A few things particularly well-said at the Shepherds’ Conference

It is impossible to condense a dozen or more sermons and presentations over the three days of the Shepherds’ Conference into any kind of concise thoughts (though I’ve tried).  Some of the impact of the conference is the cumulative effect — a cacophony of voices all singing the same tune.

Yet over the days, there were several statements that were not only particularly well-said, but particularly helpful to me in some manner.  [These are most likely not exact quotes, but my best attempt to get down the essence of what the speaker said.]

• Scripture, not science, is the test of everything.  To determine someone’s fidelity to the Word of God, ask them what they believe about Genesis 1.  If they reject it, ask them where they start believing???!!!  Fidelity to Scripture is the issue. [John MacArthur]
• Those of us who uphold inerrancy cannot equivocate on creation. [John MacArthur]
• The church is the only institution that Christ ever promised to build.  If you want to save the planet, build the true church. [Tom Pennington]
• Don’t ever forget that someday we will stand before Jesus Christ and He will evaluate the character of our teaching and the motives of our hearts.  This ought to be extremely sobering… [Tom Pennington]
• Don’t ever forget that what you are building doesn’t belong to you.  Be careful how you build. [Tom Pennington]
• If you can’t preach your sermons from 10 years ago, there is something wrong with them, because what you have in your hand is an unchanging authority. [John MacArthur]
• It falls on each and every one of us to act like men and defend this gospel.  We must protect this gospel.  It is incumbent on each and every one of us to maintain the high ground of the gospel at any cost. [Steve Lawson]
• Those who corrupt the one true saving gospel contribute to the damnation of souls. [Steve Lawson]
• The hottest place in hell awaits those who have distorted the gospel and taken others with them. [Steve Lawson]
• If we seek to please God it does not matter whom we displease.  And if we displease God, it doesn’t matter whom we do please.  We must seek the approval of almighty God.  Pleasing men and pleasing God are mutually exclusive.  It is an either-or not a both-and proposition.  It cannot be both ways. [Steve Lawson]
• The sovereignty of God is absolute and irresistible.  He is in charge of everything.  Theologians want to get him off the hook, but He doesn’t want to be off the hook. [John MacArthur]
• Preaching is central to the church and the gospel.  Preaching is the means by which God calls people into His kingdom and into the character of His Son.  By the preaching of God’s Word we are preparing people for eternity. [Al Mohler]
• Churches are measured by preaching.  Where there is no preaching, there is no church. [Al Mohler]
• The one thing missing in most pulpits is the one thing most important — the Word of God.  This is life and death.  It is bread to those who are hungry. [Al Mohler]
• Do we care more for our people than our popularity?  Do we have a fatherly affection for them? [Rick Holland]
• Satan always wraps his coils around his people with subtlety.  His ways are never obvious. [Rick Holland]
• Satan’s supreme ambition is to make sure that Jesus Christ does not have supremacy in the human heart. [Rick Holland]
• Does anyone real think any of these things have a sanctifying effect in our churches?  Of course not!  Too many pastors are interested in looking cool to the world.  And too many church members want to be comfortable in the world. [Phil Johnson]
• Sanctified behavior is the essential companion to sound doctrine. [Phil Johnson]
• Your doctrine isn’t really pure if you don’t impart it to others in a dignified way. [Phil Johnson]