Ummm . . . There Have Been a Lot of Answers,

by mdever

So I/we will need a little more time to sort through these!   We'll get back to you . . .  Soon!

Thanks for your understanding!

Posted on March 2, 2008 | Link to this Post | Comments

T 4 Free

by mdever

Hey Friends,

Time for some fun! For the next few weeks, we're going to give away a free T4G 08 registration on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to whomever gives the best answer to a question we post.

Today's question is 

If you could have anyone from history join the cast of speakers at T4G, who would it be and why?

Here are the contest rules:

1. Questions will be posted on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
2. Post your answer in the "comments" section.
3. Your answer must be accompanied with a working email address.
4. Each question will remain open for 48 hours.
5. The winner's name and answer will be posted sometime after that 48 hour period.
6. Winner receives free registration for him/herself or a friend.
7. Responses must be in 100 words or less.

Any takers?

Posted on February 29, 2008 | Link to this Post | Comments

Christianity and Power

by lduncan

Often we hear people say that Christianity dispenses with the very idea of power. That power is not a category deployed in the Christian life. That the true Christian eschews the exercise of power. This is wrong. And clearly unbiblical.

Yes, Christianity objects to the worldly concept and usage of power, but it does not object to the idea of power itself. The Gospel is power. Truth is power. The Spirit empowers.

No, power is a vital category in Christian life and experience. It is just that the power is of an utterly different kind, of a different origin, operates by a different standard, is based on a different dynamic, acts with a different motive and aims to a different end than does worldly power.

Posted on February 21, 2008 | Link to this Post | Comments

Response From a Reformed Charismatic

by cjmahaney

Excellent post my friend!

My response will be even more brief.

I completely agree with you!

And for further study on this important topic I recommend:

"The Morning I Heard the Voice of God" by John Piper

"Thou Our Guide" chapter 20 in Knowing God by J.I. Packer

"Gudiance" chapter 6 in God's Plan for You by J.I. Packer

"Finding the Will of God" by Bruce Waltke

Posted on February 20, 2008 | Link to this Post | Comments

The Bondage of "Guidance"

by mdever

This will be brief.  The way many Christians practice seeking God's will before they make a decision amounts to spiritual and emotional bondage.  Christ has died to give us liberty and freedom (Rom. 6; Gal. 5; I Peter 2).  We can only know the truth about God's will by what His Spirit reveals to us.  He has revealed God's mind authoritatively in His Word.  We should give ourselves to study what He has revealed.  Personal reading, meditation, sermons, friends and books are all available to us to help us to better understand God's revealed will.

I do believe that God's Spirit will sometimes lead us subjectively.  So, for instance, I am choosing to spend my life here on Capitol Hill because my wife & I sensed in 1993 that that is what God wanted us to do.  However, I realized then (and now) that I could be wrong about that supposition.  Scripture is NEVER wrong.  I was free in 1993 to stay in England, or teach at a seminary, either of which would have been delightful opportunities.  I understand that I was free to make those choices.  But I chose, consulting Scripture, friends, wisdom, and my own subjective sense of the Lord's will, to come to DC.  And even if I were wrong about that, I had (and have) that freedom in Christ to act in a way that is not sin.  And I understand my pastoring here not to be sin.  So I am free.  Regardless of the sense of leading I had.

Most decisions I've made in my Christian life, I've made with no such sense of subjective leading.  Maybe some would say that this is a mark of my spiritual immaturity.  I understand this to be the way a redeemed child of God normally lives in this fallen world before the fullness of the Kingdom comes, Christ returns, and immediate, constant, unbroken fellowship with God is re-established.

A subjective sense of leading--when we've asked for it (as in James 1:5 we ask for wisdom) and when God freely gives it--is wonderful.  The desire for such a subjective sense of leading, however, is too often, in contemporary evangelical piety, binding our brothers and sisters in Christ, paralyzing them from enjoying the good choices that God may provide, and causing them to wait wrongly before acting. 

Beware of the bondage of "guidance."

Posted on February 20, 2008 | Link to this Post | Comments

Sweet Reminders Bode Well

by mdever

Short videos at the T4G website are being posted of highlights from the 2006 T4G.  Thank God for His kindnesses to us.  Watch these as they show up.  Send them to friends as encouragements and short reminders.  The CJ clip that's just been put up reminds me very much of the whole talk, and challenges me even now as I'm writing this.  Pray for our gathering again in Louisville.  We can't assume that because the last gathering was so blessed by God that this one will be.  Let us pray.  And remember.

Posted on February 4, 2008 | Link to this Post | Comments

Registration for T4G 2008 closes in a little over a month

by mdever

It's been a busy two years, but registration for T4G 2008 will close (DV) in less than 50 days.  We've tried to get a much larger venue than last time so that EVERYBODY that wants to come can come.  It's still going to be aimed at pastors and church leaders, and structured like last time.  New books to give away (which won't be announced until you get them--we gotta have a little mystery!!!). 

In order to help you prepare, perhaps decide to come, and either way  pray for us, I'm going to begin asking the various speakers what they're speaking on, and why.

And first up, our own Ligon Duncan.

Ligon, I know you're busy, with Al down there right now, but what are you planning to speak on at T4G this year, and why?

Posted on February 3, 2008 | Link to this Post | Comments

Ligonier Streaming T4G '06

by lduncan

I have just heard from the good folks at Ligonier Ministries that they’re streaming the T4G’06 messages and panels on the Ligonier site. It started last Friday and will run sequentially on weekdays until the end. These messages will live on for 45-days after they air. Check them out at - <http://www.ligonier.org/rym_archive.php>

For instance, check out:

The Pastor's Understanding of His Own Role
By Mark Dever
Basing his message on 1 Corinthians, Mark Dever discusses the three marks of a faithful pastor. Such a pastor has a cross-centered message, a cross-centered life, and cross-centered followers.

Here.

And

Panel Discussion #1
By the T4G posse
The Together for the Gospel Panel Discussions provide an opportunity to hear the speakers discuss the themes of the conference informally amongst themselves.

Here.

Posted on January 29, 2008 | Link to this Post | Comments

Looking Toward T4G

by mdever

In case you haven't seen the T4G ads floating around, here are four of them!

Posted on December 18, 2007 | Link to this Post | Comments

Thabiti on Elders

by lduncan

If you are thinking about what the Bible teaches about the leadership of the church, or if you have upcoming officer elections and you are wanting to inform both the candidates and the congregation of the qualifications of biblical eldership, then Thabit Anyabwile has a treasure trove of useful information nd wise counsel, here:

Posted on December 14, 2007 in Leadership | Link to this Post | Comments

Decision Time

by mdever

Whoa.  Look what's still here!  It looks like nobody has stuck their head in here for a while.  I bet we'll get more activity as the 08 conference closes in.  We'll see.

Anyway, speaking of the 08 conference, I've just noticed it's Oct. 26.  That means that in just a few days, the cost of attending T4G goes up $50.  It's easier on us to plan ahead of time, so we, like all conference organizers, give a discount to those who do our teams the favor of letting us do more of our planning ahead of time by registering early.  In our case, it's worth enough to give everyone who does that by Oct. 31 a lower price.  I just wanted to point this out to you, in case you knew you were planning to come, and just hadn't gotten around to registering.  Now's the time to do it. 

Just think, if you're planning to bring your staff of 5 along with yourself, that would be a $300 savings for the 6 of you together!  It's worth your taking a few minutes to consider if it would be better for you to pay for the extra time to consider (which many may need to do), or if you fully intend to come and just hadn't gotten around to registering.  If that second one is you, a little work now could save you a chunk of change.  It's decision time! 

Posted on October 26, 2007 | Link to this Post | Comments

Hotel News for T4G08

by mdever

For those of you looking to connect with other Together for the Gospel 2008 attendees ahead of time, we have created a Google Group where you can post  messages back and forth.  Feel free to use this as a way to post interest in sharing accommodations, find others in your area coming to the conference, etc!

Link:

http://groups.google.com/group/t4g08

Posted on October 17, 2007 | Link to this Post | Comments