New Releases
You: an introduction
This review from Mark Barry introduces one of our latest releases:
...it seems that we've never been more confused about who we actually are. We're so quick to transcend stereotypical labels of gender, race, class, work and so on. But how then should we define ourselves? Where should we find our identity and purpose? And in all this, what does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be, well, you?
Into this existential mess comes, YOU: an introduction. In clear, readily-digestible style, Michael Jensen examines what the Creator has to say about his human creatures via his written word. Starting with life and finishing with death and the afterlife, YOU covers some of the multi-facetted aspects of what it mean to be human, such as living in a body, grasping at freedom, negotiating gender, and aspiring to dream. Each chapter introduces the topic, draws out some of the important questions, looks briefly at some alternative answers (eg. materialism, feminism, Buddhism), before proposing a succinct scriptural conclusion.
The Essential Jesus
This new evangelistic resource combines the benefits of a fresh and accurate translation of Luke's Gospel, with the strengths of Two ways to live, in an attractively presented, and very inexpensive 80 page book.
2008 Christmas cards and tract
Our brand new cards and "A Breathtaking Moment" tract for Christmas will be arriving by the end of October. But you can preview the cards and the tract now online. You can also pre-order them through our online store, and they will be dispatched to you as soon as we receive them.
CardsSeminar on preparing for mission
We recently ran some seminars to help pastors and church leaders plan and prepare for running a mission (including an explanation of some of the resources that can be used in both the preparation and the running of the mission). The seminars relate specifically to the Connect09 mission being conducted next year in Sydney, but the material has a generic application to any church-based mission. A preview of some of the details of Matthias Media's new evangelistic resource, "The Essential Jesus", is also included. You can watch the presentation here (.mov file requires Quicktime or similar application installed) or you can view it via Google video.
EQUIP: Ministry Wives Conference 2008
This important recent conference was specifically for 'ministry wives', to encourage and help them in their roles as wives of pastors. The three talks, plus the extensive question time, will be extremely beneficial for all women in this situation, and those who may find themselves in this situation in the future.
The talks are available as a 2 DVD set, 4 audio CD set or on MP3 CD. Find out more.
Six steps to reading your Bible
Instead of regarding the Bible as “more to be desired than gold” and “rejoicing the heart”, like David in the Psalms, somehow, for many of us, regularly reading on God's word ends up in the same category as regular exercise: a healthy chore we know we should fit in and that we benefit from, but which is hard to manage amongst everything else, and ends up slipping off the agenda. As the Lord Jesus said of his sleepy disciples: “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”.
Whatever your current Bible reading habits (or lack of them), and whatever your level of knowledge and confidence, Six Steps to Reading Your Bible will help you make progress in getting into your Bible. The course is especially designed for use in small groups, and utilizes a mix of video instruction, fun skits, Bible study, discussion, practical exercises, prayer and home assignments that will help you on the road to establishing a new and more enjoyable Bible reading habit.
Here's some early feedback, from Peter Kozushko, Associate Pastor at Countryside Community Church:
I thought you would appreciate some feedback on your new curriculum for learning to read the Bible. Brilliant! Well done! Great work! Thanks so much for creating this. It will serve the church well.
To run this course, you will need one DVD and a workbook. Visit our store page to view the course overview, samples from the workbook, samples from the DVD and our very own blooper reel:
The Daily Reading Bible #14
This popular devotional series is the staple diet for many Christian's time with God. The Daily Reading Bible is an all-in-one resource and a good way to get started or keep going in your daily reading of the Bible.
This 14th volume contains 60 undated readings looking at Luke 7-9, Micah and Galatians. Find out more.
Faith
In the next of our very popular Guidebooks for Life series, Bryson Smith looks at the very significant topic of faith: What is it? What makes it so important? What are we meant to have faith in, and what difference should our faith make to everyday life?
These are fundamental issues for all of us, and Bryson Smith provides extremely helpful, easy-to-read insights into a biblical understanding of ‘faith’.
You can also download and read the first chapter free, along with the discussion questions. Find out more.
The Free Gift of Sonship
This brand new Interactive Bible Study continues on from The Free Gift of Life—Gordon Cheng's insightful studies on Romans 1-5.
In The Free Gift of Sonship, you will explore the challenging and greatly encouraging teaching of Paul's letter to the Romans, chapters 6-11.
This new Interactive Bible Study is the first in a new and improved format for our IBS series.
You can download the first study free online. Find out more.
The Future of Jesus
The book of Dr Peter Jensen's 2005 ABC Boyer Lecture series quickly sold out when first published by the ABC. But this book is too important to let it remain out of print, so Matthias Media is very pleased to be able to make it available again, and this time to a wider readership, not just in Australia but also overseas.
Archbishop Jensen challenges both believers and unbelievers to take a fresh look at the person of Jesus and his significance in our history, our present and our future.
You can download and read the first chapter free online. Find out more.
