It is 1700 years since the council of Nicaea and the publication of the Nicene Creed - but what are we to make of it?

It was the twentieth of May in the year 325 that the Council of Nicaea first met.

Pope Francis said ‘The Nicene Creed is a powerful sign of unity among Christians.’

The 17 hundredth anniversary of the Council of Nicaea - is being used - by the Roman Catholic Church to push the idea that ‘All Christians are Nicene Christians.’

However the difficulty is that while we say the same words, Roman Catholics and Protestants mean vastly different things, and any unity is a fake unity at best.

Leonardo de Cirrico is pastor of the Church Brecha di Roma and director of the Reformanda Initiative.

Rachel Ciano lectures in Christianity and History at Sydney Missionary and Bible College. She is a faculty member at the Rome scholars and leaders network, hosted by The Reformanda Initiative.

The book ‘The Nicene Creed’ is available from Matthias Media.

Anglican Aid
Anglican Aid - To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid.

ChurchSuite
Check out ChurchSuite at Reach Australia or at the Melbourne taster day.

The Church Co
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Dominic Steele's preaching at Village
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We explore the findings of the Your Story Research Report — a significant national study that listens to the voices of more than 400 young people as they reflect on their spiritual journeys.

We find out who and what has, and is, shaping young people’s faith from their childhood, though to adolescence, to right now.

There are insights into the eight “faith journeys” —from Embracing to Reconstructing to Disengaging— highlighting the importance of relationships, trust, and belonging in shaping faith over time.

Plus advice for churches, families, and schools on how to nurture young people in ways that are both personal and sustainable.

Graham Stanton is Director of the Centre for Children’s and Youth Ministry. He lectures in Practical Theology at Melbourne’s Ridley College.

Download the Your Story Research Project: https://www.convergeoceania.com/yourstory

The Church Co
http://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.

Church Suite

Gavin and Paul from ChurchSuite are at Reach Australia and at a special Melbourne taster day on 26 May 2025.

Reach Australia National Conference
Reach Australia’s National Conference is from 19 to 22 May 2025 on the Central Coast of NSW. This year’s theme is URGENT: The Necessary Task of Mission Before Christ Returns. For more info.

Anglican Aid
Anglican Aid - To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid.

Dominic Steele's preaching at Village
Subscribe to Dominic Steele's weekly sermons from the Village Church website.

Support the show

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Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.

For decades, the trend across Western countries seemed one-way: away from faith in Jesus Christ. But could the tide be turning?

Evangelist and author Glen Scrivener outlines signs of a "quiet revival" emerging, particularly among young people in the United Kingdom (and how things are different in Australia).

Drawing on new research from the UK Bible Society and reflecting on wider cultural shifts, Glen discusses why the story of secularisation may not be as inevitable as once thought — and why a surprising number of young adults are returning to church.

We also reflect on influences like Jordan Peterson, the role of community in a hyper-individualistic culture, and the opportunities — and challenges — now facing churches in both the UK and Australia.

Is this the beginning of a new movement towards Christ?

The Church Co
http://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.

Church Suite

Gavin and Paul from ChurchSuite are at Reach Australia and at a special Melbourne taster day on 26 May 2025.

Reach Australia National Conference
Reach Australia’s National Conference is from 19 to 22 May 2025 on the Central Coast of NSW. This year’s theme is URGENT: The Necessary Task of Mission Before Christ Returns. For more info.

Anglican Aid
Anglican Aid - To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid.

Dominic Steele's preaching at Village
Subscribe to Dominic Steele's weekly sermons from the Village Church website.

Support the show

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Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.

The death of Pope Francis marks a pivotal moment for Roman Catholics.

What does this transition mean for the future of Catholicism and how should Protestants respond?

From Vatican City, Leonardo Di Chirico offers a firsthand perspective on reactions in Rome, while Rachel Ciano provides historical context from Sydney.

Many Protestant leaders have referred to Francis as a "brother in Christ," but Francis's final public act—granting indulgences during Easter—epitomizes the theological chasm between Catholic and Protestant understandings of salvation.

His distinctive Marian devotion and frequent requests for prayers further highlight fundamental differences in how salvation is understood.

The contrast between Benedict XVI's emphasis on Roman doctrine and Francis's focus on Catholic universality reveals a pendulum swing in Roman Catholicism that will likely now swing back.

Leonardo di Chirico is pastor of the Church Brecca di Roma and director of the Reformanda Initiative.

Rachel Ciano lectures in Christianity and History at sydney missionary and bible college, and is part of the faculty at the Rome scholars and leaders network, hosted by The Reformanda Initiative.

The Church Co
http://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.

Church Suite

Gavin and Paul from ChurchSuite are at Reach Australia and at a special Melbourne taster day on 26 May 2025.

