Truth of the Gospel Conference Sydney

It was my great privilege last Saturday to be at St John's Park Baptist Church here in Sydney speaking at the annual conference that the church arranges with Kogarah Bay Bible Church. I spoke three times on the Priesthood of all believers with a question session at the end. There must have been about 150 present from different churches. We had lunch together and there was plenty of time for interaction. It was a great day.

Aber Conference Main Sessions 8 and 9 2026

Phil Swann took us to Revelation 7 for the final morning, appropriately speaking of heaven and of the ground to be covered beforehand. It has obviously been an emotional week for Phil in light of his mother's death last week. He was right to come and preach, however, and has blessed us. Sadly, we had to leave the conference early as our dog is ill. As we drove through the mountains we did our best to listen to the message from Huw WIlliams, not someone I was aware of. He preached on Psalm 63 in a style, I thought, quite different to the others this week. Of course, there was the problem with the alrms on our phones and despite their efforts I'm sure I could hear the occasional phpone going off throughout. Not too distracting once you knew what it was. So another good conference. How blessed we are.

Links

Friday Morning

Friday Evening

Aber Conference Main Sessions 6 and 7 2026

A very good day today. Phil Swann spoke well on Peter's restoration. This may be the best so far or perhaps I am just getting used to him. Then tonight we had a very straight evangelistic message from Rico Tice, including answers to the question of whether hell exists (it does) what it is like (a place of punishment and separation) who goes there (those who misuse the bodies God has given them) and how I can possibly escape going there if it is possible, which, of course, it is. A very good day.

Links

Thursday Morning

Thursday Evening

Aber Conference Main Sessions 4 and 5 2026

The Wednesday of the conference was again good stuff. Phil Swann gave his second message, looking at the Ethiopian eunuch and then in the evening Rico Tice gave a typical evangelistic message (combined with a call to Christians to evangelise). I think an evangelist can "get away" with things a regular preacher ouoght not to engage in (eg thrwoinga gospel into the gallery). The evening meeting was put back to allow people to try and see the eclipse, which we did. Perhaps the best I've seen in my lifetime but not spectacular. Very warm day.

Links

Wednesday Morning

Wednesday Evening

Aber Conference Main Sessions 1-3 2026

As usual all the main sessions from the Great Hall are being streamed and remain up on YouTube as recordings. The first evening, my oldest son Rhodri preached from Colossians 1 and then this morning Phil Swann did the first of four main talks on Mission Unstoppable. Tonight it was Andrew Norbury on Colossians 3. All good stuff.

The links are as follows

Monday Evening

Tuesday Morning

Tuesday Evening

Aber Conference 2026

I'll be getting into Aber for the EMW conference shortly. The website with all the info is here. More anon.

For the videos try here and here.

Upcoming Conference in Sydney

 

Catalyst 2026 Day 3

Four Baptists among friends
(I had friends from Germany and France staying and my father-in-law was there too)

Today was perhaps the best day with all four men doing very well. Reuben Hunter spoke helpfully about persecution from John 16 and Sinclair Ferguson on John Owen and the fellowship of the Spirit. Good stuff too from Harrison Perkins and Kelly Kapic. Sorry not to have given any detail but the videos will be available soon. Here's one brilliant take away

"The love of God is like himself — equal, constant, not capable of augmentation or diminution; our love is like ourselves — unequal, increasing, waning, growing, declining. His, like the sun, always the same in its light, though a cloud may sometimes interpose; ours, as the moon, has its enlargements and straightenings."  John Owen

Catalyst 2026 Day 2

Another good day at Catalyst with similar vibes to day one. Reuben Hunter moved on from John 14 to John 15, Sinclair Ferguson from the love of the Father to the grace of the Lord Jesus. Kelly Kapic focussed on the church in regard tio liing as a Christian. All very helpful. They will be up online soon, I'm sure.

Here is a snippet from Thomas Watson which I believe Reuben Hunter quoted today

You who are the branches of this Vine, let me beseech you to love the Vine which bears you—kiss and embrace Christ! Let your souls sound forth hallelujahs to the whole Trinity. Admire God the Father in sending a Vine from heaven; admire God the Son who was a bleeding Vine for you; admire God the Holy Spirit who has, by His mighty power, implanted you into this Vine. Turn all your sullen discontentments, into triumphant songs! You who were once dead—are now made living branches! You who were once unclean—are now made holy branches! You who once brought forth thistles—you now bear luscious grapes! Oh, make melody in your hearts to the Lord! Admire and celebrate free grace! It is well that there is an eternity coming—and that will be little enough time to praise God!

Catalyst 2026 Day 1

Great to be in IPC Ealing once again for the Catalyst Conference. Four sessions roday - two Brits in the morning and two Americans in the afternoon. So Reuben Hunter and Sinclair Ferguson followed by Harrison Perkins and Kelly Kapic. Feguson and Kapic, the Owen scholars, stood out in terms of presentation and content but a good and encouraging day all round. What a privilege to be there. I drove there with two guests we havesaying with us from France and Germany.

Art of Shepherding 2026

It was good yesterday to be with about 40 others at the annual Art of Shepherding conference at St Giles in Islington. The conference for ministers is quite laid back with a flexible but predictable format that includes plenty of coffee and an excellent pulled pork lunch.

The fixed points are the first and third sessions - Phil Heaps on the Bible - this year from 2 Corinthians and Brad Franklin on a historical pastoral theme - this year from Bonhoeffer’s Shared life.

With that this year we had one session on politics and one on envy. For the first they invited John McDermott over from Magherafelt in Ulster who drew on his experiences in that divided world to help us think through our situation. Finally, we had Rob Pickering on the subject of ministerial envy a common enough phenomenon but one rarely touched on in conferences.

All four speakers did well and along with the opportunity to chat to fellow Reformed Baptists new and old the conference proved both challenging and encouraging. The very last thing was a meal with several conference attendees. The usual curry was not possible this year so we headed to the holloway Road to a Lebanese grill and very enjoyable it was. Big thanks to all involved in organising this year's conference.

Banner of Truth Conference Final Day

We finished the conference with another sermon from Dan Peters and a closing sermon from Mark Loughridge. Mark took us to Psalm 126 ad spoke of the need to celebrate joyfully, pray expectantly, work confidently and listen to Jesus singing, praying and reassuring us. Dan chose to remind us of the need to preach in the Spirit. It is difficult to preachin the Spirit if that is what you are describing. It was a timely and helful word, nevertheless, and the whole conference wa a great blessing - not just the messages but the more informal discussion too. Next on April 12-15, 2027. Speakers will include Gerrard Hemmings and David Whitla,.

Banner of Truth Conference Day Three Evening

 

At 5 pm this evening we had a session chaired by David Campbell on various mission matters - from Africa, India, Switzerland, Slovenia, Canada, Banner worldwide and the Open Air Mission. Then after dinner we had the final session with Christopher Ash, looking at Lamentations 4 and 5.

Banner of Truth Conference 2026 Day Three Morning

Another good couple of sessions. This morning we were more in the back of the engine, seeking a theology of revival with Brian Edwards' help and noting the connection between Calvary and Pentecost with David Vaughn. Brian Edwards made an interesting point towards the end, that Christian maturity is more important than revival.

He gave us a very interesting Spurgeon quotation as he closed.

It is a sorrowful fact that many who are spiritually alive greatly need reviving. It is sorrowful because it is a proof of the existence of much spiritual evil. A man in sound health with every part of his body in a vigorous condition does not need reviving. He requires daily sustenance, but reviving would be quite out of place. If he has not yet attained maturity growth will be most desirable, but a hale hearty young man wants no reviving, it would be thrown away upon him. Who thinks of reviving the noonday sun, the ocean at its flood, or the year at its prime? The tree planted by the rivers of water loaded with fruit needs not excite our anxiety for its revival, for its fruitfulness and beauty charm every one. Such should be the constant condition of the sons of God. Feeding and lying down in green pastures and led by the still waters they ought not always to be crying, "my leanness, my leanness, woe unto me." Sustained by gracious promises and enriched out of the fullness which God has treasured up in his dear Son, their souls should prosper and be in health, and their piety ought to need no reviving. They should aspire to a higher blessing, a richer mercy, than a mere revival. They have the nether springs already; they should earnestly cover the upper springs. They should be asking for growth in grace, for increase of strength, for greater success; they should have out-climbed and out-soared the period in which they need to be constantly crying, "Wilt thou not revive us again?"

See here.

Banner of Truth Conference 2026 Day Two Evening

This evening we had messages from Jeremy Walker and Christopher Ash, again. The conference theme is revival and Jeremy guided us through nine of its characterisitcs, with historical references, ie supplication, proclamation, conviction, affection, opposition/division, puriification, elevation and extension, magnificaion and intensification. With Christopher Ash, we looked briefly at Lamentations 2 and then ore extensively at Lamentations 3, with an emphasis, as ever, on Christ.

Banner of Truth Conference 2026 Day Two Morning

A good morning here in Yarnfield Park. We began with a short prayer meeting and then heard two papers on past revivals and theirblessons. First, American missionary to France, David Vaughn, spoke on the East African Revival and then, secondly, Brian Edwards spoke on Primitive Methodists. Both very interesting and rather forgotten. Between those we heard from, John Rawlinson gave a farewell speech, reminiscing and urging us not to build a legacy but to be faithful to the Lord. I was interested to hear that he was at a Banner Youth Conference in 1980 in Clovelly Hall, a conference which I believe I was also at.

Banner of Truth Conference 2026 Day One

It is good to be here in Yarnfield Park once again at a packed Banner Conference. I drove up with my father-in-law and my friend Keith Berry. The opening session was a sermon from Dan Peters on the widow of Nain's son in Luke 7 and it was preaching of the very highest quality. Then after our evening meal Christopher Ash gave the first of three addresses on Lamentations. He handled it very well, managing not to depress but to stir us.

Carey Conference 2026 Day 3

So for the final two sessions of Carey, we heard again from James Mildred and Peter Williams and again it was excellent stuff. James looked at the whole assisted suicide bill on which he is very well informed. Peter looked at names in the Bible, which I have heard him on before but this was a fresh and lively presentation. In fact both of these men have spoken with passion and erudition throughout the conference and been a real blessing. About hundred must have been here. The twenty or so women have had their own track with Linda Alcock, looking at Philemon. The high quality and relevance of the last day's speakers made it difficult to choose when to have these sessions.

Nice to see many old friends and to meet new ones. There was a good balance of old and young. It was good to see John Benton there for a while after his being so unwell recently. The nice bookstalls added to the ambience.

The plan is to meet again next year (5-7) when the main speaker will be Pascal Denault (See here).

 

Carey Conference 2026 Day 2b

Yesterday  evening we had our traditional prayer adn share, hearing from GBM and about the APCs (African Pastors Conferences) and Myanmar, Zambia and Romania. Later on Peter Abutu gave his second address, this time on the power if the Word. Very helpful. We also had the next bit of the 1689 from pour IOM man, Enoch Adekoya.

Carey Conference 2026 Day 2a

On the morning of our only full day here at the Carey we heard again very helpfully from Peter Williams on archaeology and the Bible and then James Mildred of CARE spoke on the subject of abortion and current and future legislation. Again, very enlighteniing and stirring. We have a free afternoon.