resource: Short video with Karl Faase looking at a famous art piece, its impact on Australia, and the message behind it all.
Crossover recommends: Written in Chalk: The Echo of Arthur Stace - a documentary film tracing the legacy of Arthur Stace - famous for chalking 'Eternity' in Sydney, a witness that became iconic.
Short videos by stand-up comic Uncle Nath sharing his story and the real meaning of Christmas
Sacred Agents #102: Finding the balance between absenting ourselves from what God is doing and projecting ourselves all over it.
Crossover Recommendation: A practical book on personal evangelism from Sam Chan, author of 'Evangelism in a Skeptical World'
Crossover Recommendation: Everybody loves a good story. In an age when prepackaged gospel formulations leave people cold, well-told Bible stories can be used powerfully by God to touch people's hearts and draw them to himself. After ministry in both Western and non-Western contexts, church planter Christine Dillon has discovered that Bible storying is far more effective than most other forms of apologetics or evangelistic presentations.
Discipleship expert Michael Frost presents five routines that make evangelism a lifestyle that is fulfilling, effective, and easy to live out!
Sacred Agents #100: The huge benefits of doing mission together. "If we want people to see Christ, we should show them the body of Christ. Of all the ways that we manage to stuff up the mission God has given us, surely taking it on as an individual rather than team event is the most hapless..."
Crossover Recommends: Over 30 Bible stories for children that point clearly to Jesus. Fun, Australian and vibrantly illustrated, available as books, storytelling packs and activity packs. By Andrew McDonough
Sacred Agents #109: Unclogging the Arteries - Where are you in this story (brought to you by Crowded House and Baptist Insurance Services)?
PRAC Winter 2020: The opportunities for Christians and churches in chaplaincy. We feature both formal, professional chaplaincy roles as well as voluntary roles. We hear from Baptists around Australia engaged in chaplaincy from the beach to prisons, from the high seas to the high street.
Sacred Agents #101: My kids tell me that I have a ‘joke voice’, even when I think I’m being dead-pan. But it helps them to totally tune out, laugh politely when I stop talking, and get on with their lives. It would be wrong of me to use my joke voice to alert them to the fire and their need to escape.
Crossover Recommends: Jesus the Game Changer - Series 2: To the Ends of the Earth. 13 episodes hosted by Karl Faase. Follow along as Karl speaks to over 50 guests around the world about how and why the gospel spread to become a truly global faith. Be inspired by stories of faith and courage of those who went to the ends of the earth, and consider what it looks like now to take the gospel from everywhere, to everywhere.
PRAC Spring 2020: This edition looks at how Baptist churches have responded to the challenges and opportunities of Covid-19. It includes stories of how churches have created virtual online church, built new online congregations, reached out to neighbourhoods meeting needs, changed the structure of their church, and how churches have grown in their digital capability.
PRAC Spring 2019: A selection of stories of evangelism in action. The key article by Kiran Skariah was stimulated by his contribution to the 2019 Emerge Evangelism Conference. The other articles are stories about passions, or hobbies, being used to work alongside the local church and help people connect in, or churches connect out, into the local community.
‘The Other Story’ videos are powerful and moving 3 minute spoken word poems illustrated through video. They contrast the ‘other’ story of Christmas/Easter respectively, with the usual hustle and bustle of these commercialised celebrations. The Other Story videos are designed for people who do not follow to Jesus, to help them discover the real meaning behind Christmas/Easter.
The Other Story’ videos are powerful and moving 3 minute spoken word poems illustrated through video. They contrast the ‘other’ story of Christmas/Easter respectively, with the usual hustle and bustle of these commercialised celebrations. The Other Story videos are designed for people who do not follow to Jesus, to help them discover the real meaning behind Christmas/Easter,
This is a story of redemption and a fresh start. Australia's first ever sporting world champion went from fame and riches to a penniless and broken man. But we all deserve a fresh start, and that is what happened to Ned Trickett when he heard the good news of Easter in a remarkable way.
Free Christmas outreach series designed to be highly invitable and accessible for newcomers, but equally fit for the whole church. It’s flexible too – so you can adapt it to suit your own timing and style. The download includes 5 sermon outlines and customisable artwork for promotion and presentation.
Wanted: Ceremony Resources. Many pastors and leaders find that Weddings, Funerals and other ceremonies can be real opportunities to share Jesus. We're on the hunt for great material to make available here.
Christmas is both a commercial bonanza and a community festival rolled into one. Strangely it may be possible to have a massive community celebration but at the same time miss the point of the occasion. So what do we miss if we plan the celebration and we lose Jesus?
Free Christmas Event Resource: A 1-hour video Carols event with professional musicians and short message for use in your church or background event. Produced by Gymea Baptist Church.
Extended PRAC Article: As we seek to put our finger on the pulse of Australian Baptist church life, one of the most significant signs of health and vitality is our leadership.
Crossover recommends: An Easter resources for families and households to use together. Free from Mainly Ministries
Sacred Agents #99: Typically churches use the term vision to describe the bigger and future direction for a church. But I think vocation is better. It asks the question “What is God’s vision for this church?” “What has he put us here and called us together for?” It helps in several ways: