Chicago. I spent almost a year of my life in the Windy City when I attended Moody Bible Institute in 1990-91. I went to Moody with the intention of studying there all four years; alas, I only made it through one! Anyway, next week I’m very excited to be going back to Chicago for four days (I think I’ll be albe to last the whole time). I’ll be going with my good friends John Dyson+ and Scott Brewer from Desert Mission Anglican Church. And yes, we will be catching a game at Wrigley Field! However, that is not THE reason I’m going.

I am going to The Gospel Coalition (TGC) Conference. The theme of the conference is “Entrusted with the Gospel: Living the Vision of 2 Timothy.” I first became aware of TGC a couple of years ago. I admit that I was initially attracted the names of several of the men involved in leading it: John Piper, Timothy Keller and Mark Driscoll. But then I read what they were all about and my interest grew.

They are a group of “broadly Reformed” churches and ministries, committed to working together across denominational lines for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They have a vision, which fires me up,  of what a 21st Century, holistic, Gospel centered church can be:

We believe such a balance will produce churches with winsome and theologically substantial preaching, dynamic evangelism and apologetics, and church growth and church planting. They will emphasize repentance, personal renewal, and holiness of life. At the same time, and in the same congregations, there will be engagement with the social structures of ordinary people, and cultural engagement with art, business, scholarship, and government. There will be calls for radical Christian community in which all members share wealth and resources and make room for the poor and the marginalized. These priorities will all be combined and will mutually strengthen one another in each local church.

Please watch this short video about TGC. Be sure to watch it to the end so that you can hear John Piper share his heart.

Shane+