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Keller on the Gospel & Its Forms

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Tim Keller recently wrote an article entitled The Gospel In All Its Forms. I found this article helpful as I try to weave the Gospel into conversations and sermons each week. I do tend to leave out some elements at times and feel almost guilty. Keller’s article provides some good help in thinking through these things and gives some historical background on some current charges leveled at the Gospel.

Resources recommended at TGC

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At the Gospel Coalition conference last week, there were allusions made to the following 2 resources available on the web.

Tim Keller’s message pointed to a sermon by David Clarkson entitled Soul Idolatry Excludes Men Out of Heaven.

Similarly, Ligon Duncan alluded to a message by Spurgeon entitled Paul – His Cloak and Books (from 2 Timothy 4:13). Lig assumed that most of us were familiar with this, but we weren’t. However, we can make ourselves familiar with it now.

Gospel Coalition Audio…

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Audio from the main sessions and part of the workshops are online for the taking. Enjoy.

Session 1: Tim Keller, “The Grand Demythologizer: The Gospel and Idolatry” (Acts 19:21-41)
Session 2: John Piper, “Feed the Flame of God’s Gift: Unashamed Courage in the Gospel” (2 Timothy 1:1-12)
Session 3: Phil Ryken, “The Pattern of Sound Words” (2 Timothy 1:13-2:13)
Session 4: Mark Driscoll, “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:14-26)
Session 5: K. Edward Copeland, “Shadowlands: Pitfalls and Parodies of Gospel-Centered Ministry” (2 Timothy 3:1-9)
Session 6: Bryan Chapell, “Preach the Word!” (2 Timothy 3:10-4:5)
Session 7: Ajith Fernando, “Gospel-Faithful Mission in the New Christendom“
Session 8: Panel Discussion: Tim Keller, John Piper, Ligon Duncan and Crawford Loritts (chair: Stephen Um)
Session 9: Ligon Duncan, “Finishing Well” (2 Timothy 4:6-22)
Session 10: Don Carson, “That By All Means I Might Win Some’: Faithfulness and Flexibility in Gospel Proclamation” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

TGC – Thurs, 4/23

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Finished up the Gospel Coalition today and am happy to be back home.

We did have 2 more outstanding sessions today:

Ligon Duncan’s sermon closed out the formal expositions on 2 Timothy with a compelling charge be a man characterized by Gospel courage all the way to the finish line.

Don Carson’s final sermon dealt with that oft-quoted verse “I become all things to all men to win them.” He had some excellent thoughts in centering our lives on the Gospel message but flexing in a way to reach others.

I was really encouraged by the whole week. Maybe I will develop a master recap post wtih some pressing applications in my own life and ministry tomorrow.

In the meantime, you may want to check out Tim Challies’ post on what the Gospel Coalition is.

And just a heads up, I believe they’ve already started uploading the messages. I saw them in my feed reader.

TGC Recap – Wed, April 22

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Enjoyed good sleep after a busy first day yesterday.

Session 5 featured K. Edward Copeland preaching on 2 Timothy 3:1-9, urging us to faithful ministry as we seek to wisely minister in these last days.

Session 6 was Bryan Chappel on 2 Timothy 3:10-4:5 with a message aimed at inspiring our preaching of God’s Word.

For lunch, Joe, Brad, and I visited Paradise Pup, a restaurant featured on Food Network’s show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with Guy Fieri (follow the link for a short video on the burger I got).

After a fill up at Starbucks, we headed back for afternoon workshops.

My first workshop was with Andy Davis on the Gospel and Social Action, which really highlighted importance Gospel priorities in terms of social action.

My second highlight was with Tim Savage, who wrote a book that has been highly influential in my life: Power Through Weakness. Savage was presenting on this very topic today and getting to visit with him afterwards was a highlight of the week for me.

After a short break, we were back for Session 7 with Ajith Fernando on Gospel Faithful Ministry in the Next Christendom, which was an amazing message encouraging us at one point to demonstrate the uniqueness of Christ through servant spirit.

Finally, we had Session 8 featuring a panel discussion between Crawford Lorrits, Tim Keller, John Piper and Lig Duncan. Lots of good practical encouragement emerged here to get our noses in Scripture and allow our suffering to marinade us for rich ministry.

Just a few more sessions tomorrow and I’ll be returning home.

Recap of Phil Ryken on 2 Timothy 1:13-2:13

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Phil Ryken’s sermon on 2 Timothy 1:13-2:13 was really quite outstanding. Some things that stuck out to me were:
– the ministry of transmission
– the faithful work of ministry
– the closing encouragement for perseverance in the Gospel

Here’s the outline…

6 sections related to faithfulness in life and ministry…

1) An apostolic call to faithful ministry (13-14)
This call includes a doctrinal (body of knowledge) aspect and a practical (living what we actually believe) aspect.

2) A personal example in faithful ministry (15-18)
Negatively in the people who had abandoned Paul and positively in Onesiphorus who: 1) loved men who preached God’s Word, 2) was courageous, 3) was effective and fruitful wherever God placed him.

3) Further instructions about the sacred trust entrusted to faithful men (1-2)
In ministry, hard work is combined with enabling grace. Grace flows through us to others. We are called not only to a ministry of reception, but also a ministry of transmission.

4) Illustrations of the faithful work of ministry (3-7)
Three illustrations emerge: 1) military – soldiers don’t get distracted, 2) athletic – with all diligence, 3) agriculture – hard work is a synonym for pastoral ministry. We must work hard.

5) Command to remember the faithful Savior (8-10)
Jesus went to the cross/rose again and in so doing, demonstrated the heartfelt, lifelong commitment to which we are called. This Word of the Gospel can’t be bound, but will bear fruit.

6) Absolute faithfulness of faithful God to His people (11-13)
Even we are faithless, God is faithful and can’t deny Himself. Our unfaithfulness (not final rejection, but failing in life and ministry to serve and obey like we should) can’t stop the Gospel’s work through us.

Lots of encouragement emerged from these works. May God continue to inspire applications from this.

Tuesday at TGC…

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Well, we are through day 1. There were so many rich things today. I was talking to Brad on our walk back to the hotel and we were talking about how we feel so fed and challenged already. Truly as 2 Timothy 2:9 says, the Word of God is not bound and is living and active.

There are some great recaps available.

Tim Keller urged us to address the idols that exist in others.

John Piper exhorted us to fan the flame of faithful ministry.

Phil Ryken called us to yield to God as He perfects faithful ministry in us.

Mark Driscoll compelled us to be positive and not negative.

Another bonus: bumped into my good friend Joe Braden and was able to have dinner with him. God has shown me such grace today and I’m trusting Him for more tomorrow.