What does it mean to be in Covenant with God? It means we receive the blessings of the covenant, and Christ receives the curses.  Sinclair Ferguson looks at this important subject, preaching at his church in First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C.  This is a thrilling message.  Don’t miss it.

On Being in Covenant with God >>>

Sinclair Ferguson delivered these addresses to the 2004 BASICS Conference.

His Sufficient W0rd, 2 Timothy 3
His Eternal Election, Ephesians 1
His Transforming Spirit, Romans 8

Sinclair Ferguson Basics 2004 >>>

Falkirk Free Church of Scottland is pastored by Norman MacKay,  and their audio page has a lot of valuable audio files of messages from men you may have never heard of but should, such as Ed Donnelly and Donald MacCleod, and they have a few by some you do know, such as Sinclair Ferguson and Don Carson.  If you’re looking for some good ol’ fashioned Scottish preaching this would be a good page to check out.

Falkirk Free Church >>>

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?

TLF2009 >>>

In February of last year Al Mohler delivered 4 lectures on the New Atheism movement.  Later that year those lectures became the basis for a book called Atheism Remix.

This past month I immersed myself in the spit and vinegar arguments of the chiefs of the New Atheists, the four horsemen: Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Dan Dennett, and the Devil’s Chaplain himself, Richard Dawkins (all self-referential titles).  I watched them online (YouTube, Vimeo) in interviews, lectures, debates (with Craig, Lennox, Wilson, and McGrath), I’ve been reading their books…all this to say that, in spite of the apparent weaknesses of their arguments, these guys have a huge following and are growing in influence and shaping the way the average person thinks about religion and life.

I just finished reading Mohler’s book (based on these lectures) and I have to say this is probably the best book available to give anyone fresh to this phenomenon a clear picture of what is happening on both sides of the spectrum.

In The End Game of Secularism Mohler looks at this growing phenomenon and explains why we cannot overlook what is happening in western culture.  9/11 changed our worldview, and one of the fallouts is the New Atheism.  Mohler also looks at how the intelligentsia has changed from theism, to deism, and now to atheism.  We live in a world where it is unthinkable to be an intellectual and believe in God at the same time, particularly the God of Scripture.

In The Assault on Theism Mohler gives us pictures of the prime militant movers of the New Atheism, the four horsemen listed above, and he provides for us a summary of their main arguments and contributions to this battle.

In The Defense of Theism Mohler looks at the main defenders of theism who have directly engaged the New Atheists: Alister McGrath and Alvin Plantinga.  I would have liked to have seen Mohler include some other defenders such as John Lennox and David Robertson, but they may have only begun the battle when Al was preparing his messages.  I would like to see an updated version of Atheism Remix soon.

Mohler points out a troubling feature to many of the defenders of theism, and that is their embrace of evolutionary theory.  Both McGrath and Plantinga have made this mistake, which even Richard Dawkins  and Chris Hitchens have recognized as being problematic and inconsistent with Scripture.

In The Future of Christianity Mohler looks at other voices in the debate such as Tina Beattie and John F. Haught who believe the debate has been too focused on an attack of Christianity as perceived through a conservative theological lens, which, in their view, is outmoded.  While many of the arguments of the liberals against the New Atheists are insightful, they hold a position of confusion for the New Atheists.  Just as Carl Sagan was confused by Paul Tillich’s theology, the New Atheists see the liberal position as a contradictory non-issue that only makes it harder for them to get to the heart of what they don’t like about Christianity.

Don’t be caught off guard.  You should at least be familiar with what is happening in the New Atheism because if you are engaged in evangelism you will see these issues raised.  The question is, will you be prepared for a defense.  Welcome to the world, post 9/11. You are on the chopping block.

Listen to the lectures. Get the book.

The New Atheism Lectures >>>

This year the New Attitude Conference became Next Conference.  The subject this year was Jesus Christ, and a marvelous conference it was.  Between Sinclair Ferguson and Don Carson you can’t go wrong.

One surprise speaker was Kevin DeYoung, pastor of University Reformed Church in Lansing, Michigan, and author of a number of books including Why We’re Not Emergent and Just Do Something.  DeYoung gave us a wonderful picture of Christ as life giver, looking at portraits of him dealing the demoniac, Jarius’ daugther, the unclean woman, and the storm that threatened the disciples.

Here is the list of main sessions:

Preeminence, Josh Harris
Incarnation, Don Carson
Life, Kevin DeYoung
Death, C. J. Mahaney
Resurrection, Sinclair Ferguson
Return, Sinclair Ferguson
Panel with Dever, Ferguson, Taylor, DeYoung, Mahaney & Harris

Next 2009 >>>

David Robertson has a lot of guts.  David Robertson wrote a very sober, fair and critical open series of letters in response to atheist Richard Dawkin’s salacious book ‘The God Delusion’.  The letters found their way onto Richard Dawkin’s website, and was the subject of a fiery frenzy of ridicule and hatred by Dawkin’s followers.  I remember being shocked at the venom that Dawkin’s followers aimed at this man who attempted to carefully respond to.  Certainly, Dawkin’s is not defined by those who comment on his site, yet after reading his book of atheistic ideology, I can see what amounts to clear motivation.

Robertson is interviewed by Christ the Center about the book that developed out of this series of open letters.  There is also a second radio interview included that offers a variety of new information.

David Robertson is pastor of St. Peters Free Church in Dundee Scotland. Thank God for men like Robertson who are willing to carefully and articulately engage the culture that we live in.

Interview at CTC >>>

Radio Interview about ‘The Dawkins Letters’ >>>

Audio of Robertson’s Sermons >>>

The Andrew Fuller Center hosted a mini-conference in commemoration of John Calvin’s 500th birthday.  This is one of many conferences this year that focus on John Calvin and his significant contribution to the church.  This is John Calvin the real man, not John Calvin the straw man of popular criticism.  How many other preachers in history have seen the attention that John Calvin is currently receiving?  Sure, there is a danger of hero worship.  But most of this attention is humbly provided and focused on the needs of the church today.  Yes, the church can greatly benefit from appreciating the contribution of Calvin.

Remembering John Calvin Conference >>>

John Lennox is a mathematician and philosopher of science at Oxford, and he is a staunch defender of Christianity from the attacks of the new atheists.  He has debated the likes of Richard Dawkins.  Lennox brings sound reasoning and powerful arguments to the table as he considers the assaults new atheism has erected in the public eye.  There is quite a bit of audio material  online that is very helpful and interesting.  John’s site includes a number of interviews and debates, as well as a host of short 2 to 6 minute video clips that address a particular issue relevant to the criticisms of atheists.

JohnLennox.org

Dawkins Lennox Debate (the “God Delusion Debate”) hosted at the University of Alabama.

The Feed Trust.org. A resource of mulit-lingual Bible resources that Lennox is involved with.

BBC Interview with John Lennox, interviewer Tim Bearder.

Fixed Point Foundation.  Organization that has organized the debates between Lennox and Dawkins.

Ray Ortlund and Sam Storms speak at this years Clarus Conference at Desert Springs Church in Albuquerque New Mexico.  The subject of the conference the relationship of doctrine with true Christian joy, delighting in God.  Sam Storms considers how we have joy in the doctrine of election, and also considers why having joy in God matters.

Clarus Conference 2009 >>>