Dwell Conference: "How do you like your meal?"

Last night, we had 'table talk', which was a table discussion of some of the ideas raised by the speaker (in last night's case, a fine message by Mark Driscoll).

Our table was talking about Preaching. I introduced the model I was raised on: When preaching, show your exegesis of the text. (John Stott?) We were talking about some of the limits of that model, as well as some of the great strengths.

Someone at our table offered this insight on preaching from his seminary professor:

We (preachers) are there not to take them to the kitchen, but to serve them a meal.

Ok. That insight is certainly the model of many preachers here in the States. They (presumably) do the hard work of exegesis at home, but not (primarily) in the sermon. That would make it labored and less interesting and less applicable.

I responded by saying that the model that I received was the opposite- that we are precisely to 'take people to the kitchen', in order to teach them how to cook and serve a meal on their own, and rely less on the chef.

I'm still processing this. So, over to you:

Do you want to be taken to the kitchen, or would you prefer the meal already served and with dessert?

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Pic by Mikeautry1.

Dwell Conference: "Am I easy to correct?

Just got back home from Dwell. Long day. The conference was held at a Universalist Church on Central Park West (pictured)

A lot of good things were said. Too many things for me to say. But let me share with you the main Bible passage from this morning that will stay with me for a long time: (1 Timothy 4:15-16)

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Three observations were made:

• Our character must be more persuasive than our speech. (Spurgeon).
• There is no pastoral exemption of sin for the pastor.
• You can't effectively watch yourself by yourself.

A devastatingly simple question each person needs to ask is this: "Am I easy to correct?"

This evening, we were encouraged to spend quality time in the Bible. One 'take home' for me is that I will spend a day a month away from any desk in a quiet space simply reading my Bible.

But, yesterday, I said that I'd introduce you to some of the workers that I met...

I want you to know about Gavin McGrath. Gavin came to the conference with a team from the Co-mission initiative in London (A group of creative and vigorous church planters). Gavin shows me that there is only one response to pain in ministry: Grace. Grace and humility. Gavin is, right now, where God wants him to be: planting in London. But the path that God took him was a long one. There was pain in the process, but Gavin has taken that path with only grace and humility. Like his Savior.

And Rob Karch -- Rob was raised in Oregon, and married a French Canadian woman and moved to Canada to plant churches. I met Rob at the beginning of the conference, and he was speaking English. After the first session, I overheard Rob speaking in fluent French. I asked him over lunch 'Did you grow up speaking French?' The answer: 'No'. He has been learning it for the last 2 years. I asked him about it, and he replied that this is exactly what you have to do if you want to be missional: learn the language of the people you are with. A good model.

Daniel Montgomery -- Daniel is a pastor at Sojourn Church in Louisville, KY. Daniel and I spent some time talking in the subway waiting for the Downtown A Train. We had met 2 years ago, and we have had the same conversation both times: how to preach Christ while putting strong boundaries around your families. Daniel obviously cares deeply about his wife and family.

These are all men who keep a close watch on themselves and on their teaching.

Will hopefully tell you about a few more tomorrow night.

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Pic of 106 Central Park West by Philocrites.

Live Blogging the Acts 29 Dwell Conference

I'm going to live-blog a conference, but I'm going to do it with a twist. You can read my thoughts HERE.

I am registered for Dwell here in Manhattan on Tuesday and Wednesday. I am taking the Intern at our church (like an MTS Trainee). So Clint and I are going to hang out, learn, pray and spend some time asking all the hard questions that come with evangelism, church planting and reaching Urban Centers.

Live-Bloggers normally live Blog the talks. I am looking forward to the content, and I may Blog about some of the insights that we hear there. But I am going to leave the Blogging of the talks to others.

Instead, I am planning on introducing you some of the 'laborers in the harvest field' -- to some the hard working brothers and sisters who are planning, struggling and dreaming of reaching the lost for Christ wherever they are. I'm going to tell you a few of their stories, leaving the talks to others. (I'll link to their sites if I find them.)

Hopefully, I'll have the time to get to know people and their prayers...

(PS I will have my 'phone on in case #3 arrives early!)

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