Shepherd’s Conference 2020 Schedule

Every year there is a big Pastor’s conference where pastors and church leaders who believe in faithful expository preaching and the Biblical Gospel meet in Southern California call the Shepherd’s Conference.  It will be on March 4-6.

I have been blessed in the past by the fellowship, preaching and good food in this conference in the past.  I won’t be going to it this year.

Anyone on here that is going?

Here is the schedule:

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5 Quotes from Mark Dever’s “Upon This Rock” Shepherd’s Conference 2018 Seminar

I’m here blogging at the Shepherd’s Conference.  Mark Dever, Pastor at Capital Hill Baptist Church taught a seminar on how to build a healthy church.  It was very edifying and helpful.

Here are the top 5 quotes form his message.

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Review and Recommended: The Deliberate Church by Mark Dever

First off before I share my review I want to welcome all those who have recently found our blog on Monergism.com.  We are a blog that is intent on covering apologetics, Christian worldview and theology with posts on book reviews, resources and our own written content.  Feel free to subscribe and bookmark our page for daily posts!

Mark Dever and Paul Alexander. The Deliberate Church.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway, September 9th 2005.  221 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

Both authors Mark Dever and Paul Alexander have written a helpful book for pastors and church leaders on doing church ministry according to the Bible and centered on the Gospel.  As the book states on page 28, “The Gospel alone shapes and evaluate must both shape and evaluate any ministry method we use.”  This is a great antidote to the seeker sensitive church method or other marketing gimmick that is driven more by man-centered pragmatisms instead of the Word of God.  I love how this book is both biblical and practical since I believe there is a real need of resources on practical ecclesiology (doctrine of the church).  Too often one find two kinds of extreme: practical works without it being biblical or biblical works on the church without a deeper practical picture of what does it look like.  Dever and Alexander writes from being biblically informed and years of wisdom and experience which through their 9 Marks ministry have greatly helped many other local churches including the one I minister at.

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Mark Dever 2016 T4G Message: Endurance Needed Strength for a Slow Reformation

A few days ago I listened to a sermon by Mark Dever for this year’s Together For the Gospel’s Conference in which Dever spoke on “Endurance Needed Strength for a Slow Reformation and the Dangerous Allure of Speed.”  I thank Vincent for sharing them with us!  I was blessed by the message and while it wasn’t expository preaching Mark Dever instead shared some important wisdom as to why pastors, church leaders (and by application, all of us) needs patience and aim for slow progress rather than believe the lie that many and quick is the goal.

It is a longer message but I listened to it while doing other things.  I was blessed and perhaps you would too!

 

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What is Membership? Video from Nine Marks of a Healthy Church

Here’s today’s “Church Sunday” post.

This is a short video clip on Church membership by the guys of Nine Mark Ministries.  It’s on church membership.

I’ll be sharing a bit more on church membership the next few Sundays.

Enjoy the Lord’s Day!

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Review: The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever

Mark Dever. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway, September 7^th, 2007. 124 pp.

I was reading this book together with a brother from church and found this to be a helpful resource.  I appreciated the tone of the book since it was pastoral, biblical and loving towards the Lord and those who don’t believe.  I enjoyed this book enough to went ahead and purchase a few copies for other members of my church for Christmas.

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Audios From Truth and Life Conference 2015

The Master’s College every year has a wonderful conference called “Truth and Life Conference.”  This year’s topic was on the subject of “Practicing the Biblical “One Anothers.””  It was held on January 14th-16th, 2015.

Below are the audios from the conference.  Enjoy!

• Scriptural Perspective on Loving One-Another

  • Dr. John MacArthur
  • | 2015
  • | 45m 13s
• Gospel Freedom to Exemplify One-Anothers

  • Dr. Mark Dever
  • | 2015
  • | 48m 38s
• True Biblical Love for One-Another

  • Dr. Abner Chou
  • | 2015
  • | 50m 51s
• Love which Unifies One-Another

  • Dr. Abner Chou
  • | 2015
  • | 50m 43s
• Peace with One-Another

  • Dr. Thabiti Anyabwile
  • | 2015
  • | 54m 43s
• How to Stir Up One-Another to Love and Good Works

  • Dr. Mark Dever
  • | 2015
  • | 52m 32s

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Shepherd’s Conference 2014 General Sessions Audios Online

 

The Audios for the 2014 General Sessions of the Shepherd’s Conference has been uploaded online!  I’m waiting for the Seminars to be put online.

