The whole purpose for our conference this year was based upon the theme – “The Bible is the Word of God.” It’s no surprise that we live in a world where they kill people who follow Jesus and scorn the Scriptures that reveal the beauty of God’s image (1 John 3:13). That was promised by Jesus when He said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). John Wycliffe was hated for his translation of the Bible into English. The world despised William Tyndale and he was burned at the stake for his work to get the Bible into the English language. John Rogers was the first martyr under bloody Mary for his commitment to get the Bible into the common man’s language. He was burned at the stake. He literally saw his youngest child for the first time as he was being led to the stake to die. This bloody attack upon the Word of God points to the reality that Satan has a agenda to silence the Bible. It has been our goal to focus on the Bible as God’s Word for an entire conference.
Each speaker sought to encourage us with the total inerrancy and full sufficiency of God’s Word. In my opening sermon, I had a goal to bring us to the point of seeing that we can trust our churches, families, and ultimately our souls to the pure gospel of God’s Word. We don’t worship the Bible, but we respect it as the authoritative Word of God. The Bible is trustworthy and from 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, I wanted to remind the conference attendees that the world will always view the Bible and its message as utter folly. The word used there by Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:18 is “?????” which means foolishness. It’s from this word that we derive our English word – moron. The sophisticated urbane population of Corinth with their philosophies and a multiplicity of gods viewed the message of the cross as moronic and the preacher himself as a moron!
We need this reminder as we stand in our present day sophisticated urbane and educated population in America. To preach the message of the cross is foolishness to the world. To stand against abortion and lift high the inerrant Word as your source of truth is considered folly. To lift up a crucified and resurrected Savior to a lost world is crazy talk. We need this reminder and we must warn our children. The world will only grow more hostile toward the message of the cross as we press onward. There is no time for slackness in our commitment upon God’s Word.
What you will see below are some helpful reminders from each of the speakers. For the full sermons, you can visit the 2015 archives.
Tim Challies
Read Scripture because: it saves, it makes wise, it makes joyful, it gives clarity, it purifies, it is true. Ps.19 ~ Tim Challies
James White
You want direct revelation from God? Then read the Bible! ~ James White
The skeptics have not died and risen again. That gives Jesus a DISTINCT advantage. ~ James White
Richard Owen Roberts
What most Evangelicals today think is faith is exactly what the Devil has. ~ Richard Owen Roberts
It is not enough to make a statement of faith, but rather one must provide credible evidence of regeneration. ~ Richard Owen Roberts
Being a theological master does not make you a Christian. ~ Richard Owen Roberts
Voddie Baucham
The other knight says, “I don’t believe in your sword.” Well… either he starts believing or you just… Win… ~ Voddie Baucham
Preaching the gospel without talking about sin is like making an omelette without cracking any eggs. ~ Voddie Baucham
The only way to have your “best life now” is if you’re going to hell when you die… ~ Voddie Baucham
Paul Washer
The sovereignty of God tells me that the dead can live! Ezekiel 37 ~ Paul Washer
We need men who carry a burden that would break them if it were not for the Spirit of God strengthening them. ~ Paul Washer
We can’t have a unified message in regards to pro life when we don’t have a unified message on the gospel. ~ Paul Washer
Oh that the evangelical church would throw away their toys of ministry and go out in the strength of the Lord. ~ Paul Washer
We will never accomplish the Great Commission online…the Great Commission is to be incarnational…flesh and blood. ~ Paul Washer
H. B. Charles Jr.
The greatest need of the church is faithful preaching of the Word of God. ~ H. B. Charles Jr.
You cannot be fruitful in ministry if you are preoccupied with the temporary. ~ H. B. Charles Jr.
There is no place for clowns in the pulpit of Jesus Christ. ~ H. B. Charles Jr.
False teachers wouldn’t have a platform if it were not for the itching ears of the church. ~ H. B. Charles Jr.
Steven Lawson
Any departure from Scripture is a departure from God Himself. ~ Steven Lawson
We do not sit in judgment of the Word; the Word sits in judgement of us. ~ Steven Lawson
Satan, the liar: tells Eve God is not good to her: tells God He’s too good to Job. Liar! ~ Steven Lawson
Want a contemporary ministry? Preach the Bible. ~ Steven Lawson
David Miller
God almighty can superintend man’s penmanship until fallible errant man has written down the infallible and inerrant Word of God. ~ David Miller
Breakout Sessions
Anthony Mathenia – “The average church has been ahead of the culture in one area: laying aside the Word of God.”
Chris King – “Do you wish you could have been taught by the same people who taught Spurgeon & Lloyd-Jones? You can. Read the Puritan works.“
Chip Thornton – “Beware of people in the church who claim to hear God speaking to them and value that above the written Word of God.”
Resources:
Chris King’s lecture handout on the Puritans can be downloaded here.
Tim Challies’ productivity worksheet can be downloaded here.
May God continue to encourage us to be men and women of the Book – the Bible! As we live in this God forsaken culture, may we refuse to compromise no matter how bitter the consequences, how painful the rejection, and how lonely our pulpit may become. Let us be reminded of Luther’s famous words (A Mighty Fortress):
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: Gods truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
The Bible is the Word of God! Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor Josh Buice
