RTS will have a major presence at The Gospel Coalition National Conference in Orlando next week, Monday to Wednesday, April 13-15. If you are attending, come visit us at the RTS booth. Kevin Collins @RevKevCollins and his team would love to meet you. If you aren’t planning to attend (and the conference is already sold out), you can watch the live stream online. Here’s the link for the livestream http://live.tgc.org
Here’s a quick run down of some of the events that RTS people will be participating in.
MONDAY 13th April
8:00pm
Plenary 4: Augustus Nicodemus – The Father’s Home, and the Way There
John 14:1-14
Dr Nicodemus is the former Chancellor of Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Brazil. He is the Vice President of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil, and teaches in the RTS program in São Paulo, Brazil, at the Andrew Jumper Presbyterian Graduate School of Theology (CPAJ), at Mackenzie Presbyterian University.
9:15pm
“Logic on Fire” World Premier (Martin Lloyd-Jones Documentary)
Dr Duncan, RTS Chancellor was interviewed for this important and encouraging documentary.
TUESDAY 14th April
7:15am Focus Gathering
RTS’s Melissa Bryan Kruger (wife of RTS Charlotte President Mike Kruger) will speak on the ten commandments in the life of the Christian.
Melissa Kruger | Delighting in the Perfect Law that Gives Freedom
The Ten Commandments set the moral framework for all the other commandments in Scripture. Yet, we live in a society where many cannot name the Ten Commandments, much less understand their role in the life of a Christian. This focus gathering will discuss the benefits of studying the Ten Commandments, the role they serve in the church, and the work of Christ in our hearts that allows a Believer to joyfully proclaim, “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32).
11:45am
RAAN Workshop – “Doing Racial Harmony” | Jemar Tisby
Conway Ballroom
Jemar Tisby of RTS Jackson will lead this important session, which will include RTS friends Trillia Newbell and Thabiti Anyabwile. In light of recent events, this session is more urgent than ever.
1:30pm
Workshops: Round 1
Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, Mez McConnell | Church Polity? Really? (9Marks Panel) – St. John’s 26 & 27
Dr Duncan, RTS Chancellor will participate in this panel.
Also at the same time, you will be able to hear from RTS Charlotte’s Melissa Bryan Kruger, as well as Nancy Guthrie on this terrific panel.
Nancy Guthrie, Kathleen Nielson, Gloria Furman, Melissa Kruger, Mary Willson | Ministry Among Women
Ministry by women and among women in the body of Christ happens on many levels–with various forms of leadership and activities. What makes for rich and profitable ministry among women in the body of Christ? How can churches and pastors strongly encourage such ministry? How can we be raising up women who know and speak and live the Bible well? We’ll discuss together these important questions concerning ministry among women in the church today.
And, if two RTS options aren’t enough, there’s another one. RTS Orlando Dean Scott Swain will be doing this workshop.
Scott Swain | Your Eyes Will Behold the King in His Beauty: Exploring a Missing Element in Earthy Evangelical Eschatology
In recent years, evangelical preaching has sought to recover a proper biblical emphasis on the “earthy” nature of the new creation. Such preaching rightly instructs us that the ultimate destiny of believers is not heaven, but heaven on earth, that we do not look to escape the body, but that we hope for the resurrection of the body, etc. However, notably absent from this preaching is what both Scripture and tradition regard as the ultimate end and happiness of the saints: the vision of God’s glory. The purpose of this workshop is to gesture toward recovering the meaning and significance of biblical teaching on the vision of God.
3:00pm
Workshops: Round 2
G.K. Beale, Lane Tipton, Jeffrey Jue, Ligon Duncan (moderator)
The Gospel and Eschatology: Why Heaven Matters Now – Wekiwa 3-5
Dr Duncan, RTS Chancellor will moderate this panel of our friends at WTS.
Also at the same time, Dr. Augustus Nicodemus, who, as we mentioned before, teaches in the RTS program in São Paulo, Brazil, will do this workshop.
Augustus Nicodemus | Whatever Happened to Evangelicals in Latin America?
