Several have asked about registration.  To keep things simple, once you paid the $15 registration fee via PayPal, you were officially registered.  If you had issues with the PayPal payment process and are unsure that you are registered, come anyway as we’ll sort that out when you arrive.

The meeting will begin at noon (sharp!), so be sure to arrive early and take advantage of the opportunity to meet and greet folks you will likely not see any other time of the year.  Boxed lunches will be provided, and the presentations will start roughly around 12:30.

Unlike previous meetings, we have structured the talks so that specific issues are addressed in succinct fashion with the aim of forwarding the pursuit of greater faithfulness to Christ and fruitfulness in gospel labors.  The second half of the meeting will be an opportunity for you to ask questions to the panel, and your participation is encouraged!

We look forward to see you there this Wednesday!  May God use this gathering to stir our hearts about the glorious call of being servants of Christ and stewards of His gospel!

We have filled all remaining slots for this year’s Band of Bloggers. Thank you for inquiring, and we look forward to seeing you at future Band of Bloggers fellowships in the future!

1.  Finally Alive by John Piper (DG)

When Jesus said to Nicodemus, ‘You must be born again’, the devout and learned religious leader was unsure what Jesus meant. It would seem nothing has changed. Today ‘born again Christians’ fill churches that are seen as ineffectual at best, and even characterised by the ‘mosaic’ generation as ‘unchristian’.  The term ‘born again’ has been devalued both in society and in the church. Those claiming to be ‘born again’ live lives that are indistinguishable from those who don’t; they sin the same, embrace injustice the same, covert the same, do almost everything the same.  Being ‘born again’ is now defined by what people say they believe. The New Testament however defines Christians very differently.  When Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You must be born again” (John 3:7), he was not sharing interesting and unimportant information. He was leading him to eternal life… If he does that for you (or if he already has), then you are (or you will be) truly, invincibly, finally alive.

2. Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different by Tullian Tchividjian (Multnomah)

“Here you will learn how we must contextualize, how we Christians should be as active in Hollywood, Wall Street, Greenwich Village, and Harvard Square (if not more) than the halls of Washington, DC. And yet, there are ringing calls to form a distinct, ‘thick’ Christian counter-culture as perhaps the ultimate witness to the presence of the future, the coming of the Kingdom.”
- Tim Keller

“It is not easy to stand athwart the tides of the culture and challenge them without sounding either terribly prissy or hopelessly out of date. How can a thoughtful Christian be genuinely contemporary while never succumbing to the merely faddish and temporary? The challenges are enormous–but they are also tied to the most elementary tenets of Christian faithfulness. Tullian Tchividjian is a helpful and engaging guide through these troubled waters.”
– D. A. Carson

“Plainly, powerfully, and pastorally, Unfashionable gives a birds-eye view of the real Christian life–Christ-centered, church-committed, kingdom-contoured, future-focused, and counter-cultural all the way. It makes for a truly nutritious read.”
– J.I. Packer

“With the right balance of reproof and encouragement, critique and construction, Unfashionable displays with succinct, vivid, and engaging clarity the relevance of the gospel over the trivialities that dominate our lives and our churches right now. The message of this book is of ultimate importance and its presentation is compelling.”
– Michael Horton

“Unfashionable gets back to the heart of the Kingdom mission and the agenda of the gospel message. Striking a balance between being ‘in’ but not ‘of’ the world is not easy. Tullian, however, clearly and convincingly shows the way by telling how we can cultivate a Gospel-centered outlook and lifestyle.”
– Ed Stetzer

3. Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them by Ed Stetzer, Richie Stanley, and Jason Hayes (B&H)

Who are the young unchurched, and how can they be reached with the good news of Jesus Christ?  In a poll result highlighted by CNN Headline News and USA Today, nearly half of nonchurchgoers between the ages of twenty and twenty-nine agreed with the statement, “Christians get on my nerves.” Now, researchers behind the larger study present Lost and Found, a blend of dynamic hard data and modern day parable that tells the real story of an unchurched generation that is actually quite spiritual and yet circumspect, open to Jesus but not the church.  As such, Lost and Found is written to the church, using often-surprising results from the copious research here to strike another nerve and break some long established assumptions about how to effectively engage the lost. Leading missiologist Ed Stetzer and his associates first offer a detailed investigation of the four younger unchurched types. With a better understanding of their unique experiences, they next clarify the importance each type places on community, depth of content, social responsibility, and making cross-generational connections in relation to spiritual matters.   Most valuably, Lost and Found finds the churches that have learned to reach unchurched young adults by paying close attention to those key markers vetted by the research. Their exciting stories will make it clear how your church can bring searching souls from this culture to authentic faith in Christ.

