Now Back To Work

It was a glorious long weekend. I attended the Ligoniers Partner's Breakfast on Thursday morning. Afterward, R.C. Sproul had a question and answer session with the Ministry Partners for about an hour. It was very informative and R.C. was in rare form answering questions off the cuff with his brillance and humor. After a lunch break, the Preconference session began with R.C. Sproul Jr. and Ken Jones giving powerful messages on Christian Marriage and the Family. R.C.Sproul also spoke, substituting for Joni Eareckson Tada who could not attend the conference due to illness. Then R.C.,R.C. Jr. and Ken Jones held a Question and Answer session on Christian Marriage. All three men spoke from the experience of a great marriage and a deep understanding of Scripture. That night John MacAthur spoke on Christ the Head of the Church in one of the most powerful messages I have ever heard. R.C.Sproul followed up by preaching on "One Holy,Catholic, Apostolic Church". Another powerful and informative message worth listening to over and over again.
Friday was extremely long and exhausting. All the speakers gave wonderful messages. Two that especially stood out was Ligon Duncan's message on the "Invisible Church" and John MacArthur's message on "The Shepherd and His Flock". Both of these messages were expository and directly form Scripture. These above messages were well worth the price of admission to the conference. That evening, the Atlanta Boy Choir performed songs from their new CD and the Westminster Brass played great great music. The evening ended with a question and answer session with Ligon Duncan, John MacArthur, and R.C. Sproul. They all gave very informative answers dealing with proper church discipline, books they were currently reading and the seeker-friendly movement.
Saturday morning began with a powerful message by Sinclair Ferguson on "The Church's Worship". The last 15 minutes of that message may have been the most powerful preaching of the entire conference. It was the best message I ever heard Dr. Ferguson preach and it set the tone for the morning. A question and answer session followed with R.C.Sproul, Sinclair Ferguson and Ligon Duncan. Ken Jones who sat out in the congregation was asked by Sinclair Ferguson to comment on a question concerning Christian Marriage and Jones's biblical comments drew a large applause from the audience. R.C. Sproul closed the conference preaching from Revelation Chapter 19 on "The Church's Destiny". R.C.Sproul again gave another wonderful, powerful, and riveting message concerning our Lord Jesus second coming glory for His Elect Bride the Church.
I hated to see the conference end. For a few glorious days,God's Word was lifted up through powerful exposition by His choice servants and the music redounded to the glory of God. I look forward to next year in March when the theme will be "Defending the Faith" and among the speakers will be Dr. Ravi Zacharias. Lord willing, I will be there to soak in the messages and music. Now, it is back to work.

A Powerful Conference

This was the most significant and spiritually powerful Ligonier Conference I ever attended. Every speaker spoke powerfully and eloquently. The Triune God was lifted up and glorified in the preaching of His Word and the singing of His Saints. The music was glorious by the Westminster Brass and the Atlanta Boy Choir on Friday night. I picked up some great books to read and study including Religous Affections by Jonathan Edwards, and a little booklet by Don Kistler on what we should read the Puritans. A dear friend bought me MacArthur's commentary on Ephesians. This will be the book I will be teaching on for over two months starting in April.
I was thrilled the conference was back at First Baptist Orlando for the first time since the year 2000. It will be there again next year on March 15,16, and 17,2007. The conference will be titled "Defending the Faith". Ravi Zacharias is already announced as a speaker. I hope Joni Eareckson Tada will be back since she couldn't make it for the second year in a row due to illness. Lord willing, I plan to be back next year and soak up the teaching and powerful worship of the Triune God.

It was a long great day

Yesterday was a long great day of spiritual feeding of God's Word from his choice ministers such as MacArthur, Duncan, and Ferguson and Jones. The two sermons that MacAthur gave may have been the two best sermons he has ever given at a Ligonier Conference.
Unfortunately, I fell sick with a sinus cold during the conference and have been taking advil triple action medicine. My friend Dawn Miller has been a blessing to me during this conference. The fellowship we have over these wonderful doctrines of grace is special. To hear and see these great men of God for a few days at Fbc/Orl has been a real treat and spiritual nourishment for my soul. This has been the best Ligonier conference I have ever attended. I pray as it wraps up this morning and ends in the early afternoon, I would just continue feeding my soul on God's Word and to take their teaching and apply it to my life and ministry.

Ligonier National Conference

The Ligonier National Conference got started today at First Baptist Church Orlando. Tonight, John MacArthur preached a most powerful message on Christ the Head of the Church. Dr. R.C.Sproul got up to speak afterwards and he said every Christian should get a tape or cd of MacArthur's sermon and listen to it 15 times!!!!
Dr. Sproul spoke on the Church being one, holy, catholic and apostolic. He defined each word in detail and showed from Scripture how the Church is each one of these words. It was a magnificent start to a three day conference. Tomorrow is a very long and exhausting day, but it will be one in which I will be saturated in great preaching and music. It will be a tremendous dose of the Holy Ghost. I need it for encouragement and food for my soul. Amen.

Change of Plans

I received an email from Betty the other day and she asked if I would consider teaching the book of Ephesians next month. I had already purposed in my heart after praying about this that I would teach what Betty thought was best. I emailed her back and said I would indeed teach Ephesians but I do need 10 weeks because the previous four times I taught this book I needed at least 10 weeks. She emailed back and said that would be great.
I knew I was set on teaching Justification by Faith Alone and Sola Scriptura this spring but it looks like the Lord would have me teach Ephesians and change my plans.

TGIF

Thank goodness it will be Friday tomorrow. Another rugged week at work, while teaching the Word, studying, answering emails, and living the life of a Christian man in a Christless culture. I look forward to the Ligonier National Conference at First Baptist Church Orlando next week, and hearing R.C.Sproul, John MacArthur, Joni Eareckson Tada, and Ligon Duncan. It will be a real treat to hear them and fellowship with other like minded believers. It will refresh my spirit and give me the inspiration to live and proclaim the Word of God with love and boldness. Amen.

A Good Start

It was a good start tonight to begin my Titus course as I dealt with the principles of reading and studying the Bible, zeroing in on Titus, outlining the book and then reciting it from memory. I thank the Lord for the 14 people than attended and look forward to my next 4 weeks as I exposit this wonderful epistle.