There has been a phenomenal growth of evangelicals in Latin America, especially in Brazil. In this workshop, we will discuss this along with the crisis that has come as a result of the abandonment of distinct evangelical and reformed traits. We will also talk about the small hopeful signs of a resurgence of Reformed faith in some historical and Pentecostal denominations.
Additionally, Dr. Justin Holcomb, who teaches for us at RTS Orlando, will, along with his wife Lindsey, address a sensitive pastoral issue for the church.
Justin Holcomb, Lindsey Holcomb | Sexual Assault, Domestic Abuse, and the Gospel
In this workshop, we will investigate sexual assault and domestic violence to better understand each issue as well as the prevalence of the issue and effects on victims. We will also focus our attention on how the Gospel offers help, hope, and healing to victims.
4:30pm
Workshops: Round 3
Ligon Duncan | Systematic Theology for Pastoral Ministry, Christian Thinking and Public Theology: Why We Need It, Where to Start – Gatlin A-3
Dr Duncan, RTS Chancellor will speak on this topic in this workshop.
At the same time, Dr. Mike Kruger, President and Professor of New Testament at RTS Charlotte will address an important subject.
Michael Kruger | How Do We Know the Bible is God’s Word? Recovering the Doctrine of a Self-Authenticating Scripture
There are few questions more fundamental to the intellectual integrity of Christianity than the question of how we know whether the Bible is really God’s Word. Many answers have been given to this question, ranging from historical evidences to the testimony of the church. However, often overlooked in such discussions is the answer given by the Reformers themselves: that the Scriptures testify to their own divine origins. This sessions will explore the forgotten doctrine of a self-authenticating Scripture.
And, Dr. James Anderson, Dean of RTS Global, and Professor of Systematic Theology at RTS Charlotte, will address the crucial issue of worldview for apologetics and evangelism.
James Anderson | Worldview Apologetics, Worldview Evangelism
In this workshop we will consider how Christians can develop a “worldview toolkit” for gospel-centered apologetics.
Also, RTS Distance MDiv student Cameron Cole, who is with Rooted Youth Ministries, Birmingham, AL will participate on a panel.
David Plant, Jon Nielson, Cameron Cole | “Stumbling Blocks: Preparing Students for Life in a Fallen World” (Wekiwa 3-5)
This workshop will present a gospel-centered and Bible-grounded approach to youth ministry, with an intent on answering a very specific question: How do we prepare students to embrace an enduring Christian faith that stands strong in the midst of difficult circumstances of life? Cameron Cole (youth director, Cathedral Church of the Advent) will explore the challenge of preparing students for suffering. David Plant (pastor for student ministries, Redeemer Presbyterian) will guide in preparing students for engagement with secular culture. Jon Nielson (college pastor, College Church in Wheaton) will speak on preparing students for lifelong love and service in the local church.
6:00pm
RTS Panel – “Living in Light of the Gospel in the Midst of a Darkening Culture” JLD, James Anderson, Mike Kruger, Don Sweeting, Scott Swain, Mike Allen, Scott Redd – Butler
Dr Duncan, RTS Chancellor will lead this panel of all RTS participants. Special Note – Those who attend this @ReformTheoSem #TGC15 panel will receive a free download of RTS Atlanta professor Dr. @DerekWHThomas‘s book “How the Gospel Brings Us All the Way Home”! pic.twitter.com/vAktPiAFtZ
7:45pm
Dr Duncan, RTS Chancellor will introduce Voddie Bauchman.
8:00pm
Plenary 7: Voddie Baucham – Resurrection Life, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
Voddie Baucham Jr has taught for us at RTS Houston, and his son-in-law Phillip Holmes studied at RTS Jackson and RTS Houston.
9:00pm
Shane and Shane Concert
(This concert is sponsored by RTS)
WEDNESDAY 15th April
9:30am
Plenary 8: Ligon Duncan – Living in the Hope of Liberation from Bondage
Romans 8:16-25
Dr Duncan, RTS Chancellor will preach for this TGC Plenary Session.
10:30-10:40am
TGC interview with Mark Mellinger for the website
Live Interview Stage (#108) in the Gatlin Exhibitor Hall
Dr Duncan, RTS Chancellor will be interviewed by Mark Mellinger of TGC.