Messages

Introducing Mark Dever

Last week I had the chance, over at the blog for Next, to introduce another main session speaker for the Next Conference (May, 2010): a personal favorite, Mark Dever.

Dever has what he calls a “canon of theologians”. He has a particular theologian assigned to each month of the year, such that, in a given year, in addition to his other reading, he will devote extra time to becoming more familiar with that theologian and his writings. Those 12 or so men have been so consistently edifying to his soul that he makes a point year after year to delve more deeply into their writings.

All that said, if I had a canon of living theologians/pastors, there is no question in my mind that I would take a month of every year to spend extra time benefiting from Mark’s eminently helpful books, sermons, articles, and interviews.

Filed Under: Books, Church Life, Messages, Spiritual Growth

Favorite authors: David Powlison

I’m letting myself slip little by little here because in the case of some of the writers I mention in this series, I’ve engaged their material more in sermons or articles rather than in their books. That would be the case here.

Powlison is a seasoned man – seasoned by years of ministry and some challenging personal trials. The main thing I hear him ‘say’ to me as I read and listen to his stuff, is “Matt, care for people. Listen to people. Ministry is not one size fits all. Seek to apply the gospel to the individual sitting next to you. Comfort and speak the truth in love, with patience.”

Two great places to hear him say that, in more and better words are in the following sermons:

I’ll get to Mark Dever in this series soon and talk more about this then, but the 9Marks Interviews have been an invaluable resource for me. I’ve listened to many of them, many times each. One of my all time favorites (I’d say top 3) is Dever’s interview with Powlison. The way Powlison shares his testimony is a beautiful tribute to the power of God’s grace. It’s also great stuff if you have particular interest in counseling.

Filed Under: Books, Church Life, Messages, Spiritual Growth

Introducing Joshua Harris

I met Josh when we were kids. My dad pastored the church where his uncle served as the associate pastor. During summer times, Josh’s family would come in town and he and I would play together, jumping prickly bushes in the front of the church building. He also taught me how to do a front handspring and was my inspiration for a 12 week stint of gymnastics classes at the YMCA.

Little did I know back then that he would grow up to be such a godly leader and gifted communicator.

On the Next blog, I took a few moments to intro Joshua Harris.

Filed Under: Books, Messages, Spiritual Growth

Introducing Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung returns to the Next Conference. I share some thoughts about why I’m glad to hear this.

Filed Under: Messages, Spiritual Growth

Introducing C.J. Mahaney

A friend and co-blogger, Chris Campbell, introduces our very own C.J. Mahaney, who will also be speaking at the Next Conference in May 2010. I can’t wait to be there.

Filed Under: Messages, Spiritual Growth

Introducing D.A. Carson

It’s been fun to join the blog-team for the Next Conference 2010, which will be held in Baltimore, MD, in late May. The conference is outstanding, and I hope to bring a big group up there to benefit from it.

I’ve gotten to introduce a few of the speakers for the upcoming event. The first was D.A. Carson.

Filed Under: Books, Messages, Spiritual Growth

Introducing Jeff Purswell

Continuing in the blogging series for the Next Conference, here are a few things I’ve most appreciated about Jeff Purswell’s ministry.

Filed Under: Messages, Spiritual Growth

Pastoring Pivoters: Cues from 2 Timothy

This past Sunday night, I gave a message at Pivot which was different than anything I’ve given before. I told them that having studied through 2 Timothy in preparation for the message I had the sense of giving them a sort of “pastoral covenant” which reflects my understanding of some of the priorities given to me by God as a pastor. I didn’t give the message the original way it came in the study, since – as I told them – I didn’t think I would be able to keep my emotional composure and neither of us would’ve been served by that! So instead of going through 2 Timothy and sharing personal reflections from passage after passage on how I’m praying that God would help me to serve Pivoters more effectively in those areas, I grouped those reflections under three primary headings: Proclaim (the gospel), Exhort (doctrinal instruction and exhortations to godliness), and Transfer (looking for ways to facilitate the transfer of gospel-truth, gospel-passion, and gospel-living from one generation to another).

In case you listen to the message, there was one point when I tried to remember the name of a sermon by Thomas Chalmers. It didn’t come to me, or to two friends who have steel-trap memories – I put them on the spot in a desperate attempt to recover the moment. The name of the sermon was “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection”. Chalmers’ sermon is a classic.

For any who may be interested in reading the verse by verse personal reflections on 2 Timothy, I’ll paste them here:

Reflections on Pivot Ministry from 2 Timothy

1:1-2, 5-7 To give implicit and explicit proof of the fact that you’re not being led by a lone ranger pastor, or a first-generation witness to the things you are hearing. I have mentors who speak into my life – faithful Christian parents, extra local pastors/Christian leaders (dead and alive), and my wonderful friends (LCC pastors) who have and continue to speak into my life.

1:3-4 To pray for you constantly

1:8-14 To center my messages and ministry on the gospel; To not improvise, but faithfully uphold the truth of Scripture, with particular accent on teaching that produces/increases faith and love for Christ.

1:15-2:2 To not let the railings of gospel opponents be a distraction or discouragement, but rather an incentive to discipleship.

2:1-2 To diligently labor at transferring substantive, life-transforming doctrine to the next generation. Doctrine that turns civilians into soldiers, couch potatoes into (two images here) competitive athletes who have spiritual ambitions – hard-working, mission-minded, field workers for the Kingdom of God.

2:8-21 To resist the temptation to build this ministry on the trends of cultural spirituality. To build it on the foundational importance of proclaiming Christ and trusting that God’s Word – not my stories, jokes, hair style, cultural savvy, use of media – particularly the word of the gospel, is the power the Holy Spirit wields for salvation and growth.

2:22-26 To call you to flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. To warn you about false teachers, bad books, unhealthy movements. To correct those trends in a spirit of concern and prayer. To remind you that wrong ideas are not just wrong ideas – they’re snares of the devil that capture people.

3:1-9 To not be trivial about the realities of sin in this world and the presence of sin in our hearts.

3:10-13 To walk in integrity by the grace of God. To confess sin, strive for holiness, pursue deeper amazement at God’s grace. To not have a double life.

3:14-17 To stand here under the conviction that if God’s Word doesn’t say it, you don’t need it in order to be equipped for every good work.

4:1-2 To hold onto the truth that the primary means God has given me to serve and disciple you is to feed on Scripture and to feed you scripture.

4:3-5 To resist the impulse to build Pivot ministry by parroting the values and creeds of our culture.

4:9-22 To regularly accent the irreplaceable importance of the larger local church setting for discipleship and mentoring. As much as possible, to create contexts for mentoring younger ministers and allowing closer friendships to foster a feeling of mutual mission as a group within the church. (Theoforum/Sheoforum/Small Groups)

Filed Under: Church Life, Messages, Spiritual Growth

Favorite authors: Wayne Grudem

The goal of this little series of posts is to recommend some favorite authors – their writings and sermons and how they’ve impacted me personally.

I’ll start with Wayne Grudem.

Brief introduction

Dr. Wayne Grudem was born in 1948. Currently, he is Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary.

First exposure

My brother worked through sections of Grudem’s Systematic Theology in college. I borrowed his copy in 1996 and read through various sections mostly trying to refute Grudem’s reformed theology.

Favorite work(s)

Systematic Theology (book) – our TheoForum (bi-monthly young men’s study group) group has been intermittently studying through Grudem’s magnum opus section by section over the past few years. Dr. Grudem has a truly remarkable ability to make weighty theological concepts understandable to average guys like us. His section on the Doctrine of Scripture and chapter dealing with the Essential Nature of Man (dichotomy/trichotomy issues and more) have been among the most helpful reading in the whole book. His high view of Scripture and desire to relate theology to our growth in godliness are constantly felt throughout his works.

Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (sermon from New Attitude 2004) – this is the best treatment of the controversy between complimentarian/egalitarian positions I’ve found in any one sermon. Many of our church members made a quantum leap in understanding the importance of this issue as a result of Grudem’s message.

Other observations

The first time I ever heard Grudem speak was at New Attitude 2004. The second time I heard him was when he gave a main session at the Sovereign Grace Leadership Conference later that same year. He was introduced by Jeff Purswell, Dean of the Pastors College of Sovereign Grace Ministries, former student, associate, and friend of Dr. Grudem’s. He shared some personal observations about Grudem, one of which had to do with his mentor’s love for people. The comment was something like, “Wayne is the type of man whose love for people and humility is such that if he had to choose between teaching theology on Sunday morning or praying for people in need, he would choose to pray with people.”

More resources from Grudem

Filed Under: Books, Messages

Meet Dave Harvey

Since the early days of our church’s exposure to Sovereign Grace Ministries, one of our long time favorite speakers has been Dave Harvey. At the Pastor’s Conference last year he delivered the best message on The Great Commission I’ve ever heard. If you want to get some fuel poured on your passion for the local church and the mission of the kingdom, you need to get you some of this.

That said, Dave has begun to share a blog with other guys we’ve come to love and respect over the past 10 years – C.J. Mahaney and Jeff Purswell. Here’s his debut post.

Filed Under: Church Life, Messages

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