Click here to download a sermon that I preached at Bulkington Congregational Church on 19 April 2010 entitled “The Reformation: A Bane or Blessing?”
Click here to download a sermon that I preached at Hambleton Evangelical Church on 31 March 2010 which contains a sub-section “Is Pope Benedict XVI the Anti-Christ?”
Click here to download a sermon that I preached at Hambleton Evangelical Church on 31 March 2010
The annual Carey Conference, the 40th (the first was in 1970), was threatened to be wiped out by heavy snow-falls and record breaking Siberian freezing temperatures. 160 plus gathered. For the first time a capacious new auditorium was used which served well with book tables and excellent acoustics.
Two South African families booked to stay at a nearby farm and come to the conference during the day but snow made that farm inaccessible. The two families were cast upon the mercies of the Hayes Conference Centre. For the first time in the Carey Conference history children joined the conferees for meals.
Kees van Kralingen a gifted leader from the Netherlands opened with a study on the relationship of the primacy of the Word in the Church with special reference to the church at Ephesus. Very clearly he depicted the heaven-sent revival that was given to Ephesus. The effects were dramatic in Ephesus a city of about 250,000. Those effects reverberated through Asia Minor (Turkey on today’s map). That kind of spiritual awakening is desperately needed today. The Word that prevailed then can prevail again.
Dr Greg Beale professor of Biblical studies at Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia, gave three addresses. The first was on the inerrancy of Scripture as expressed in the book of Revelation. The second raised the hermeneutical bar to new heights as we looked at the theme of the garden of Eden as a Temple and how that concept is carried forward through the Scriptures. (Even though he did not explain Ezekiel chapters 40 – 48 this study made those chapters clear for me). The third was a stunning exposition on the subject of idolatry. This rocket was launched from the launching pad of Isaiah 6:9-13.
John Benton pastor of Chertsey Street Guildford for 30 years gave a paper ‘Softening up on Sin’ which is due to be published in Reformation Today. Ann Benton led the ladies on the theme Supporting parents of teenagers.
Conrad Mbewe of Zambia has the gift of experimental preaching — through the head into the heart. We were searched on the subject of joy and joy in service. More along the experimental line came when Conrad took us on a journey with Adoniram and Anne Judson to Burma where they were tested to the limit with adversities. However foundations were laid including the translation of the Bible into Burmese. The churches in Burma have benefited from those labours ever since.
2009 is the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin. A volume with the title John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, Doxology (257, pages Reformation Trust) has been published in honour of Calvin. 19 chapters cover a wide range of subjects. There is nothing in this fine book about Calvin’s zeal for missions and no description of his amazing work into France. This part of Calvin’s life is almost always neglected. In the essay ‘Calvin and his Missionary Enterprise’ (click here to read) I provide a sketch of Calvin’s life followed by a description of his missionary work in France.
Calvin never dreamed that his name would be used to describe those who believe in the doctrines of grace. Did Calvin believe in particular redemption? I have devoted a chapter in my book, Who Saves? God or me? to this theme. Click here to read.