Gospel Growth Conference: Day I, Session I

Session I: Tony Payne "The Beginnings of Gospel Growth"

[10/30/2007 7:30pm]

I. Roots

Tony started by describing how he grew up on the northern shore of New South Wales…chasing Emu’s over lunch, rode a Kangaroo to school, stampedes of Koalas, etc. He described aussies as "sport mad"...a bunch of convicts and jailors that some how over the last 200 years have turned Australia into one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Then he contrasted Australia with the United States...we are a country founded on noble speeches and acts. National unity, freedom, and bravery. He described our pledge of allegiance and national anthem and pointed out it's noble nationalistic qualities...then he picked up a guitar and played “A Waltzing Matilda” which is Australia's anthem. Here are the lyrics:

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
"Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?"

Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong,
Up got the swaggy and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Down came the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,
up came the troopers, one, two, three,
"Who's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?"
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
"Who's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?",
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Up got the swaggy and jumped into the billabong,
"You'll never catch me alive," said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you passed by that billabong,
"Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?"

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
And his ghost may be heard as you passed by that billabong,
"Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?"

Not the noblest of anthems...

After describing the absurdity of what the song means and the nations roots in an unwillingness to submit to authority and how different it is from the United States he said that they look at things a little different than we do. Therefore, their Christian culture also looks a things much differently than ours.

One of the reasons they have come is because their culture has different gifting than our Christian culture. He then proceeded to "explicate" Colossians 1:1-8.

II. Explication of Colossians 1:1-8 Matthias Media's Theme

He described how it is the founding passage of Matthias media, and how it speaks to us about gospel growth. The central theme is the gospel itself. The gospel is "the word of truth" as Paul put it. It deals to a surprising degree of the gospel itself. He then outlined the passage in three points:

I. How the gospel spreads...
II. The gospel's effects...
III. The character of the gospel that is growing in this way...

I. Spread

The gospel spreads through people, apostles (Paul), slaves (Epaphras in verse 7). He described how in this passage it spreads because it is powerful. In verses 5-6…the gospel is bearing fruit and growing. He speaks as if it has a life of its own. Like a stubborn weed that whereever it is planted it keeps growing. It’s not like a mystical magic…but it is the word of truth. This word of truth is about God and His will for the future. Gospel gives freedom and liberty, and it spreads because it is powerful (in its very nature) in this way.

Tony then described how there is a great loss of confidence in the power of the gospel. He pointed that this is a wonderful theme of David Wells’ books. He then described how secularism and relativism came many decades in Australia before it came here in the United States. They are more accustomed to dealing with this than we are. He said that this is one of the only ways that Australia is ahead of us…rugby, cricket, secularism, and relativism.

Then he described how love in verse 8 is love in the Spirit, and it is God's work.

II. Effects

In this second point Tony described how the gospel then bears fruits and these are the effects of the gospel. It, "bears fruit, it proliferates numerically and bears fruit and grows in individual lives (verse 4-5). More specifically the effects are faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

He then discussed hope more specifically. It is not described as a fruit or an effect of the gospel. Hope is the very content of the gospel in vese 4-5.

III. Character of the gospel that is spreading and growing in this way.

Hope is what the content/character of the gospel itself is about in this passage. The gospel is a message with specific content, truth vs. 5, vs. 6 " the hope laid up for you in heaven".

What is the hope that is the content of the gospel that came to the Colossians? Chapter one is the answer to that…in verse 12 namely redemption and the forgiveness of sins. Further, we have been qualified for something that we weren’t qualified before. They have the share of the inheritance of the saints.

This is not a special group of people with plaques behind their heads as Roman Catholics would have us believe. Saints are all Christians; however, Paul is not speaking that issue here. These people ARE a special group, a unique group, and a closed group. They are a special, holy, chosen people of God. Saints is an ordinary word for holy ones...describing Christians.

Tony then quickly described what hope is in the Old Testament, namely, holy ones of God who come into the kingdom of everlasting rule of their God. The sons of Israel (as Ephesians 2 puts it). Paul says “so then you are no longer aliens but fellows citizens of the saints [paraphrase].” We are able then to join the saints and become a saint. Gentiles and the entire world. Further, in this line of thinking verses 21-23 show that saints (or Christians) are "reconciled by His death to present you holy and blameless." Also, he pointed out in verse 25 gentiles are the riches of the, "mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Jesus came to save all of us…to reconcile all of us to be part of the glorious kingdom of God. Paul’s gospel is the mystery that it is Christ, Christ in you.

The Israelite inheritance has been thrown open to all. Verses 13-14 "they are purchased by redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

III. Conclusion

He then came back to his discussion of foundations, roots, and openings and how they are important…particularlyfor a conference. If it was good for Paul to start with the roots of the gospel in his letter…it is good to start with the gospel at this conference as well.

