Mark Dever Pastor’s Forum

I had the privilege of going down to Boston to Gorden-Conwell Theological Seminary yesterday with a group of pastors from Maine to hear Mark Dever.

The fellowship was great and the forum was uplifting and encouraging.

Dr. Mark Dever is the Senior pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC and the executive director of 9 Marks ministries.

I am just going to post some things that Dr. Dever mentioned that I have in my notes.

Topic: “The Gospel and Healthy Churches”

1- Change is counter-cultural. We are in desperate need of fundamental change. God, however does not owe it to us. He owes us justice, but gives us grace.

2- Fundamental change is possible, not a fantasy. God really does change us radically and dramatically.

3- Self-realization is not our greatest need. The change that we need is not to simply reinforce ourselves. The Bible says that the change that is needed is not mere self discovery. It is to admit that we are not the one true God. We need to change from worshiping ourselves to worshiping God.

4- This change is not simply a larger version of a New Year’s resolution. This change must involve a change of heart.

5- Jesus told the people he ministered to that they must turn. This is not a kind of religious self-help. Jesus told Nicodemus that he didn’t need to change his life, in fact, he needed a whole new life. He must be “born again.”

6- We are telling corpses to change. Jesus spoke to the dead man and told him to come out of the tomb. God saves people through his word. That is how he works. God changes the heart.

7- Tell people with honesty. Hold nothing back. “This will be costly”

8 - Simply desiring purpose in life is not conversion.

9 - Tell people with urgency. “Do not wait for a better offer. A better one is not coming. This is it.” Christ is the only way.

10 - Tell people with Joy.

11 - Use the Bible as you tell them. These are not your ideas. Make sure they know that.

12 - Live a life that commends the Gospel. Your life is the confirming echo of your words. We should be different.

13 - Personal testimony is not necessarily evangelism. Are we making clear what HIS claims are on THIER lives.

14 - Evangelism is not God’s political plan for the nation.

15 - Evangelism is not converting people. It is to announce the good news.

A proper view of these things is necessary for your health and the health of your churches.

Posted by micahellis at October 26, 2006 11:24 AM