One of my favourite explanations of the significance of Scripture in the believer’s life is Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The writer focuses in on the importance of Scripture by looking at its impact, as the primary vehicle through which the Holy Spirit effects transformation in the life of the Christian church.
One of the ongoing legacies of Moore College has been a focus on deep, broad and sustained immersion in the text of Scripture. I was struck recently when hearing a story by members of the graduating class of 1970, who spoke of the seriousness with which former Principal Broughton Knox viewed Scripture. They recounted a time when someone had made a small quip during the Bible reading at chapel which resulted in some giggling, and the righteous indignation of Dr Knox over what he termed a blasphemy at College chapel. His reverence for Scripture and anger over what had happened stuck with the group, and they recounted how from that moment on, over more than fifty years in ministry, they opened the Bible with humility.
It is also hard to move past the rich heritage left by former Principal Archdeacon T. C. Hammond, who began lecturing a small group of lay preachers in Newtown around the middle of WWII, in 1941. From these humble beginnings, the demand for good Bible teaching grew, as men and women were hungry for the food that God provided. T. C. Hammond’s lecture notes were developed, and over the years turned into what is now known as the Moore Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC).
As a young adult, I too benefitted from this rich history of Moore’s Scriptural focus through its alumni, well before studying the Bachelor of Divinity here myself. It was through meeting with an elder who had gone through the entire suite of PTC units, and a family friend who was an alumnus of the College, that I focused in on reading Scripture, and discovered how the Psalmist could say “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps 119:103).
It seems to me that the importance of a Scripture-soaked theological education is second to none. This is because the gospel message is precious, God’s people bought by the blood of Jesus are immensely valuable, and the task of a pastor-teacher is difficult and burdensome, irrespective of the privilege, because of the brokenness of this world.
In a post-Christian world where relativism is the flavour of the season, Moore College continues to train its students to see God glorified by men and women living for and proclaiming Jesus Christ, growing healthy churches and reaching the lost. In order for the College to keep doing this, we require the continued support of our numerous donors and prayers, for whom I am immensely thankful to God.
Would you please prayerfully consider giving to:
- The John Chapman House Capital Development Fund to provide new accommodation and to facilitate our learning in residential community
- The Scholarships Fund to help needy domestic and international students afford our online or on-campus theological courses
- The General Fund so we can allocate funds to the varied needs of the College throughout the year
Of course, along with considering the above, may I be so bold as to ask you to pray? Please pray that:
- God would raise up more men and women to take the gospel of the crucified Christ to the world and provide another strong in-take of students in 2022
- the College community would continue to keep Scripture as our focus
Thank you for your prayers and continued support of our College. Please feel free to contact me with any prayer requests or if you have any questions. You can email me at Foundation@moore.edu.au or phone my direct line at +61 2 9577 9860.
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