Great Quotes from the Pastor's Conference

So far I have had an incredible time at the Pastor's Conference here in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It has been good for my soul to be challenged and encouraged to be intentional about sharing Christ with the lost, be around men who are passionate about the Lord Jesus, sing at the top of my lungs without thinking about 'church stuff,' and spending some extended time with my dad. You can read, watch, and/or listen to all the messages I have heard by simply clicking here.



This is a quote from the heart of Piper's message on George Whitefield. I commend you to read, watch, or listen to the whole thing. But for now, let this quote as to why Whitefield preached the way he did whet your appetite for more:





"But the question is: Why was Whitefield “acting”? Why was he so full of action and drama? Was he, as Stout claims, “plying a religious trade”?41 Pursuing “spiritual fame”?42 Craving “respect and power”?43 Driven by “egotism”?44 Putting on “performances”45 and “integrating religious discourse into the emerging language of consumption”?46

I think the most penetrating answer comes from something Whitefield himself said about acting in a sermon in London. In fact, I think it’s a key to understand the power of his preaching—and all preaching. James Lockington was present at this sermon and recorded this verbatim. Whitefield is speaking.
“I’ll tell you a story. The Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 1675 was acquainted with Mr. Butterton the [actor]. One day the Archbishop . . . said to Butterton . . . ‘pray inform me Mr. Butterton, what is the reason you actors on stage can affect your congregations with speaking of things imaginary, as if they were real, while we in church speak of things real, which our congregations only receive as if they were imaginary?’ ‘Why my Lord,’ says Butterton, ‘the reason is very plain. We actors on stage speak of things imaginary, as if they were real and you in the pulpit speak of things real as if they were imaginary.’”
“Therefore,” added Whitefield, ‘I will bawl [shout loudly], I will not be a velvet-mouthed preacher.”47
This means that there are three ways to speak. First, you can speak of an unreal, imaginary world as if it were real—that is what actors do in a play. Second, you can speak about a real world as if it were unreal—that is what half-hearted pastors do when they preach about glorious things in a way that says they are not as terrifying and wonderful as they are. And third is: You can speak about a real spiritual world as if it were wonderfully, terrifyingly, magnificently real (because it is). "









The third option, of course, is how preachers must preach!









A second quote is from Mark Dever on our being silent in witnessing. He said, "Our silence is not a matter of neutrality. You need to tell yourself that. Our silence is a matter of guilt and sin."





Third, Dever freed the Gospel-sharer up by reminding him/her that we are simply charged to tell the message while relying on God to do the impossible: "We can confidently tell people the basic message of the gospel and trust that God’s Spirit will faithfully pick up our message and use it to save people."





A fourth and final quote comes from Matt Chandler. I will simply provide the quote here and urge you to go and listen to his very timely message for pastors living in today's world:





"I think there is an undue amount of pressure on all of us that success is somehow tied to numerical attendance. You don’t help your people by soft-peddling the gospel and the commands of God.
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)
I learned this one the hard way. Two years ago, this was probably one of the most heartbreaking things in my years of ministry. I was at lunch with some people that had just gotten back from a missions trip in India.
I was listening to different people and was hearing a story. There were two buses that took our crew and another crew to get out to a place. Our crew decided to tell the best joke they’ve ever heard. When they pull up, the other group gets out and there’s tears running down their face.
It disturbed me. I couldn’t let it go. I didn’t know what to do with it. Why, on the way out to do missions, are people who are covenant members of The Village doing knock-knock jokes when the people in the other van are calling out for mercy to God?
One morning I was reading the Bible and journaling my thoughts. I had a surly professor in college who I loved and hated. He had an extreme, high expectation of you. He said, “Five years in, what’s wrong with your church is wrong with you.” I don’t know if he’s right, but the Holy Spirit said, “Remember?” I laid on the floor and sobbed because my witty, sarcastic humor had been embedded into The Village so much that on the way out to such a dark, spiritual destination, we’re doing knock-knock jokes. It devastated me. I constantly pray that God would protect the people of The Village from me.
Be the example in word, in deed, in purity, in love, in prayer. Be the example. "

Where I Will Be February 2nd, 3rd, and 4th

I have the wonderful opportunity of traveling with my dad to Minneapolis, MN this week to attend Desiring God Ministries' Pastor's Conference. The theme of the conference is: Commending Christ: The Pastor, The Church, and the Perishing.

For anyone who is interested in following along with what I will be hearing and learning, there will be a live blog of the event. You can follow along by clicking here.

If I have time and am able, I plan to blog some of my own thoughts on this blog. Please pray that God would speak to my heart as I learn how to be a better evangelist and lead Wynne Baptist to be better at evangelism. Also pray that my dad and I have some wonderful and quality time together. As you all know, he is my hero and I simply cannot wait to spend three days with him. What a gift from the Lord!

