Reformation Faith and the Modern Mind
2016 Cheyenne Reformation Conference
September 16-17, 2016
Featuring: Rev. Dr. Carl R. Trueman
An Invitation…
During the sixteenth century, Martin Luther and the other reformers set out to purify the church and reestablish the Bible as the sole source of spiritual authority. In so doing, God brought about the greatest renewal of the church since the Apostolic era—the Reformation and the Reformed faith. Much has happened since.
Today we find ourselves living in an age of spiritual darkness and in a culture openly hostile to faithful Christianity. Problems are everywhere in the world and in the Church. Secular patterns of thought and habit have infected our Churches. Many are accommodating or cursing the darkness rather than faithfully proclaiming the Gospel and serving. Faithful Christians find they are uncomfortable in the public square and are set for exile to cultural irrelevance.
Our conference speaker, Dr. Trueman, will examine the confluence of the Reformed faith and the modern mind. He will call us to return to Holy Scripture where we find the foundation for Reformation Christianity in the person and work of Christ. Moving on, Dr. Trueman will examine key Biblical teaching concerning the Church. Then he will speak on contemporary challenges and living in light of the Gospel. With sensitivity, Biblical insight, the knowledge of an eminent Church theologian and the heart of a shepherd he will show that a vibrant commitment to the Reformed faith uniquely offers, as it did in the 16th Century, hope and comfort. Indeed, Biblical wisdom for the 21st Century Church.
Christians from all walks of life will be encouraged and enlightened. Dr. Trueman draws upon his many years in the Lord’s service as eminent Professor and Pastor. Undergirding his words for us is Christ’s wonderful promise “…I will build my Church”.
As always, we trust this will be an edifying and encouraging time of learning and fellowship. Will you join us this fall as we consider our topic “Reformation faith and the Modern Mind”.
Sponsored and hosted by:
Northwoods Presbyterian Church
Faithful to Holy Scripture
True to the reformed Faith
Obedient to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ
Conference Speaker
Rev. Dr. Carl R. Trueman
Rev. Dr. Carl R. Trueman holds the Paul Woolley Chair of Church History and is professor of church history at Westminster Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and is pastor of Cornerstone OPC in Ambler, PA
He has written more than a dozen books, and is currently co-editing the Oxford Handbook of Calvin and Calvinism due in 2017.
Dr. Trueman’s academic interests include Reformation church history, including the life and work of men like Martin Luther and John Owen. For those new to Dr. Trueman’s writing and teaching on his research interests, he recommends several resources as places to start. Regarding Reformation church history, he recommends beginning with his course The Reformation, available free online from Westminster, or his book Reformation: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. On Luther, he suggests watching his recent lecture “Martin Luther, Troubled Prophet,” or reading Luther on the Christian Life: Cross and Freedom. On John Owen, he suggests his book John Owen: Reformed Catholic, Renaissance Man, or watching his recent lecture series on the topic.
He writes online regularly at firstthings.com and Mortification of Spin on contemporary issues such as religious freedom, identity politics, and the state of the church. Married to Catriona, he has two sons, John and Peter.
EDUCATION
- PhD, University of Aberdeen, 1991
- MA, St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge, 1988
Books by Dr. Trueman
- