Bio | Tim Keller

// March 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Dr. Timothy J. Keller was born in the year 1950 and grew up in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania where he attended Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and the Westminster Theological Seminary. During his seminary training, he met and married the former Kathy Louise Kristy of Pittsburgh, Pa. They have three Sons: David, Michael, and Jonathan.

Timothy J. Keller was converted during his University years through the ministry of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. The writings of C.S. Lewis were, says Dr. Keller, the foundational work of God in his life. His ministry experience began with three years as an associate on staff with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship in Boston, Massachusetts. Reverend Keller was ordained by the Presbyterian Church in America in Boston. Dr. Keller and his family relocated to Virginia where he served as a pastor for nine years. While fulfilling his pastoral duties during that time, Dr. Keller also served as director of church planting for his denomination in the Middle Atlantic region, supervising the development of some two dozen new congregations.

During the mid 1980′s the Keller family moved to Philadelphia, where Tim served on the faculty of Westminster Seminary, teaching communication and leadership. While in Philadelphia, Tim and Kathy became involved in Urban Ministry. During this time, while serving as Directory of Mercy Ministries for his denomination, Tim authored two books: Resources for Deacons (for the PCA, 1986) and Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road (Zondervan, 1989). Both volumes provide theory and practice for ministry to persons with material, physical, emotional, and economic difficulties. In Philadelphia, while actively involved in an evangelistic outgreach to Muslims, he also chaired an evangelical organization reaching out to the homosexual population. While acting as chairman, Dr. Keller helped organize and set up a much-needed ministry to people with AIDS. Dr. Keller served as a consultant to a local Christian service organization that provided literary education, job training, and job placement to unemployed and underemployed people in the city.

Between the years of 1987 and 1988, the Presbyterian Church in America began to form plans for planting a church in New York City. Tim was approached and asked to do the field research and lay the foundation for this new project. It was through this assignment that Tim and Kathy found their hearts being captured and warmed by the great need and opportunity for ministry in New York City.

In June of 1989 the Keller’s moved to the city to begin planting what is now Redeemer Presbyterian Church, which with God’s help has prospered beyond all of their early projections and expectations. As a result, Redeemer Presbyterian Church has become especially effective in reaching Manhattan professionals from many diverse occupations and cultural backgrounds.

Tim and Kathy Keller are committed to promoting nurturing and supporting the growth of new churches in America and around the world. It is their desire to minister in New York City for the remainder of their lives. Their prayer is to plan and help incite the movement of holistic ministries to meet the needs of both the body and soul. This plan encompasses a church planting movement that will spawn dozens of new congregations throughout the urban area and the world, continuing into decades to come.

Now with a staff of over forty full time employees and a church attendance of approximately 4500 members and regular attendees, Redeemer has begun sponsoring the planting of other professional and multi-ethnic churches throughout the metropolitan area and the world.

Currently the Keller family resides on Roosevelt Island in New York, in the belief that one should live among the people one ministers to.

Redeemer Presbyterian Church

HT: TheResurgence

Bio | D.A. Carson

// January 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Biographical Sketch:

HT: Monergism

Don (D. A.) Carson (b. 1946) – Reformed evangelical at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His theology is similar to that of Wayne Grudem except on charismatic issues, where his view may be described as “open but cautious.” Carson’s tendency is to strive for balance and amicability in disputes but is uncompromising on the essentials of the faith. He is a complementarian but supports gender-neutral Bible translations. Carson also helped produce the NLT. Titles: How Long O Lord, A Call to Spiritual Reformation; The Cross and Christian Ministry; The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God; Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility; Exegetical Fallacies; For the Love of God; The Gagging of God; The Inclusive Language Debate; Introduction to the New Testament; New Testament Commentary Survey; Scripture and Truth (Ed. with John Woodbridge); Worship by the Book; Pillar Commentaries on Matthew and John and contributer to Who Will be Saved. He also edits the New Studies in Biblical Theology book series.