He said that the churches of Galtia, Colosse, etc. were in danger of moving away from the gospel. In his greetings Paul is pointing at the objective truth at the beginning of his letters of who they are. Paul reminds the churches of their founding narrative.

"The founding narrative," he said, "of Australia is of of jokes and irreverence. That is not what is important, however. The found in narrative of a nation is not as important as our founding narrative in Christ!" The majority of the 300 or so people that came resounded in Amen's all over to this.

The purpose of the next few days are here to serve this purpose, namely the gospel.

Gospel Growth Conference: Introduction

Mark Dever is definitely one of the reasons why conferences at CHBC are so great. When he speaks in front of an audience he extends a warm atmosphere to the entire group.

He began by describing how this conference is NOT about 9Marks, rather it is more a conference to introduce attendees to Matthias Media. He described how Philip Jensen is provocative in obviously healthy ways.

Then he wanted to see who is here…so he had everyone stand up (three times). As they named different type of ministries people slowly people sat down (from senior pastors to deacons).

The second time he had everyone stand again…this time they sat down by denomination (Baptists, Presbyterians, Non-denominational, Evangelical Covenant, CMA, Plymouth Brethren, Menonnite Evangelical, Episcopalian, Church of Christ, Congregationalist, Evangelical Free, Associated Gospel Church, Bible Fellowship, United Methodist, Sovereign Grace, Christian Reformed, Primitive Baptist, Anglican).

The third time he had everyone stand again…and he had everyone sit down based on how far they came for the conference (DC, MD, VA, DE, NJ, PA, NC, SC, GA, FL, NY, New England, AL, MS, TN, KY, OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, WA, less of a distance than Washington State, CA, Toronto, AK, Yucatan Mexico, Chile South America). Both the guys from Chile received three free books for coming the farthest.

Right away it felt like a small intimate environment, not like some more impersonal (and huge) conferences that I've been to (there's also free snacks and drinks at the hospitality kitchen! I never received that at some of the bigger conferences I've been to!)

It's pretty clear that this is an ice-breaker, but it's an ice-breaker with a deliberate purpose...to show exactly who is here (Tony Payne clearly spoke directly to what some of the ice-breaker revealed).

We concluded the introduction with Hymn 15, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"

Gospel Growth vs. Church Growth Conference!

Well, the time has come for another conference at Capitol Hill Baptist Church! First was the 9Marks Weekender, then the Women's Conference (Where CHBC brought in Noel Piper to speak to over four hundred women), and now the Gospel Growth vs. Church Growth conference.

9Marks is teaming up with Matthias Media to put this on. I'll try to post some notes from some of the lectures, and some pics too;)

Here's a quick look at the schedule:

Tuesday

2:00 pm Registration begins. Bookstore opens.
6:30 pm Pre-conference registration ends
7:00 pm Session 1—The Beginnings of Gospel Growth (Tony Payne)
7:45 pm Break (late arrivals may register)
7:50 pm Session 2—Church Growth Paralysis (Phillip Jensen)
10:00 pm Bookstore closes

Wednesday

7:30 am Bookstore opens
9:00 am Session 1—Evangelism: What it is and what it isn't (Mark Dever)
10:15 am Break
10:30 am Session 2—A Fresh Understanding of Church (Phillip Jensen)
12:00 pm Lunch (on your own)
2:00 pm Session 3—A Fresh Understanding of Gospel Growth (Phillip Jensen)
3:15 pm Break
3:30 pm Session 4—Resources for Gospel Growth (Tony Payne)
5:00 pm Dinner (on your own)
7:00 pm Session 5—Bible exposition (Phillip Jensen; open to public)
8:15 pm Panel Discussion—Tony Payne, Phillip Jensen, Mark Dever
9:30 pm Fellowship over Refreshments
11:00 pm Bookstore closes

Thursday

7:30 am Bookstore opens
9:00 am Session 1—Gospel Growth day by day (Tony Payne)
10:15 am Break
10:30 am Session 2—The task, the tactics, the telos (Phillip Jensen)
12:00 pm Conference ends

I'll do my best to get some good tidbits out here... Here are a few teaser pictures of the book store before it's been picked over!

Busy, Busy, Busy

In case you haven't noticed I haven't posted in quite a while. I've been really busy lately, so I'm sorry about that. Last Wednesday I was up until about 11:30pm for a rehearsal for the Women's Conference at CHBC. Thursday the elders' meeting I was at went until about 1:30am at night. Then Friday I was busy up through the end of the Women's Conference at about 10 or 10:30pm. I've been trying to catch up on sleep the last couple days, because I run three times a week at 6:00am with Michael Lawrence...not to mention Theology Breakfast at 7:00am in Mark's study.

Have a great week...and I'll be writing more soon.

In Christ,
Noah

My Cous is a Crazy Juggler!!!

The first video below is the most recent video. I don't endorse the song, but man, my cousin is an awesome juggler!

The second video is a little older, and I've posted it before...but it's worth reposting! Also, I would recommend the music Bela Fleck and the Flecktones...good choice!

To Husbands and Wives

This could use a fresh read!

[1.] To husbands and wives. Inquire whether you do not live in some way of sin in this relation. Do you make conscience of performing all those duties which God in his word requires of persons in this relation? or do you allow yourselves in some ways which are directly opposite thereto? Do you not live in ways that are contrary to the obligations into which you entered in your marriage-covenant? The promiese which you then made are not only binding as promises which are ordinarily made between man and man, but they have the nature of vows or promissory oaths; they are made in the presence of God, because they respect him as a witness to them; and therefore the marriage-covenant is called the covenant of God; Prov. 2:17.; "which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenenant of her God." When you have vowed that you will behave towards those to whom you are thus united, as the word of God directs in such a relation, are you careless about it, no more thinking what you have promised and vowed, regardless how you perform those vows?

Particularly, are you not commonly guilty of bitterness of spirit towards one another, and of unkindness in your language and behaviour? If wrath, and contention, and unkind and reproachful language, be provoking to God, when only between neighbours; what is it then between those whom God hath joined together to be one flesh, and between whom he hath commanded so great and dear a friendship to be maintained? Eph. 5:28, 29. "So ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church." Eph. 5:25. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."

It is no excuse at all for either party to indulge bitterness and contention in this relation, that the other party is to blame; for when was there ever one of fallen mankind to be found who had no faults? When God commanded such an entire friendship between man and wife, he knew that the greater part of mankind would have faults; yet he made no exception. And if you think your yoke-fellows have faults, you should consider whether you yourselves have not some too. There never will be any such thing as persons living in peace one with another, in this relation, if this be esteemed a sufficient and justifiable cause of the contrary. It becomes good friends to cover one another's faults: Love covers a multitude of faults: Prov. 10:1. "Hatred stirreth up strife; but love covereth all sins." But are not you rather quick to spy faults, and ready to make the most of them. Are not very little things often the occasion of contention between you? Will not a little thing often ruffle your spirits towards your companions? and when any misunderstanding is begun, are you not guilty of exasperating one another's spirits by unkind language, until you blow up a spark into a flame?

Do you endeavour to accommodate yourselves to each other's tempers? Do you study to suit each other? or do you set up your own wills, to have your own ways, in opposition to each other, in the management of your family concerns? Do you make it your study to render each other's lives comfortable? or is there not, on the contrary, a very often subsisting between you a spirit of ill will, a disposition to vex and cross one another?

Husbands do sometimes greatly sin against God, in being of an unkind iperious behaviour towards their wives, treating them as if they were servants; and (to mention one instance of such treatment in particular) laying them under unjust and unreasonable restraints in the use and disposal of their common property; forbidding them so much as to dispose of any thing in charity, as of their own judgment and prudence. This is directly contrary to the word of God, where it is said of the virtuous wife, Prov. 31:20. that "she stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." If God hath made this her duty, then he hath given her this right and power, because the duty supposes the right. It cannot be the duty of her who hath no right to dispose of any thing, to stretch forth her hand to the poor, and to reach forth her hands to the needy.

On the other hand, are not the commands of God, the rules of his word, and the solemn vows of the marriage-covenant, with respect to the subordination which there ought to be in this relation, made light of by many? Eph. 5:22. "Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord:" so Col. 3:18. What is commanded by God, and what hath been solemnly vowed and sworn in his presence, certainly ought not to be made a jest of; and the person who lightly violates these obligations, will doubtless be treated as one who slights the authority of God, and takes his name in vain.

[Edwards, Jonathan The Works of Jonathan Edwards Vol. 2: Christian Cautions Section VIII (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003), 182.]

Family Devotionals

Yesterday I had the privilege of reading and participating in the family devotional of one of the pastors out here. It was excellent! Four kids from age 10 to age 2 (I think).

Anyhow, I read about the story of creation. One of the children couldn't make it all the way through (the youngest...and they said it's normal for her age). One was moving almost constantly. Then questions to the three remaining started. It was amazing...the one that was moving constantly was listening. His answer to his dad's question was almost verbatim from the text. The pastor said that if they just had him sit still the entire time he'd spend his thoughts focused on staying still and not listening to the passage being read. In college we talked more about activity as a sign of ADD than we did about kinetic learners...I didn't realize there was such a category. Well folks, there is such a category. It was great to see! It was a pretty good testimony to catechizing your children too. They have a pretty firm idea of our creating God and what He made everything out of (nothing)...and how He did it (speaking)...and why (for His pleasure)!

Also, the pastor shared a little tidbit of a good way to remember the order of creation (I had never heard this description before; it was pretty helpful for me!). It'll help you remember the order of creation pretty well.

