An Awesome Beginning- The Centrality of Preaching, Speaker: David King
(This is a combined blogging effort of MarieP and Chef_Cis [aka Laura], and all Scripture quotations are from ESV because Cheffy don't have NASB on her puter. All references to Skyman or Sky are referring to David King.)
Skyman was the first to speak last night, and his topic was the Centrality of Preaching in the Establishment and Life of the Church. "The Kingdom of God will not spread any further than the centrality of preaching is furthered."
Starting with Acts 20:17-28, talking about Paul's manner of ministry, Sky's key passage was Acts 20:26-27, which is a vindication of Paul's ministry and why he was vindicated:
"Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God."
Sky pointed out how Paul claims to be innocent of the blood of all men, because he has faithfully proclaimed Christ to them. And he said, "The pulsebeat of Paul's burden was to publish abroad the news of his crucified Lord and His mighty resurrection from the dead."
Paul preached incessantly from the Scriptures, as Skyman pointed out in Acts 17:2, "And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures", and even if he was mocked, ridiculed and and shown no respect, it doesn't matter - he is innocent of the blood of all men since he preached the "objective truths that cluster around the Lord Jesus, and all the sufficienecy and perfection of His sinless life...the only hope of sinners."
Sky began to show us of three areas about preaching that draw from the standard of God's Word:
1. centrality of preaching
2. the man who would preach
3. the message he is to bring
In discussing the Centrality of Preaching in the Establishment and Life of the Church, Skyman quoted Calvin about how God uses the preaching of the Word to reach humble hearers that hearken to the pastors that are sent to us.
A solid statement(possibly slightly paraphrased), "Faith and convictions must be informed by the Word of God...must also be normed by the Word of God."
Skyman's first point on the centrality of preaching concerned what preaching actually IS. In the Greek, the NT has 2 root words for preach or preaching or preacher. They are kerux (kerusso is the verb) and euangelizzo. The first means "herald" or "preacher" or with the meaning of "to proclaim". the second is more along the lines of "one who brings the good news", or an evangelist. Both are part and parcel of preaching, and they are tied together in Scripture, both in descriptions of Christ's ministry (Luke 4:18-19, Is 61:1-2, Luke 8:1) and the apostles' (Acts 8:4-5 & numerous others).
The means by which God has chosen to spread the Gospel is through humble and somtimes weak and frail preachers of the Word- not through massive campaigns or great speakers
skyman quoted from Leon Morris, who wrote that Paul's mission wasn't to administer rites but to preach the Gospel
the faithful preaching of the Word causes men to quit putting their trust in man's works but in the power of the cross
the Kingdom of God will not spread any further than the centrality of preaching is furthered
This next quote I think is all Skyman, but he might've been quoting someone, I'm missing attribution, if so: "What is the great means for the extensaion and expansion of the kingdom of God from inception to consummation? By humble and weak and frail and feeble men, preaching the Word of teh true and living God. The great means ordained of God for the spread and establishment of His kingdom. Any other means attempted is an intrusion on the will of the King Himself."
Mark 4:3- "Listen! A sower went out to sow"- our greatest blessing isn't from learned scholars who sit around saying how learned they are- it is from farmers who sow the seed of the Gospel, throwing seed upon the earth
the man who would preach
2 Cor. 5:20- "Therefore, we are ambasadors for Christ, God making an appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
not only are they ambassadors of Christ, they are men of prayer- prayer is a constant reminder that we are utterly dependent on God
manner of life and preaching are connected- Acts 20:18-21
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Cor. 12:10
The message the kerux bears is not his own - it is the message of Christ (Mark 1:4)
Final comments by Skyman:
We walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit...imputed righteousness is the foundation of personal righteousness.
The greatest crime of the pulpit is to withhold Christ from sinners.
The greatest failure of the pulpit - to fail to hold out Christ as the only saviour to sinners.
(end of current post...may add to it later)
Thank for you blogging the conference for us. It might be helpful if you all would type up the order/program for us so we can know what's coming and what presentations/topics of interest are being covered "in order of appearance" so we know when to tune in.
Thanks!
Tell Tom Ascol and Steve Camp I send my regards.
Posted by
GeneMBridges |
Friday, November 03, 2006 11:40:00 AM
"The greatest crime of the pulpit is to withhold Christ from sinners."
AMEN
Posted by
Lockheed |
Friday, November 03, 2006 12:32:00 PM
This was a rush job of blogging by myself and Marie, sort of filling in for Sean, but also battling terrible wi-fi in the ballroom where the event was. Please forgive the casual tone, perhaps I (or Marie, or Sean) can edit it later.
Laura
Posted by
Laura |
Saturday, November 04, 2006 4:31:00 PM