What Our People Need Most

Allen W. and myself had a wonderful time at the Theology-Driven conference at Southeastern Seminary this past Monday and Tuesday. For those of you that couldn't make it, let me highlight some of things we learned:

1. That preaching is about helping our people connect the awesome reality of the glory of God with the gritty reality of their sin-stained lives. Paul Tripp spent most of his sessions helping us to come to grips with the truth that the biggest problem in our lives is us - our own indwelling sin. He reminded us that we are to live not just in the reality of our past justification, nor just looking ahead to our future glorification, but by faith in present grace as God continues His work of santification. The local church - the particular community of believers of which we are a part - is a hugh part of that work of grace. God works through people in need of change to help others in need of change. We are "Instruments in the Redeemers' Hands" - means of grace in the lives of our brothers and sisters. Note: Dr. Tripp was a very dynamic speaker - moving around, full of passion, seldom looking at his notes. He's definitely worth listening to on his site - www.paultripp.org Also, if you listen to nothing else by him, go to the SEBTS website and listen to his first session - it was excellent.

2. That what our people need most is our own personal holiness. This truth (articulated well by Robert Murray McCheyne) was particularly fleshed out for us by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson. He was completely different from Dr. Tripp - not a very dynamic speaker, stationary behind the pulipt, seldom raising his voice (though quite humorous at times). But Dr. Ferguson is one of those rare pastors whose very presence smacks of piety. AS he preached, it was clear that he not only knows the importance of holiness, but has been actively pursuing it for decades. I learned a lot from Dr. Tripp, but hearing Dr. Ferguson was truly a real treat. His points: 1. Pastors must be growing in holiness in such a way that it is evident to their congregations. 2. Growing in holiness is about recognizing who you are in Christ - a new man. 3. Growing in holiness is accomplished through the mortification of sin and the vivification of graces. (killing sin, pursuing the fruits of the Spirit). 4. In order to help our people in sanctification, we need to help them understand what santification is. 5. In order to help out people in sanctification, we need to understand how temptation works - its inevitable cycle of attraction and deception - and teach this to our people. 6. And, what really struck me, was his reminder that we as pastors are be ambassadors for Christ to our congregation - representing Jesus to them in our attitudes, words, actions, etc. What a huge responsibility! Who is sufficient for these things? Thank God for grace.

I attended a breakout session with Dr. Jones on church discipline. It was decent but basically Peacemaker rehashed. I also attended a session with Dr. Wade where he used John 10 (Jesus as the Good Shepherd) as a model for pastors (under-shepherds). It was good, and something that I will want to bring before my church sometime in the months ahead.

All of the audio from the plenary sessions is online here - feel free to check it out.

Justin N.