Some Thoughts and Resources from the Carson Conference at OBC

This past weekend’s conference at Omaha Bible Church with D.A. Carson was a tremendous blessing on so many levels. When we were planning the conference we had prayed that the churches in the local area would be strengthened through a more biblically faithful understanding of suffering. By God’s abundant grace these prayers have been answered.

Dr Carson spoke 3 times on Saturday on the topic of Making Sense of Suffering. The messages were not stand alone but rather they built upon each other. Carson gave us 6 theological pillars for understanding suffering. Carson helped us to see suffering from the view of the beginning (Genesis) and the end (Revelation). He also did not spare a healthy and hearty explanation of how the gospel is at the very heart of understanding suffering. Overall, it was, in my somewhat bias view, one of the best conferences I have been to.

Audio to three sessions:

Making Sense of Suffering – Session 1

Making Sense of Suffering – Session 2

Making Sense of Suffering – Session 3

Also the audio from Sunday am at OBC:

Gospel Reflections on Trials and Suffering

Carson is obviously in another stratosphere intellectually. However, he is so good at explaining things so that some of the new believers I spoke to were easily tracking, as well as many of our young people. Further, Carson was regularly seen throughout the day chatting with folks who wanted to interact a bit with what he was teaching. This intimacy is what made this conference special. Our auditorium can hold about 500 people, there were about that many there. In addition we had another 100-150 or so kids who were being tended to and taught with our children’s ministry.  Many thanks to all of those who made it a picnic and ate outside in the parking lot.

After the general sessions Carson taught a session on Biblical Theology in Ministry. This session was well attended by many pastors from around the local area. No doubt God will be pleased to bless this session in the ministry of many.

Audio for the Pastor’s Seminar:

Preaching and Biblical Theology

On a personal note, I was encouraged to meet many folks who are not from OBC who read this blog. I am thankful that we were able to talk and find encouragement that there are many different ministries here in the Midwest that are faithfully standing firm in and for the gospel.

You may see more photos from the conference by going to this FLCKR page. Many thanks to Angie Gottsch and here willingness to shoot the day for us.

Possibly Related posts:

1. Upcoming OBC Conference with DA Carson, “Making Sense of Suffering”
2. Audio from DA Carson Conference at OBC
3. Some thoughts on The Gospel Coalition Conference
4. D.A. Carson at Omaha Bible Church this Weekend
5. D.A. Carson video on the Gospel (from the Gospel Coalition Conference)

One Response to “Some Thoughts and Resources from the Carson Conference at OBC”

1. Jon Wymer says:

   October 7, 2008 at 7:19 pm

   We thoroughly enjoyed Carson’s talks. There are high expectations of those given much, so our family feels in some sense “on the hook” now for the suffering we know God will bring to work his plan and mold us into his image. His comments about holding two truths in tandem, first that God always is in control and second that people are always responsible for their sin was insightful into a balanced Calvinism relative to the “beef post.”