Day 1: Light and Dark
Day 2: Air and Sea
Day 3: Ground
Day 4: Sun and Moon
Day 5: Birds and Fish
Day 6: Animals and Vegetation
Day 7: Rest...

The question was, "What did God create on the fourth day?" None of the kids could come up with the correct answer so here's the explanation. Days one through three have a direct connection to days four through six.

So whatever was created on day one was directly related to what was to be created on day four. Whatever was created on day two was directly related to what was to be created on day five. Lastly, whatever was created on day three was directly related to what was to be created on day six.

Hence the couplings/correspondence of the days of creation:

Day 1: Light and Dark
Day 4: The Sun and Moon

Day 2: Air and Sea
Day 5: Birds and Fish

Day 3: Ground
Day 6: Animals and Vegetation

Day 7: Rest...

Another thing that was really a blessing to hear was how he led his kids in prayer. Each prayed a about something they were thankful to God for and a prayer of confession. When I sat through another pastor's devotion about a month ago he called the prayers "thank you" prayers and "I'm sorry" prayers. The pastor's family last night calls this devotional time "story time" and they really get the kids excited for it. They also read a fictional history story called Beric the Briton: A Story of the Roman Invasion by G. A. Henty. It was great! The other family devotions that I've had the blessing to observe were right after dinner time and really only consisted of reading the Bible (a children's Bible) and one of the lay elders' family devotion involved singing hymns as well.

It was really a great time, I hope that I'll have the blessing of helping with more of these devotionals in the future.

This is also of note...when Lindsey was babysitting a few weeks ago for another lay elder one of the kids asked if they could read the Bible together. Lindsey was taken back a bit because I don't think she's ever been asked by a kid she was babysitting to read the Bible with that much enthusiasm before. Lindsey learned the acronym ACTS from that experience. (A adoration C confessionT thanksgiving S supplication).

Just some testimony to the ways that God uses family devotions to display the gospel to people we disciple, to neighbors or kids staying over, babysitters, and beyond!

Memorials That Make You Think

Last weekend Lindsey and I went to the Holocaust museum and Arlington National Cemetary. We have heard numerous people say that they want to go one or both of these, but they didn't want to do it for a date because it's kind of depressing.

Well, we did them both...in one day. The cool thing is that the Metro (subway) goes all the way out to Arlington...so we didn't have to drive.

When I was about 13 I went to Auschwitz and in Poland and the Holocaust museum was really nothing compared to that, but I hadn't seen some of the video footage of the aftermath of the Holocaust. Given my human capacity to sin I have to ask myself if I would have been capable of doing what the Nazi's did if I was in that time and place. I pray to the Lord that I wouldn't have done it. It's hard to believe that humans would do that to other humans...not just the murder, but the biological experimentation. Even a pacifist has to ask himself or herself if they could stay to their views. Before Bonhoffer died he even turned back on his pacifism. I couldn't take pictures inside the museum. But I'll post some pics from Arlington cemetary later.

The Camel Method

I just had an excellent conversation about the Camel Method with some friends. In case you aren't familiar with it the camel method is basically the approach to evangelism and missions that uses the Koran as a bridge to draw Muslims to the gospel. It basically is an approach to using the Koran as an evangelistic tool in an attempt to make it "easier" to speak to a muslim about Jesus' holiness, power, and position.

A few thoughts...

1) It seems that this method is a subtle pursuit to avoid persecution.

2) It seems to feed ignorance and insecurity about what one knows about the religion of Islam and makes Christians think that they can't share the gospel without using the Koran. This appears to be a prideful undermining of the sufficiency of Scripture. The Bible is the revelation of how mankind might be saved into a relationship with the one, living, triune God. The method seems to undermine the authority of the Bible. This method is not the same as Paul quoting a prophet from Crete (Titus 1:12) or a Greek poet (Acts 17:28)...it doesn't ever appear that he is claiming that those sources have authority (the camel method seems to).

3) It is deceptive and doesn't have a lot of integrity as it is basically a bait and switch tactic. [If we establish in people's minds that the Koran is indeed authoritative how are we going to remove that from their minds? This seems to scream bait and switch.]

4) Christians need to spend more time gaining an understanding of what the Bible teaches about God and themselves. This will enable them to share the gospel and apply the true authoritative Scriptures to the individual situation.

5) You don't have to have an understanding of every religion in the world (and their writings) in order engage people with the gospel. A good solid understanding of the true God and the true state of man will enable us to share the gospel most effectively (similar to how one is trained to identify counterfiet money...they don't look at all the possible fakes...the just study the true thing intensly and analytically).

Any thoughts??

Radiohead Critique of Christian Individualism?

