Gospel Prism

8/11/06, Friday
The third day of the conference (and second full day) began with worship led by Joe Stigora from Covenant Fellowship near Philadelphia. Again, worship was excellent with a mix of hymns (Crown Him with Many Crowns), contemporary (Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin) and VoV and SG songs (Heavenly Father and The Gospel Song). Then Bob Kauflin spoke on Pursuing God’s Presence. He started with an attention-getting illustration. He talked about reading a massive bio on Alexander Hamilton, which he held up. Bob noted that he felt that by the end of the bio he knew Hamilton and that though he knew how Hamilton died before reading the book he was saddened by the account. However, after finishing the book, Bob said that he felt no relationship to Alexander Hamilton; he did not seek fellowship or counsel from the long-dead patriot. Sadly, Kauflin stated, this is how many Christians approach God – like the subject of an interesting biography that has little or no effect on daily life. Speaking mostly from 1Corinthians 12, Kauflin made three main points on cultivating a heart that responds to God: a desperate dependence, an eager expectation, and a humble responsiveness. If you have read my thoughts on this conference, it will come as no surprise that I refer you to Tim Challies’s archive of the liveblog that he did. Challies is a cessationist who ends his summary of this session with this: “For cessationists who are seeking to understand how the gifts of the Spirit are manifested in the daily lives of those who believe in the continuing gifts, this will surely be a helpful message�. I agree with Tim and will be listening to the mp3 soon.

After Bob’s excellent session it was lunch time. Tom, Donna, and I grabbed our lunches (which were generous and yummy!), staked out a table, and were joined by a contingent from Oak Hills Community Church. This church, which is nonSG, sent almost 60 people to the conference, including the fellow (Ryan Ferguson) who did the dramatic recitation from Hebrews yesterday. Turns out that the reciter’s wife was seated with us. She reported that Ryan not only recites long passages of Scripture but also does Spurgeon, complete with costuming to resemble the 19th century Prince of Preachers.

The afternoon seminar was presented by Aron Osborne, who pastors a SG church in Souderton, PA. Aron’s topic was Eagerly Desiring the Spiritual Gifts. Tom and Donna joined me in this session which was good so that the three of us could debrief afterwards. Aron provided a comprehensive 4-page outline to accompany his oral presentation. His main point was considering whether the gifts are still for today. Aron answers not only in the affirmative but emphasizes that they are to be eagerly desired. He noted that when Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he called for correction of practice not cessation from it. He listed 4 reasons why people believe gifts have ceased: misunderstanding, bad experience, a dispensational perspective, and fear/discomfort. A point of conviction for me was a reminder that manifestations of the spirit are for the common good, that they are to benefit the body of Christ (the convicting was over how can I benefit the body if I am not active in the body). Aron provided an interesting quote from J. Rodman Williams: “my own experience in the church is that there is a clear correlation between our hunger after God … and our experience of God …� A summarizing statement from this presentation is: the gifts of the Spirit are ongoing until the return of Christ and are to be eagerly desired.

The evening session was billed as Ministry in Song, Word, and Prayer and that’s what occurred for about 2 hours. Bob Kauflin led. Songs included hymns such as Come Now Almighty King and Holy, Holy, Holy plus several selections from VoV and a few others. There were Scripture readings. There was prophecy. There was prayer for specific healing of conferees. There was prophetic song by Bob. There was small group prayer for the churches of the participants. There was corporate confession of sin. It was wonderful, interactive worship like I’ve never experienced. Check out Tim Challies for an extended account of this session.

Following the evening session there was a concert by Keith and Kristyn Getty. The Getty’s are a gifted husband-wife songwriting-singing Irish couple. Check them out at http://www.keithgetty.com. Keith is probably best known for a recent collaboration with Stuart Townsend called In Christ Alone. Our enjoyment of the concert was curtailed by news that Tom’s wife and kids, who were driving from Williamsburg, VA, to join us in Gaitherburg had been waylaid by automotive problems near Quantico, VA. Turns out the problem was a missing tire and wheel on the front passenger side which was discovered as the travelers were happily tooling along I-95. We left the concert so that Tom could drop us at our lodging and then take our rental to rescue his wife and kids.