Last term we had a reading week at Cornhill… we were given the choice to read The Unquenchable Flame by Mike Reeves, or You Can Change by Tim Chester… I had wanted to read both, but chose the former.

As it happens, I didn’t read it then anyone… I filled my week up with other things… but I did finish it soon after! It’s a whilstle stop tour of the Reformation in Europe from the pre-reformation indulgences to the post-reformation Puritans and everything else in between.

Reeves keeps his good humour and slightly zany approach to historical theology. The main players and events are introduced in a novelistic kind of way, you feel a certain attachment and fondness for Luther as he drinks beer and Calvin as he’s hounded across Europe.

For me the best bit is the chapter on the English Reformation and the focus on William Tyndale. It’s the best because I live in England, it feels that much closer to home… this man died for the sake of the gospel and that I might be able to read the Bible in English!

“If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the Scripture than thou doest.”

“Lord, open the King of England’s eyes”

You can buy the book on Amazon, currently for just £5.64 – Bargain!!

I did a talk the other week on Psalm 123…  I had no idea where to go with this but was greatly helped by Alec Moyter’s book on the Psalms of Ascents called ‘Journey’, and also Mike Reeves (in a talk at All Souls) helped with some thoughts on illustrating the points. Here’s an outline of the talk…

Psalms 120 – 134, The Songs of Ascent

Songs for the Pilgrimage – when the Jews journeyed on the way to the feasts – Passover, Tabernacles, Harvest – heading for Jerusalem

The Psalms come in triads (sets of 3), following the pattern of: 1) Distress  2) God’s protection 3) Safe Arrival

Psalm 123 - beginning of the 2nd triad, a situation of distress. But… even in this situation we find hope in our faithful God

Eyes that looks up to Heaven

The world says… “look to yourself” – find the strength you need inside yourself

The Psalmist says… “Not chin up… but eyes up!”

The eyes looking to Heaven are symbolic of praying to our God

Robert Murray-McChene - Every look at myself, take ten at Christ

The hand that acts

Looking shows our dependence on God – God our master

Hand of the LORD our God  -  Hand of provision

My dog Glennie… his eyes fixed upon the dinner table  -  expectant that his master will provide

The mercy given?

The cry for mercy… goes seemingly unheard… But remember to whom it is we cry - it’s the LORD!

I AM the LORD – who rescued you…  this is the God who is in the business of giving mercy

We see his mercy in the past and we await the great day of mercy to come

The hardships of the journey

Contempt from the arrogant:   “Faith and prayer is just a sign of weakness”

Ridicule from the proud:  “You don’t really believe that do you?”, “I’m a good person, it doesn’t matter what you say”

“Eye of Hope” (called by ancient scholars)

Look to Heaven

Wait for His mercy

Remember the One who made The Journey… Jesus made a journey at the feast of the Passover… he journeyed away from the city, he endured much contempt and ridicule… so that you can now journey to the New Jerusalem

One of the great features about conferences is the seminars and NWA is no exception. I’m currently sitting in a marquee waiting for a seminar on Justification.

This year i’ll be following the two ‘Doctrine Matters’ seminar streams – sadly this means I’ll miss Vaughan Roberts on 1 Corinthians 1-7. The first session is by Mike Reeves, the UCCF theology guru, he’s looking at Martin Luther and the whole topic of Justification.

The next session will be all about engaging with culture – Dan Strange, a lecturer at Oak Hill college will be speaking. I’ll do some summary posts at the end of the series about these topics. Alright, cue Mike Reeves…

So, after about a nine hour trip we finally made it back from Pwllheli and the anticipated excitement was not disappointed! The site we were staying on isn’t as good as Skeggy, but in contrast to the Lincolnshire coast we had some sun, you could describe the scenery as beautiful and having Snowdon in the background is a plus.

First night we kicked off with Terry Virgo speaking on God’s Grace from Romans 5. It was a great start to the week to be reminded of our status before God based on his Grace mediated through Christ’s work on the cross. At the same time some of us felt he didn’t really give a balanced picture, yes we are under grace, but what about disciple, how does sanctification work? Terry Virgo did mention these things but had no time to explain – a shame. Nevertheless it was great to glory at God’s lavish grace.

Don Carson spoke in the morning Bible readings from 1 John, and the next two evenings formed a two-part message from John Piper – Treasuring Christ and a call to suffer… these two features deserve separate posts.

What else was there to do… Chronological Bible overview with Jason Clarke, a guide to understanding, interpreting and applying the whole Bible (using Daniel) with Vaughan Roberts, Trinity with Mike Reeves (mind blowing as ever), Humanity and Creation, 3 studies with Mike Ovey… Giving a Bible talk with Richard Coekin, Good News to the poor with Tim Chester… and loads of other practical seminars with great speakers like; Graham Daniels, Mark Ashton, Wallace Benn, Dave Bish, Andrew Sach, Jim Paul, Melvin Tinker, Jon Hobbs, John Benton, Roger Carswell… and loads more!

And if that’s too much for you then there’s go karts, crazy golf, swimming, peddlos, and a nice beach to walk on. In fact that usually is too much, I went to the main meetings and Mike Reeves on the Triune God… that’s more than enough! The rest of the time it’s good to just chillax, enjoy people’s company, think about what we’re learning, and to enjoy the beauty of Wales (and Sarah), more thoughts to come…

Since Word Alive, Trinity has been a fresh revelation, and it’s been great to listen to those talks mentioned previously and to study a bit at church and to think more about the applications of Trinitarian theology in every sphere of life. Anyway, something that Mike Reeves referred to in his talk was the Athanasian creed, sounds quite random. But it just so happened I was sitting in the balcony at church today and during the bit of communion when all the distributors first receive I was getting a little restless (I know I should have been praying prayers of humble access, but anyway), so I saw in front of me a little book, the Book of Common Prayer, so thought I’d have a browse… what caught my eye in the contents was the “Creed of St. Athanasius”, basically it says that if you’re a Christian then a solid grasp of the Trinity is central to faith. I think it’s pretty awesome…

Whosoever will be saved,
before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith.
Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled,
without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

And the Catholic Faith is this:
That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity,
neither confounding the Persons,
nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father,
another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.

The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible,
and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.

And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated,
but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty,
and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three
Almighties, but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God,
and the Holy Ghost is God.
And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord,
and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord.

For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge
every Person by himself to be both God and Lord,
So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say,
There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son,
neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons;
one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other;
none is greater, or less than another; But the whole three Persons
are co-eternal together and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid,
the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also
believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess,
that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds;
and Man of the substance of his Mother, born in the world;
Perfect God and perfect Man,
of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the
Father, as touching his manhood; Who, although he be God and Man,
yet he is not two, but one Christ;
One, not by conversion of the Godhead
into flesh but by taking of the Manhood into God;
One altogether; not by confusion of Substance,
but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul
and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ;
Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell,
rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father,
God Almighty, from whence he will come
to judge the quick and the dead.
At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies
and shall give account for their own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life
everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully,
he cannot be saved.

Source: Anglicans Online