Reformation Today 311

A new edition of Reformation Today has recently appeared. This edition marks the hand over from Dutch man Kees van Kralingen to American Aaron Prelock, both of whom I know and who are excellent men. The magazine was founded by the late Errol Hulse.  I have an article in this one, Five things every parent should know. Do seek it out and give it to parents. I think it will encourage them.

Carey Ministry Conference 2020 Session 8

The speaker in our final session was the Dutch Reformation Today editor Kees van Kralingen. He took us to Acts and the references there to the kingdom (see Acts 1:3,6; 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31). Besides the direct references the kingdom theme is common in the book. He made three main points.

1. The Kingdom

The Book of Acts is a very encouraging book about the growth of the gospel in the early days, a growth that goes on well beyond the book itself.

1. Who is the King?

Christ is the King and he is now being crowned with glory and honour. He has sent the Holy Spirit, who is active in the world now.

2. What is his kingdom?

Besides being Lord as he is God, there is also his kingdom rule.

3. How was this kingdom established?

Through the death and resurrection of Christ.
This kingdom is the fulfilment of the prophecies in Isaiah (see Acts 1 nd 13).
2. The means used to extend the kingdom
It is the disciples who are used to extend the kingdom. It is through them that Christ's work is taken forward. The main focus in Acts is on Paul and his unexpected and extraordinary work.
3. The outcome
Despite great oppositon the word spread. The book ends with Paul in Rome and all sorts of people coming to him to hear the gospel. The way th book ends points forward to what is soemtimes called Acts 29 - the ongoing work of the gospel that goes on today.
He ended by sharing some of the encouragements in Europe today with new churches being planted in Holland, large gatherings in France adn Poland where Reformed teaching was given and advances in the Balkans with former Muslims preaching the gospel, etc.

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It has been a good conference. Numbers were perhaps a little low and we lack youth and diversity but it was a good time. We meet again, God willing, January 5-7, 2021, when one of the speakers will be Conrad Mbewe from Zambia.

Carey Conference 2020

More here

Carey 2010 Pics

Snow, Erroll Hulse and Kees Van Kralingen, Bill James and G K Beale (in reverse)

Carey 2010 1

The opening session was taken by an old friend of the conference Kees Van Kralingen from the Netherlands 9from Papendrecht near Dordrecht just south of Rotterdam). His subject was the church and the Word. After a little gentle humour he earthed his remarks firstly in the context of current attacks on the doctrine of the church and of Scripture. He had three points

1.The church in Ephesus

This involved a description of Ephesus itself (250K and where the statue of Artemis was found, the Ionic games took place and where there was much wickedness) and then of the planting of the church by Paul as recorded in Acts. Paul's stay there at first was brief but he was followed by Apollos. Later Paul came for 2 or 3 years and lectured for some time. There was much opposition but soon the gospel had gone out to all of Asia. It is a very encouraging story. Paul's final address to the elders in Acts 20 is also of great interest. It seems that Paul did actually revisit Ephesus despite his fears. We get some idea of Ephesus from 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy as Timothy worked there. Epaphras at Colosse and John also had contacts with the church. In Revelation we read of their later heretical tendencies. The letter also makes clear how there were always problems to be faced.
2. The church and its biblical position and role
1 All we say of the church and what it should do must be dictated by Christ, the Head of the church. Too often today this is forgotten. Think of the images used in Ephesus and elsewhere - the body, the household of faith, Temple, etc.
2 The church is a pattern of the kingdom to come
3 It is the church that is God's instrument for bringing the gospel to the world
Hence the need for holiness, the Word, etc. The ministry of the Word is also very important as we see in Ephesians 4 (the chapter read by Erroll Hulse in the beginning).
3. Application
1 Keep the right view of the church and an emphasis on preaching of various sorts. This includes house to house visitation of different sorts.
2 Do not forget the importance of boldness or forget the importance of emotional involvement.
3 He referred finally to Revelation 2 and the way that the Ephesians forsook the Lord because they ceased to keep Christ as their first love
A short discussion followed.

Carey 2010

The programme for the Carey Conference 2010 is just out.

Greg Beale
The relation of Christology to the Writing of Scripture in John's Apocalypse
The doctrine of inerrancy has been under attack on both sides of the Atlantic. In particular, some deny that Scripture itself contains the following logical deduction: God is inerrant in his
character, and therefore his oral word is inerrant, and thus so also his written word is inerrant But in Revelation we see Christ as one who is unswervingly faithful and true and so is his oral word. Likewise, John is commanded to "write" down God's and Christ's oral word because it is "faithful and true." In taking us through this theme in Revelation, Dr Beale will focus on how the
OT in Revelation illuminates this topic.
The Temple and the Church's Mission
God's people throughout redemptive history have been part of God's invisible and expanding temple. This theme points us towards the goal of history in the new heavens and earth. What You Revere You Resemble, Either of Ruin or Restoration
Dr Beale will show from Isaiah 6:9-13 that we become like what we worship.

Conrad Mbewe
Christian Joy
Joy in service
Perseverance and Progress in the Life of Adoniram Judson

Kees van Kralingen
The Church and the Word: Lessons from the Church in Ephesus
Today the nature and practice of the church is subject of considerable debate. At the same time, the authority, meaning and ministry of the Word of God are questioned. These are not two isolated problems but they affect each other in vital ways. The history of the church in Ephesus challenges and encourages us to apply the biblical doctrine of the church as the body of Christ which has been entrusted with the ministry of His own infallible Word.

John Benton
Softening up on sin?
A look at the Biblical doctrine of sin in the light of modern challenges to its seriousness.

Women’s Track:
Ann Benton
Supporting marriages
Supporting the parents of teenagers

Programme

Tuesday 5th 1.00 Lunch (if pre-booked) 2.30 Kees van Kralingen The Church and the Word 4.00 Tea 4.30 Greg Beale The relation of Christology to the Writing of Scripture 6.30 Evening Meal 8.00 Conrad Mbewe Christian Joy
Wednesday 6th 7.45 Prayer 8.30 Breakfast 9.30 Greg Beale The Temple and the Church's Mission 11.00 Coffee 11. 30 John Benton Softening up on Sin? (Women’s Track: Ann Benton Supporting Marriages) 1.00 Lunch 2.30 Free Time 4.00 Tea 4.30 Prayer & Share 6.30 Evening Meal 8.00 Conrad Mbewe Joy in Service
Thursday 7th 7.45 Prayer 8.30 Breakfast 9.30 Greg Beale What you revere, you resemble 11.00 Coffee 11.30 Q&A with Beale & Mbewe (Women’s Track: Ann Benton Supporting Parents of Teenagers) 1.00 Lunch 2.30 Conrad Mbewe Perseverance and Progress in the Life of Adoniram Judson 4.0 Tea and depart