This is a post that a friend of mine from Iowa posted (Pastor Wayne) on his blog. It’s pretty thought provoking…or much more simple. You be the judge;^)

I've been a fan of Radiohead since the late '90's, but I hadn't seen this video set to the Thom Yorke song, "Rabbit in Your Headlights." I'm tempted to give this video a very Christian spin, even if Yorke et al. have no desire to carry any Christian freight.

The video reminds me of the parable of the Good Samaritan in that we have a man "on the way" - a powerfully biblical metaphor in itself. This man is a babbling schizophrenic, yet he almost appears to be praying - perhaps schizophrenia reveals more about true humanity (homo laudens) than we might be led to believe. On two occasions he seems to shout out the word "Shema!" The Hebrew word for "Hear" or "Listen," as in THE Shema - "Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is one!" (Dt. 6:4) In other words, through his insane babbling, he has a message of prophetic critique. (Echoes of Zarathustra, perhaps?)

But this is a beaten and pitiful man. The juxtaposed phrases "Rabbit in your headlights" and "Christian suburbanites" as he's being pummeled by traffic presents a rather forceful critique of a Christian individualism more concerned with its own self-preservation than demonstrating the self-sacrificial love for another seen in our Lord. 

I also like the redemptive moment of him shedding his old self and his victory over the powers through a renewed cruciform humanity.

Or maybe it's just about rabbits.

[HT: Wayne [http://carrifex.blogspot.com/2007/09/rabbit-in-your-headlightschristian.html]]

Banner of Truth!

Right after the last session of the Weekender on Monday I drove 2.5 hours up to Carlisle, PA to visit the Banner of Truth headquarters. It was great! I was able to buy a few books at a pretty low price and was able to go out to lunch with Steve Burlew. Here are a few pics from my trip up there.

Steve, thanks for taking some time out of your day for lunch and the "6 minute" tour. May God bless your work!

This One's For You Mom!

Here's a pic of the Capitol Building about three blocks away from our place. I took it at about 9:30pm.

9Marks/CHBC Weekender Recap

Here is a compilation of links of the posts that I did from the sessions at the Weekender.

Day 1: 9/13/07

Introduction
Session I: Orientation

Day 2: 9/14/07

Session II: Elder Meeting Q & A
Session III: Church Timeline ’93 Through Present
Session IV: CHBC Children’s Ministry
Session V: Core Seminar Overview
Session VI: Personal Discipleship & Small Groups
Session VII: Internship Program & Selecting Elders Part 1
Session VII: Internship Program & Selecting Elders Part 2
Session VIII: Service Planning Lecture
Sessions IX, X, & XI: Membership Matters 1

Day 3: 9/15/07

Session XII: Membership Matters 2 Part 1 “Church History, John the Baptist to Capitol Hill Baptist
Breakout Session I: International Missions
Session XIII: Membership Matters 2 Part 2 “What is the SBC?” Breakout Session II: 9 Marks and Church Q & A
Session XIV: Membership Matters 2 Part 3 “Nuts & Bolts”
Session XV: Q & A with Deacons and Non-Staff Elders
Supper with Staff Families
Session XVI: Sermon Preparation

Day 4: 9/16/07

Session XVII: Lord’s Day!

Day 5: 9/17/07

Session XVIII: Debriefing & Comments

Session XVIII: Debriefing and Comments

[Mark and the 9Marks staff 9:00am Monday morning 9/17/07]

They passed a microphone around the room to all the attendees two times. Once for one thing they didn't like about the conference, and another for one thing they found helpful about the conference. It was humbling to see how God had used the past five days to feed these men, and it was amazing how much energy they gave us all as they were here.

You should really consider coming to this in the future. Registration always fills up quickly...but if you can get in you will be blessed. I can't necessarily speak for every conference, but there were some good give-aways at this...namely, books (The Deliberate Church, 9Marks of A Healthy Church, Polity, Mark's new book on Personal Evangelism, the booklets By Whose Authority, A Display of God's Glory, and What is a Healthy Church). Also, a 9Marks T-shirt...in addition to cheap books on the book stall and some excellent fellowship.

Praise God for how He has used 9marks in my life and many of these pastors' lives!

Session XVII: Lord's Day!

[CHBC 9:00am Sunday morning 9/16/07]

The weekenders arrived for core seminars to begin on Sunday morning at 9:30am...but every Sunday we gather as interns with the leaders of the church to pray over the day to come. At 9:30am the leaders of the various core seminar classes made an announcement (e.g. Evangelism Class: Sovereignty and Human Responsibility, OT Overview: 2nd half of Genesis [I think], Church History: Constantine and Controversies, etc.). After this we all went to our core seminars.

Then the regular church service began at 10:30am and ended around 12:30 am. Mark preached on Luke 17 (the four points were (1) Faith & Sin verses 1-4, (2) Faith & Obedience verses 5-10, (3) Faith & Salvation verses 11-19, and (4) Faith & the Future verses 12-37). It was a good sermon.

