Nashville Conference on the Church & Theology 2009

John MacArthur and Bruce Ware join Bryon Yawn at the 2009 Nashville Conference.

Right off the bat MacArthur delivers some of the best messages I’ve heard this year.  He begins in session one by reflecting over the core convictions of his ministry that he formed early on and have not let go of since.  These convictions happen to be Trinitarian:  The Glory of God, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit in Scripture.

There is so much to talk about regarding his messages.  But perhaps the most needed, is he relates the story of when he met a ministry friend who told him about this incredible book about how IBM was structured, and why pastors needed these lessons.  MacArthur asked this man, “Why, is the Word of God deficient somewhere?”

MacArthur also talks about why he does church discipline.  Again, early in his ministry other pastors told him he would empty his church.  It never happened. If you are a church planter or pastor who buys a lot of contemporary books on how to “do church” you need to listen to a pastor who saw God build His church apart from all the books, programs, polls, and expert opinions.  Listening to MacArthur is like a breath of fresh air in a day when the church looks more to Starbucks for it’s ecclesiology than it does the Apostle Paul.

Above Every Name pt. 1, John MacArthur

Above Every Name pt. 2, John MacArthur

Above Every Name pt. 3, John MacArthur

Beholding the God of Merciful Holiness; Transcendence, Immanence & Ministry, Bruce Ware

An Overwhelming Greatness, Bryon Yawn

Beholding the God of Self-Sufficient Fullness; Humility, Satisfaction & Ministry, Bruce Ware

Beholding the God of Sovereign Supremacy; Good, Evil & Ministry, Bruce Ware

Slaves of Christ, John MacArthur

NCCT 09 >>>

Bruce Ware: Big Truth for Young Hearts

Al Mohler invites Bruce Ware onto his radio program.  Ware has written a book that encourages and guides parents in teaching their children systematic theology, called Big Truth for Young Hearts.  Mohler and Ware have a very enlightening conversation about Ware’s conviction and practice of teaching children systematic theology.  Al observes this is one of those books that is unusual in the market, and when you see it you can’t believe there aren’t more like it.  Mohler and Ware talk about the need for adults to give more credit to the ability of children to learn challenging theological concepts rather than watering them down to moralities.

Big Truth for Young Hearts >>>

Refocus 2007 ‘Christ: No Other Name’

The Refocus Preaching and Theology Conference for Pastors has the goal to unite pastors around historic evangelicalism and to equip them to preach the full counsel of God in our sadly relativistic age.

John Piper, J. I. Packer, Bruce Ware, Mark Driscoll and more gathered in British Columbia for this April conference.  The main sessions are now online, but unfortunately they are availble only in streaming video, and Packer is not included. Perhaps in the coming days mp3’s will be made available.

Refocus Conference streaming video page >>>

New Attitude 2006 Conference on MP3

 New Attitude Conferences are brought by Joshua Harris, pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Sovereign Grace Ministries. They are geared toward singles and young married couples, but relevant to all ages.

Aside from the usual NA suspects, Mark Dever, Mike Bullmore, Bruce Ware and Al Mohler joined the ranks as they rallied under the banner of ‘Humble Orthodoxy.’ 

Having just published his excellent two volume Bible survey ‘Promises Made’ and ‘Promises Kept’, Mark Dever brings a message ‘The Story: Understanding the Story line of the Bible.’  Justin Taylor weighs in with a very good analysis of the Emerging church movement.  Al Mohler draws us to consider ‘Cultural Discernment from a Biblical Worldview.’

One of my big surprises was being introduced to Mike Bullmore.  Bullmore brought two excellent messages, one about applying the Gospel to all of life, and a second about feeding on God’s Word.  I hope to see more from this pastor of Crossway Community Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Sovereign Grace store is offering the entire MP3 set on CD for a great price>>>

Particular Redemption and The New Perspective with John Piper

Mark Dever at 9 Marks has brought in John Piper and Bruce Ware for some enlightening discussions.

John Piper and Bruce Ware discuss the fine points of limited atonement which is better termed ‘particular redemption’.  Piper also relates his differences with N.T. Wright and the New Perspective on Paul which challenges the historical understanding of the doctrine of Justification by Faith.

Piper also relates a little bit about Bethlehem Baptist Church’s Bethlehem Institute.  He also discusses why he doesn’t like the new term ‘missional’, and relates how the church should affect the culture, including a thoughtful discussion on abortion.

Particular Redemption, The New Perspective and More with John Piper (and Bruce Ware)>>>

BiblicalTraining.org offers seminary level courses

Biblical Training.org
A collation of many different seminary level classes taught by excellent teachers such as Bruce Ware, Timothy Tennent and the late Ronald Nash.  Bill Mounce also teaches his excellent courses including his Greek classes.