Talk is Cheap

Just another reminder from David Alan Black’s blog that talk is cheap:

Christ demands that we put people over prestige or pulpits or publications. Do others really know that we love them? By our deeds and not just by our words? I suppose this is why Jesus never walked up to anyone and said, “I love you.” You see, if you have to tell people that you love them, they tend to suspect your genuineness. Evangelicals, let’s stop just saying that we love the nations. They can judge whether we love them or not.

 

 

20/20 Conference

Last year’s 20/20 Conference was hugely influential in the lives of many Southeastern students and visitors, and it’s coming again next February. Here’s what SEBTS has to say about it:

God’s church always finds herself in the midst of a broader human culture. Though the church is a part of that culture, she also bears witness to a Reality greater than the culture. For this reason, we as believers have the great privilege and responsibility of finding ways—in our colleges, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities—to display the truth, goodness, and beauty of God and his gospel. Come and join us as we explore ways of bearing witness to God and his gospel in the midst of a skeptical, morally confused culture.

The 2010 20/20 Collegiate Conference, A City Within a City, will be held February 5-6 on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The cost of the conference is $35. Southeastern students may attend for a discounted price of $30.

Speakers will include: Danny Akin, Matt Chandler, JD Greear, Clayton King, David Platt, Dave Owen and more

 

 

A Story of Exposure – Thoughts of a Future Church Planter

It’s Thursday morning and as I write this article I’m bouncing back and forth on the train to Manhattan. I almost always find riding the subways interesting, but crossing the Manhattan Bridge has certainly been the highlight of my morning commute for the last few days. I think I enjoy this part of the daily ride the most because—even if for just for a few moments—we are all offered an escape from the dark, empty tunnels and given a grandiose view of the city itself. The sky is enlarged. The sun is exposed. There is something to actually gaze upon.

As I sit here on the Broadway Express, though, I can’t help but notice the countenance of those individuals surrounding me. In almost every direction I notice exhausted eyes and fatigued faces. They’re tired.

As we’ve served the Gallery Church this week, it seems that each of us has had at least one great, encouraging story to share with the group. A story that moved a New Yorker out of the dark, empty tunnels and into the light—even if just for a few moments—as the greatest Story of all was told. A Story of Exposure.

Over the past several years God has been preparing me (in many ways) to be an urban church planter. This has certainly been a journey—one that can be measured by several marks and milestones—yet I am continually amazed at how God exposes more and more of his plan for my life. Opportunities like this week inevitably contribute to an increasing zeal to reach the world through the great cities. As I witness the Gallery’s efforts to expand the kingdom of God, I rejoice in the spread of God’s fame—and become increasingly excited about expanding the Church to other great cities, as well.

Following graduation this May, I will begin a new phase in the journey as a church planter. Together with seven other teammates (3 seminarians, a nurse, a computer pro, a horse trainer, and a 2 year-old), we will be transplanting to Denver, Colorado as missionaries for Jesus Christ. As we prepare for the coming step, I consider opportunities to learn from planters such as Aaron Coe, Jeff Getz, Freddy Wyatt, and Ellis Prince absolutely invaluable. Hearing words of encouragement, warnings and cautions, practical wisdom, and spiritual guidance has been both a blessing and a challenge. I think more than anything this week we’ve all witnessed at least a peek into the daily lives of church planters…and I continue to thank God for the privilege of participating in such a mission.

I guess at some point in time the Manhattan Bridge loses its flair amongst the natives. The familiar becomes ordinary. And the ordinary…well, more or less disappears. No one looks up. No one opens his eyes. It’s just one more stretch of the morning commute. One more stop closer to the destination, really. When I think of the story of God, I don’t want it to be like the Manhattan Bridge to those who have crossed it a thousand times. A familiar sight…an ordinary stretch. I want it to be like a view of the city seen by a first-timer. A view where the sky is enlarged. A Story where the Son is exposed.

Back to the books

T-minus 5 days until my final year of seminary training begins. How exciting! Taking the summer off from class provided a wonderful time of relaxation and refreshment, but I am more than ready to begin again. Looks like the course line up will certainly be rewarding, and I’m looking forward to diving in!

Here’s what we’ve got:

New Testament Theology – Dave Black

Questions to be answered this semester:

• What is the primary message of the New Testament?
• How should we study the New Testament writings?
• What are the steps in going from text to teaching/preaching outline?
• How is the New Testament both a human and divine book?
• Can modern critical methods be “evangelicalized”?
• What are the different levels of meaning in the text?
• What are the main themes of each of the New Testament books?

In short, this course explores the various approaches to New Testament theology and describes the basic principles and practice of recovering the theme of each New Testament writing. It examines the full range of models of reading and interpretation and evaluates both the foundations on which they stand and their practical implications for biblical texts, focusing on the New Testament.

The theme of “transformation” will provide the unifying center. The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation. A book endued with such power cannot be passively received. It can, however, be forced to serve the prior needs of its readers and even impose that reading on others in the name of the Holy Spirit. Hence the primary and indispensable need to be faithful to the meaning of the biblical text!

New Testament 1 Survey – David Lanier

This course is designed to be an introduction to the books of the New Testament, as well as a study of the intertestamental period, the New Testament world, and the life of Christ. Designed as a comprehensive survey course, it treats the cultural and historical background, occasion for writing, authorship and dating, major critical approaches, organization, and content of each book covered (the four Gospels).

Christian Faith and World Religions – Anthony Greenham

Course Objectives:
To establish briefly the essence of Christian faith
To examine contemporary world religions from the standpoint of Christian faith
To explore briefly how select adherents of different religions come to faith in Christ

Sermon Delivery – Greg Heisler

The course serves as an introduction to vocal production, articulation, projection, oral interpretation, and communication with particular application to the presentation of sermons.