Keep in mind that while I'm normally a happy little note taker, towards the end of the conference (really, after the first day of not sleeping) I was trying to just focus, and give the coffee in my veins a fighting chance.
“Unwise Men Proclaiming the Wisdom of God” – 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
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1 Corinthians 1:18-25
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
It pleased God through the folly of what we preach.... to save. We must preach it, though called foolish by the fools. They do not know because they are not called.
They all (Greeks and Jews) demanded signs and seeked wisdom, but we preach Christ and it makes NO SENSE to them. They overwhelmingly desired supernatural signs and wisdom. Why did Jesus have a massive following first, but only a handful in his last days? The signs and wonders drew their attention, but the Gospel truth was not easy to accept and they left his side.
Session #2: Tim Challies
“The Two Books” – Psalm 19
Two books?
Bible in one hand, everything else in the other.
Everything must be held in comparison to God Word, the Truth.
Not only did God provide the bible, but also His created world. They are not in contrast to the other. Two different books that show God's glory. Singing and writing Psalms about nature is not reserved solely for the poets and artists and hymn writers. If you have eyes to see and ears to hear and can feel the wind then you are reading the book of God's creation. David tells us to read Both of God's books.
Psalm 19:1-14
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord , my rock and my redeemer.
Rock
Will not change, or leave. Can lean on depend, rely fully.
Redeemer
Fully able and willing to save you and answer your prayers.
Bible in one hand, everything else in the other.
Will not change, or leave. Can lean on depend, rely fully.
Redeemer
Fully able and willing to save you and answer your prayers.
- The Book of Nature
- Verses 1-5. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
- A natural Revelation. God creates certain things or truths about himself from nature.
- This book is read by EVERYONE. No one is illiterate to the world, we all live in and experience it. The heavens declare Him, creation is declaring God. No one has an excuse, no one 'misses' it. We are without excuse.
- EVERYONE knows there is a God. They might choose to deny it, deny Christ, but we all know it. Since creation, God has shown all the world that he exists.
- The Word of God
- David also loves the Word of God.
- Verses 6-12. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgressions.
- The Word is perfect. the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
- Read it to be wise. the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
- The Bible is meant to generate joy. the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
- Read it to have clarity. the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes
- Read it to be clean. the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
- Read it to be Godly. the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
- David calls this book precious, more than gold. David only had a small sound of this book and called it precious. How much more should we call it precious, as we have it in its entirety. We know the ending, the whole story.
- David isn't just making a wish.
- Wishes: Things we want but do not actually work for. Do we treat prayer like this? Request and implore God for something, but don't intend to do any work. God does answer prayer, but through our actions. Do you pray for patience? God will provide opportunities to develop patience.
- David knows that after praying he needs a plan of action. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord , my rock and my redeemer. David wants to glorify God, that is his plan. He needs God to do this but knows that his sinful nature prevents this. He prays that the representation he gives to others be clean, and knows it's starts within himself.
- David basically is praying: "I cannot be who I want to be, who you want me to be without Your help"
The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.” But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
Jesus: Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. This was said to the Jews. He made it pain to see that he was there.
“The Use of the Words of God in Preaching”
Session #5: Voddie Baucham
“Expository Apologetics – Part I”
Apologetics is....
Christian worldview vs. Worldly worldview
Knowing what we believe, why, and being able to communicate that to others effectively.
Our (wrong) view about apologetics:
Christian worldview vs. Worldly worldview
- For elite Christians
- For people who understand philosophy and logic and science and debate
- Intimate knowledge of heresies and cults
- You need to be edgy and confident or arrogant
Exodus 9:16
But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.
God knew pharaoh was going to have a hardened heart.
Only certain pastors need to know apologetics? NO. It's for Every believer.
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
- Biblical
- Simple
- Conversational
Apostle Paul = Original Apologist
Arguement: People, when saying the Bible said this or that, or that it contradicts itself.
Answer: "Oh yeah? That's true huh? Find it in the Bible. 2nd Hesitations?"
Everything must be read in the appropriate context. Don't pick 10 verses and pit them against the others. Read the entire book. Learn about the culture in the city at the time. That verse on submission is Not telling women to be beaten, downtrodden wives!
Answer: "So, you don't believe in this sword? Let me prove it exists to you."
If you don't use the Bible, you admit there a higher authority than the Bible. Paul always used scripture as his response with the Jews, with Greeks he gives the Gospel.
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”
- Easy to memorize
- Nicene, Apostles, Affirmation creeds, etc
Confessions
- Unite believers
- Distinguish protestants from non believers
What is Catechism?
Learning through a series of questions and answers
Greatest apologetics in the world.
Learning through a series of questions and answers
Greatest apologetics in the world.
“The Great Commission – The Impossible / Possible Task”
Ezekiel 37:1-10
The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.
The spirit of God was once in him, but the hand of God was removed and he was dropped in a valley of sin and total depravity.
And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God , you know.”
Absolutely no hope to be seen when without God, and we must aknowledge that. And yet, know that nothing is too difficult for God. Why do we assume that this here is it? That God can't bring this world back? We sit in our house and make a fortress because we think it's all downhill from here, not like admitting defeat, but just trying to hold our ground. We have to see this truth, so we stop trying to do what is right in our own eyes, and rely fully on God and his gospel.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord . Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord .” So I prophesied as I was commanded.
