We had a GREAT time at The Gospel Coalition’s conference this past month. We ate delicious local food and had a few surprising encounters with old friends (like happening to sit behind one of John’s favorite teachers from 11th grade, what!!!). We had many a meaningful conversation and heard a lot of amazing Truth.
Below are a few significant statements (for me) from various speakers:
John Piper – Everything that is not God depends totally on God. Everything that is not God is secondary.
H.B. Charles – Passover reveals the great power of God and the great lack of Egypt’s gods.
Kenneth Mbugua – The Israelites only see the great army and their confidence in God evaporates. They see right past His presence with them. But their feelings of doubt didn’t stop God from saving them.
Miguel Nunez – God will take you to the place you need to be [a desert], to be shaped more into the shape of Jesus… Even in the middle of their rebellion, God was mindful of them... Will I believe His provision is sufficient or will I depend on my own?
J.D. Greer – Preach the commandments as a curb, map and mirror. The law shows us the best and right way to live and please God. As a curb, the law helps to not make our sin a domino effect to more people and places. The law cannot make us righteous, but it shows us what righteous living looks like.
Ligon Duncan – The reading of God’s Word is essential to our worship and our life with Him. The goal of the covenant is your communion with God.
Andrew Wilson – The bad news, is you become like what you worship [idols]. The good news is, you become like what you worship [God]. The best news, the One you worship has become like you.
David Platt – We need the power / presence of God to do the work of God… One of our greatest needs, if not our greatest need, is extraordinary prayer for the fullness of God among His people.
Ruth Chou Simmons – Every time He provides a way through the wilderness, He ultimately wants to bring His people to Himself... Always start with the character of God and build from there.
J.T. English, Kyle Worley, Jen Wilkin – Discipline is not dead, but it is following the most compelling message.… What do disciples need? A fundamental understanding of the greater Biblical story, to be formed in theology (belief), and spiritual formation (disciplines).
Nancy Guthrie – We sometimes expect now what God has promised for later... Our theology of suffering can’t stop at the cross, it has to go through to the resurrection. Biblical hope centers on the resurrection.
James Anderson – Use Scripture as spectacles to read the book of culture… Superficial understanding leads to superficial responses.
Jen Wilkin – Maturity in our children is moving from ‘me’ to ‘we.’ … We want the opinion of the family to be stickier than peer or cultural groups… Conflict does not mean relationship is sacrificed…. Parenting is not a competitive sport or a popularity contest... A child will know who they are when they see a parent who knows who they are... Make disciples, not converts.
Leave a Reply