Lindsey and I went on a bike ride in the afternoon, and then the next session began on Sunday at 5:00pm which was an elders meeting to take care of any other business that they didn't cover in the elder's meeting on Thursday. Then we went to the evening service at 6:00pm in which we prayed a lot and saw Adam Grusy preach an excellent sermon from Genesis 19.

After this we attended the member's meeting (in which Lindsey and I were voted into the membership here) that went from approximately 8:00pm to 10:00pm. It was a great meeting (resignations and members joining totalled approximately 60 people). Then we all went downstairs for service review...this is when we look over every aspect of our corporate worship throughout the day. Commenting chronologically on service leading, hymns, preaching, etc. This ended around midnight I believe.

It was a very full day, but an excellent one!

[I had a great conversation with some pastors from Quebec afterward about local church training of pastors. Sounds much more biblical than our current system of pastoral education based in seminaries. I hope to learn more about it in the future;)]

Session XVI: Sermon Preparation

[Mark Dever 7:30pm Saturday evening 9/15/07]

Planning Sermon's/Length of Sermon:

Mark encourages expositional preaching as opposed to topical, anecdotal, stories, lectures, etc. This doesn’t mean that every sermon that the Bible is open for is expositional. This also doesn’t mean the sermon has to be verse by verse. An expositional sermon is not to be dry. It is a sermon on a portion of Scripture in which the point of the passage is the point of the sermon.

There should be a centrality of the Word in everything a church does, for instance CHBC's Wednesday night Bible study goes through books of the Bible verse by verse. CHBC's Sunday evening service has a sermon for 15 minutes on the same theological theme and anthropological theme from the opposite testament of the morning service. The sermon on Sunday morning is intended to be the main meal for the flock. This is the feeding of the Christians; however, they almost always appeal to and address the non-Christian. Mark encouraged the pastors to be non-apologetic to preach to Christians in order to help them with their lives, feeding the sheep. Mark also discussed how there is a power evangelistically in a congregation centered on the gospel.

Mark has a system of working through different literature of the Bible trying to preach through every type of genre of the Bible over the course of two year period (e.g. Gospel, Prophecy, Epistles, Poetry, Apocalyptic, etc.)

In regard to preaching overview sermons Mark talked about a "Powers of Ten" video he remembered from his youth:

“The video started focused on a hand, then the camera zoomed out and a couple was visible, upon zooming out a little more you can see the street that the couple was on, a little more you could see the entire city of Chicago, then the United States, then the World, suddenly the moon whizzes by, then the entire solar system…then it zooms back in, all the way back in to the hand.”

This is his approach to preaching Scripture. Sometimes a view from very high up and zooming in gives great perspective and understanding to a text. He encouraged preaching on these different levels (e.g. overview of Bible, Testament, Books, Subdivisions of Books, Verses, etc.).

Mark plans for the year in four month blocks…and puts it all on a sermon card. His sermons are 11 to 12 typed pages.

Preparation:

First, he writes a title for a series and then individual sermon titles, then as each sermon comes up he does his exegesis of the text. He read a that Ambrose, and Augustine preferred to do sermons in a consecutive series of expositional preaching through books of the Bible, but he doesn't think that this is necessarily prescriptive to how we should preach.

Mark does outlines, the exegesis of what the text means, and a homiletical outline concerning how to get the main points of the passage(s) across. He spends 2 days immediately prior to preaching on Sundays preparing a sermon. He made it clear that if we just preach metanarrative that we need make sure that we do not lose the personal appeal to the gospel. We need to make it clear what people are to do in order to be saved. So preach the gospel in every sermon! There is a balance between biblical and systematic, and between metanarrative and personal appeal of the gospel.

Mark said he uses a manuscript because of the importance of words. Augustine was against manuscripts in the pulpit and thought the preacher ought to form the sermon as he preaches and as people respond throughout the sermon. Mark pointed out that using a manuscript for most people is not a good idea.

Sermon Structure:

Mark begins his sermons with an introduction. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said to start with engaging the hearer. Mark uses an application grid…this includes, "what’s unique in salvation history, what does the passage say to the nonChristian, to society at large, what does it say about Christ, what does this say to the Christian, this congregation, etc.). The application grid is a structured meditation on the passage. Application does use illustrations from time to time, but Mark exhorted that we have to be careful on this front because we don't want our ministry to be centered on the preacher's personality, rather on the Word of God. He then recommended that we preach as an adult to adults…treat them as if they are very intelligent. This is Mark’s response to Carl F. H. Henry’s critique of him to, "not preach to the Giraffe’s rather God’s sheep." Mark tries to keep his right hand where he is in his manuscript and underlines the first word of each sentence in red as a reference point to be able to follow his manuscript well.

