Faith by Hearing
Sanctifying the MP3 RevolutionArchive for Derek Thomas
The Regulative Principle of Worship
Nic Batzig and Derek Thomas sit down to talk worship and discuss at length on how the regulative principle provides guidance in how churches worship. In this very long interview Derek provides some very helpful and clarifying thoughts that you will find useful. If you think the regulative principle is just some dry, fuddy-duddy guideline, you will come away with a very different idea.
Twin Lakes Fellowship 2009
This years Twin Lake Fellowship was held in April. I’ve been slowly listening to these messages since April, and while many are very good, there are a few that stand out.
Ligon Duncan gave two messages that deal with the incredibly important issue of theology, what it is for, and how systematic theology is important for pastoral ministry. He has touched on these issues in other conferences, but here we have two very strong messages dealing with this head on.
Ligon Duncan’s message is a tour de force of a defense of the need for systematic theology. In a day when the spirit of the age is to assert “deeds, not creeds,” and views theology with suspicison, this is a much needed message. Duncan unravels many arguments raised against systematic theology. The major falacy is that you cannot not have a theology. Everyone operates on a theology. And to think you can act without theology, you’re just kidding yourself. We are all theologians. The question is, are you a good one or a bad one.
Two other messages not to miss: Doug Kelly’s message on Deuteronomy 23 and David Robertsons message on Emergent Calvinism.
Doug Kelly–God Turns Curses into Blessings (Deuteronomy 23:3-6)
Derek Thomas–The Majesty of God (Romans 11:33-36)
Ligon Duncan–What is Theology For? (Titus 1:1, 1 Tim 6:2-4)
Ron Gleason–on Herman Bavinck
Ligon Duncan–Systematic Theology and Pastoral Ministry
David Robertson–Emergent Calvinism
Terry Johnson– Biblical, Historical, Theological Case for Reformed Worship
Jonathan Leeman–What in the World is the Missional Church?
Twin Lakes Fellowship 2008
What is the Twin Lakes Fellowship? From the website…
The Twin Lakes Fellowship is a ministerial fraternal devoted to the encouragement of Gospel ministry and ministers, and to the promotion of healthy biblical church planting. The Twin Lakes Fellowship is a ministry of the Session of the historic First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS (in conjunction with several other PCA sessions and ministers in Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina). This fellowship is designed to pursue a twofold purpose: (1) to encourage ministers and churches to promote the work of church planting through their local congregations and (2) to encourage ministers in their personal growth in grace, so as to maximize their effectiveness in promoting the work of the Gospel.
Ligon Duncan kicked off the conference with a very strong, clarifying call for faithful expositional preaching.
David Meredith, who is a pleasure to listen to, took on the subject of evangelism, and gave his impressions of the Evangelism Explosion material. Don`t miss this one.
Doug Kelly, Carl Trueman, Sean Lucas, Derek Thomas and Terry Johnson all gave messages worth a listen.
Ligon conducted 3 wonderful telephone interviews. He interviewed Thabiti Anyabwile about his two books: The Faithful Preacher, and The Decline of African American Theology. Tim Keller was interviewed about his best selling book The Reason for God. And finally, David Wells was interviewed about his book (then forthcoming) The Courage to Be Protestant, and Wells gave an excellent summation of the 3 divisions of the church today: Truth-lovers, Marketers, and Emergents. Wells must be listened to.
- Seminar 1 – Introducing the Twin Lakes Fellowship (Dr. Ligon Duncan)
- Exhortation – Evangelism (David Meredith)
- Tele-Interview 1 – Thabiti Anyabwile
- Worship Service 1 – Sermon (Dr. Douglas Kelly)
- Seminar 2 – The Heidelberg Catechism (Dr. Carl Trueman)
- Exhortation – Sermon (Dr. Sean Lucas)
- Worship Service 2 – Sermon (Dr. Derek Thomas)
- Seminar 3 – Public Prayer (Terry Johnson) [handout 1 and handout 2)]
- Tele-Interview 2 – Dr. Tim Keller
- Tele-Interview 3 – Dr. David Wells
2008 Together for Adoption Conference
The ministry of Together for Adoption is led by Dan Cruver and Jason Kovacs, both who are passionate for Christians to be involved in adopting orphans. The message titles give a very clear picture of what this conference is about: “The Good News of Adoption”, “The Cosmic Significance of Adoption”, “Adoption in God’s Story of Redemption”, “Our Adoption and Visiting Orphans in their Affliction.”
The speakers make a strong appeal for the need of the church to be more involved in adoption, and they support their admonition by drawing from our adoption as sons and daughters into the kingdom of God, and our instruction of visiting orphans in their affliction.
Also available on the same page are other sermons and addresses on adoption from a wide variety of well-known speakers such at C. J. Mahaney, Russell Moore, Derek Thomas, John Piper and many others, most of whom have adopted children.
Unfortunately, my internet filter has blocked my ability to download these messages, but I have been able to listen to a few of them in streaming format, as I have opportunity. This is a very good resource of information if you have the ability and/or interest in adoption.
Derek Thomas Swimming with the Elephants through Ezekiel
Ezekiel is a prophet we tend to pay little attention too. He ministered during Israel’s darkest hour when God gave his people over to the Babylonians, and the great era of the Israelite nation vanished. Ezekiel also gives us some of the most repulsive and difficult portions of Scripture to understand.
Derek Thomas, in five addresses, gives a fascinating overview of the key themes and aspects of the book of Ezekiel. These were delivered in 2007 for the Spiritual Enrichment Seminars at Independant Presbyterian Church in Savannah, Georgia.
Reforming our Understanding, Derek Thomas
Derek Thomas delivered a series of 4 messages at the Oklahoma City Conference on Reformed Theology in October of 2007. The subjects of the messages cover Reforming our Understanding of God, Justification, Evangelism and Holiness. A final Q&A is also available.
Derek draws deeply from church history and the Reformers, and also takes a considerable amount of time to review the New Perspective of Paul.
Life and Ministry with Derek Thomas
Mark Dever of 9 Marks interviews Derek Thomas about his ministry, his move from Baptist to Presbyterian, and his pastorate with Ligon Duncan at First Pres. Jackson, Mississippi. They also discuss his books and Derek’s particular interest with John Calvin’s exposition of Job.
Derek Thomas on John Owen’s Pastoral Theology
Derek Thomas asserts that John Owen is the greatest of the 17th century theologians, and in my own limited experience of Owen, I would not be able to argue against it. Owen is mighty, and Owen is difficult. Thomas’ messages on Owen are very helpful in understanding Owen’s works, and will inspire you to read Owen. Thomas delivered these messages recently at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.
John Owen’s Pastoral Theology at Shepherd’s Scrapbook >>>
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Doctrines of Grace 2007 Conference
The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Conference this year focused on the Doctrines of Grace. The speakers include Sinclair Ferguson, Phil Ryken, Ligon Duncan, Carl Trueman, Derek Thomas and others. Four of the sessions were devoted to ‘Reformed Biography’, biographical lectures about B.B. Warfield, John Owen, Thomas Boston and John Knox.
Basics 2007 Pastors Conference
Alistair Begg’s Parkside Church hosts the Basics Conference for pastors. The goal of Basics is:
“Of all the responsibilities of ministry none is more important than our continuing labor in God’s Word. Therefore BASICS 2007 is focusing on the weighty responsibility, spiritual energy, exacting demands and increasing joy of ministry shaped by ironclad commitment to careful study and clear communication of the Bible.”
This year the speakers were Voddie Baucham, Derek Thomas, Edward Lobb, and Keith Getty.
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