A blog featuring whatever I fancy, often on the Christian faith but not exclusively
Midweek Meeting Wednesday September 13 2017
We were up to 11 this week as my son Rhodri was with us too. Pursuing our theme of things unseen I decided we would hae a little look again at angels (by which I mean heavenly creatures of various sorts). We focused on Revelation 4, incorporating references to Ezekiel 1 (and 10) and Isaiah 6. It is always an uplifting and fascinating subject. We had a good time of prayer to follow - plenty to pray for as ever.
Constablesque Clouds
John Owen Centre Conference 2017 Day 2 at the Pastors' Academy
had another good day today. I think the figures are more like 40 than 50 so a little down on previous years. Perhaps the title is a little vague and with all in house speakers people make less effort. Another possible theory is that people are planning to go to Reformation commemmoration events. Anyway, Stephen Clark kicked off on ethics. This is a fairly well trodden subject but it was good to air it again. Reluctantly Stephen disagreed with Professor John Murray's notoriously conservative position, preferringa hierarchical approach. I think this is right but it was interesting how in discussion that position did seem to unravel, at least a little.
John Benton took the other two sessions, looking at Isaac and Ishmael and Jacob and Esau. Here the approach was more pastoral adn designed to be encouraing, which both messages were.
At the end of the conference Garry Williams revealed that the JOC will from now on be known as The Pastors' Academy.
John Owen Centre Conference 2017 Day 1
The two day conference at the London Seminary/John Owen Centre in Finchley began yesterday and continues today. We were around 50 again. There seems to be a core of twenty or thirty of us with another changing bunch of newcomers and occasional attenders. The atmosphere is a good one - theological but with a practical edge. We are all men this time I think, mostly pastors. The theme is two brothers (in Genesis) inspired I'm sure by the nearby fish restaurant. David Green kicked us off with a fascinating walk through the various birth narratives found in Scripture focusing on the birth of brothers but culminating with the birth of Christ. He was keen to debunk Matthew Henry and the way moral lessons are drawn from a story like that of Lot and his daughters. People seemed persuaded but I think we should be slow to jettison past exegetical insights too quickly. The points made on this and Tamar were very helpful nevertheless.
Garry Williams ended up taking both the other two sessions, due to the illness of Flavien Pardigon. Garry looked at Abel and his death and at Galatians 4 a classic exegetical minefield. As we have come to expect these were thorough and thought provoking presentations. Some of the new covenant types were not so happy with his understanding of Sinai but there was general appreciation. I though the paper on Abel was particularly good.
So good papers, good conversation in between times with friends new and old and good discussion following each paper this was an excellent day and a great blessing to all who were present.
Lord's Day September 10 2017
We had a good turn out Sunday morning, almost 50 altogether, even though two regular families were away.. We were swollen by the presence of a family of seven who have come to us from time to time since they moved to the UK but have never really settled anywhere. I hope we see them again soon. We also had all three of the people who began to come to us after the mission and the close of a health and wealth church in Golders Green (the building now sold to Muslims I hear) and my son and family were with us too as well as a new seminary family again who I hope will stick with us. I went back to Acts, preaching on the final verses of Acts 7 and the death of Stephen. It's good to be back to straight exposition. For some reason I read half the evening reading in the morning. I think I was a bit distracted for some reason.
Only half the congregation stayed for lunch but we had a nice time and I briefly interviewed Rhodri about the work in Aber. We were a similar number for the evening when I preacched on worldliness, cribbing mainly from J C Ryle. I have wanted to preach on this for a while as I think it is a subject we are all at sea on. Ryle (see Practical Religion) is quite helpful. (I shoul mention here that the title of this blog is a little joke really. I'm sure some people happen on it and think - yes, very worldly,but I would defend myself). A nice thing in the evening is that the third hymn we sang (by Faith Cook) we sang to a tune written by our pianist (Philip Miles). It's a very nice conventional hymn tune that fits the words well.
Latest Library Lecture (Hopkins on Frith)
.jpg) |
| Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons |
Midweek Meeting Wednesday September 6 2017
Grenfell and Childs Hill
Reciprocal Church History Tour
 |
Public Domain John Wesley: he visits his mother's grave in Bunhill Fields, London. Aquatint by G. Hunt after W. Lee. Wellcome Collection. |
Last week, as Mike Iliff was in London, I reciprocated his tour of Llangeitho with one of Bunhill Fields and the Wesley Museum (hence the recent list here). Besides the godly men Bunhill Fields is the final resing place also of the writer Daniel Defoe (who did come to faith later in life, I believe. Robinson Crusoe is worth reading for the evangelical content alone) and poet and painter William Blake (a Swedenborgian by persuasion). For more on the dead of Bunhill Fields, see Alfred W Light's tome, accessible here. Across the road from Bunhill Fields is the Wesley Chapel and the house in which he latterly lived. It was good to see that again. There is a little museum in the basement of the chapel. Wesley is buried behind the chapel. Both places are free to enter, the nearest tubes being Moorgate and Old Street. More here and here.
