It was good yesterday to be at the third and final day of the Evangelical Ministry Assembly at St Helen's, Bishopsgate. I enjoy seeing many familiar faces and many (probably more) unfamiliar ones.
The pattern for each day was similar. Again David Jackman began. He has looked at Psalms 44, 86 and, today, turned to Psalm 108, an interesting composite Psalm that uses Psalms 57 and 60 to form a new work Kidner called a psalm for new initiatives or adventures of faith. Jackman's approach was to give a lot of background then seek to apply it to us. As ever the application seemed weakest.
The pattern for each day was similar. Again David Jackman began. He has looked at Psalms 44, 86 and, today, turned to Psalm 108, an interesting composite Psalm that uses Psalms 57 and 60 to form a new work Kidner called a psalm for new initiatives or adventures of faith. Jackman's approach was to give a lot of background then seek to apply it to us. As ever the application seemed weakest.
He is soon to retire from his role with Cornhill after 19 years so Dick Lucas (who seems now to have gone into reverse on the aging front) gave a brief but warm valedictory. Later Adrian Reynolds was introduced. He has a new role too along with Vaughan Roberts (though he will remain at St Ebbe's). Adrian told me he hopes to be involved at East London Tabernacle.
The second session each day has been taken by Don Carson, who I'd not heard for a while. It was refreshing him to hear him again. He spoke on prayer. He made the following basic but important points:
1. We need our prayer to be steeped in the Word of God (illustrated from Nehemiah 9)
2. We need our prayer to be steeped in biblical theology (illustrated obliquely by pointing out the connections between Exodus 32-34, which he said turns on at least five things [the end of divine revelation regarding the tabernacle; the play on glory and goodness; God's covenant love, his grace and truth; the giving of the law; the fact that no-one has ever seen God] and John 1.
3. We need our prayer steeped in the authority of Scripture (ie its examples, its eschatological vision, its ultimate goal
4. We need our prayer to frankly acknowledge its ignorance of God's will
In the afternoon we had the second of two sessions from Richard Coekin looking at Jonah and this time considering God the evangelist. It was good to have Jonathan Edwards quoted, Andrew Fuller referenced and Sandemaianism condemned but one is uneasy when repentance is said to be a matter of will and church growth techniques are commended.
The final session from Vaughan Roberts turned out to be an address (of sorts) on Charles Simeon (born 250 years ago this year).
The new leader of the PT made the following points in the light of Simeon's story.
1. Let the Bible speak
2. Make sure you get your message across (Simeon called for unity in design, perspicuity in diction and simplicity in delivery).
3. Expect opposition
4. Think strategically (He may not have used such a term but he was committed to bringing the gospel to the nation. He was keen to recruit Cambridge men to the ministry. A recent biographer mentions 600 won to the work by Simeon. He set up a trust to get men appointed)
5. Have a global vision
6. Be Bible Christians (Avoid being system Christians we were warned).
7. Stick at it
So basically no change at PT then. We sung two lovely hymns by Chris Idle (who was present) and Timothy Dudley-Smith and two collections of unconnected phrases about God. We were accompanied by the organ and a praise band (sometimes together!) but just now and again we were allowed to sing a capella. Brilliant! These are good people but I despair of their movement ever getting to grips with experiential Calvinism, Puritanism or the idea of preaching to the conscience.
The second session each day has been taken by Don Carson, who I'd not heard for a while. It was refreshing him to hear him again. He spoke on prayer. He made the following basic but important points:
1. We need our prayer to be steeped in the Word of God (illustrated from Nehemiah 9)
2. We need our prayer to be steeped in biblical theology (illustrated obliquely by pointing out the connections between Exodus 32-34, which he said turns on at least five things [the end of divine revelation regarding the tabernacle; the play on glory and goodness; God's covenant love, his grace and truth; the giving of the law; the fact that no-one has ever seen God] and John 1.
3. We need our prayer steeped in the authority of Scripture (ie its examples, its eschatological vision, its ultimate goal
4. We need our prayer to frankly acknowledge its ignorance of God's will
In the afternoon we had the second of two sessions from Richard Coekin looking at Jonah and this time considering God the evangelist. It was good to have Jonathan Edwards quoted, Andrew Fuller referenced and Sandemaianism condemned but one is uneasy when repentance is said to be a matter of will and church growth techniques are commended.
The final session from Vaughan Roberts turned out to be an address (of sorts) on Charles Simeon (born 250 years ago this year).
The new leader of the PT made the following points in the light of Simeon's story.
1. Let the Bible speak
2. Make sure you get your message across (Simeon called for unity in design, perspicuity in diction and simplicity in delivery).
3. Expect opposition
4. Think strategically (He may not have used such a term but he was committed to bringing the gospel to the nation. He was keen to recruit Cambridge men to the ministry. A recent biographer mentions 600 won to the work by Simeon. He set up a trust to get men appointed)
5. Have a global vision
6. Be Bible Christians (Avoid being system Christians we were warned).
7. Stick at it
So basically no change at PT then. We sung two lovely hymns by Chris Idle (who was present) and Timothy Dudley-Smith and two collections of unconnected phrases about God. We were accompanied by the organ and a praise band (sometimes together!) but just now and again we were allowed to sing a capella. Brilliant! These are good people but I despair of their movement ever getting to grips with experiential Calvinism, Puritanism or the idea of preaching to the conscience.
5 comments:
"Avoid being system Christians". "Let the bible speak". Amen. Amen.
Way to go! Creeds as extremely secondary standards,
thanks for the report Gary; I missed day 3. By the way, John Dickson was superb on day 1. I know what you mean with this lot never getting to grips with experiential Calvinism etc... but don't you think Piper does a bit of that and they have him sometimes? Aren't you being a little bit despairing, negative, even unbelieving about the leading of the Spirit? Just a thought.
Gary, do you mean Proc Trust or the EMA in your closing para?
C. They had Carson who is more like what I'd want and they've had Sinclair & Eric A & Jim P too. You can even find Banner books there! Having been attending for over 20 years though I see little ground for real optimism.
P. I may be a cynic but when they knock system Christians I fear it is system they're knocking rather than what you have in mind.
J. I only know PT thro EMA. Is there a difference?
I've absolutely nothing to say but since my word verification is presly I just can't resist!
Though I agree with you about what 'they' may have meant by 'system Christians'. Simeon did admit to being a Calvinist, even if he wasn't fond of the label.
EMA/PT has its weaknesses, and its biggest weakness is that it's dominated by Anglicanism (not just Anglicans). But Gary, there is something to learn from them - maybe even on the 'growing the church' front. We are supposed to grow; many of us don't - many of them do. Perhaps we need to ask why.
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