Tonight, (Lord willing) I’ll finish my sermon. But before I do, I’d like to offer some personal reflections on the Gospel Coalition conference. I wouldn’t say that there was necessarily anything groundbreaking in what was said at the conference, but in a way, I think that’s the point. In a day and age in which we struggle so much to be “relevant,” it is refreshing to hear men under conviction remind us that there is nothing more relevant than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Though we may shift the package a bit, the content remains the same and it remains “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

More than anything, I think this renewed zeal for “keeping the Gospel the center” is what I will take back into daily ministry. It’s incredibly easy for ministry to becomes it’s own worst enemy. Amidst all the meetings and scheduling of meetings and administrative details, it can be quite easy to lose sight of why it is that we do what we do. It’s because, as D.A. Carson reminded us “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). This alone should be of “first importance” in our lives.

Paul could say without hypocrisy that he decided to know nothing among the Corinthians except “Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). I’m afraid that far too many pastors are distracted by pastoring to be able to truly say this. We all need to be reminded of the true power and glory of the Gospel; why it truly is the good news.
For those who read here even on a semi-regular basis, one of the things that I hope comes across is my conviction of just how truly radical and powerful the Gospel truly is. I am convinced that there is not a single area of life that should remain unaffected by the power of the Gospel. That’s why I appreciated Tim Keller’s comments:

The Gospel is radical. It says to legalists who are afraid of being poisoned by the culture (fragile holiness) who withdraw from the culture: YOU NEED TO ENGAGE. On the other hand, to the liberal Christian who is “too engaged,” there are dangers on both sides: cultural accommodation or withdrawal. Most of us think there is only danger on one side.

Not only is the Gospel radical but it requires balance which challenges us at every level. We want clear answers and we want lists to follow but the does not accomodate our request, it calls everyone to repent. It says to those living in the Christian ghetto that there is no room for the petty dividing walls we erect. Yet it says to those too drenched in the culture that they must withdraw into holiness. The Gopsel does not allow us to remain comfortable, no matter where we’re at in life.

More than anything, conferences like this (for me personally) offer a chance to re-focus through the fog of daily ministry. The Cross stands as the beacon guiding us through the storms of life. The path is narrow and easy to step off of when we take our eyes off of the Cross. I am deeply thankful that such high profile men are so deeply committed to the Gospel and I pray that perhaps somewhere below (waaaay below) the radar, I too might be able, without hypocrisy to say that I have determined to know nothing except Christ and Him crucified.

• Read The Cross of Christ by John Stott
• Read Living the Cross Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing by C.J. Mahaney