Catalyst Conference 2023 Day 3

 

Our final day was as good as the previous ones. We again started with David Gibson in Psalm 23 and Stafford Carson on pastoralia, this time on disicpleship and discipline. Sinclair Freguson was again excellent on the pastor as theologian. He made the point that one way or another we have to get systematic theology into our people, which I have always felt and so used various means to inculcate it. The final paper from Jonathan Gibson was on the great commission. Apart from one jarring note of Presbyterian polemic (fair enough in such a conference) that was great. The highlight of the day was perhaps when Dr Ferguson related that well known Warfield story with which he concludes his article “Is the Shorter Catechism Worth While?” which was originally in The Westminster Teacher (April 1910) but that we all know from his Selected Shorter Writings (ed John E. Meeter P&R 1970) Vol 1 pp 383, 384.

What is “the indelible mark of the Shorter Catechism”? We have the following bit of personal experience from a general officer in the United States army. He was in a great western city at a time of intense excitement and violent rioting. The streets were over-run daily by a dangerous crowd. One day he observed approaching him a man of singularly combined calmness and firmness of mien, whose very demeanour inspired confidence. So impressed was he with his bearing amid the surrounding uproar that when he had passed he turned to look back at him, only to find that the stranger had done the same. On observing his turning the stranger at once came back to him, and touching his chest with his forefinger, demanded without preface: “What is the chief end of man?” On receiving the countersign, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever” - “Ah!” said he, “ I knew you were a Shorter Catechism boy by your looks!” “Why, that was just what I was thinking of you,” was the rejoinder.

It is worth while to be a Shorter Catechism boy. They grow to be men. And better than that, they are exceedingly apt to grow to be men of God. So apt, that we cannot afford to have them miss the chance of it. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Catalyst Conference 2023 Day 2

Another good day at IPC Ealing for the Catalyst Conference. David Gibson again kicked us off with more from Psalm 23 - this time God our companion though the Valley of the Shadow of death. He quoted Spurgeon saying that we shuld "Observe that it is not walking in the valley, but through the valley. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality." This may be right but I'm not sure it stands up exegetically. Stafford Carson (above) followed and was fine again, this time on our calling as ministers to be servants and stewards.

In the afternoon because things have been rearranged we ended up with a double dose of Sinclair Ferguson adn that was fine by all of us. In his follow up to yesterday he spoke on preaching the Word and then for the final session took us through parts of the directory for worship on preaching emphasising individuality and preaching Christ. Another very good day.

Catalyst Conference 2023 Day 1

It was good to be once again at the Catalyst Conference in Ealing with the usual crowd plus some newbies. David Gibson started us off from Psalm 23, just concentrating really on The LORD is. Stafford Carson spoke after the break helpfully on some of the divisions and disagreemnets that can plague church life. After lunch, Sinclair Ferguson on what we are to be as ministers, as men, was a highlight. Matthew Roberts ended the day with something positive on the cult of self that plagues our day. Hot day, I was tired at the end of it.

(David Gibson had a quote via Spurgeon where someone speaks of shepherds he saw in his own day:

The shepherds themselves had none of that peaceful and placid aspect which is generally associated with pastoral life and habits. They looked more like warriors marching to the battle-field - a long gun slung from the shoulder, a dagger and heavy pistols in the belt, a light battle-axe or ironheaded club in the hand. Such were the equipments; and their fierce flashing eyes and scowling countenances showed but too plainly that they were prepared to use their weapons at any moment.

An interesting insight into pastoral ministry!)

IPC Catalyst Conference Day 2

On day 2 it was  slightly hotter but the same sort of programme was followed. We began with Sinclair Ferguson again, on the mind of Christ from Philippians 2. Soul stirring stuff. Jonathan Landry Cruse, our new friend from Kalamazoo spoke helpfully on the content of worship, advocating plenty of reading and preaching and calling for a return to the practice of reading the commandments, confession and absolution and the use of the benediction. This was stimulating, although I see the danger of getting bound to a formal liturgy. After lunch it was Jonty Rhodes again with a very full exposition of the priesthood of Christ. The final session, from David Gibson, was difficult to sit through in some ways but worth hearing. It was on baptism from a Presbyterian point of view. A former credobaptist Mr Gibson spoke with the fervency of a convert. He was willing more or less to concede that the Greek word does mean baptism and that there were no children involved in the household baptisms in the New testament. I thought his most telling point was that Acts is not normative, which removes much baptism. I notice, like others, that it was when children came along that he and his wife became Presbyterians. It is not unusual to come across poorly taught Baptists who are won over at such a time. If our friends had known that their children were sanctified by dint of being born into a Christian home (1 Corinthians 7:14) they may not have bothered with the water, perhaps. Anyway good to know how Presbyterians see it.

IPC Catalyst Conference Day 3

Jonty Rhodes

David Gibson

Mark Earngey

Once again, on this third day, we followed the same pattern with Jonty Rhodes followed by Dick Gaffin with Sinclair Ferguson after lunch and, this time, both David Gibson and Mark Earngey. Dr Gaffin spoke on the Spirit and prayer from Romans 8 and Dr Ferguson on the Spirit and holiness. Again these were excellent. The opening and closing sessions were very practical and perhaps less attractive in some ways. It is difficult to apply theology without sounding rather pedestrian. This is an observation rather than a criticism. The liturgical emphasis was appreciated but needs more nuancing I would think.

Abraham Conference at John Owen Centre Day 2

Messers Salter (seated) and Gibson (standing) 

We are a bit behind here but the second day at the Abraham conference was a fine one. We opened with a paper from David Shaw of Oak Hill and the whole matter of Abraham and justification by faith. He helpfully brought us up to speed with regard to the current debate with plenty of references to Wright and Barr et al. Perhaps the one failure was to relate this more directly to Abraham and not just to Romans 4 but this was a worthwhile paper. We then tried something a little different as David Gibson and Martin Salter presented papers arguing the paedo- and credo- Baptist positions respectively. Again Abraham was slightly lost in all this but it was a worthwhile exercise even if it shifted nobody's view. Dr Robert Strivens the LTS principal rounded off with an expansive and final paper on Abraham and Paul, arguing that Paul was consciously working out the promises made to Abraham.

I guess when we looked at Adam and Noah it was a little easier to focus simply on them and their times. Both being the first man of creation any extrapolation is both universal and individual to me. Abraham, on the other hand, is the father of the faithful and perhaps counter-intuitively that makes him a much bigger figure, one not so easily surveyed in a two day conference. Perhaps it will be possible to return to this towering figure another time and look at Abraham the prophet, Abraham the liar, Abraham and the land, etc, etc.

The recordings will be online in a few weeks I understand and a conference is planned for next year September 7 and 8.