I can’t wait for the 2015 Shepherd’s Conference already!

General Session I — John MacArthur

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General Session II — Phil Johnson

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General Session III — Mark Dever

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General Session VI — Al Mohler

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General Session VII — Tom Pennington

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General Session IX — John MacArthur

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General Session VIII — Steve Lawson

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Notes from Mark Dever’s Shepherd’s Conference Message: God’s Judgement and Salvation

What follows is my notes from the evening service of the first night of Shepherd’s Conference 2014.  The speaker was Mark Dever.

Establishing the need: How are you brother pastors?

There are those here tonight in ministry who are:

• The Resigned
• The Hopeless

Isaiah has a Word for you.  Turn to Isaiah 34-35.

Context:  

• Chapters 1-11 Warns Judah
• Chapters 12-27, God’s call to repent
• Chapters 28 onwards, Judah Judged
• Recurring theme: Judgment and Salvation

Outline:

• Chapter 34 Judgment
• Chapter 35 Salvation

 

Do you feel you are about to give into fear of days ahead?

1. Hold on, God’s judgement is coming (Chapter 34)
2. • It will be universal (v.1-4)
     • Don’t forget when God waits to vindicate, He waits to vindicate His name!
     • He has more of an incentive to vindicate His name than just vindicate us!  We need to remember that.
   • It’s for us (v.5-8)
   • It’s is final (v.9-17)
     • Real description here but also pictures of future judgment
     • Look at verse 10, “forever.”
   • Application: Know that God’s judgment never ned but our trials do.

1. Hold on, God’s Salvation is coming (Chapter 35)

• Wilderness/desert will bcome like spring again
• Glory of nature restored, a window of God’ glory (v.2b)
• This include the justice of God
• Hebrews 12 quotes Isaiah 35:4, which is the point of the whole book of Isaiah
• God is a bigger problem one will face, and also a bigger solution than that the nations poses
• Application: Remember the fullness of God’s goodness

 

We need to preach this “Judgment/Salvation” today.  This is not strange, rememebr Jesus’ prayer “Thy Kingdom Come,” would does that mean?

God will put an end to all injustice.

Look at verse eight, note “highway” is a highway to God.  We of course know Jesus is the Way to God.

Look at verse ten, we have singing.

Let not the enemy win, let us go through our trials in a way that glorifies God, let us rejoice in God in our suffering.

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Blogging on the 2014 Shepherds Conference this Week

 

This upcoming week we will be blogging through some of the sessions from the Shepherd’s Conferences which takes place between March 5th-7th, 2014 at Grace Community Church pastored by John MacArthur.

Keynote speakers include Al Mohler, Mark Dever, Steve Lawson and Phil Johnson.

I heard also this year that Paul Washer is doing a seminar session on the Great Commission as a Theological Endeavor.

Stay Tune!

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Shepherd’s Conference 2014 Schedule!

 

This is a Conference that I look forward to every year.

There was a bit of a delay on their website with putting up the schedule but here it is finally!

Which sessions will you be going to?

