Category Archives: Banner of Truth

BANNER: Union with Christ (Ferguson)

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At the recent Banner of Truth Trust Ministers’ Conference, Dr Sinclair Ferguson brought two messages to the 300+ men gathered on the topic: “Union with Christ.” Both are worthy of your listening/purchasing (and I hope to do so soon).

My notes cannot do justice to what was presented, but let me share a few things from the first session….

Scripture text read: Colossians 3:1-17.

The aim of Colossians 2-3 (and these addresses by Dr Ferguson) is: to teach believers about their union with Christ, and so combat several disfunctions in the local church. Believing “on” Christ and union “with” Him is not built on a concept borrowed from classical Greek, but is rather a new, gospel-born concept.

As such, it is also a primary tool for pastoral ministry. Indeed, the way we approach and do ministry will reflect (and depend upon) our view of the Christian’s life — and his union with Christ.

False teachers in Colossae were advocating some (false) way to spiritual ‘fullness’. Isn’t this similar to our own day, when ‘fullness’ is being offered to Christians apart from Christ? It seems that so many brethren “live below the privileges” that are theirs in Christ.

The Basic Pattern of Apostolic Teaching/Preaching.

(1) There is a GRAMMAR imbedded in how Paul speaks of Christ. It is like learning a new language that you want to speak well. We must learn the gospel imperatives, and how they are rooted in the gospel indicatives…. [This grammar metaphor was wonderfully developed and employed by Dr Ferguson throughout the rest of the address.]

(2) There is a CHRONOLOGY of the gospel. The present Christian life is rooted not so much in the present, but rooted in the past — in the person and work of Christ!

(3) There is a GEOGRAPHY of the gospel. Col. 3:3 (“your life is hidden with Christ in God”) — do we recall this daily? We are born-from-above; we ought to speak with heaven’s accent.

(4) There is a RYTHYM of the gospel. (Col. 3:5, put off… put on…).

The Basic Substance of Apostolic Exposition. (from details of Col. 1-2-3).
• the person … to whom we are united (Christology)
• the manner … in which we’re united (a mutuality, we have Him and He has us…)
• the extent … we are united

Knowing who we are in Christ forms and transforms us. Thus, Christ ought to be the dominant theme in all our ministry.

Amen. pdb

BANNER: “Persuasive Preaching” by Alistair Begg

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Banner logoAt last week’s Banner of Truth Trust Minister’s Conference, Alistair Begg, a Pastor from Cleveland with a large radio ministry, addressed us twice from 2nd Corinthains 5:11+ff on the subject of “Persuasive Preaching” [a change from the published topic]. Let me share a brief summary with you….

Professor John Murray once defined preaching simply as “a personal, passionate plea.” This was Paul’s passion and pattern as well, used in the synagogues where he reasoned and pleaded with men to believe the gospel. Such a ministry involves hardship and suffering; such preaching, says Begg, is “not a soft option” either. In fact, “if we do not share his divine compulsion, we will not stand amidst the afflictions.”

There are three peculiar challenges we must face if we are to undertake persuasive preaching…

(1) The PERSONAL challenge. We must face our natural inhibitions, and our sense of self-preservation. We must fight off that familiarity with the gospel that creates a loss of wonder and awe. We dare not let ourselves view preaching as a triviality — perhaps like Shakespeare’s grave-diggers who laugh and joke while doing their work.

(2) The CULTURAL challenge. Our culture is caught up with meaninglessness. Neil Postman, author of ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ points out that what modern audiences want from a presentation is no prerequisites, no perplexities and no exposition — in other words, they want entertainment. A fine example of this is found in ACTS 25, where Festus calls in Paul to ‘entertain’ King Agrippa & Bernice! [Begg’s retelling of the story/scene was most engaging!].

(3) The THEOLOGICAL challenge. We ought not to be hindered, says Begg, by our erudition and convictions “fearing we might impinge upon God’s sovereignty” in pleading with sinners to repent and believe. Most helpful here was his reference to MATTHEW 11:25-28, where the Lord’s strong teaching on election (“… no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him…”) is immediately followed by the Lord’s call to faith (“Come to Me!”).

These three challenges, and their related three “enemies” (confusion, conformity and complacency) must be met by three solutions: CLARITY, BOLDNESS & URGENCY — as we find back in 2nd Corinthians 5.

In his second address, Begg took us to ACTS 25:23-26, to further demonstrate Paul’s manner of persuasive preaching. The heart of this address took up Paul’s words, in order, under these headings:
1. religious heritage
2. opposition and persecution
3. divine intervention
4. explanation (the who, what, where, why… questions
5. (interruption)
6. application (switching to direct address to the king)

Through it all, Paul is winsome and kind, but clear, bold and urgent.

Amen. pdb