Archive for the Clarus 11 Category


Apr 18

Getting to Know G.K. Beale, Part 1

2011 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Clarus 11

Since we’re getting closer to our conference weekend – Clarus ’11 – it’s time to get better acquainted with our speakers. Over the next two weeks, we will be posting conference related videos, quotes, and links to excite those who have already bought a ticket, and entice those who haven’t yet done so. Tickets, by the way, are available online or at the church office.

So, let’s start with a quote from G.K. Beale. Dane Ortlund recently asked a number of biblical scholars, pastors, and leaders to summarize the message of the Bible in a sentence. John Frame wrote, “God glorifies himself in the redemption of sinners.” Kevin DeYoung wrote, “A holy God sends his righteous Son to die for unrighteous sinners so we can be holy and live happily with God forever.”

Dr. Beale managed to say quite a bit in this single sentence:

The OT storyline appears best to be summarized as: the historical story of God who progressively reestablishes his new creational kingdom out of chaos over a sinful people by his word and Spirit through promise, covenant, and redemption, resulting in worldwide commission to the faithful to extend that new creation rule and resulting in judgment for the unfaithful (defeat and exile), all of which issues into his glory; the NT storyline can be summarized as: Jesus’ life of covenantal obedience, trials, judgmental death for sinners, and especially resurrection by the Spirit has launched the fulfillment of the eschatological already-and-not-yet promised new creation reign, bestowed by grace through faith and resulting in worldwide commission to the faithful to extend this new creation rule and resulting in judgment for the unfaithful, unto God’s glory.

Read more about Dr. Beale at the Clarus speaker page, and check back as the week clicks along for more quotes, videos, and links.

Tickets for Clarus are available online here.

Apr 13

Clarus Book Giveaways

2011 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Clarus 11

Clarus ’11 will be different than in previous years in several ways. One new “upgrade” is book giveaways. In fact, if you come to the conference you will leave with more value in books than the cost of your ticket. Each of these books are given away complementary of their respective publishers.

We’re happy to announce these giveaways ahead of the conference, in part, so you’ll familiarize yourself with these publishers.

Several of these publishers will also be with us at the conference. Stop by the new Clarus Books and Resources room for discounts on more excellent titles.

If you have’t secured your place yet, you can buy your ticket(s) online.

Apr 8

Clarus: Beale on Biblical Inerrancy

2011 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Clarus 11

We’re looking forward to having Dr. G.K. Beale with us at Clarus, which is now only three weeks away. Dr. Beale recently published an article in the Westminster Theological Journal related to the theme of our conference, “Scripture: God Speaks.” The title adequately describes his subject, “Can the Bible be Completely Inspired by God and yet Contain Errors? A Response to Some Recent ‘Evangelical’ Proposals.”

The total truthfulness of God’s word has been creatively subverted since the serpent twisted the words of God in the garden. Sometimes the truthfulness of God’s word is called into question among those who claim allegiance to God and His word. Inerrancy, some say, isn’t an idea found in the Bible, but an idea we have imposed on the Bible. Some would even say this is a form of idolatry. They would argue that a belief in inerrancy means we take the Bible more seriously than God. Can that be true?

Dr. Beale begins his response with this paragraph:

There has been much literature written over the past fifty years on the topic of the authority of the Bible, especially discussions within so-called “evangelicalism” concerning the nature of the notions of infallibility and inerrancy. Recent writers have especially questioned the traditional understanding of inerrancy. In particular, a central idea underlying inerrancy has been that since God is true and without error and, therefore, his oral word is true and without error, consequently, his word in Scripture is true and without error. This implication or theological inference that reasons from God’s flawless character to flawless Scripture has been challenged, and it has been argued that it is a logical deduction that is never made in the Bible. Accordingly, it is argued that though God, of course, is true and without error, he can, and indeed has, inspired all of Scripture in such a way that, nevertheless, the marks of human fallibility are woven into it. Thus, there are what we would consider to be “errors” in the biblical text, but God has inspired even those “errors” to form a part of his message to his people.

In the rest of his article, Beale shows how the line from God’s faithfulness to the faithfulness of His written word is not only logical, but Scriptural. That is, that the Scriptures are “God breathed,” does indeed mean that God’s faithfulness is reflected in what is written.

Dr. Beale argues primarily from the book of Revelation, where Jesus, the “faithful and true witness” (3:14), says to John, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (21:5), and speaks of what John has written as “trustworthy and true” (22:6). Here, Jesus’ faithfulness extends to his oral word, and from his oral word to its inscripturation.

The entire article is available online as a pdf. Read it and enjoy!