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
8:00 am	Registration
10:00 am	General Session 1: John MacArthur
11:30 am	Lunch*
1:30 pm	Seminar Session 1 The Grand Itinerant How the Preaching Ministry of George Whitefield Sparked the Great Awakening Steve Lawson Worship Center Lessons from a Fellow Elder Principles for Spiritual Leadership from the Life of Peter Dave Muxlow J370 What’s Missing from Your Church Service? Recovering the Two Most Neglected Components of Public Worship Austin Duncan J Basement These Rocks Cry Out Recent Archaeological Discoveries That Confirm the Bible Michael Grisanti J270 Resident Evil A Biblical Counselor’s Battle Plan for Fighting the Flesh Carey Hardy J360s The New Antinomianism Evaluating the Implications of Cross-centered Sanctification Jerry Wragg Chapel Red Light, Green Light The Dos and Don’ts of an Effective Children’s Ministry Matt White J260 Spanish Track La Primacía de la Verdad Bíblica Henry Tolopilo G230
2:45 pm	Break
3:15 pm	General Session 2: Phil Johnson
4:30 pm	Dinner Break
7:00 pm	General Session 3: Mark Dever
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
9:00 am	General Session 4: John MacArthur
10:15 am	Break
10:45 am	General Session 5: Keynote Q&A
Noon	Lunch*
2:00 pm	Seminar Session 2 Homosexuality and the Gospel Al Mohler Worship Center The Glories of the Kingdom Why Premillennialism Must Be True Michael Vlach J370 What Nicodemus Should Have Known Rediscovering the New Birth in the Old Testament Bill Barrick J Basement One Nation under God? Today’s Church and the Founding of America Gregg Fazer J360 Diagnosing Dead Orthodoxy How to Cultivate a Church That Loves Others as Much as It Loves Systematic Theology Chris Mueller Chapel Exegetical Malpractice A Biblical Response to the Continuationist Position on Healing Richard Mayhue J260 Spanish Track La Primacía de la Verdad Bíblica y la Consejería Michael Mahoney G230
3:15 pm	Break
3:45 pm	Seminar Session 3 Boundaries and Bridges Keeping the Faith and Guarding the Flock while Reaching the World Phil Johnson Worship Center Turning Members into Ministers How to Inspire Your People to Greater Involvement Scott Ardavanis J370s When Home Is Where the Hurt Is Counseling Families Affected by Spousal Abuse John Street J Basement Hope, Holiness and Homosexuality A Biblical Strategy for Shepherding Struggling Christians Bill Shannon J270 Small Church, Big Impact Embracing the Advantages of a Smaller Congregation Lance Quinn J360 Between a Rock and a Hard Place Leading with Grace through Difficult Times Chris Hamilton J260 Spanish Track La Primacía de la Verdad Bíblica y el Evangelio David Robles G230
5:00 pm	Dinner Break
7:00 pm	General Session 6: Al Mohler
FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014
9:00 am	General Session 7: Tom Pennington
10:15 am	Break
10:45 am	Seminar Session 4 The Great Commission as a Theological Endeavor Paul Washer Worship Center Closet Cessationists How Continuationism Actually Affirms That the Miraculous Gifts Have Passed Away Nathan Busenitz J370 Youth Ministy Q and A Austin Duncan, Andrew Gutteirrez, Andrew Curry, Chris Hamilton J Basement Where Loyalty meets Logistics How to Excel as an Associate Pastor Michael Mahoney J270 Shepherding Cyber Sin How to Help Your People Overcome Common Online Temptations Tom Patton J360 As a Dying Man to Dying Men Preaching with Passion for the Honor of Christ Alex Montoya Chapel Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs How to organize a music ministry in your church Clayton Erb Choir Room Spanish Track La Primacía de la Verdad Bíblica y el Ministerio Pastoral Luis Contreras G230
Noon	Lunch*
2:00 pm	General Session 8: Steve Lawson
4:00 pm	Dinner Break
7:00 pm	General Session 9: John MacArthur

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Review: 9 Marks Of A Healthy Church

Purchase: Amazon

Good book, especially with its emphasis that a healthy church is also the responsibility of the members of the church. However, while the book was intended for a general Christian audience, those in leadership will benefit reading it. In a day and age of “doing” church in so many innovative ways apart from Scripture, this is a refreshing read for those who desire to see a church grow biblically. Mark Dever writes this from the context of pastoring and ministering in his church, and this makes him all the more insightful. Having gone through this book with our church’s men small group, I find the chapter that has been helpful in the context of our ministry has been the chapter on church membership and also the chapter on church discipline. These two marks of a healthy church, and Dever does a good job of establishing church membership as the pre-requisite for church discipline. Those who are from other ecclessiatical background will definitely see the Reformed Baptist bent here. It is also helpful that Dever put the discussion of church discipline in the context of edifying the saints, and to build one another up in the faith. The dimension of spiritual growth is itself one of the nine marks that Dever goes over.

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