Together for the Gospel conference 2006

It is hard to imagine a more encouraging time than the one I had at the inaugural T4G conference in Louisville, Kentucky from April 26 to 28. The list of speakers was a veritable who's-who of the top evangelical men in the US: Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, John MacArthur, Al Mohler, C.J. Mahaney, John Piper, and R.C. Sproul.

And they certainly lived up to their reputations. The talks were excellent and offered much food for thought for church leaders. Confronted with a barrage of church growth techniques, it is not surprising that many have been left bewildered and confused.

Here's the conference agenda:

• Mark Dever - The nature of true Christian ministry
• Ligon Duncan - Preaching from the Old Testament
• Al Mohler - Preaching with the culture in view
• R.C. Sproul - The centre of Christian preaching: Justfication by faith alone
• John Piper - Why expositional preaching is particularly glorifying to God
• C.J. Mahaney - Watch your life and doctrine
• John MacArthur - 40 years of gospel ministry

The conference was a good reminder of how biblical church growth comes about. In the words of one speaker, ''It's not rocket science - you have to preach the Word." There you have it: the time-honoured, God glorifying practice of faithfully expounding Scripture. When the sheep are well fed, they are less likely to stray and more likely to be a blessing to others within and without the fold.

The conference was also a good reminder of the basis for true Christian unity. It is unity founded upon the objective, unchanging, eternal truth of God's Word. It is unity in Christ - as his person and work are revealed to us in the gospel of God's redeeming grace.

And did I mention the singing? Three thousand voices joined together, making melody with heart and mind. What a superb picture of worship on that Great Day when Christ returns for his bride!

I also had a great time meeting other Christians from around the US, as well as catching up with others who had moved from DC.

As icing on the cake, I also got the opportunity to visit Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with Papu Sandhu, a fellow CHBCer. Here's a picture of the two of us on the campus. Church history buffs might be interested to know that the seminary's library possesses one of Charles Spurgeon's Bibles.