He adds nothing and adds nothing to the Word of God. He did as commanded. The gift to do these things is the greatest honor.
And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.
He (discerning pastor) looked for fruits, a inward reality of repentance. We (preachers) can work for His glory, but only God can make men alive. We need to realize this. Only He meets bone to bone and adds sinew and flesh. Most importantly, only God replaces a heart of stone with one of flesh.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God : Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.
- It must be God's Word, without any of ours. None of my input. But to do this, you must dwell in His shadow, completely in his will. And know that the end, apex, height if all is the glory of God.
- It must be truthful about man's condition. The ARE dry dead bones. You can't downplay the total depravity of man. Do this, and you downplay the glory of the Gospel.
- It must be commanding and compelling. You must beg and implore men to repent and turn to God.
Ezekiel 36:24-27
I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Session #7: James White
“Harmonization Isn’t For Wimps: Allowing Ancient Texts to Speak For Themselves Is Hard Work”
What is harmonization?
Jesus want just likely not speaking Koine Greek, but Aramaic.
Which is it?
Different audiences, viewpoints. Mark tells it more fully, Matthew is more concise. Why is Matthew summarizing? Why does Matthew choose to focus on certain aspects and not on other? Why does Mark tell us names, provide descriptors and expand with what was spoken exactly?
Telescoping (as in, a pirate "Land-Ho!" telescope)
Why does Matthew say she has died, when Mark said she is near death? Mark spelled it ALL it, Matthew cut to the chase.
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But..... what about the date discrepancy during the Passover meal???!?!!
John 19:14
Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
No.
Mark 15:25 ESV
And it was the third hour when they crucified him.
versus
Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
Murdering vs. Killing. (KJV contradiction)?
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Colossians 1:14
KJV uses blood, NIV is "bloodless"
Intertextual Context... what?
Jeremiah 31:32 Vs. Hebrews 9:8
not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord .
By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing
“Preach the Word”
2 Timothy 4:1-5
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
It is the will of God to save the lost, through the preaching of his word. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of Christ.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Rightly handle the Word, not using it to suit your desires and picking verses for your agenda
be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry
Preach it to the lost, but teach it to the saved. Don't try to pack pews. Work to make disciples.
“The Place of the Word of God in Saving Faith”
Session #10: Voddie Baucham
“Expository Apologetics – Part II”
People think their life exists so they can consume and enjoy and be good people. If there a problem, the world says that they are either insufficiently educated, insufficiently governed, or insufficiently medicated.
Apologetics = Pre-evangelism. Get to the Gospel.
Metanarrative
Colossians 1:15-23
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[b] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
- Who am I?
- Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
- Why am I here?
- Colossians 1:16
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all tings were created through him and for him.
- What is wrong with the world?
- SIN. Colossians 1:21-22
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
- How can what is wrong be made right?
- CROSS. Colossians 1:21, 23
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Session #11: Steven Lawson“The War on the Word”
Genesis 3:1-7
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
- Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
- From the dawn of history, the authority of the Word of God has been the primary aim by the enemy. When the Word of God is assaulted, everything else holy has been compromised.
- First crack in the dam, casting doubt into the follower of God
- He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
- Satan misquoted God's Word.
- He seeks to show God in a wrong light by sewing seeds of doubt .
- And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
- Eve has no clue that she's being manipulated.
- She drops the Word 'Any' tree and takes away from God Word. She softens what God says.
- She takes away God's command to not touch the tree 'lest you die'.
- But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
- Satan denies the authority and integrity of Gods Word.
- What a lie. Like God? He knows that's an utter lie. Satan promises us humans God-like divinity. Sounds like Mormons.....
- Catholics believe that men can become Gods, sharing the divinity.
- So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
- Eve believed Satan. She saw the tree not as something to avoid, but Desired It. As delightful to her eyes, that it would make her wise.
- She wants what God has put a restriction. She decided that she must have misunderstood God. That the serpent must be telling the truth.
- She now has another worldview, a liberated woman.
- She corrupted her husband, but... he saw this entire conversation unfold. And did not chastise our correct his wife, who came from him. He obeyed her.
- Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
- And, as God said, they immediately died spiritually. Their time alive immediately became limited, aging began. Sickness began.
- ANY departure from scripture is a DEPARTURE from God.
Session #12: David Miller
“The Inerrancy of the Bible”
1 Peter 1:23-25
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
Session #13: Paul Washer
“The Essential Elements of the Great Commission”
Matthew 28:16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the naAme of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
“The God-Breathed Word”
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Speaker Bios
Josh Buice (@JoshBuice) serves as the senior pastor of Pray’s Mill Baptist Church – the host church for the G3 Conference. He writes a blog (Delivered By Grace) and has a passion for expository preaching and sound biblical theology.
So tell me...
Did you find any specific speaker/session to be a favorite?
Have you heard of these speakers before?
and...
Let me know if you have any upcoming conferences that I should know about, it seems I'm a big fan!
Sounds like a great conference and a wealth of great information! Visiting today from #RaRaLinkup!
ReplyDeleteIt was, and we're looking into next year already :)
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