In Colossians 3:18-21, Paul gives a number of specific commands to Christians concerning their various roles in the context of the home. Ryan’s last sermon in our series through Colossians, “Restoring Marriage,” addressed the relationship and responsibilities of husbands and wives from Colossians 3:18-19.

After a month break from our series, this Sunday we return to Colossians with Colossians 3:20-21, where Paul writes concerning the relationship and responsibilities of parents and children: “Children, obey your parents  in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

Given that this Sunday is also Mother’s Day, in addition to considering the biblical relationship between parents and children, we will acknowledge God’s good gift of mothers and the privilege of motherhood.

Visit the Messages portion of this site for additional sermons on the roles of parents and of children.

Yesterday we enjoyed four sessions and an afternoon panel discussion for our second day of Clarus ’11. Saturday’s sessions on the theme of Scripture were varied. Dr. Trueman worked from church history to show us the demonstrated authority and clarity of Scripture. Dr. Beale clarified the importance of defending the gospel against the ever-present threat of false teaching and showed us the centrality of Scripture in marriage from Genesis 2 where God spoke to the first human couple with words. Audio for Clarus ’11 will be available in the coming week at the messages portion of this site.

We’re thankful for what is turning out to be a great conference. Dr. Beale began our conference by preaching from Psalm 1, which shows us that “true happiness and success come by not living our lives in the counsel of the world but in the counsel of God and Christ in the Word.” Dr. Trueman followed up by preaching on the subject of preaching. Speaking of preaching and relevance, Dr. Trueman challenged both preachers and listeners to rest their confidence in the power of the Word: “I’ll tell you what is relevant: Preparing people to die.”

Here are some photos from our first day together:

Today begins our three day conference on the nature and importance of Scripture. Given our theme, “Scripture: God Speaks,” we will be learning about and reflecting on what God has said about what His Word is and what God’s Word does. Like Psalm 119,  Psalm 19:7-11 not only tells us what the Word is, but stirrs our affections for God’s Word in doing so. Today especially, this is a good Scripture with which to start our day:

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise  the simple;

the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of  the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

May God grant us to see His Word better for what it is through our time together this weekend. May we know its perfection, its purity, and its truth. And may God’s Word revive our souls, enlighten our eyes, warn us, and be to us far sweeter than honey.

The Books and Resources Room opens at 4:30 and the first session begins at 6:15. Tickets are available online or at the door.

Today is the day before Clarus and DSC is busy with movement as volunteers and staff prepare conference packets, the auditorium is prepared for our sessions, and the Youth Room is changed into our Clarus Books and Resources room.

If you’re still deliberating on whether or not to come, the following highlights will serve as reasons to join us if you are able. If you have already bought your ticket, the following three highlights will excite you for what is ahead. If you have not yet done so, we hope you will join us. Tickets are still available online. If cost is an issue for you at all, please just indicate this at the point of purchase and we will cover the cost for you. We want you there!

1) The Sessions

We will be joined by speakers, G.K. Beale and Carl Trueman, both professors at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. These men will speak on our theme, “Scripture: God Speaks,” helping us clarify the nature and importance of Scripture for the Christian life, in the church, and in marriage. Here are their talk titles:

G.K. Beale:

• “The Effects of Meditating on God’s Word” – Psalm 1
• “How to Guard the Good Deposit of Scripture” – 2 Timothy 1:10
• “The Centrality of Scripture in Marriage”

Carl Trueman:

• “The Prophetic Word: What Preaching Is (and Is Not)”
• “Scripture’s Authority: An Ancient Doctrine”
• “A Clear and Present Word: Luther and the Clarity of Scripture”

If you cannot make the entire conference, find out when each of these talks will be given by viewing the Clarus ’11 conference schedule.

2) The Book Giveaways

For Clarus ’11, we’re happy to introduce a new tradition of book giveaways. Together, these titles will more than pay for the conference, and they are all titles we’d happily commend to you.

• B&H Publishers: Holman Christian Standard Bible
• Crossway: A Chapter from Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ, by Russell Moore
• Matthias Media: One to One Bible Reading, by David Helm
• Moody Publishers: Reverberation: How God’s Word brings Light, Freedom, and Action to His People, by Jonathan Leeman
• Shepherd Press: Christ Formed in You: The Power of the Gospel for Personal Change, by Brian Hedges

3) The Books and Resources Room

Another new addition with Clarus ’11 is the Books and Resources room. In this room, hosted in the Youth Room, we will have with us nine fine organizations. Each of these organizations will have resources and literature either for free or at a conference discount. We have invited these specific organizations to join us because we want you to know about them. They are serving the church well. In addition, by coming they also help underwrite the cost of the conference, so we’d ask that you give each of them a visit and take advantage of their presence with us. Here’s who you’ll meet:

• 9Marks Ministries
• BibleMesh
• Biblical Counseling Coalition
• Christian Focus Publishers
• Matthias Media
• New Growth Press
• Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Westminster Theological Seminary, PA
• White Horse Inn

We look forward to seeing you at Clarus for what will be a meaningful and memorable encounter with God through His word. For more information or for tickets, visit the Clarus site. Also, childcare is available throughout the conference by registration through Kayla at kayla@desertspringschurch.org.

*This post is adapted from a recent special Clarus edition of DSC’s eNewsletter, “Looking Forward to Clarus.“  Subscribe to DSC’s eNewsletter through the Comment Card provided on your Sunday bulletin, or by emailing info@desertspringschurch.org.