Mark also discussed humor, "it is usually a way to, 'feel the wall in the dark,' for many preachers.” It is a way to immediately feel a response from the congregation listening. He admonished that this is a very dangerous practice. He said we need the approach of Richard Baxter, “I preach as a dieing man to dying men.” Humor can be used, but it should be used extremely sparingly…because it is a way that we can accidentally make deep content falsely light and fake. He said that humor in preaching is, "like giving candy to kids. The more you give it out, the more the most immature among them will want it the most."

His last bit of advice was to use commentaries only after we have engaged with the text thoroughly. He uses commentaries only after he knows what he thinks the passage has to say, otherwise his sermons will end up being formed by commentaries rather than how the Lord works in his understanding of the text.

Supper with Staff Families

CHBC pulls out all the stops for the Weekenders. Many members come and cook the meals that are provided (supper was awesome). We had a great lasagna dinner with garlic bread and salad.

When I came out for the Weekender last September Mark was giving all of the Master's Seminary (out of MacArthur's church in California) guys a hard time because they all had facial hair (but not full beards). He then said something like, "Don't worry about me giving you a hard time about your goatees because I'm a Southern Baptist!" When he said Southern Baptists he put his hands on his gut basically meaning that Southern Baptists eat well. Well, the way they feed the Weekenders I can affirm that some of that reputation is true;)

Session XV: Q & A with Deacons and Non-Staff Elders

[Papu Sandu, Jamie Dunlop, and the Halls 4:30pm Saturday late afternoon 9/15/07]

This was an opportunity for the weekenders to address questions of how the elders choose deacons and how they determine deacons for particular needs that come up. It was also an opportunity for the elders among the weekenders to ask questions about work life balance. They have deacons for sound, budget, bookstall, website, counseling women, to help folks with disabilities, etc. It is neat to talk with them and get their perspective on how the ministry works at CHBC.

Session XIV: Membership Matters 2 part 3: Nuts & Bolts

[Mike Gilbart-Smith 11:00am Saturday morning 9/15/07]

This is a class to wrap up all the membership matters classes that are required of potential members. This acquaints them with the biblical structure of this local church, orients them to the church property, moves and fills out anything that they need to know about CHBC that wasn’t covered in the other classes. This basically teaches the potential members what the staff teaches in a little more length to the weekenders over the course of their entire time here. I wasn’t in the entire talk to take notes, but this is a great model of how we should explain everything that our churches do to our members.

Breakout Session II: 9 Marks and Church/Q & A

[Matt Schmucker, & Jonathan Leeman 10:00am Saturday morning 9/15/07]

This is a session giving a detailed overview of how to view the church and what role the 9Marks ministry is trying to pursue in helping local churches. Also in this time they have a Q & A session. Once again I was in the membership matters course so I don’t have much more on this session.

[I’m just posting all of this so everyone can gain an understanding of everything that the Weekender has to offer]

Session XIII: Membership Matters 2 Part 2: What Is the SBC?

[Papu Sandu 10:00am Saturday morning 9/15/07]

This was a great class set up to orient potential members to the denominational affiliation that CHBC is a part of, namely the Southern Baptist Convention.

There was a big emphasis to express that the SBC is a “para-church” organization. The autonomy of the local church is prime in structure in regard to affiliation with many churches…the denomination is a way that different autonomous churches come together to achieve certain ends. Particularly the SBC comes together to provide seminary education and to send out missionaries. If you are interested in learning more about the SBC you can check out their website. Most of this class laid out the organizational structure of the denomination.

Breakout Session I: International Missions

[Andy Johnson 9:00am Saturday morning 9/15/07]

This is a session that 9Marks provides to discuss many things about missions (philosophy of missions, approach, etc.). I went to the membership matters course so I didn't take notes to post. From what I've learned about CHBC's approach to missions is that it is very different than most churches' approaches (very intentional and biblical).

You'll just have to come out some Weekender to sit in on the session!

Session XII: Membership Matters 2 Part 1 Church History

[Michael Lawrence 9:00am Saturday morning 9/15/07]

Michael started with 4 Reasons That Christians should study Church History.

(1) God commands it! We are supposed to remember the works of God in the history of Israel. Further, in the New Testament...we are to remember the apostle's teaching, and God’s work in our lives and the history of the church.

(2) It is instructive…there is nothing new under the sun.

(3) It should humble us. We are not the lords of our own destiny!

(4) It should encourage us. This tells us of God’s majestic pageantry and sovereignty in the past.

Their desire is to teach attendees more about Baptists, and in order to know more about Baptists we need to understand where they come from, namely English Protestantism. Further, to understand that we need to look back to the beginning of the church.

The foundation of the Christian church is described in Acts chapter 2. Many have called this class “John the Baptist to Capitol Hill Baptist.” They will cover every forty years of history about every minute to two.

