Wednesday Thoughts from Pastor Tim - April 23

Dear Church Family –

This week, I’m attending a conference in Indianapolis.  There are over 7,000 people attending, over 2,000 of those are pastors.  Among those 7,000 attendees are two of our missionaries, Tom and Marcy Dorsch and Dave Barkman.  Interestingly, we registered independently of each other, not knowing at the time that the others were going.

People go to conferences for a lot of different reasons.

·       Sometimes to get new ideas and approaches.  I’ll be doing some of that.  I’m signed up for Breakout Sessions on “Current Theological Challenges,” “How to Have Healthy Disagreements Within Your Church,” and “Shifts in Speaking Jesus to Your Friends.”

·       Sometimes to get new resources.  I’ll be doing some of that.  The conference has a large bookstore with discounted products.

·       The main reason I go to conferences is for spiritual refreshment and inspiration.  At this week’s conference, we’ll be hearing messages from Alistair Begg, John Piper, Bryan Chappell and others.  And we’ll be led in worship and music by Keith and Kristen Getty who have written and produced some of the best modern hymns, some that we sing and love at Emmaus, like “In Christ Alone My Hope is Found,” “Before the Throne of God Above,” and “He Will Hold Me Fast.”

I asked Tom and Dave to share some reflections about attending Christian conferences such as the one we’re at this week.  Here’s what Tom said:

“Retreats and conferences have always played a vital role in the student ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.  They provide a “greenhouse” environment which favorizes spiritual growth, refreshment, and commitment.

“Marcy and I attended the Gospel Coalition conference two years ago and it was excellent!  Expository preaching, seminars on a wide variety of topics (apologetics, women’s ministry, youth ministry, music and worship in the church, effective evangelism, leading small groups in the church, etc.)

“To say it was spiritually refreshing and challenging for us would be an understatement.  We need time away; we need such “resourcing.”  So, we are very much looking forward to this year’s event, April 22-24, in Indianapolis.

“Marcy and I are thrilled that others from Emmaus are attending.  We’re sure they’ll love it and benefit greatly from it!

And here’s what Dave said:

“Why should pastors and church leaders go to Bible teaching conferences like TGC25?

For sharpening their axe of ministry tools and skills.

For recalibrating the compass of their hearts to be more in line with the gospel.

For going to the well and drinking deeply so that they can faithfully bring the water of life to others.”

Thanks for praying for me, and Dorsch’s and Barkmans.  One stirring moment from yesterday’s sessions was when John Piper shared that he had asked the AI program, ChapGPT to produce a prayer in the style of D.A. Carson, a well-known Bible expositor.  He read what Chat GPT had produced.  It was a good prayer.  It said good things.  But then Piper asked, “Is that praise?”  “No!” he shouted.  Because it has no heart.  No feeling.

I hope you’ll praise God today from the heart! – Pastor Tim