Review: 2008 National Founders Conference audio

“Lengthening the Cords and Strengthening the Stakes: Renewing and Planting Local Churches” was the 2008 National Founders Conference title.

As their logo says, Founders is committed to Historic Baptist Principles. During their conferences they highlight those priniciples with solid biblical teaching. That proves true again in this conference. As I listened to it I kept thinking of people that I wanted to give it to.

There are nine parts to the conference. There is slightly more emphasis on church planting than church renewal/reform. Most of the presentations are exceptional. As with any conference, there are a few things that over extend themselves enough to be questionable. But as with any good conference. The encouragement, instruction and direction far outweigh what might be questionable.

Ed Stetzer gives the two main addresses, Lengthening the Cords and Strengthening the Stakes.  He arrouses the need for church planting, especially among those who can propagate sound teaching. Although his sections are the ones I tended to think streched Scripture too far, He still proves that much more focus on church planting is needed in churches today.

Voddie Baucham focuses on Building a Solid Doctrinal Foundation. As much as we can separate the church planting section of this conference from the church reform part, Baucham’s lecture is heart of the church planting section.

Andy Davis’ and Don Whitney’s presentations are the highlights of the conference. They give practical, insightful, experiential application of God’s word. They focus on the reform of the church which easily translates into new church planting as well. These three messages are the reason I recommend this conference so highly.

Audio for “Lengthening the Cords and Strengthening the Stakes: Renewing and Planting Local Churches” is on the 2008 National Founders Conference title webpage.

The Creation Museum, Coal and the First Adam

Some friends, my wife and I visited the Creation Museum this past Saturday. It was a great experience. I enjoyed how much effort and planning and detail they put into the exhibits. For instance, Cain was modeled as a boy with a flute nearby – a hint at Cain’s great-great-great-great-great grandson Jubal who was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe (Genesis 4:21).

Two things that impressed me the most were floating forests and Adam’s age. One explanation for the formation of coal involves forests that floated before the global flood (see also other articles like this). Also, Adam lived for so long that he actually knew Methuselah for 243 years of his life. Imagine the great treasure of revelation this provided. The first man created could have recounted so much information about God. Then Methuselah lived 600 years while Noah was alive, leaving only one person between Adam’s knowledge of God and Noah’s. This is a great testimony to the godly line of descendants God sustained to make sure His word and revelation was secure.

Book Review – “The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God” by D. A. Carson

This is an excellent book. I often struggle with cultivating love. So, it was very helpful to see the depth and differences in the love of God.

Carson explores 5 types of love existing in God: 1) love within the Trinity; 2) love for creation; 3) love for fallen humanity; 4) love for those who are/will-be saved; 5) love for those who are obedient. Carson also reflects on how God’s love interacts with the rest of God’s character. Each section is backed with Scripture and helpful for the cultivation of your own love, especially of God, your spouse, the church, the unsaved and creation.

I would recommend this book to everyone who is familiar with the Bible and seeking to discern what it says about the love of God.

Audio Review – Hebrews series by John Piper

I downloaded this series about two months ago. It is overwhelming to listen to almost 2 years of teaching in 2 months. John Piper does an exceptional job in Hebrews (as elsewhere).

The teaching is different than a word-by-word study. Piper takes the text in sections and draws out the overall teaching. It it not a series to answer every question you have about the book of Hebrews, through he does answer many (especially the hard ones). Instead, Piper acts as a pastor desiring to take his church through Hebrews, highlight the driving force of the book and encourage his congregation to read and study the book too.

The best parts, or the ones I remember most vividly, are chapter 6 (the difficult section), chapter 10’s section on the church and small groups, chapter 12’s discipline by God and chapter 13’s need to go outside the camp.

I would encourage you to listen to this series to take a mature look at some of the great themes of Scripture.

Book Review – “According to Plan” by Graeme Goldsworthy

I read this for my Systematic Theology I class during Spring semester. Mostly, I’d like to recommend it for everyone, especially non-theologians.

This book is great for everyone who wants to know how the Bible fits together, centered around Jesus Christ. The closing couple chapters could be improved by showing more specifically how Jesus’ life and teaching fulfills the themes that are built up through the book but overall a great and worthwhile read.

I recommend it specifically for the every-week church-goer because of how many people are losing sight of the purpose and focus of the Bible. Reading the Bible can become a segmented phenomenon, a compilation of stories based around the theme of moral goodness. The Bible is so much better than that! By centering your reading of the Bible around Jesus Christ and recognizing the themes that Goldsworthy highlights (along with others), you can greatly improve your knowledge of God and what He’s doing, and thus increase your love for Him, His plan to glorify Himself and your participation in it.