Last night, Meg and I collated all the info in our lives to give to our accountant so that we can fulfill the governmental obligation that comes our way every April. It occurred to me that many of us take great pains to make sure that the government gets its due and we forget to render to God what is His.
Why am I more passionate about having accurate taxes than having a life that honors God?
This Sunday, Lord willing, in the AM service, we will be looking at Mark 13:5-23 and the incredible way that Jesus prepares His followers for the future. There is much here for us. What strikes me, though, is the way we as humans are so consumed with the here and now that we don’t focus on what’s to come. This might be a subtle self-centeredness. It is because I am so confident in my abilities and ability to live life that I forget that life is a vapor and I need to be oriented to the greater future I will live after this life into all of eternity. May God grant us grace to have an eternal perspective through His Word.
Heard about this method of Bible study at the DG Pastor’s Conference. Here’s a description from their website: “Arcing is a graphical tool used to determine, document,
and discuss the flow of thought in the Biblical text.”
Visit their website and check out the method.
John Piper replies with a Biblical answer:
“Tell people the good news from a heart of love and a life of service.”
(From Finally Alive, p.178)
All the resources from the 2009 Desiring God Conference for Pastors is now online.
In a vintage Piperesque sermon, John Piper calls us to receive from God the divine purposes He has in allowing us to face a recession. (He gave this sermon the Sunday we were there). Enjoy.
I am getting excited for services on 2/8. Conferences are fun and all, but real Christianity is not found in some mountain top experience. Real Christian living is me getting back with the people of Crestview and our working together toward sanctification and spreading the Gospel to Hutchinson. Tomorrow, we get back to this by looking at Mark 13:1-4 and the utter supremacy of Jesus Christ. Should be a good day.
Well, we are finished with the 2009 Desiring God Conference for Pastors and making the final 3 hour journey home. Our time of fellowship last night was rich and had good reminders of the highlights many of us experienced. Here are some personal things I am taking away from each of the sessions…
From Dever’s first talk, I was encouraged to keep hammering out the precise nature of the Gospel week in and week out. This should be the continual conversation of our people. Can you tell the gospel in 60 seconds or less?
From Chandler’s talk, I need to exemplify a life that is shaped by the Gospel for my people–this is the brunt of the charge from 1 Timothy 4.
From Dever’s second talk, I have a role to fulfill as a pastor leading my people in evangelism. This means both in my teaching and modeling this as an example for them.
From Piper’s bio of Whitefield, I take away a profound challenge to mend heart and mind in preaching. Deep truth should be presented (especially in preaching) in a ho-hum way.
From Dever’s last talk, I need to lead my church into a culture of evangelism. This is more than programs and has many far-reaching applications.
And from Oh’s talk, there was much to think about. I think fasting needs to be a more continual discipline in my life. Furthermore, there is a distinction between all people in my church being missionaries and the people we actually send. I need to show what the distinction is. This has ramifications in missional discussions as well.
I come home stuffed spiritually and am anxious to get back to the good labor to which I have been called. I am humbled that I got to participate in this conference with men from our church. Now, I only hope that I can be a good steward of what God has entrusted to me in this.
Well, we are in the van and on our way to Kansas City (we’re driving into KC tonight and will enjoy good fellowship and “conference detoxification”/wrap up, then get into Hutch tomorrow). Here’s what’s happened since I last posted:
Tues Night’s session was a good finale from Dever. In session 1, he had defined the Gospel and briefly discussed why we share that message. Then, in the Tues AM session he taught, he urged pastors to lead a certain way. In this final session, he came full circle with how we can create “cultures of evangelism” within our churches. It was chocked full of good application.
After this session, our group got together and had profitable fellowship, prayer and discussion.
This morning was hurried and crazy, getting packed and loaded up. But the session was outstanding. Michael Oh was the missions speaker and he emphasized fasting and missions. He dealt with some questions that really made me think a lot about where I am at as a pastor sending money to the missions field.
We ended with a Q & A with all the speakers.
We are full, like we have just experienced a spiritual buffet. There is much to think and about weigh, so we are hoping for good discussion and fellowship on our return home. Pray to that end.
Well, we are officially in the dinner break for the busiest day of the conference.
Our day got rolling early. Conor headed to an incredible breakout session on family ministry. He said it gave us a lot to think about, so I am anxious to talk with him about it.
As the AM session began, we started with singing. It really is awesome to experience 1500 men singing at the top of their lungs. We sang “Holy, Holy, Holy” and other songs. Matt Chandler gave the message on how we can help ensure the salvation of our hearers from 1 Timothy 4. It was an excellent talk.
After an AM break, Dever came back for his second (of 3) message outlining how pastors can lead their people in evangelism as well as defining what evangelism is not.
After the lunch break, Piper gave his bio of Whitefield. Piper presented a wonderful picture of this incredible servant of God.
It’s been a full day, but there is more to come tonight.