The concept of a church, assembly called out, started when God called out Abraham, Moses, Ezekiel (in how God gave life to dry bones), also as we see Jesus Christ, the Word in the New Testament. God never saves people outside of the body of Christ. The church is not man’s idea.

(1) The Christian church begins in Matthew 16.
(2) The Christian church is commissioned in Matthew 28.
(3) Further, in Acts 2 the Christian church devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching.

Some movements rooted in bad theology in the history of the Church were Gnostics (comparable with Scientology), Montanists, Marcionites (similar to Theological Liberals), Arius (from which Unitarian and Jehovah’s Whitnesses find similar teaching) and Pelagians.

Many theological errors are a repackaging of old mistakes. Creeds developed as summaries of what Christians understood the Scripture to say in response to false teaching. They not only stood the test with teaching, but also with their lives. Starting with Stephen in Acts 7.

Constantine was proclaimed as emperor of Rome in 311AD. It is unclear as to whether or not he actually ever converted to Christianity. Therefore, it moved from a persecuted religion to the publicly endorsed religion. Civic hierarchy moved into the structure of the church and that was the beginning of the Roman Catholic tradition.

In 1054 AD the church in the East broke with the church in the West. They broke over authority of the pope and over the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The pope and the Roman Catholic Church held too much authority and claimed the right to have the ability to impart salvation by baptism. They also taught cooperative grace, “God helps those who help themselves (Benjamin Franklin).” This is an unbiblical doctrine!

Martin Luther discovers, by God’s grace, salvation is by faith alone through Christ alone. Christians need an alien righteousness imputed them in order to able to stand before God, this is what Luther came to believe the Bible taught. Martin Luther proposed a debate, as anyone would do in that time by nailing the 95 Theses to the church doors. This set off the Reformation. Rome condemned Luther’s teaching particularly the gospel.

At the same time as Luther Zwingli, Butzer, Calvin, Cranmer, etc. all worked for reform. A trust in Christ for salvation rather than man’s own works was the root of reform.

Baptists…out of the Reformation came various strands of Protestants: Lutheranism, Anabaptists, Reformed Churches (Presbyterians, Congregational, and Anglican churches)…and out of this came the Baptists. By 1608 a rejection of infant baptism was taking place in England by Baptists. An understanding of religious liberty mainly came from the Baptists, particularly in 1639 a charter for Rhode Island included the Baptist distinctive of religious tolerance.

Later on in the 1800’s an academic movement of German higher criticism denied the ability to believe in things miraculous (therefore they were against what the Bible teaches to be true). By 1930 almost every protestant denomination in America was taken over by this kind of thinking. This resulted in splintering of denominations.

After WWII Neo-evangelicalism was a uniting around fundamentals in response to theological liberalism.

In the 1860’s CHBC started as a bible study to reach many kids in the area. In 1878 they organized to start Metropolitan Baptist Church. Then Michael taught through the history of this local church.

Going To Bed...

[Noah Braymen signing off at 1:15am Friday evening 9/14/07/Saturday morning 9/15/07]

Weekenders are gruelling! It was an awesome way. The wireless internet was down at the church building today so I couldn't post this stuff as the conference was going. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to get some stuff posted online over lunch to slow the onslaught of material.

There are lectures going on constantly...and there is rarely a spare minute. I hope to post some pictures in the near future as well. This makes the Desiring God National Conference look like a cake walk in terms of how busy the attendees are:^) And it goes for 5 days...not 3!

But now, it's late and I'm tired...until tomorrow, if the Lord should give us another day!

In Christ
Noah

Sessions IX, X, and XI: Membership Matters 1 Part 1

[Mark Dever 7:00pm Friday evening 9/14/07]

The first installment of this was walking through the CHBC Statement of Faith (Articles I through XVIII). They have systematized these in such a way that they can clearly articulate how CHBC is similar or different in comparison with almost every kind of church that is out there. They have four consecutive categories of doctrine that they walk through: (1) Historically Christian, (2) Evangelical/Protestant, (3) Congregational, and (4) Baptist. This was really helpful in clarifying an understanding of exactly how CHBC compares doctrinally with almost all other traditions of churches.

[Matt Schmucker 8:00pm Friday evening 9/14/07]

Matt did an excellent job walking the class attenders through the CHBC covenant. He gave fluid real life examples of many of the things in the covenant.

[Mark Dever 9:00pm Friday evening 9/14/07]

This was the last session for the day. Mark walked the attendees through his "five reasons" of why to join a church:

(1) Join a church for non-Christians (for the sake of non-Christians).
(2) Join a church for weaker Christians.
(3) Join a church for the sake of stronger Christians.
(4) Join a church for the sake of church leaders.
(5) Join a church for the sake of God.

These summaries are pretty poor. As I have said a lot in other posts. You really need to sign up to come out and experience this some time. If you want to debate any of these points you could bring them up face to face;^)