4. The Soul of Life: The Piety of John Calvin edited by Joel Beeke (RHB)

John Calvin is the most notable figure from the Reformed tradition. Unfortunately, he is often characterized as a stern and cerebral individual who had little concern for practical matters. However, Calvin was actually influential in promoting a profound sense of piety among early Protestantism. In “The Soul of Life”, Joel R. Beeke presents the life and ministry of Calvin with a special on emphasis Calvin’s efforts for cultivating healthy spirituality among the churches. The selections from Calvin’s own work will give readers a firsthand look at Calvin’s emphasis on godliness, and by God’s grace, will be a means for spurring on greater godliness in our day.

“By any measurement John Calvin was one of the most remarkable and influential figures in all church history. His was truly a purpose-driven ministry. As a preacher he was committed to systematic biblical exposition, as a lecturer in Scripture to careful and wise teaching, as a pastor to deep personal care as a pastor, and as an international leader, to the encouragement of other ministers. Few men today understand such a multi-dimensional life program as well as Dr. Joel Beeke, whose own ministry echoes Calvin’s in many ways. He is the ideal guide to introduce us to Calvin. And ‘The Soul of Life’ is an ideal guidebook. Read on, and you will want to read more.” —Sinclair B. Ferguson

5. Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl (Zondervan)

Tired of finding yourself flat-footed and intimidated in conversations? Want to increase your confidence and skill in discussions with family, friends, and coworkers? Gregory Koukl offers practical strategies to help you stay in the driver’s seat as you maneuver comfortably and graciously in any conversation about your Christian convictions.

In a world increasingly indifferent to Christian truth, followers of Christ need to be equipped to communicate with those who do not speak their language or accept their source of authority. Gregory Koukl demonstrates how to get in the driver’s seat, keeping any conversation moving with thoughtful, artful diplomacy.

You’ll learn how to maneuver comfortably and graciously through the minefields, stop challengers in their tracks, turn the tables and—most importantly—get people thinking about Jesus. Soon, your conversations will look more like diplomacy than D-Day.

Drawing on extensive experience defending Christianity in the public square, Koukl shows you how to:

- Initiate conversations effortlessly
- Present the truth clearly, cleverly, and persuasively
- Graciously and effectively expose faulty thinking
- Skillfully manage the details of dialogue
- Maintain an engaging, disarming style even under attack

Tactics provides the game plan for communicating the compelling truth about Christianity with confidence and grace.

6. The Advent of Evangelicalism: Exploring Historical Continuities by Michael Haykin & Kenneth Stewart (B&H)

David Bebbington’s 1989 book, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s, put forth the idea that evangelical religion is the result of transatlantic revival in the 1730s, and that it took a working together attitude toward the Enlightenment rather than a contradictory one. Today, Bebbington’s thesis has gained international acceptance, and scholars from Europe and North America present a review of its primary arguments and conclusions here in The Advent of Evangelicalism.

Contributors include: David W. Bebbington, Joel R. Beeke, John Coffey, Timothy George, Crawford Gribben, Michael A. G. Haykin, Paul Helm, D. Bruce Hindmarsh, David Ceri Jones, Thomas S. Kidd, Timothy Larsen, Cameron A. MacKenzie, A. T. B. McGowan, D. Densil Morgan, Ashley Null, Ian J. Shaw, Kenneth J. Stewart, Douglas A. Sweeney, Garry J. Williams, and Brandon G. Withrow.

7. Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption in Christian Families and Churches by Russell Moore (Crossway)

A stirring call to Christian families and churches to be a people who care for orphans, not just in word, but in deed.  The gospel of Jesus Christ the good news that through Jesus we have been adopted as sons and daughters into God s family means that Christians ought to be at the forefront of the adoption of orphans in North America and around the world.  Russell D. Moore does not shy away from this call in Adopted for Life, a popular-level, practical manifesto for Christians to adopt children and to help equip other Christian families to do the same. He shows that adoption is not just about couples who want children or who want more children. It is about an entire culture within Christianity, a culture that sees adoption as part of the Great Commission mandate and as a sign of the gospel itself.  Moore, who adopted two boys from Russia and has spoken widely on the subject, writes for couples considering adoption, families who have adopted children, and pastors who wish to encourage adoption.

