Applications for this summer’s mission trip to Bolivia are due this Sunday. The first team meeting will also be held this Sunday at noon in the Seminar Room. If you haven’t turned in your application yet and you hope to participate, please bring your application and the registration fee to this week’s team meeting.
Archive for the 'By Aaron' Category
The Goldsworthy Trilogy is an outstanding collection of three books on Biblical Theology by Graeme Goldsworthy. Each book looks at a specific genre of Biblical literature in order to see its place within the whole of Scripture by seeing Jesus throughout each one.The Gospel & Kingdom examines the Old Testament history of Israel, The Gospel & Wisdom examines Job, Solomon’s writings, and some other wisdom writings sprinkled throughout Scripture, and The Gospel & Revelation looks at Scripture’s final letter.I heartily commend the Goldsworthy Trilogy for a deeper study of seeing Jesus throughout the various parts of Scripture. (I also recommend God’s Big Picture for a basic introduction on this topic and The Big Picture Story Bible for an excellent treatment of this at the most basic level.)
Matthew and I recently traded office spaces and quite honestly the biggest task involved for me was packing and reorganizing my library (thanks Mike Parrish for moving all the boxes and furniture!) This gave me the opportunity to again leaf through and hit highlights from some of my favorites (which considerably slowed the packing process!)
Fortunately I’m not limited to one author, but if I had to pick the one that I think I have benefited the most consistently from Jerry Bridges would almost instantly rise to the top of the list. He writes about rich eternal truths that impact practical realities but always does so in a down to earth and easily accessible manner (which is what enables me to benefit!)
Three of his books that I have been most helpful over the years:
Transforming Grace - This one was initially lent to me by a friend 13 years ago and really opened up my understanding of grace. The chapter on the generous landowner in particular turned me inside out and is still one I revisit from time to time.
The Discipline of Grace - I read this one for the first time while at the Pastors College in 1998. Combined with Mr. Bridges teaching of that PC class this book gave me a framework for God’s part and my part in both my standing before Him and my growth in being like Him. The first 3 chapters alone are life altering - I’ve reread (and highlighted!) this book more than any other.
Trusting God - I think this was also a Pastors College read, but whenever it was I’m not sure that there has been a more influential book for me regarding God’s sovereignty and His care for His people in suffering than this one. The reality of God’s character in 1) Sovereignty, 2) Goodness, and 3) Wisdom has provided me a structure that has served me in many difficult circumstances (both my own and caring for others) and I’m simply not sure I would have the same clarity and handles apart from this resource.
I have certainly benefited from other of his works, but these stand out from my vantage point. I have another small one, “The Bookends of the Christian Life”, sitting on my “next books” pile that I may be telling you about soon as well…
Written by Aaron Campbell
I’ve heard nothing but great reports from the folks who attended NEXT over the Memorial Day weekend! The messages from the conference have recently been added to the NEXT website for free download or listening online.
The person of Christ was the theme of the main sessions and speakers included D.A. Carson, Sinclair Ferguson, Kevin DeYoung, C.J. Mahaney, and Joshua Harris. I encourage you to join me in adding these messages to your summer playlist…
MP3 Christ’s Preeminence - Joshua Harris
MP3 Christ’s Incarnation - D.A. Carson
MP3 Christ’s Life - Kevin DeYoung
MP3 Christ’s Death - C.J. Mahaney
MP3 Christ’s Resurrection - Sinclair Ferguson
MP3 Christ’s Return - Sinclair Ferguson
MP3 Panel Discussion - Mark Dever, Sinclair Ferguson, Justin Taylor, Kevin DeYoung, C.J. Mahaney, and Joshua Harris
MP3 Just Do Something - Kevin DeYoung
MP3 Radical Womanhood - Carolyn McCulley
MP3 Entrust: The Transfer of the Gospel - Dave Harvey & Jared Mellinger
MP3 Church Planting Information Meeting - Dave Harvey, Mark Prater, and Rob Flood
Written by Aaron Campbell
Colleen and I 
had the privilege of attending the Sovereign Grace Ministries Pastors College graduation this past Sunday evening. In the decade since my own graduation we have been able to make the trip to Gaithersburg, MD for the ceremony more years than not.