David Platt on the Albert Mohler Radio Program

Many of you know that Dr. David Platt, pastor of the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL is a dear friend of mine in the Lord. He and I had the privilege of attending the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary together at the same time. This past Friday he was interviewed by Dr. Russel Moore on the Albert Mohler Radio Program. I encourage anyone and everyone to listen to the program. The topic is the importance of the church and is a very timely message and a much needed one for our day. Of course, David's words are Bible-saturated, Christ-exalting, and God-soaked. Listen and heed what he and Dr. Moore advise regarding the church.

You can go directly to download the program by clicking here.

Available Bible Reading Plans

Justin Taylor has provided a very helpful post on various Bible reading plans for the upcoming year. Read through what he has provided and find one that is most conducive for you and the way God wired you to comprehend His Word. Enjoy!

Piper on Prayer

Every year, John Piper leads his church (Bethlehem Baptist) in a week of prayer. It begins during the last week of the year and ends during the first week of the new year. He preaches sermons on prayer on each Sunday at the beginning and end of the prayer week.

This week, Desiring God offers some helpful resources on prayer that have been posted by Piper.

Sermon on prayer - December 28th, 2008.

Blog post of scriptural promises of answer to prayer.

Blog post of John Newton's personal struggle with prayer.

Blog post of reasons why to use the Bible when praying.

Let these posts encourage you and challenge you to be more prayer-filled in 2009.

2008 Stories

Al Mohler and Collin Hansen have put together two great Top Ten Lists of noteworthy news stories from the past year.

Mohler's article, "Ten for the History Books from 2008" focuses on news stories that have changed the course of history and demand evangelical attention. You can go there directly by clicking here. Later today, he plans to discuss these stories on his radio program.

Hansen's article is found in the current issue of Christianity today and focuses on the top theological stories from 2008. You can go there directly by clicking here.

J.C. Ryle on the Importance of Spending Much Time in the Word

A quote that I brought with me to the pulpit yesterday but did not have time to include was one that was given over a hundred years ago by bishop J.C. Ryle.

He said:

"You live in a world where your soul is in constant danger. Enemies are round you on every side. Your own heart is deceitful. Bad examples are numerous. Satan is always laboring to lead you astray. Above all false doctrine and false teachers of every kind abound. This is your great danger.To be safe you must be well armed. You must provide yourself with the weapons which God has given you for your help. You must store your mind with Holy Scripture. This is to be well armed.Arm yourself with a thorough knowledge of the written word of God. Read your Bible regularly. Become familiar with your Bible. . . . Neglect your Bible and nothing that I know of can prevent you from error if a plausible advocate of false teaching shall happen to meet you. Make it a rule to believe nothing except it can be proved from Scripture. The Bible alone is infallible. . . . Do you really use your Bible as much as you ought?There are many today, who believe the Bible, yet read it very little. Does your conscience tell you that you are one of these persons?If so, you are the man that is likely to get little help from the Bible in time of need. Trial is a sifting experience. . . . Your store of Bible consolations may one day run very low.If so, you are the man that is unlikely to become established in the truth. I shall not be surprised to hear that you are troubled with doubts and questions about assurance, grace, faith, perseverance, etc. The devil is an old and cunning enemy. He can quote Scripture readily enough when he pleases. Now you are not sufficiently ready with your weapons to fight a good fight with him. . . . Your sword is held loosely in your hand.If so, you are the man that is likely to make mistakes in life. I shall not wonder if I am told that you have problems in your marriage, problems with your children, problems about the conduct of your family and about the company you keep. The world you steer through is full of rocks, shoals and sandbanks. You are not sufficiently familiar either with lighthouses or charts.If so, you are the man who is likely to be carried away by some false teacher for a time. It will not surprise me if I hear that one of these clever eloquent men who can make a convincing presentation is leading you into error. You are in need of ballast (truth); no wonder if you are tossed to and fro like a cork on the waves.All these are uncomfortable situations. I want you to escape them all. Take the advice I offer you today. Do not merely read your Bible a little—but read it a great deal. . . . Remember your many enemies. Be armed!"

(found at Between Two Worlds blog)

Truth Out of the Mouth of a Professing Athiest

I urge you to take 5 minutes of your time and watch this clip. It ministered to me, convicted me, and challenged me. Read this quote and then click on the link to watch...


Penn Says: A Gift of a Bible

“I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell, and you think, ‘Well, it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward’…How much do you have to hate somebody not to proselytize?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3hM

An Interview With One Who Has Memorized Much Scripture

Tim Challies interviewed Ryan Ferguson on Scripture memorization.

Interesting Perspective on Barack Obama's Choice to Have Rick Warren Pray on January 20th

Al Mohler has written a very helpful and interesting piece on the recent scandal that has erupted due to Obama's choice to have Rick Warren pray at his presidential induction next month. You can read his blog article by clicking here.

Mohler also did a radio broadcast with this as his main topic. Click here to download and listen.

Mohler's Blog on How to Use a Study Bible

A written blog of what was discussed on his radio program on Friday.

Click here.