Also, if you haven’t purchased tickets yet, remember that you can do so online.

HT: Dane Ortlund

Mar 31

Clarus: Moody Publishers to Give Away Book, “Reverberation”

2011 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Clarus 11

One reason to join us for Clarus ’11 is a new tradition of book giveaways. These giveaways are the kinds of books we want you to have from the kind of publishers we are happy to recommend.

One of our giveaways this year is by Jonathan Leeman called, Reverberation, complements of Moody Publishers. On Sunday, Ryan preached from Colossians 3:16-17 where we are commanded to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” What follows is a quote from a chapter of Leeman’s book on the centrality of Scripture in our singing.

What I Behold

We’re singing the sixteenth-century words of “A Mighty Fortress”, and I notice a woman who was recently assaulted now sing with all her might of a “bulwark never failing.”

We’re singing the eighteenth-century words of “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and I’m heartened by the older saint who has persevered in the faith for decades, still singing, “prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, O, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.”

We’re singing the nineteenth-century words of “It Is Well with My Soul,” and I look out and see the middle-aged brother struggling with discouragement over his fight against sinful anger now raising his voice to shout, “My sin-oh, the bliss of this glorious thought: my sin, not in part, but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more; Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.”

We’re singing the twenty-first century words of “In Christ Alone,” and I see the talented young mother who is tempted to regret what she’s given up to have children now exult in her new ambition: “In Christ alone my hope is found, he is my light, my strength, my song.”

As I sit, look out, and behold, my own praises to God are strengthened by the stories and songs of others. My faith is invigorated and enlarged by His work in them.

The Echoing Word

Christians in our churches sing because their new hearts can’t help but echo the Word that has given them life. Whether those songs were written in the sixteenth century or today, they should echo Scripture. If there is any place where God’s Word should literally reverberate, it should reverberate in the church’s songs. Remember, Scripture alone gives life. Therefore, a church’s songs should contain nothing more than the words, paraphrases, or ideas of Scripture.

And Christians sing together because it helps us to see that our hearts’ praises, confessions, and resolutions are shared.  We’re not alone. Singing in the church, I believe, is about listening as much as it’s about singing. So Paul commands us to “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:19 NIV). If I’m to speak to others in song, I’m to listen to others as well. In fact, I do sometimes stop singing just to listen and thank God for the voices around me!

You might think of the dim and temporary unity all the home team fans experience as they root for their team at a football game. Together they rise to their feet and cheer.

How much more should a church of Jesus Christ, both enjoy and display its unity when it sings! These brothers and sisters share our new identities, our Lord and Savior, our comfort and support, our hope and our joy. You’re with them, they’re with you, and we’re with Him.

That’s a good word and we’re grateful to Moody Publishers for this complementary book giveaway.

Don’t forget, if you haven’t purchased your ticket for Clarus, you can do so online.

Mar 28

TGC Interview with Ryan Kelly about Clarus

2011 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Clarus 11

Today, Collin Hansen posted an interview with Ryan Kelly at the TGC Blog about Clarus ’11. The interview has five parts:

  • What does Clarus mean, and how did you arrive at that name?
  • How did Clarus become a regional conference of The Gospel Coalition?
  • Tell us about this year’s theme, “Scripture: God Speaks.”
  • Who do you want to show up for the conference?
  • Tell us a bit more about your speakers, G. K. Beale and Carl Trueman

Of particular interest to those unfamiliar with The Gospel Coalition will be TGC’s Foundational Documents and Ryan’s answer to Collin’s question, How did Clarus become a regional conference of The Gospel Coalition?

Several developments have led to this partnership. Becoming a council member of TGC this past year obviously had a lot to do with it. Also, this past year we organized a TGC regional chapter in Albuquerque. In years past, Clarus was the annual rallying point for a number of these local friendships, and Clarus is where many of these friendships were formed. Since Clarus fits so nicely under the TGC umbrella, it seemed natural to both us and TGC’s executive leadership to tie the existing local/regional conference efforts of Clarus into the broader movement of TGC. We hope this partnership will serve God’s purposes for his glory.

For those who have attended Clarus in previous years, it will be clear that this partnership will not change much of the feel and aim of the conference. Our hope is that, now as a regional conference of TGC, this event will be able to more broadly serve pastors and other interested Christians in the Southwest (Phoenix, Denver, El Paso, among others). We are thrilled to have TGC’s support and to be able to help the gospel-centered resourcing and networking efforts of TGC.

As Ryan mentioned on Sunday, with increased exposure to the conference we expect ticket sales to increase. To secure your place, purchase your ticket in advanced at the Information Center, the Resource Center, or online.