If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the Events page for some details related to the November Pastors Conference. As mentioned, we won’t be opening registration now, but will do so closer to the event as we gather information related to plans affected by the pandemic. You can check back for more information in the coming months. Notably, though, Michael Reeves has agreed to speak at our conference which is themed Christ Preeminent. Christ Preeminent. He is and always will be preeminent! Colossians 1:18 says, “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” This is the theme of our 2020 Pastors Conference because it is a worthy meditation and motivation for our lives: the surpassing worth of Jesus Christ. In our current global crisis, there is nowhere better to fix our eyes than on Him.

Plan now to join us for our conference November 10-12 in Orlando, Florida. We look forward to seeing you there!

A man whose work demanded constant reading began to have difficulty with his eyes. So he consulted a physician, and after an examination, the doctor said, “Your eyes are just tired; you need to rest them.” “But,” he replied, “that’s impossible in my type of work.” After a few moments, the doctor asked, “Do you have windows at your workplace?” “Oh, yes,” he answered. “From the front windows, I can see the noble peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and from the rear windows, I can look out at the glorious Allegheny foothills.” The physician replied, “That is exactly what you need. When your eyes feel tired, go look at your mountains for 10 minutes—20 would be better, and the far look will rest your eyes!”

I don’t know what 2020 holds for you, your church, or our family of churches. Regardless of what sovereignty brings our way, it is the “far look” that we will all need to pierce through the mundane, the challenges, the sorrows, the tiredness we will feel and even the joys to see the one thing that will bring rest to our souls and help sustain us in the coming year. What do we need to see? The beauty of the glory of Christ.

To see His glory, we must remember that the only reason we have the eyes of faith to see the glory of Christ is because God has chosen to share His glory with us through the person and work of Jesus Christ in the gospel, who imparts His righteousness to us. It’s why Jesus prays to the Father, “The glory that you have given me I have given them, that they may be one even as we are one.”  (John 17:22)

As you step into 2020, remember the most important things are not what others say about you, or the challenges you face, or temporal joys you experience, or trials you walk through. The essential truth of 2020 is that nothing will remove the robe of righteousness Christ has adorned you with through his death on the cross. And it’s at the cross that we see the beauty of the glory of Christ most clearly. Michael Reeves, in his book Delighting in the Trinity, says it so well, “Astonishingly, the moment when Jesus finally reaches the deepest point of his humiliation, at the cross, is the moment when he is glorified and most clearly seen for who he is. On the cross we see the glorification of the glory of God, the deepest revelation of the very heart of God-and it is all about laying down his own life to give life, to bear fruit. The reformer John Calvin wrote that ‘in the cross of Christ, as in a magnificent theatre, the inestimable goodness of God is displayed before the whole world. In all the creatures, indeed, both high and low, the glory of God shines, but nowhere has it shone more brightly than in the cross.’” [1]

May the coming year be filled with many “far looks” at Calvary, where we see the glory of God shine most brightly. When you find yourself discouraged, when your soul is weary, take time to make the “far look” and gaze upon the beauty of the glory of Christ seen most vividly at the cross. Let us continue to be a people, and a family of churches who treasure, preach, and share Christ. Let us marvel at the glory of Christ, not only to strengthen our souls, but to invite others to take the “far look” with us, and with eyes of faith, see that which only satisfies; the glory of Christ.

[1] Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity, (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2012), 127.

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Mark Prater is the Executive Director for Sovereign Grace and serves as an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church. He and his wife, Jill, have three married daughters and a growing number of grandchildren.

Last month, we had the pleasure of welcoming Michael Reeves to the Pastors College to teach on the Reformation–our history, theological roots, and the profound implications of both upon our lives, ministries, and churches. Our expectations were high and Dr. Reeves exceeded those expectations.

Steve Bice, the pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Bellbrook, Ohio attended the course and was greatly affected.

 I took the week away from regular pastoral ministry, and my family, because I read that this class wouldn’t simply be a church history class, as wonderful as that would be, but a “why the reformation matters for pastoral ministry” kind of class. What I simply was not anticipating, however, was the intensely personal, emotional, and pastoral manner in which Dr. Reeves communicated the persons, struggles, beliefs, and teachings of the Reformation. I was often brought to tears and my heart was so warmed to the glories of the Trinity, the wonders of grace, and the wonderful gift of the scriptures. My personal walk with the Lord is refreshed. My preaching renewed. Various other aspects of pastoral ministry freshly informed. I’m so very grateful for the investment that our Pastors College makes in guys like me, and our churches, through such solid, biblical, pastorally-informed training. 

Weren’t able to join us? We recorded the entire week and are making the course in its entirety available to our pastors in the next few weeks.

Additionally, please enjoy this interview that Jeff did with Dr. Reeves. He covered everything from Reeves’ background to why the Reformation still matters for pastors.

Here is a timestamp list so you can easily locate topics covered.

We trust this will be a strength and encouragement to you.

Michael Reeves recently taught a week on the reformation in our pastors college. Here is an interview we did with him during that week.

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As Director of Theology and Training for Sovereign Grace, Jeff Purswell is the Dean of our Pastors College, leads our theological training, and helps develop theological resources. He is also an elder at Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. He and his wife, Julie, have two sons.