23:32

I’m pretty exhausted, so here are some quick summaries of the action today:

• George Curry spoke on J C Ryle – how he was transformed by grace and how he learned the sufficiency of God’s grace. I know virtually nothing about JC Ryle except the contents of his “Expository Thoughts”. I was surprised to learn, however, that though a Christian he was more or less forced into the ministry out of necessity to obtain some form of income after the family’s financial ruin. Yet he turned out to be so useful and remains so to this day.
• David Vaughn, an American church planter in France, spoke on the kingdom’s spread in a fallen world, from 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10. It was an impassioned exhortation for the work of mission. I can’t remember the last time I heard a talk like it. Powerful challenge to step out in faith in mission.
• Iain Murray spoke on John Elias of Wales in the early 19th century. Again I knew nothing about him, but glad to find out something. Interesting study in how Word, Spirit and the man can come wonderfully together in preaching.
• David Campbell on the last two sayings of Jesus on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30) and “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). He took us through a number of ways that the finished work of Christ’s suffering has a bearing – on the gospel we preach, on the enemy we fight, on the church, on our future and on Jesus himself. A wonderful meditation.

One other nice happening today was to do with the staff who serve us at mealtimes. They have been great. (It is a pity that the venue will change next year because we will lose that rapport.) We gave our customary sign of appreciation after a brief vote of thanks. It was nice because some of the staff were clearly moved by the lengthy applause.

A full day, though I have to confess I slept through my alarm, missed the prayer meeting and almost missed breakfast. I was knackered yesterday. I had just enough time to let the sleep creases disappear from my face and get something to eat before the opportunity passed.

You would not expect me to say anything other than, “Today has been good” – but it has been.

This morning Phil Heaps speaking on ministry in challenging times, drawing from Romans 1:1-31. Interestingly he went backwards from the problem that the culture around us presents (vv18-31) to what Christians must do (vv1-17). The logic of Paul leads you to say that the answer is preaching the gospel to a needy world. He said it better than I can write it, but it was fresh and clear, encouraging and challenging. How can we find ways to speak to people in this culture about the gospel?

David Vaughn spoke on living under the Lordship of Christ from Romans 14:7-9. By his lordship he was thinking go his “redemptive Lordship” as the incarnate Christ (as opposed to his eternal Lordship). The hypostatic union brings its challenges to our life in union with him. It was a challenge to our self-centred piety (even asking, “Is God enough for us?” can be self-centred!) which can often be desire-centred. It challenges our attitude to prayer and worship which is not simply to honour him by expressing our need, but to act in homage to God. There were many other applications. Challenging stuff.

In the afternoon, Ian Hamilton spoke on “John Owen: A Word Association.” I may be a bit dim but I didn’t get the meaning of the title. However, the talk on Owen was wonderful, particularly on how Owen speaks of the glory of Christ with such affectional language. It should affect the heart. “Theology should provoke doxology.”

Owen’s treatise on the Glory of Christ is an exposition of 2 Corinthians 3:18, said Hamilton. This was a wonderful comment that opened up the idea of the verse, that to behold the glory of the Lord is the way we are transformed as Christians. Growth in the Christian life is not about doing our duties (though those are good) but on turning our focus to the incarnate Christ.

This has a number of applications, drawn from Owen:

• making up our mind that beholding the glory of God in the glory of Christ is our greatest good.
• recognise that we need the help of the Holy Spirit in this, therefore we pray that he brings his glory to me
• faith is exercised on divine revelation, therefore we need to be searching the scriptures (with the help of the Holy Spirit)
• we must take time to meditate on Scripture, not just read it. Owen understood that lack of this keeps us in a low state.
• let our occasional thoughts of Christ be many. He should be the answer to the question, “What do you think about when you have nothing to think about?”

The last talk of the evening was from David Campbell on the 3rd, 4th and 5th sayings of Jesus on the cross. I have to admit I have never heard a series on this before, even after 35+ years as a Christian. I have heard that many people do it and some have written books on “the sayings”, but I have to confess I have tended to dismiss that idea as only a quaint, quick idea for a sermon series.

But this has been really good and pastorally helpful.  Tonight we looked at Jesus taking care of his mother (John 19:26,27), the sufferings of his body, (“I thirst”, John 19:28) and the sufferings of his soul (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:45,46). Jesus’ own suffering binds these together. Pastorally, these help us by showing us how Jesus now has sympathy for us  as he sits at the right hand of the Father. For me, the talk gave depth to Hebrews 4:15, “we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses”.

One other encouragement today, was for some of us EPCEW men to sit down and talk and pray with our brothers in the EPC in Ireland. We have a strong connection with them historically and the closer we are the better we can seek the glory of God.

I have been going to the BoT conference for a few years now. There are two things I love about it. Firstly, I love the fellowship. It is great to catch up with men from all over the country who are labouring to preach the gospel. Most of them I see only on this occasion. I even have a great time with the men in our presbytery who I see more regularly. There is something about the atmosphere.

Secondly, I love that the preaching and teaching is warmly Christ-Centred. As one of the promo videos said, the Banner conference is an oasis of rest, made so because we have our eyes directed to Christ.

So here I am – the first day of the Banner conference. A historic one because it is the last  to be held at Leicester Uni for contactual reasons.

Today was only a part-day as people travel in, but enough to hear two great sermons. The first was from Ted Donnelly. I only know him by reputation. I had never heard him preach, not even a recording. But I understand he has been a regular “Banner Man” in years gone by. He has suffered some ill-health and so this was something of an emotional return. He focussed on Romans 10:15, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news.” In an age where preaching is undervalued, this is a vital encouragement to us poor preachers! We have God-given authority, we have blessings to offer, there is a need for us to address, and the message we have is simple to understand. It is a message for all. It was a great encouragement as we press on.

On a personal note, one quote stood out for me which shows the balance e need as preachers:

“In the pulpit we are to be at our boldest. Out of the pulpit we are to be at our humblest.”

The second sermon was by David Campbell, an Ayrshireman, ministering at Grace Baptist Church in Carlisle, PA. He focussed on the first two sayings of Jesus on the cross in Luke 23:

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (v34)

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (v43)

They show both the darkness and light of creation. Darkness because of the fallenness of the human condition that needs forgiveness that Jesus speaks of. Jesus’ utterance shows the heart of God, that he does not desire that any should perish (as they must) but might receive forgiveness. Light meaning the grace of God in the promise of paradise, even for a thief dying on a cross beside Jesus. Grace wins.

A good way to end a day!