I received an email earlier today reminding me of a dinner engagement I had forgotten about completely. I agreed to it some time ago and didn’t bring my Outlook calendar with me. It turned out to be a great meal with excellent food and pretty good company too. We returned to the convention center to find a couple of new books: Culture Shift by Al Mohler and the newly published In My Place Condemned He Stood by Mark Dever and J.I. Packer. Mark Dever introduced his good friend Al Mohler and after an awkward man-hug between them, Al Mohler took to the pulpit to discuss penal substitution.
This happens only occasionally, but it seems to happen with some regularity when I try to blog a talk by Al Mohler. If he preaches I can typically keep up, but if he does a speech or other kind of session, I often get lost. Such was the case today. Dr. Mohler spoke about penal substitution and did so in a way that was more lecture than sermon. He dealt with the history of this doctrine, the constant attacks upon it and offered a defense of it. I will save you from trying to make sense of my incomprehensible notes and leave it to you to wait for the audio or to purchase the book that I assume will follow this conference. Though it is tough going, it will prove well worth the effort.
Comments (7) »
1. Arthur Sido
April 17, 2008
6:42 AM
Dr. Mohler was flying along, I got about half a page of notes and got lost. Definitely a talk that needs to be listened to multiple times to really get it.
2. Staci at Writing and Living
April 17, 2008
9:37 AM
My husband expressed similar thoughts. His words were, “It was an academic lecture, he was talking fast, and I was very tired.”
3. wfseube
April 17, 2008
6:40 PM
Heh - I’m glad it wasn’t just me. I always love reading Dr. Mohler’s stuff, and hearing him speak. But that one was too long on history and too short on his analysis. I’m sure many got more out of it than I could get into my tired, small brain.
4. John Michael
April 17, 2008
9:08 PM
Yeah, shout out to Morton’s Steakhouse… I’m one of the seminary students/servers from the other night. If I remember right I made a comment about your Dwight “Superman” Howard background photo.
Anyways, thanks for your blogging efforts. Its allowed me to keep up with the conference though I wasn’t able to attend. I eagerly look forward to hearing the messages (yes, including the ridiculously jam-packed-as-always Mohler lecture).
5. Nathan Cravatt
April 17, 2008
11:02 PM
I am deeply greatful to Dr. Mohler for his vital and vigorous defense of the Gospel. I did not attempt taking notes, but I believe an elementary understanding of the issues facing the church today would have enabled anyone who is passionate about the work of our Lord Jesus on the cross to “follow” what was being said.
There were two men in my group criticizing Dr. Mohler for his sermon. I tried to understand why they couldn’t “keep up” and why it was “over their head” so I started digging. I initiated a conversation about the emergent movement, but neither one had any knowledge of it. They didn’t even know who Rob Bell was. Oh, but they did know who won, “The Biggest Loser” this season! (Groan)
It disturbs me that men who are hardly aware of the conflict (much less engaged in the battle)would acuse men who are fighting on the front lines in this struggle for Truth.
Thank You Dr. Mohler! I was encouraged to STAND UP and SPEAK OUT for the WORK and WORTH of Jesus, our Savior and Lord.
6. Arthur Sido
April 18, 2008
8:17 AM
Nathan, no one is being critical of Dr. Mohler. I am in awe of his intellect and I fully recognize what a great blessing he is to the church. I would daresay I and many of the men I sat with have more than an “elementary understanding of the issues facing the church today”, and it still was a heady lecture that merits multiple reviews to really appreciate. Dr. Mohler hardly needs you to defend him, especially from those who admire him and are not being critical of him in the first place.
7. Nathan Cravatt
April 18, 2008
1:26 PM
Arthur,
“…it still was a heady lecture that merits multiple reviews to really appreciate” - I have no problem with that statement at all.
“…no one is being critical of Dr. Mohler.”
My comments were in NO way addressed to you or anyone else who commented here (although it could have been taken that way… my apologies). I was addressing the two men in my group who were blatantly criticizing him (but they also criticized the music, and every other speaker except Dr. McArthur - which is the only reason they went).
It was frustrating to deal with that all week, but the good far outweighs the bad. The conference was a great blessing!