8. The God I Don’t Understand: Reflections on Tough Questions of Faith by Christopher J.H. Wright (Zondervan)

If we are honest, we have to admit that there are many things we don’t understand about God, especially in the face of terrible suffering and evil. Chris Wright offers reflections and encouragement from the Scriptures, so that those who are troubled by these tough questions can still sustain their faith.

If we are honest, we have to admit that there are many things we don’t understand about God. We do not have final answers to the deep problems of life, and those who say they do are probably living in some degree of delusion. There are areas of mystery in our Christian faith that lie beyond the keenest scholarship or even the most profound spiritual exercises.

For many people, these problems raise so many questions and uncertainties that faith itself becomes a struggle, and the very person and character of God are called into question.

Chris Wright encourages us to face up to the limitations of our understanding and to acknowledge the pain and grief they can often cause. But at the same time, he wants us to be able to say, like the psalmist in Psalm 73: “But that’s all right. God is ultimately in charge and I can trust him to put things right. Meanwhile, I will stay near to my God, make him my refuge, and go on telling of his deeds.”

9.  ApParent Privilege by Steve Wright and Chris Graves (InQuest)

Parents have the greatest privilege of their lives literally in front of them everyday: their children. Pointing their children to Christ, modeling faith, encouraging with words, and showing unfailing love isn t a burden. It s a privilege. Apparent Privilege will arm parents with biblical understanding and up-to-the-minute research to show them the unparalleled opportunity they have to be the primary influence of their children. It will give parents a biblical view of parenting, answer questions and concerns we all have, and help them understand how Christian parenting must become more than taking your children to church. In short, this book will equip a parent live a life where the difference is apparent.

This book is a gift to Christian parents and to all who labor in hope that the next generations will put their confidence in God. Steve understands the crucial and indispensable role that parents have in pursuing this hope and serves us well with his experience, research and Bible-saturated insight and wisdom. –David Michael, Bethlehem Baptist Church (Minneapolis, MN)

With all of the ‘clanging cymbals and resounding gongs’ Steve Wright encourages us that the language of love, grace and truth needs to be continuous and apparent from our tongues to our children. Steve is guiding dads and moms back to their God-given privilege of being voices crying in the wilderness leading our children to the Savior through His Word. I was convicted that abdication of my responsibility to teach the Word of God to my children is spiritual desertion! –Kevin Carroll, The Church of Brook Hills (Birmingham, AL)

10. Perspectives on Christian Worship: Five Views edited by J. Matthew Pinson (B&H)

Perspectives on Christian Worship presents in counterpoint form five basic common beliefs on Christian worship that have developed over the course of church history with a view toward determining which is most faithful to Scripture. Each chapter is written by a prominent person within each tradition, and each writer has the opportunity to respond to each differing view.

I want to special thanks to Crossway Books, Multnomah, Reformation Heritage Books, Desiring God, Broadman & Holman, Zondervan, and InQuest Ministries for their sponsorship of the 2009 Band of Bloggers fellowship with their book giveaways!

From generation to generation, God has faithfully raised up and empowered His people to be servants of Christ and stewards of the Gospel.  What is unlike generations in the past is the ability through technology to literally impact the entire world.  For the past 5-10 years, the advent of blogging and social media has afforded followers of Christ to personally broadcast the good news of Jesus Christ while developing a web of relationships that has formed a gospel-centered community seeking to leverage whatever means possible to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ everywhere–both in person and on the web.

Band of Bloggers is an informal fellowship of gospel-committed writers seeking to encourage faithfulness in what is spoken of Christ while raising the standard of discourse to reflect the character of those called to blog worthy of the gospel to which we have been called.

This year, we are excited to announce that Band of Bloggers is partnering with The Gospel Coalition Conference to host the 3rd Band of Bloggers Fellowship in conjunction with their national conference in Chicago, IL.   On Wednesday, April 22, 2009, from 12:00-2:00 p.m., we will be hosting a lunch and fellowship at the Rosemont Conference Center. The theme of the conference is “Servants & Stewards” (building off of 1 Cor. 4:1), which expresses a two-pronged approach in faithfulness as servants and effectiveness as stewards.  As servants, we want to make much of our Savior in not just what we say but how we say it.  As stewards, we want to collectively labor to leverage all available means to propagate and publish the Gospel in our increasingly technologically-literate culture.

