This post was a guest post about Spurgeon, surprisingly enough given my current interest in him over at Desiring God’s fabulous blog. If you don’t read that blog already, I urge you to do so. I must confess to having slightly overstated my point in the title of this post. I rejoice in the recent resurgence of interest in the Puritans, who have so much to teach us. Perhaps a better way to capture the thought propelling this post would... Read more
None of these reasons listed below are unique to me, but I thought I would collect and restate them here for you. One of the best writers on this subject is Wayne Grudem, and though I have not gone back to his writing in producing this, I am sure that his influence will be seen in this list. For more on the outworking of all this practically, please see my series on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. To be provoked to pursue God wholeheartedly for all that he has for us, watch Tope's recent sermon at Desiring God. Read more
For those many who have heard my pastor Tope Koleoso preach at the Desiring God Conference, there is more. He also preached at the Seminary DG run. You can now watch that here: Read more
In this quote from Spurgeon he reveals a depth of spiritual experience that frankly surpasses that of the vast majority of Christians today, whether charismatic or cessationist. But surely we can and should all aspire to know something of the depths of experience he knew? “Beloved brethren and sisters in Christ, I think that you and I can say, that to us the surest fact in all the world is that there is a God. No God? I live in... Read more
One of the marvellous things about writing a book is that sometimes you get to hear about people who have picked it up months or even years later. It is of course something new to them, and sometimes the book blesses and encourages them even as it once did yourself as you wrote it. So, I was really pleased to read this new review of my book, Raised With Christ: I consider myself Reformed. One of the things that means... Read more
All of the videos of the talks at the recent Desiring God Conference for Pastors are now up online together with the audio and a songlist. I thought I would share the video from Tope’s and the Q and A here, but the rest of them are all well worth viewing too. The event as a whole will have major reverberations in the lives of hundreds of pastors and their churches. Please pray for wisdom for everybody that was there... Read more
My notes from the Mission talk here at the DGM Pastors Conference. We affirm the power of the gospel and the call of God to make disciples of all nations. The world can be turned upside down by a few people, with a little funding, and biblical strategy. In missions we must not move from the supernatural to the professional. Gospel primacy. Our lives must line up with the gospel. Teach your people to be confident about the gospel. Gospel... Read more
We are told to be humble but confident. We are told of the sovereignty of God, and our responsibility. We are to do the work of an evangelist but Jesus saves. How can we possibly help dead people become alive? We can’t but Jesus can. We have come up with many ways to do evangelism. 1. Attractionalism 2. Legalism 3. Individualism 4. Culturalism 5. Relationalism How are we meant to do this thing? Acts 16. 1. Appropriately contextualise. Not over-... Read more
Surgeons can do their works without words. Pastors can’t. But the great aims of our work are not decisively brought about by our word but by God. But the way we use words matters. The content clarity and spirit in which we use words are critical. George Herbert emphasised the poetic nature of much of God’s communication in the Bible. Paul planted. Apollos watered. God gave the growth. The way you plant and water makes a difference. Herbert chose preaching... Read more
The shepherd has to know who to handle the sovereign grace of God and spiritual gifts. It can be done. It should be done. It must be done. These are not optional. Tope explained he is standing on the shoulders of men like Terry Virgo, Jack Hayford and John Piper. Why would anyone be hesitant, cautious, resistant to the Holy Spirit? It comes down to fear. I am careful not to despise prophecy but I do recognise nonsense. Sometimes people... Read more
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