My reflections on Engage conference (part 1)
I was at Engage conference last weekend and surprised even myself with how strongly I reacted, both positively and negatively to various aspects of the weekend. The next few posts will give me a chance to reflect on the weekend. I hope that if you were there you’ll comment and help me think through the weekend.
By way of introduction I’ve never been to Engage before. It is aimed at Christians in the workplace, generally on the younger side of things. ie not pre-retirement, but twenty and thirty somethings. I’d just come off the back of two full on days of a ministry development training conference where William Taylor and Mark Dever emphasised for me the importance of gospel ministry as God’s word is taught well, taught deeply and taught faithfully. The speakers at this year’s Engage conference were William Taylor and Matt Chandler.
The highlight of the weekend was hearing William Taylor. Sure, I’d heard the three talks only days before, but they were great. The key verse for this three talks was John 5.24:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24 ESV)
I can now, without the aid of my notes, remember the things he was trying to teach us from John’s gospel.
Q: What on earth is God doing?
A: He’s doing what Jesus is doing?
Q: What on earth is Jesus doing?
A: He came to bring life now and judgment later.
Q: How is Jesus doing this?
A: Through his word.
It was a great reminder of the powerful message of the gospel. That without Christ all people are dead, condemned, helpless, blind, enslaved children of Satan. God, out of his love and mercy alone, acted to bring us life. And he does this powerfully through his word. That same word is what turned water into wine, fed a massive crowd, healed a paralysed man, healed a man from a distance and raised Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus speaks, his word is powerful.
It is therefore of utmost importance that we continue to preach the gospel, the good news that Jesus offers life to those who are dead.
You were channelling Will there Josh … ‘dead, condemned, helpless, blind, enslaved children of Satan’. Nice work. Look forward to hearing the rest of the reflections about Engage – positive & negative.
BTW – good catching up at MT&D
Totally with you on the highlight Josh. Even with hearing William’s talks earlier in the week I found myself making heaps of notes & being built up from the Word.
Question of relfection for me is how to make the most of the momentum from the Conference? How do we get our people to run with what they’ve heard from the Bible?
Ben, what thoughts have you got about encouraging people to run with what they’ve heard in the Bible? This is the first time I’ve been at a conference with people from church that I’ve got a teaching/pastoral oversight. I think this is the reason I’m keen to reflect on the conference. I hope it keeps the conversation going.
Also, I’ve invited those for dinner those who are going this weekend.