To do this, Band of Bloggers has sought the instruction and encouragement from well-known evangelical bloggers to addresses various issues.  Taking a slightly different approach than in years past, we are given each person one question to answer in 5-7 minutes and then diving into Q&A/discussion.  Here’s what we have in store for 2009:

_______________

1.  Servants and Stewards: Maximizing your blog in service to Christ (Timmy Brister)
2.  How can we blog for the glory of God? (Justin Taylor)
3.  Improving usability: How to write so people can read (Mike Anderson)
4.  How can you use your blog for the edification of the church? (Tim Challies)
5.  How can you make your site more accessible and visible? (Eric Johnson)
6.  Why should pastors blog? (Tullian Tchividjian)
7.  What is the place for art and culture in Christian blogging? (Steve McCoy)
8.  How can bloggers steward the teaching of the young, old, and the dead? (Tony Reinke)

______________

One of the highlights of Band of Blogger fellowship is the opportunity to meet people you may have encountered on the Internet and network together with people of kindred spirit who share a common passion for the glory of Christ and the advancement of His Gospel.  Together with The Gospel Coalition National Conference, this will be a week that you will not want to miss!

Registration for 2009 Band of Bloggers will open shortly.  Here are the details again in summary form to mark your calendars:

“Servants & Stewards”
2009 Band of Bloggers Fellowship
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 :: 12:00-2:00
Rosemont Conference Center :: Chicago, IL
(in conjunction with The Gospel Coalition Conference)

REGISTER :: PROMOTE :: BoB DIRECTORY

Now that you have paid, we would like to get some additional information. Please complete the following:

To begin this process, we are asking you to consider submitting your name and blog address for this directory.  Bear in mind, however, with this vision and trust comes accountability and a standard which we desire to maintain–that is, to blog in a manner worthy of the gospel.

If you would like to move forward with us and join us to spread a passion for the gospel in the blogosphere, please leave your first and last name along with your blog address in the comments section.  

In the coming weeks, we are going to redevelop this website to make this a hub and launching point for gospel-centered blogging.  Please stay in touch as we work together to keep Jesus Christ and him crucified front and center in our blogging.

My hope and desire behind the BoB fellowship was that it would be an encouragement and blessing to you, to strengthen you and provide opportunity to fellowship and strengthen others to be set apart for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We come from all across the world, all with different stories of how the gospel of Jesus Christ has changed us, shaped us, and continues to transform us from one degree of glory to another until we see His face.

What most of you do not know is that this almost did not happen. In fact, in early February I was one week away before needing to make a decision to call the conference off. The fact that this even happened was the direct result of answered prayer and the kind providence of God. While I have been recognized as the person with the vision for the Band of Bloggers, it cannot be said enough how important each person has been to believe in, and be an important part of, this gospel-driven vision. For instance, many of you have used your blogs and contacts to get the word out about this meeting, where there was a total of over 150 bloggers in attendance, more than twice that of the 2006 fellowship. The immediate needs of financial administration and sound equipment was provided by the gracious help of Tony Kummer and Calvary Baptist Church where he serves. Fantastic graphics and poster design was provided by Jake Stutzman who serves with Heartcry Missionary Society in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. About a dozen of you who attended arrived (very) early to spend a couple of hours making the BoB goody bags (including the publishers who freely provided them!).

One of the dreams I had for this year’s conference was being able to give away two books–one more than 2006. Yet, as I began talking to friends and publishers, two became three, three became four, and four became eight! I am indebted to Desiring God, Founders Press, Reformation Heritage Books, InQuest Ministries, Grace to You, Crossway Books, and Banner of Trust for allowing me to experience so much joy in see these books freely given to so many brothers and sisters. I believe these resources will be invaluable tools in the hands of gospel-centered followers of Christ.

Finally, I want to say a special thanks to the panel for their participation and leadership in the discussion of “The Gospel Trust.” Tim Challies, Thabiti Anyabwile, Abraham Piper, and Phil Johnson did a fantastic job of raising the bar for all of us and fostering the discussion on how to be good stewards with our blogs for the sake of the gospel. I also want to express my appreciation to Justin Taylor who was not able to be with us due to the exciting adoption opportunity which precluded his participation. Justin has been and continues to be a wonderful supporter of BoB, and his absence from this year’s meeting was significant.

In the future, we are hoping to continue with the vision to be good stewards of the gospel trust by developing a center for perpetuating gospel-centeredness in the evangelical blogosphere. Please stay tuned for developments in the upcoming days and weeks intended to incorporate everyone who desires to be a part of a community of bloggers who willingly hold one another accountable to the gospel trust and the glory of God.