NIMA Audio Available

I've just seen on Peter Whyte's website that the 2010 NIMA audio from Bryan Chapell and Vaughan Roberts is available now. Well worth downloading and listening.

Grace for Godliness

It's always strange when Wednesday is your Monday - the week is shorter, but there's still the same work to be done. My week began today because the past two days were spent at the Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly (NIMA), in Lisburn.

An excellent couple of days of Bible teaching and practical training for preachers and teachers, with Bryan Chapell and Vaughan Roberts. Vaughan Roberts taught four sessions from Paul's letter to Titus, looking at The Preacher in God's Plan; The Preacher and the Gospel; The Preacher and Godliness; The Preacher and False Teaching, with the letter being thoroughly expounded and applied to the situation of preachers and teachers in the church in the twenty-first century.

Bryan Chapell was taking the more practical sessions, helping us to think carefully about application when preaching. It's probably the area of preaching that I struggle most with, so the sessions were really helpful in urging us to give more thought to the what, where, why and how of application. So as we apply the truth of Scripture, the message of the passage, the 'what' comes directly from our exegesis, but to ground it and make it connect more clearly with our congregation, we need to apply it in the where as well - in the particular situation a truth may be particularly precious; as well as helping people to connect our application with the grace of God.

This was the thing that came out very clearly from both Bryan and Vaughan's sessions - the grace is the fuel for godliness. There's no doubt that we want our congregations to be growing in godliness and abounding in doing good, but how do we call them to do this?

Moral urging either leads to pride (if we think we're achieving it all by ourself) or despair (as we realise we can't actually live to please God); it is only grace that leads to godliness - as a grateful response to what God has done for us in Jesus Christ, so that the gospel rescues us and helps us to live godly lives of hope. Neither do we narrow grace to either licence (insisting that God will forgive us anyway), or legalism, but true, full, whole, wonderful, amazing grace which empowers us and assures us of God's verdict towards us.

Great teaching, but the conference also gives the opportunity to meet up with a range of 'ecumenical' colleagues in gospel ministry from Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, RP and other backgrounds; with the encouragement that comes from seeing that you're not alone in the Lord's work. It was good to meet up with friends I hadn't seen in a while and hear how they're getting on in new ministry situations, as well as meet new friends. As always, the bookstall was provided by John Grier from The Evangelical Bookshop in College Square, which was well worth a visit!

Next on the NIMA calendar is the preaching conference in January, but in due course the audio from the sessions will be available over at the NIMA website, so if you didn't make it, listen in and benefit from the good teaching!

Sermon Feedback

Several things have been converging to lead to this posting. First up, I've been thinking for a while about sermon feedback in churches. Occasionally someone will say something at the door - hopefully more than just "nice sermon" (I'm not aiming to be "nice"), but normally if there's any comment it's a general bland comment.

The second is the review of sermons that we have in staff meeting and one-to-one contexts. Very useful to have a discussion about structure (which is normally lacking), introductions, illustrations, applications, and how we're handling the Word of God.

Third, this week it has been the Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly (NIMA) Preaching Conference. 30 or so ministers and students gathering to hear from God's word and to each present an outline sermon for critique and feedback in a small workshop setting. Ours has been in 2 Peter, with other groups working on Daniel and Mark. My presentation is tomorrow morning, so here goes...

Fourthly, and perhaps most significantly, I've been (slowly) reading Graeme Goldsworthy's 'Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture'. A great book which I'll properly review in due course. But Goldsworthy has a helpful comment on the area of sermon feedback:

The gospel not only defines the problem and God's response to it, it should also define the Christian buzz words that we use to assess sermons and talks... In short, what is relevant is defined by the gospel; what is helpful is defined by the gospel. The first question we all need to ask is not, "Was it relevant?"; "Did I find it helpful?"; or "Were we blessed?"; but "How did the study or sermon testify to Christ and his gospel as the power of God for salvation?"

What he's saying is that faithfulness is the measure of 'success' and not anything else. Am I preaching the word of God faithfully, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ? This is our aim and purpose and standard. Conferences, books and teamwork are helpful aids to this, but let's never forget what we're doing as we preach the Scriptures.

Iron Sharpening Iron

I was down in Newcastle for a few days at the Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly's first Preaching Conference. The main speaker was Edward Lobb, Director of the Cornhill Training Course in Scotland, organised by Proclamation Trust. In the main sessions, Edward took us through Letting the Word do the Work; Placing the Text in its Context; The Heart of Romans; and Sermon Preparation. Each was brilliant, with lots to think about as we return home to our parishes and ministries. Sadly, there was no recording of these sessions.

However, the main reason we were gathered was for the small group workshops. In these, a group of 8 people (maybe more in others) tackled a book to preach on. The seminars running were 2 Timothy, Ruth and Revelation. Each person was allocated a passage in advance with some homework - to prepare to preach on the passage, and present the Theme of the passage, the Aim of the sermon, and then an Outline of the sermon. These groups were most helpful, with positive feedback and constructive criticism on the outlines presented, as well as the opportunity to hear the ideas and thoughts of others on the passage.

As we worked together, it was a case of iron sharpening iron for the task at hand. Hopefully another preaching conference will be organised next year to build up our preaching, and also provide encouragement to stick at the hard work of sermon preparation.

Edward also preached at St Elizabeth's on Sunday night. You can hear him on the St Elizabeth's sermon blog.