Carson’s areas of expertise include biblical theology, the historical Jesus, postmodernism, pluralism, Greek grammar, Johannine theology, Pauline theology, and questions of suffering and evil. He has written books on free will and predestination from a generally compatibilist and Calvinist persepective. He is a member of the Tyndale Fellowship for Biblical Research, the Society of Biblical Literature, the Evangelical Theological Society, the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, the Institute for Biblical Research, the Christ on Campus Initiative, Themilios, and the Gospel Coalition.

Dr. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. They have two children. In his spare time, Dr. Carson enjoys reading, hiking, and woodworking.

Articles:

Must I Learn How to Interpret the Bible?
The Dangers and Delights of Postmodernism
The Emerging Church
The Tabula Rasa Fallacy
Why Should Christians Think about Postmodernism?
On Distorting the Love of God
D. A. Carson critiques the Emerging Church – Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V<, Part VI, Part VII by Dr. Sam Storms
Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology
Are Christians Required to Tithe?
The Love of God and the Atonement

Sermons:

A veritable goldmine of biblical teaching has been made available through the The Gospel Coalition, as over 400 sermons and lectures from DA Carson (“The Don”) have been uploaded and organized by date and topic. Here is the link (don’t miss the topically organized list to the left of the screen):

DA Carson Resources

Andy Naselli says this about the new resources:

I’d highly recommend that you redeem the time and systematically and thoughtfully listen to these MP3s. I have profited immensely from them. Carson’s manner of speaking is just as articulate, thoughtful, and engaging as his publications. He exalts Christ by exegeting his words, tracing themes through the Bible’s salvation-historical storyline, addressing hot topics with clarity and nuance, and engaging and confronting bad theology as well as the culture.

Up until now, it has been difficult to track down sermons and lectures from DA Carson, along with some other great teachers like Tim Keller, without paying a hefty fee for the resources. I love to see preachers giving away their sermons for free, in the same way that John Piper has been giving away all of his sermons and articles at DesiringGod.org on a whatever-you-can-afford basis, and Mark Driscoll uses TheResurgence.com to spread missional theology resources in hopes of serving the Gospel of Jesus Christ in culture. The Gospel of Jesus Christ should not be for sale. Any preacher who sells his own sermons, even if the proceeds are to be used for multiplying the ministry, inevitably presents himself as an opportunist trying to profit from people who are hungry for truth. When it comes to the preaching of God’s word, the same paradigm should always remain: give as you feel led. I’m thankful that these very important theological resources have been freed up for the edification of the body.

Bio | Matt Chandler

// December 28th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Biographical Sketch:

Matt Chandler serves as lead pastor of The Village Church in Highland Village, TX. He describes his 6 year tenure at The Village as a re-planting effort where he was involved in changing the theological and philosophical culture of the congregation. The church has witnessed a tremendous response growing from 160 people to over 5000 including a satellite campus in Denton. Alongside his current role as lead pastor, Matt is involved in church planting efforts both locally and internationally through The Village and various strategic partnerships. Prior to accepting the pastorate at The Village, Matt had a vibrant itinerant ministry for over ten years where he spoke to hundreds of thousands of people in America and abroad about the glory of God and beauty of Jesus. His greatest joy outside of Jesus is being married to Lauren and being a dad to their two children, Audrey and Reid. Visit Chandler’s Blog at Dwell Deep.

Conference Messages:

Vivification & Mortification: A Process to Holiness 11/20/08

• Download

Courage & Calling of a Church Planter 05/06/08

• Download

What is Missional Living? 05/03/08

• Download

Vision & Mission of a Church Planter 02/26/08

• Download

Preaching the Gospel in the Center of the Evangelical World 02/25/08

• Download

Creating Pathways for Spiritual Formation for Our People 01/29/08

• Download

Leadership: Gathering Your Team 09/07/05

• Download

Unplugged Teaching and Q&A – Part 1 02/08/05

• Download

Unplugged Teaching and Q&A – Part 2 02/08/05

• Download

Bio | Gerry Breshears

// December 18th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Educational Background:

• Ph.D., Fuller Seminary (1984)
• M.Div., Denver Seminary (1976)

Current Profession:

• Professor of Theology, Western Seminary, Portland, OR
• Chair, Division of Biblical and Theological Studies

Books Published:

• Vintage Jesus (Crossway – 2008)
• Death by Love (Crossway – 2008)
• Vintage Church (Crossway – 2009)

Biographical Sketch:

Gerry Breshears has been professor of theology at Western Seminary since 1980. He co-authored Vintange Jesus and Death by Love, the first two books in the Re:Lit theology series with Mark Driscoll.  He served three years with WorldVenture in the Philippines, teaching at Faith Academy and helping start Calvary Baptist Church.  He received the Ph.D. from Fuller Seminary. He was president of the Evangelical Theological Society in 1993 and Northwest Regional Secretary Treasurer since 1985. In addition to teaching and lecturing at a number of colleges and seminaries around the world, he speaks in many churches and mentors a lot of folk. Gerry and his wife, Sherry, have two sons, Donn and David, and a daughter, Cyndee and three grandgirls.  He is an elder and a member of the preaching team at Grace Community Church of Gresham, Oregon.

HT: ETS

Conference Messages:

Gerry Breshears | The Emerging Church

[TheResurgence 2004 Conference: Reformission and Revival]

In 2004 Dr. Gerry Breshears, professor at Western Seminary, gave a presentation on the Emerging Church at that time during the Reformission Conference in Seattle, WA. In this audio piece we see Dr. Breshears critique the key players in the Emerging Church Movement up to 2004. The great thing about this mp3 that may be different then some other analysis is that Breshears looks through different writings to expose the theologies that tend to drive this movement. Although the audio is long it is because Brashears is taking questions along with his session. With that said we encourage the listener to stay attentive as the majority of the questions were not picked up on the audio.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.763141&w=425&h=100&fv=playerID%3D681%26bg%3D0xf8f8f8%26leftbg%3D0x333333%26lefticon%3D0xffffff%26rightbg%3D0xCD1200%26rightbghover%3D0x990000%26righticon%3D0xffffff%26righticonhover%3D0xFFFFFF%26text%3D0x666666%26slider%3D0x666666%26track%3D0xFFFFFF%26border%3D0x666666%26loader%3D0x9FFFB8%26soundFile%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fassets.theresurgence.com%2Ffiles%2Faudio%2Freformission_2004-11-09_breakout_session_audio_breshears-emerging_church.mp3]

Gerry Breshears | Romans Chapter 9

[TheResurgence 2004 Conference: Reformission and Revival]

The following audio is from a breakout session with Dr. Gerry Breshears, professor at Western Seminary, at the Reformission Conference in Seattle, WA 2004. Dr. Breshears demonstrates that Romans 9 shows the persistence of God to bless his people (Israel) despite their hardness of heart. What we see is that no one is messed up too much where God can not redeem them and God can do what he wants. What is uncovered in Romans 9 is that everyone resists God’s will and the Lord is the persistent one that extends mercy to his people. In this mp3 Dr. Breshears really uses this seminar to encourage folks to read their Bibles more as they get to difficult passage instead of just resorting to commentaries. Helpful advice from a seasoned theologian and practitioner.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.763142&w=425&h=100&fv=playerID%3D681%26bg%3D0xf8f8f8%26leftbg%3D0x333333%26lefticon%3D0xffffff%26rightbg%3D0xCD1200%26rightbghover%3D0x990000%26righticon%3D0xffffff%26righticonhover%3D0xFFFFFF%26text%3D0x666666%26slider%3D0x666666%26track%3D0xFFFFFF%26border%3D0x666666%26loader%3D0x9FFFB8%26soundFile%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fassets.theresurgence.com%2Ffiles%2Faudio%2Freformission_2004-11-10_breakout_session_audio_breshears-romans_9.mp3]