Registration Now Open!

Yep - head on over to T4G , registration is now open for the 2008 Together for the Gospel conference. However, they still haven't revealed the theme of the conference, or the different subjects for each session. I guess we'll just have to keep waiting.

JN

Divorce and Remarriage Revisited

So, we have talked some about divorce and remarriage. I find myself agreeing with the "betrothal-period" view concerning the Matthew texts. I think a few of you have said the same. There may be some disagreements among us on this issue, but for the most part we are all in the minority position... which means we have some 'splaning to do.

I know the issue of remarriage will come up sooner or later in my ministry. Has it come up with you? How have you approached this issue with people who've requested you to marry them though they've been married before?

I'm sure the "preemptive" attack (teaching and preaching about marriage, divorce, and remarriage) is most effective, but how else have you tried to teach the truth to God's people on this important issue?

Guess Who's Got Game!

A friend of mine - T. C. - who lives in Louisville stumbled upon C. J. Mahaney and John MacArthur playing basketball in the gym at Southern Seminary. A few of the seminarians joined up in a pickup game, and not surprisingly, C. J. Mahaney held his ground quite well as a b-ball player. What may surprise you, however, is that John MacArthur (playing in slacks and dress shoes) made 20 of 22 three pointers. He was on fire! More importantly, here are two men who disagree quite strongly on some issues (i.e. - one is a Charismatic, the other wrote "Charismatic Chaos"), yet they played as teammates. We should all desire this kind of camaraderie with other pastors and Christians who are different from us on some issues, but together for the Gospel.

(Now be honest. Who do you think is the best b-baller in our fellowship?)

Preaching Well

"A man preacheth that sermon only well unto others which preacheth itself in his own soul. And he that doth not feed on and thrive in the digestion of the food which he provides for others will scarce make it savoury unto them; yea, he knows not but the food he hath provided may be poison, unless he have really tasted of it himself. If the word do not dwell with power in us, it will not pass with power from us." - John Owen

Preaching the Cross

It's here! The book "Preaching the Cross" - derived from the sessions at the 2006 T4G Conference - is finally available. It contains Dever on keeping the cross central, Ligon Duncan on preaching the gospel from the Old Testament, Mohler on preaching with the culture in view, Sproul on the doctrine of justification, Piper on expository exhultation, Mahaney on watching our life and doctrine, and MacArthur reflecting on 40 years of ministry. Check it out here.

Oh - registration for T4G08 is opening soon - possibly this next week. We'll talk about a group trip at our meeting tomorrow.

Justin N.

Encouragement for Pastors

This is from Desiring God's Blog. I thought you may be encouraged by it.
Encouragement for Pastors

Back to Baptism

I have thought a lot about the issues of Baptism since the last time I asked this question, but I feel I must do it again. The question was about the age of baptism. There were some very good comments about this, but I am still struggling a little. Maybe I'm wrong, but I am thinking that the issue is more of a gospel issue. Maybe the reason we have baptized so many people who are not regenerate isn't so much of an age issue as it is a gospel issue. What I mean by this is that so often churches have watered down the message so much (so that a child can understand) that the child truly is responding to that message. I am not sure that the answer is to not baptize a younger person as much as it is to make clear the gospel. By making the gospel very clear (even using terms like regeneration, justification, glorification, sanctification, etc.) would help answer this question about age. Any thoughts on this?