Visiting Preacher

On Sunday night, DV, the preacher in St Elizabeth's, Dundonald will be Melvin Tinker. Melvin will join us in advance of the Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly next Monday and Tuesday in Richhill.

Melvin is Vicar of St John Newland in Kingston-Upon-Hull, and the author of several books. The evening meeting begins at 6.30pm and all are welcome.

NIMA 2008

It's almost time for this year's Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly, again being held in Richhill Presbyterian Church on 17th and 18th November. Visiting speakers are Peter Adam, Melvin Tinker, and John Woodside, and it promises to be a great conference for those in the ministry of the Word of God.

You can book your place on the Proclamation Trust website.

Carolling

We're now well into the season of Carol Services etc, and tonight is 'the big one' in Dromore Cathedral. The Carols by Candlelight service. The church always looks well, in darkness except for the flickering of candles. The traditional carols as well as some choir anthems. And of course the series of readings, taking us through God's purpose from Eden, through the prophets to the events in Bethlehem of 2000 years ago.

I'm singing in the choir this evening too, which I hadn't really planned on. But it's something I enjoy, so long as I have my starting notes! Part of the time I'll be singing bass, and the rest will be tenor - so a bit of moving around and playing with the harmonies. Just wish I had been to a practice or two beforehand!

Earlier in the week I happened upon a carol service in St Dunstan-in-the-West on Fleet Street. It was the Christmas celebration of the Fleet Street Talks - an initiative for Bible teaching for the business and legal community of Fleet Street. The rector of St Helen's Bishopsgate was the preacher, and the singing was very good. A soloist sang a hymn written by David Jackman - the president of Proclamation Trust, who speaks at the Fleet Street Talks sometimes.

One thing I noticed though, is that the English tend to sing Bethleeeeeehem, rather than Bethlehem. Wonder if that's common or just a London thing?

Proc Trust NIMA

Still on the retrospective postings, having now made it as far as last Monday and Tuesday! Having flown back from Scotland at 7am - which necessitated leaving Dundee at 4.30am, it was off to Dollingstown for the Proclamation Trust Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly.

This was the first event of its kind in Northern Ireland, but hopefully it will become an annual event, due to its success. All in all, about 200 ministers, pastors and preachers came together in St Saviour's Church to discuss and learn about preaching from two masters - Kent Hughes and David Jackman.

Hughes, I didn't know before then, but Jackman I had known from two summers in London at the student conferences. David Jackman presented a series of 'sharpening your skills' sessions, looking at the preparation of sermons, concentrating on what the text is saying, and how to communicate its message today. Kent Hughes dealt with the Bible itself, then with the heart of the preacher, as well as providing some reflections on his own ministry - tomorrow is his last Sunday after 27 years as pastor of his church in Chicago.

As well as the teaching from the front, the Assembly allowed plenty of time for networking, both renewing friendships and making new ones; and also to enjoy the great food on offer from the parishioners of Magheralin and Dollingstown!

Let's hope the event hapens again next year...

Wreckednesses!!!

I am officially wrecked!

This is going to be a very short posting just to say that I got back from Scotland this morning, having got up at an awfully early hour, then spent the day at the Proc Trust Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly, before speaking at the Lisnasure Prayer Union in Magheralin... busy busy day, after a great weekend! A wee bit more thought and reports of the weekend will follow in due course - maybe tomorrow evening, but for now, it's off to bed.

Good night!

Rageness!!!

I'm not quite sure who I am angry with... is it the college wireless network system, which is woeful in my room and keeps cutting out at important points? Or is it Blogger?

The reason is that last night, not long before bed, I typed up a rather thoughtful blog on the whole area of Bible reading and leading services - related to some people sounding a bit droll or bored. I was rather pleased with it, perhaps one of my better bloggings.

And as I pressed send (without saving a copy in Word format - but why would you?), suddenly the network cut out. My posting, in all its glory, was lost to the realms of computer world, from where they do not return again...

Not to worry, I thought, as sometimes postings go through as the network is dodgy, and you find they were accepted, both in blogger and also on the forum I'm a part of. But it wasn't to be. The posting is lost forever.

I might try it again when I have some free time.

Right now, I'm packing to go to the airport to fly to Scotland for a special someone's birthday weekend! I can't wait!

And even better - no essay pressure this weekend, as the essays have been handed in for this week already, and there's two weeks until the next one is due. And that'll be it til after Christmas!

Monday and Tuesday will be the Proclamation Trust Nothern Ireland Ministry Assembly, in Dollingstown Church. More postings on this will follow, and maybe even some comment from my colleagues who attend...

Essays

So that's two essays down, a million more to go! This week's was on the atonement, and for some reason, I struggled mightily with it... the words just were not coming. Well, it's done now. The next essay, due to our incredibly tight schedule, is due in on Monday week - which, due to placements, my trip to Scotland and the Proclamation Trust NIMA, I'll have to have done and ready to hand in this Thursday morning...

Oh, and the next meeting of College Fellowship is on Tuesday night - Ron Elsdon looking at sound doctrine. Please pray for Clare and me as we organise CF, and everyone who comes along.

NIMA

Just a quick posting to say that Proclamation Trust are coming to a village near me! They are holding their first Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly, and it's going to be in St Saviour's Dollingstown (or as the ad in The Good Book Company's publication The Briefing says, 'Bollingstown').

The speakers are David Jackman and Kent Hughes, and the dates are 13th and 14th November. More information can be found here.

Should be a good two days, and hopefully I will be there!!!