ATC 2011

(Disclaimer: I am a graduate of Calvary Baptist Seminary and have a deep appreciation for the school, its professors, and many of its alumni.  There is a definite bias in this regard.  I also have appreciated the pulpit ministry of Dr. Tim Jordan, although I was never a member at Calvary Baptist Church while in seminary.)

As I walked through the doors into a very familiar building, memories came rushing back.  This was the place I had spent 5 of the most intense years of my life.  I didn't say 5 of the best years, although much of my experience was very positive.  Seminary was, in another's words, "the best of times and the worst of times."  I never faced pressures in almost every aspect of my life, marriage, family, and ministry, as I did during this period.  That's probably true for most seminarians.  But here I was, back at "school." I could remember where "Chief" Jordan's files were stored in a large room over to my right, now a coatroom. The remodel of the church that occurred several years ago looked very nice.  Everything was modern and inviting.  I began to see faces that I recognized--some came with names, some didn't! It was the first of literally dozens of reunions that would take place over the next 3 days.

 The seminary office says conference audio will probably post next week.

[Note: When I return to Indianapolis, I will write a brief article, focusing on my personal reflections on the conference, probably on Saturday or Monday.]

This is the final message of the ATC Conference.

Introduction:

• Where would you go in the Bible to demonstrate that the Christian life is not just about “Jesus and me”—though that is certainly there?
• I think you can demonstrate this in almost every book in the NT.
• In case people think you are proof-texting, use the book of James. [overview of James followed]
• When we're talking about church membership, we're talking about formalizing our relationship with each other. Even in James, we have a unique expression of Christian love (5:14). The elders of what church? His church.  Plural elders, singular church--the pattern we see in the NT.
• Two bits of theology we've made referenced to:
  • Almost always, the church mentioned in the NT is referencing a local church.
  • Matters dealing with the church are mentioned both explicitly and implictly.  Local church membership is taught implicitly in the NT. A way you can construct this with people is a membership triangle: pastor, me, other Christians.  Then start filling in with verses dealing with those interrelationships.
• I'm assuming a good deal of agreement on this so we're going to spend the rest of our time in Q&A about these issues.

Highlights from Q&A:

Song: "Speak O Lord." (Gettys) When Tim Jordan introduced Kevin Bauder, he mentioned that at the end of this school year, Bauder will be stepping down from the presidency at Central Seminary and staying on at the seminary but focusing on research and writing. 

Text: 2 John 7-11

Introduction:

• The idea of fundamentalism is concerned with the well-being of the church.
• There is a particular aspect of the well-being of the church that I want to deal with.
• Let me begin with a story.
  • Pastor in Grand Rapids is in the first couple weeks of his ministry.
  • A knock at his door.  Reps of the Grand Rapids Baptist Association want to give him an update.
  • A pastor in the association had preached a great message on the virgin birth at an association meeting.  He was vocally opposed by another pastor in attendance, stating that the virgin birth was contrary to reason and that he and his church were opposed to it.
  • The reps asked this new pastor where he stood on this issue.

Question 1: What’s going on here? (vv. 7-8)

The session began by singing "As the Deer" followed by Tim's message.

Text: 1 Cor. 9

Introduction:

• I want to finish what I started on Wednesday
• The pastor is not the pillar and ground of the truth; the church is.
• Paul was called to a cross-cultural and really gets his feet wet in Antioch.
• He spends the rest of his life occasionally visiting home, but mostly away preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God all over the Roman empire.
• We’re just going to survey and reference the text this morning; it will be highly applicational.

Observation: