Banner’s Evening with Rev. Craig Troxel

After a nice dinner with a line long enough to make you rather wait out of the line came the evening and last session for the evening.

Speaker: Rev. Craig Troxel- Pastor of Bethel Presbyterian church in Wheaton, IL.

Title: Fan the Flame

Text: 2 Timothy 1:3-7

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

The introduction of Rev. Troxel’s message he began by giving an introduction to Spiritual gifts 101. Something that many always may know, think they know, but gave the background of why and what he was doing. In this beginning Rev. Troxel explains how stewardship is both given for him, but trusted in human hands so that they can carry it out, being men of faith.

As Rev. Troxel began his sermon I decided to just set back and listen and write only  a couple of one-liners that I found intriguing. They are listed below.

“We must forget ourselves as gifts.”

“We do not need a church full of themselves, but men full of Jesus Christ.”

“We need the work of the Spirit.”

Be sure to check out a few of my other friends that are posting on their time here.

Nathan Eshelman & Tim Challies

Dr. Iain Murray on The Best Command of the Lord

I am no writer by any means, and I am barley even a blogger, but nonetheless I am going to try to write down a few thoughts, one-liners and notes from the messages that are being done at the Banner of Truth Conference. Below are just the thoughts that were and are still running through my head on paper.

I am setting here at the Banner of Truth conference in Grantham, PA. Dr. Iain Murray is speaking on The Best Command of the Lord, which is the 1st session of the conference this week. Dr. Murray preached from the text John 21:19-22.

19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, Follow me. 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, Lord, who is it that is going to betray you? 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man? 22 Jesus said to him, If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!

Dr. Murray’s main concern seem to be that he bring to the table the importance of showing Christ, the believer’s need to a Holy Christ, that is all to the believer’s life. Dr. Murray sets forth on how Christ is the believer’s Savior in that Christ wants those who are His. Some of the following statements just happen to be things that just happen to stick out to me during the message that I wanted to write down for others. Maybe the will leave the impact that they did for me, in sticking out among the rest of sentences that were spoken.

“Following Christ is the believer’s sole responsibility.”

            “To stay close to Christ, is the priority of the Christian.”

At the end of the sermon Dr. Murray asked the question, “What are the means of this that Christ has made it, for the Christian to be able to live close to Christ? “

He answered as followed:

Christ shows the disciples that He is the Lord over all things and all history.

Christ makes known that his love and concern is that his believers follow Him, that His people would live beside Him.

@ Banner

I just got to the Banner conference. So, I may be writing a few brief articles and linking to others as well as I am here. Or just take some annoying pictures and be goofy! 

Banner of Truth Conference

I am headed out to the Banner of Truth Minister’s Conference for a week of fun with some brother’s from my seminary. The information is listed below for those of you who may want to take a look at it. 

May 27-29, 2008 – Banner of Truth Ministers’ Conference, 
at Messiah College Grantham, PA

Speakers Include:

• Iain H. Murray
• Richard D. Phillips
• Ian Hamilton
• David Campbell
• A. Craig Troxel

 Download Conference Brochure
 Click Here for Online Registration
 Click Here for Testimonials and Pictures