The main addresses at the conference this year were given by David (Norman) Jones of Hobart, Tasmania. Converted under Peter Trumper in his native Pembrokeshire, David was a student in Aber then served in Crickhowell and Grove Chapel, Camberwell, before heading south several years ago. He chose to tackle chapters from Romans - 9-11 and 15. The messages were all simply structured and liberally sprinkled with illustrations, anecdotes, quotations and personal references. The style was self-effacing and warm with moments of passion. Perhaps some of the exposition could have been closer but given the large amount of Scripture covered it was done well. 1. Romans 9 was on Paul's Duties, Dilemma (Has God's Word failed? Are God's ways fair? Is God's will free?) and finally his Delight. This 70 minute message was probably the one I enjoyed most (perhaps because it was fresh, not having heard David for some 20 years). It was well crafted and covered important ground on election in a winsome, searching and evangelistic way.
2. Romans 10 was then the counterpart sermon looking at Jewish unbelief and applying it to those present. The Jews (1) Had a foundation but stumbled over it (2) Had a zeal but it was misdirected (3) Had a Word from God but they complicated it and (4) Had messengers sent to them but refused to listen. Here the post-millennialism and evangelistic zeal came through quite strongly.
3. Romans 11 is a controversial chapter, of course. David Jones pointed out that (1) Israel's fall is not total (2) not pointless and (3) not final. He then (controversially) spoke, as people often do, of a great revival among the Jews. I could not see that in the text, however, sadly.
4. This morning we skipped on to Romans 15:14ff and the work of proclaiming, pioneering, partnering and praying. This was a challenging final message that very appropriately ended a helpful series of popular expositions that was both faithful and stirring.
