Shepherds’ Conference recap

The Shepherds’ Conference is always a highlight for me, and one of the things I look forward to is reflecting over what I heard over those days — of assimilating a few ideas that will stimulate me spiritually to greater godliness and provided direction for ministry decisions in coming days. To that end, here are […]

The Shepherds’ Conference is over…

The Shepherds’ Conference is over (much too soon), but ministry awaits at home. God calls us to minister in particular places for particular purposes. And where He has placed us (and me) is to serve in Granbury, TX for His glory. And this ministry is a joy. So, while it was a privilege to be […]

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 […]

Shepherds’ Conference Reflections

A few remaining thoughts after the Shepherds’ Conference — Good preaching. Good is not the correct adjective. How about — exhorting, precise, convicting, penetrating, stimulating, passionate, articulate, helpful, equipping, joyful, consistent, and of course, Biblical. What impacted me in fresh ways this year was the similarities and the distinctions. The preachers were all different — […]

Session 8 – John MacArthur

What about the problem of evil in the world? How about trouble in the world (Lk. 13)? How will we help our people through trouble? Larry King — “I can’t believe in your God because there is just too much trouble in the world.” There is trouble in the entire world — even crime in […]

Session 7 – Steve Lawson

“GUARDING THE GOSPEL” GALATIANS 1:6-10 Every generation of believers has had to fight for the purity and exclusivity of the gospel of Christ. Starting in the 2nd century, Iranaeus, Polycarp, Ignatius, then Cyprian in the 3rd century, Athanasius in the 4th C., Augustine, Wycliffe, Hus, and Luther against the RC church, Calvin against Rome and […]

Session 6 – Phil Johnson

This is an admonition from Paul to Titus, his son in the faith. I chose this text because of the tendency of pastors lately to use filthy jokes, erotic language and the like in preaching today. The “pornification” of the pulpit. The idea is that this is the “tool of contextualization.” But Paul said otherwise. […]

Nathan Busenitz – A New Kind of Fool

WHAT IS THE NEW ATHEISM? Term coined by Ronald Aronson — Wayne State Prof. Key books — Dawkins, Harris, etc. Mohler’s book, Atheism Remix very helpful The New Atheists are evangelistic in intent — see atheism as the only plausible world view for our times Simon Hooper, CNN — religion should not simply be tolerated, […]

Session 5 — Al Mohler

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. Churches are measured by preaching. Where there is no preaching, there is no church. He […]

Session 4 — Rick Holland

Queen Mary — “I fear his [John Knox’s] prayers more than all the armies of Europe.” Knox’s bravery is a distant echo of apostle Paul — the bravest man who ever lived. Note the description of him in Acts 17 — where is the one who has upset the world? Also 1 Cor. 11:23-28. When […]

Shepherds’ Conference audio being posted

Not only has the vault to John MacArthur’s sermons been opened at Grace to You, but all the audio for the Shepherds’ Conferences since 2001 have also been made available for free. In fact, this year’s audio is already being uploaded. Wednesday’s audio is available now and I was told that Thursday’s sessions would be […]

Session 3 — John MacArthur

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS FOR JOHN MacARTHUR’S 40 YEARS OF MINISTRY I just wanted to understand the Bible – I wanted a place where I would have to be disciplined to study it every week. I wanted to understand the New Testament – it’s never been about preaching, but to know about Scripture – what does it […]

Phil Johnson — What is an Evangelical?

[NOTE: This is a very rough set of notes; Johnson went very rapidly and I know there are holes in the notes. I am hopeful that his transcript will be made available through the Shepherds Fellowship.] This session is a bookend to his topic on fundamentalism a couple years ago. There are many various definitions […]

Session 2 — Tom Pennington

1 Corinthians 3:9-17 In 2005 George Barna wrote the book Revolution — one of the worst books I’ve ever read. He pronounced the death of the church — people can fulfill the ideal of the life of Christ despite the fact that they rarely attend church. Is Barna right? Is this a time for a […]

Session 1 – John MacArthur

Rough notes from John MacArthur’s plenary session this morning — Two years ago started Shepherd’s Conference with “Why Every Self-Respecting Calvinist needs to be a dispensationalist.” This year, “Why every self-respecting Calvinist, evangelical, Christian must be a 6-day Creationist” — the theology of creation. It used to be that whatever the Bible taught trumped all […]