Conference Day 2

Today, there was another lecture in the John Reed Miller Series at RTS. Dr. Dever spoke on "The Use of Preaching in Edifying the Church and Evangelizing the Lost."
Before I offer some of the notes that I took during the series, I must take this opportunity to freak out. I totally shook Mark Dever's hand today. And he kept calling me "Katie," but after a little while, he got it right and now we have a joke. I have a joke with Mark Dever. We told him that we listen to his sermons on cd and he said that we should email him if we ever have questions. He is really nice and offered some suggestions to Ben about his Bunyan work and gave him a name of someone to connect with at Southern.

Okay, now for the notes from today:

*How much of preaching is reinforcing the existing culture? Are preachers thinking of the congregation as consumers. The term "seekers" implies something like this. The focus of sermons on "you and your needs" can produce a comfortable, suburban faith.

*Preachers do not need to look to the culture for methods and acceptable materials for preaching.

* Preaching is meant to inform our minds, instruct our consciences, and warm our hearts. Sin must be considered. Warning, admonition, condemning sin is appropriate in sermons.

* Why Expository preaching? What will most edify the church is preaching that exposes God's word. Every part of scripture contributes to the church. It is good to preach the truth and even better to preach the truth in a way that enables hearers to see where it comes from.

*Applying God's word does not undermine the Gospel message. Application teaches humility, recovery, conviction, etc.

*Three different kinds of application: ignorance, doubt, and sin. Inform the ignorant with the truth, urge the doubting to believe, and exhort those struggling with sin for a joyful obedience of God.

*Remembering that there are non-Christians around can clarify the preacher and remind him of God's grace. Addressing unbelievers in the congregation provides a model for Christians as they speak to non-Christians in their lives.

Tomorrow, there is a breakfast in Mark Dever's honor, and then the final lecture on "The Art of Preaching." Since we're all cool now, he will probably want to sit at our breakfast table.