(In the picture above someone has imagined John Wesley visiting his mother's grave in Bunhill Fields).
Lord's Day September 3 2016
We began with communion. I think we were around 16 or so for that. Over 40 am and under 20 pm service. Some visitors, some newcomers, some missing for various reasons. I preached again on judgement. Still not easy but a good subject to be handling. In the evening we looked at sef denial, which is such a challenging subject again, I wasn't quite happy with it. Had one of my coughing turn in the morning but got through it. No-one wanted to go home am or pm. We tried having coffee in the main auditorium rather than at the back. That helped.
10 godly men buried in Bunhill Fields
 |
| Mike Quinn / Bunhill Fields |
1. John Bunyan (1628–1688), author of The Pilgrim's Progress
2. Thomas Doolittle (?1632–1707), nonconformist minister, tutor and author
3. Andrew Gifford (1700–1784), Baptist minister and numismatist
4. John Gill (1697–1771), Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and Calvinist theologian, author of the Exposition of the Bible and the Body of Divinity
5. Thomas Goodwin (1600–1680), Puritan theologian and preacher
6. William Kiffin (1616–1701), Baptist minister and wool-merchant
7. Hanserd Knollys (1599–1691), Particular Baptist minister
8. John Owen (1616–1683), Puritan divine, theologian, academic administrator and statesman
9. John Rippon (1750–1836), Baptist clergyman, composer of many well known hymns
10. Isaac Watts(1674–1748), hymn writer, educationalist and poet
Westminster Conference Programme Announced
The Westminster Conference meets for two days each year, usually in December. During the conference, six papers are presented, three on each day, examining the history, doctrine and practice of people, events and churches associated with the Puritans, their forebears and successors. The perspective is that of evangelical and reformed Biblical Christianity, focusing on central gospel themes such as grace, faith, atonement and justification and the outworking of the gospel in the lives of believers.
The title of the conference this year is
God With Us and For Us
Tuesday 5th December
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE HUMAN HEART (STEPHEN CLARK)
To understand the work of the Spirit in the heart of man is to start to become a true physician of the soul. But the work of the Holy Spirit is intertwined with the ministry of the Word of God. How, then, does the Holy Spirit work in and through the Word? Is he bound to the Scriptures in some way? If so, how? Such questions, and their answers, provide us with both challenges and comforts as we seek to be ministers of the Word and Spirit.
A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS: THE FELT PRESENCE OF GOD (GUY DAVIES)
What does it mean to know the presence of God with us? Should we expect it? Can we lose it? How can we regain it? Concentrating on key works of Thomas Goodwin and John Owen, this paper will look particularly at the loss and recovery of such a sense of divine sweetness, comparing and contrasting the convictions, explanations and applications of these two theologians of the Holy Spirit.
CALVIN – WORSHIP AND PREACHING (ANDREW YOUNG)
The way or ways in which we worship the Lord so as to honour and glorify him remains a topic of vigorous and often heated debate. This is no new thing. Andrew Young will consider Calvin’s approach to this topic, including his doctrine of worship, his approach to liturgy, and his preaching and teaching ministry. Such assessments should assist us to ask the right questions in the right spirit as we move toward answers grounded in something more than preference.
Wednesday 6th December
JACOB ARMINIUS (1560-1609) (PHIL ARTHUR)
Theological labels are quick to apply, and provide us with easy targets. Particular theologians are relatively easy to demonise. Jacob Arminius has given his name to a theological system that is defended by supporters and assaulted by opponents with equal ardour. It is profitable for us to understand who Arminius was, what he believed, and how his name became connected to this system. Phil Arthur will introduce us to this man, and guide us through his life and thought.
THE SYNOD OF DORT (1618-1619) (BENEDICT BIRD)
In November 1618 the Dutch Reformed Church convened a synod at Dordrecht in the Netherlands. With representatives of Reformed churches from around Europe, the synod debated the tenets of the Remonstrants, who disputed the Calvinistic understanding of the plan of redemption. Politics and theology intertwined as they wrestled to address the controversy over Arminianism. This paper will help us understand this critical event and its relevance today.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS, PANTYCELYN (1717-1791) (MARK THOMAS)
William Williams is best known among evangelicals as ‘the sweet singer of Wales’ on account of his hymnody, combining a rigorous commitment to truth and a profound experimental sense. However, he is also recognised as a towering figure in the literary and spiritual spheres of his native Wales. Mark Thomas will help us to understand the character and context of this man, and how the Lord used him during and after his lifetime.
Midweek Meeting Wednesday August 30 2017
We were down to seven on Wednesday and, having looked at the subject of heaven for three weeks before going away I moved on to look at hell. I said seven things about it from Matthew 25 - it is
1. A place outside
2. Characterised by darkness
3. Where there is weeping and teeth gnashing
4. Where the people are sursed
5. A place that is cursed
6. A place prepared for the Devil and his angels
7. A place of eternal fire.
Sobering facts. We all took it in turns to pray. Perhaps it was too heavy for a Wednesday night. The problem was in presentation rather than subject matter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)