Reach Australia National Conference
Reach Australia’s National Conference is from 19 to 22 May 2025 on the Central Coast of NSW. This year’s theme is URGENT: The Necessary Task of Mission Before Christ Returns. For more info.

Anglican Aid
Anglican Aid - To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid.

Dominic Steele's preaching at Village
Subscribe to Dominic Steele's weekly sermons from the Village Church website.

Support the show

--
Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.

New South Wales’ Conversion Practices Ban Act has just come into effect — along with guidelines from Anti-Discrimination NSW that many Christian leaders believe overstep the legal boundaries and impact ordinary pastoral ministry.

We are joined by legal expert Associate Professor Neil Foster, South Sydney Bishop Michael Stead, and Summer Hill Anglican Assistant Minister Simon Swadling.

Together, we unpack the implications of the new law for Christian preaching, prayer, counselling, and discipleship — especially in matters of sexuality, marriage, and gender.

We discuss:

• The difference between the legislation and the government’s explanatory materials
• The implications for pastors, parents, and churches
• The tone and posture of faithful gospel ministry in a hostile legal environment
• Why some pastors are calling for civil disobedience — and others for restraint

The Church Co
http://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.

Church Suite

Gavin and Paul from ChurchSuite are at Reach Australia and at a special Melbourne taster day on 26 May 2025.

Reach Australia National Conference
Reach Australia’s National Conference is from 19 to 22 May 2025 on the Central Coast of NSW. This year’s theme is URGENT: The Necessary Task of Mission Before Christ Returns. For more info.

Anglican Aid
Anglican Aid - To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid.

Dominic Steele's preaching at Village
Subscribe to Dominic Steele's weekly sermons from the Village Church website.

Support the show

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Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.

The new McCrindle report ‘An undercurrent of faith’ says:

• Those turning to Christian faith are not who we might expect - it’s especially older people, the recently widowed and recently separated or divorced.
• The move is most on away from Christian identity in outer suburbia and regional areas.
• Australians are still turning to Christianity in large numbers, despite a decline in Christian affiliation.
• While 85,000 15-24 year olds have moved towards Christianity in the last five years, that’s dramatically down on a decade ago

Founder and Principle of McCrindle research, Mark McCrinde, says his report shows a new search for purpose and meaning and asks is “Australia Post Christian or are we now Post Secular?”

Plus we compare the findings of the national McCrindle report with the recent Sydney Anglican report on Church attendance.

Anglican Aid
Anglican Aid - To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid.

ChurchSuite
Check out ChurchSuite at Reach Australia or at the Melbourne taster day.

The Church Co
http://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.

Dominic Steele's preaching at Village
Subscribe to Dominic Steele's weekly sermons from the Village Church website.

Support the show

--
Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.

The average 11-year-old spends 4.5 hours daily on non-school screens. By 15, 70% of boys regularly view pornography. This isn't harmless fun—it's rewiring young brains during critical development.

The addictive nature of social media, the mental health impact on teens, distorted identity and comparison, the way the attention economy undermines discipleship.

Parents (and pastors) so often feel out of their depth.

Marshall Ballantine-Jones created the Digihelp school curriculum addressing sexualised media, and the Resist Recovery Program.

The Church Co
http://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.

Church Suite

Gavin and Paul from ChurchSuite are at Reach Australia and at a special Melbourne taster day on 26 May 2025.

Reach Australia National Conference
Reach Australia’s National Conference is from 19 to 22 May 2025 on the Central Coast of NSW. This year’s theme is URGENT: The Necessary Task of Mission Before Christ Returns. For more info.

Anglican Aid
Anglican Aid - To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid.

Dominic Steele's preaching at Village
Subscribe to Dominic Steele's weekly sermons from the Village Church website.

Support the show

--
Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.

Today we review the 50 year impact of The University of New South Wales’ Campus Bible Study on Christian ministries across Australia and around the world - in raising up gospel workers, sending missionaries, planting churches and in Christian publishing.

Former Anglican Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen led the ministry for thirty years till 2005. Since then Paul Grimmond and Carl Matthei have been senior chaplains.

Alan Stewart started studying at the University of New South Wales just two years after Phillip Jensen arrived as Anglican Chaplain. Alan was saved by Jesus in 1979 and went on to assist in the ministry, before becoming CEO of Anglican Youthworks, Bishop of Wollonong, head of Church Planting for Sydney Anglicans and then national director of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.

Tony Payne and Tracey Gowing started as undergraduate a few years after Alan. Tony went on to run the influential Christian publishing house Matthias Media, while Tracey led the Christian ministry at Cumberland College Christian Group before returning to UNSW as a senior staff member at Campus Bible Study.

Anglican Aid
Anglican Aid - To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid.

ChurchSuite
Check out ChurchSuite at Reach Australia or at the Melbourne taster day.

The Church Co
http://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.

Dominic Steele's preaching at Village
Subscribe to Dominic Steele's weekly sermons from the Village Church website.

Support the show

--
Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.