Six Reasons Why the Doctrine of the Virgin Birth is So Important

1. The sufficiency, inerrancy, and integrity of the Scriptures.

2. The Superiority of Christ above all things.

3. It Demonstrates The Deity of Christ AND The Humanity of Christ.

Luke 1:35

4. The Eternal Existence of Christ.

John 1:1-2, 14

5. Without the Virgin Birth We Have No Authentic Salvation

(1) The fact that Jesus did not have a human father means that he
did not have a sin nature like every other human being has.

(2) Salvation can only come from the Lord.

Genesis 3:15
Galatians 4:4-5

(3) The virgin birth happened in order to reverse the curse.

Genesis 4:1
Matthew 1:25

See Romans 5:12-21

6. The Entirety of Our Hope is at Stake

Remarkable Advent Calendar of Images from Hubble Telescope

Click here and allow the images to lead you to worship our infinitely powerful Creator God.

Al Mohler and Justin Taylor on Bible Translations and Study Bibles

Friday on the Albert Mohler radio program, Dr. Mohler and Justin Taylor discussed which Bible translations are the best and which study Bibles are the best. For those interested, it was a very profitable and helpful discussion on the issues. You can listen or download the program by clicking here.

Quotes From Those Denying the Virgin Birth

Yesterday morning I began a series of messages entitled "Christmas Apologetics." The first two messages in the series deal with the Virgin Birth. In setting up the seriousness of the issue before us today, I listed and quoted from a number of different people who do in fact deny the literal virgin birth of Christ.


Below are the quotes that I gave you yesterday. I simply am cutting and pasting from my sermon manuscript. Please note, however, that I retrieved all of the quotes from two main sources.


The first from Al Mohler's web-site. Click here to find numerous articles he has written and posted regarding the Virgin Birth.


The second from the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM) web-site. Click here for a host of articles written in the area of the Virgin Birth.



Here are the quotes/comments I presented yesterday:

A writer for The New York Times, Nikolas Kristoff has written: “The faith in the Virgin Birth reflects the way American Christianity is becoming less intellectual and more mystical over time…most biblical scholars regard the evidence for the Virgin Birth…as so shaky that it pretty much has to be a leap of faith.”

John Meacham, a writer for Newsweek, wrote that “the Nativity narratives are the subject of ongoing scholarly debate over their historical accuracy…almost nothing in Luke’s stories stands up to close historical scrutiny.” He argues that the infancy and birth narratives were simply invented by the early church in order to answer awkward questions and develop a fully-orbed theology and understanding of Jesus. He claims that Matthew and Luke wanted to tell the story of Jesus’ birth, but had little to work with.

John Dominic Crossan, a Roman Catholic Scholar, and a member of the “Jesus Seminar” movement discounts the biblical narratives about the virgin birth as invented theology.

Bishop Joseph Sprague of the United Methodist Church said that the “myth of the virgin birth was not intended as historical fact, but was employed by Matthew and Luke in different ways to appoint poetically the truth about Jesus as experienced in the emerging church.” He claims that Jesus was born to human parents and did not possess trans-human, supernatural powers.

Cecil Sherman, at one time a Southern Baptist, but later became the coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship said, “A teacher who might also be led by the Scripture not to believe in the virgin birth should not be fired.”

Harry Emerson Fosdick, a 20th century Protestant preacher, preaching from the pulpit of the First Presbyterian Church in New York City said that Christians, “may hold quite different points of view about a matter like the virgin birth.” Though he held the doctrine to be true he insisted that others, equally Christian, could disagree with those who believe in the virgin birth to be historically true.

Chloe Breyer, Episcopal priest at St. Mary’s Manhattanville Church in West Harlem wrote this in an article entitled “The Earthly Father—What if Mary Wasn’t a Virgin?” :
… the infancy narratives from Matthew and Luke must be squared with some startling silences, alternative Greek translations, and a couple of snide comments from Jesus' hometown critics. Paul never mentions the virgin conception and in Galatians describes Christ as "born of a woman." John's Gospel says nothing on the subject of Jesus' conception. And Mark describes the shocked response of the synagogue-goers of Jesus' hometown of Nazareth when Jesus as an adult returns to preach and teach as God's chosen one. The Nazareth Jews presumably would have known better than anyone about the irregular timing of Jesus' birth. "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" his parents' neighbors ask one another. Since Jewish men of the time were identified in relationship to their father…scholars take this remark as an insinuation about Jesus' parentage--one that was so offensive that the later Evangelists Luke, Matthew, and John changed it.

Alan Jones wrote Reimagining Christianity
From the book…
"I believe the Bible and the creeds but not literally, and I'm no atheist. I love the tradition and am nurtured by it. I have a great devotion to Mary the Mother of God but am agnostic about her literal virginity-- or, to put it bluntly, I couldn't care less about it." Page 31
"For my part, I won't allow those who insist on a literal interpretations [sic] of these myths and doctrines to deprive me of my devotion to her [Mary]. Was she literally a virgin? I don't know...But much of the emphasis on virginity arose from a negative and destructive view of sexuality. So I doubt very much whether Mary was literally a virgin..." Page 175