Each year we attend I experience a flood of memories and a fresh gratefulness to God for what we received there - and what the current crop of graduates has been blessed to be a part of. We’ve celebrated with several friends from KingsWay and other regional churches over the years.
As far as schools go, it’s a unique experience: nearly 40 classes, weekly fellowship groups, care groups, research papers, Greek, and a lot of relationship building - all within the context of Covenant Life Church, and all jammed into one very packed year.
This year was a special celebration for our family in particular as my younger brother Adam took his place among the graduating class. After interning several years at CrossWay Church in Charlotte, they sent him to the PC last fall. He and his family will be moving to Fredericksburg to serve alongside the Delages, for which I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Thanks for your prayers during our time away this week! Please continue to pray that the Lord would give us clarity, insight, and wisdom into how He desires His church to be led.
Also, that God would help us to accomplish all that He desires for us during our time away. For instance, you can see in this picture that Doug has some deep rooted anger issues that we’d love to get to the bottom of. You can’t imagine the tension and angst this brings to the whole group dynamic. Keep praying!
Please pray for your pastors this week as we take Tuesday through Thursday for a retreat. We’ll be using the time to pray for the church and evaluate various aspects of our life together.
In addition to studying and discussing Charles Bridges “The Christian Ministry” and our overarching goals and calling as pastors, we will be assessing and evaluating specific ministries that we have been charged with and seeking to discern better ways to serve all of you.
We’ll also be examining and game planning various responsibilities in light of our recent changes in staffing. In all of this, we are very aware of our need of wisdom and discernment and ask you to join us in praying for this strategic time away.
This post was written by Aaron Campbell.
Conduct this quick experiment - think of a song that those close by would know and have them guess what it is while you tap it out (no singing, no humming, just tapping it.) Did they guess it? Now try switching roles with them tapping and you guessing…
What you most likely experienced while tapping was the “curse of knowledge”. The frustration of knowing something that is obvious to you (the song you were tapping) while the person you were trying to communicate it to had no idea of the actual tune. Taking the “listener” turn can give new insight into how un-obvious that role really is.
I just finished “Made to Stick” by Chip and Dan Heath, where they seek to help undo the curse of knowledge by giving basic counsel to help get ideas across. Most of their advice is in the range of what could be termed “uncommon-common sense” - it isn’t difficult to understand or see the value of, but that doesn’t mean we regularly put it into practice.
The illustrations skew toward a business and academic audience but the principles can be useful for any setting/relationship. Though not a book I expect to be on everyone’s short list, it’s interesting and engaging enough to make it worthwhile for those that are interested.
Please pray for us this coming Monday through Wednesday as we attend Sovereign Grace Ministries’ Pastors Conference. Each of KingsWay’s pastors will be traveling with our spouse to Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD where the three day conference will be held.
The theme of the conference is “The Pastor’s Priorities”. We will be ministered to during main sessions and seminars, as well as fellowship and reunions with friends and fellow pastors. If you want to learn more about the conference you can visit Sovereign Grace’s site. Pray that God would help each of us to receive exactly what God desires to speak to us for both our personal growth and edification, as well as for the building and strengthening of KingsWay.
In addition to the regular conference schedule Gene and Liz will be traveling up a day early to meet with the Sovereign Grace leadership team and staying a day later to have some extended time with the other senior pastors in our region. Please pray that these meeting would be fruitful and encouraging to each pastor and wife in attendance as well.
Our prayer for this time is that we will come home better equipped to serve the church that we love!
As we prepare for tomorrow evening’s 20th Anniversary celebration, here are a couple of quick reminders -
everything starts at 5:30
please bring a side dish and dessert to share
if you haven’t brought your picture for the timeline, please bring one with you!
Finally, to whet your appetite for our time together here is the video of Gene’s hair through the ages that we saw Sunday morning…
