Doctrine for Life
In this short video, Dr. Joel Beeke explains that as a pastor he strives to evangelize regularly in his sermons as he brings out application from the text and points people to the gospel. He also talks about evangelizing people on plane trips. You have to be intentional about evangelism.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14).
It was a packed but fruitful weekend. I gave three plenary addresses to 1400 people (mostly homeschooling families and singles) at the Theology of the Family Conference in Ridgecrest, North Carolina.
Here were my assigned subjects: on Friday evening, “The Family Psalm: The Blessing of Fearing God (Psalm 128),” on Saturday morning, “Building Family Convictions through Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon”; and on Saturday afternoon, “Family in Paul’s Epistles (esp. Ephesians 5:21—6: 4).” We also had great fellowship, shepherding opportunities, and prayers with numerous families at our 9 Reformation Heritage Books tables, selling $17,000 worth of books with David Woollin and Mary at steeply discounted non-profit prices to very grateful and often large homeschooling families (for example, the couple on our right has 15 children)! Seeing scores of families walk away with overflowing boxes and bulging bags of soul-enhancing books fills me with deeper joy than I can put into words. Who can tell how many of these God-exalting and edifying books will be blessed to parents and their children?
Other plenary speakers included Paul Washer, Scott Brown, Sam Waldron, Josh Buice, Jason Dohm, Kevin Swanson, Gavin Beers, Carlton McLeod, Tom Ascol, and John Snyder—all of whom have become friends over the years. (Seven additional speaker provided addresses at breakout sessions.) I thought they all spoke well in unfolding what the Bible has to say theologically and practically about family from Genesis to Revelation. This was a very good conference covering a vast theme, and I trust proved to be very profitable to every family that attended.
After my last address on Saturday afternoon, we took off for the airport right away, arriving at our home in Grand Rapids. On the flights, I finished preparing for my Lord’s Day messages yesterday—in Covenant URC in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the morning and in our own church in the evening—despite a good-sized bat flying all over the sanctuary throughout most of the sermon.
Thanks be to God, I felt helped throughout this intense but soul-uplifting weekend. Pray that all the seed sown and received might bear much fruit.
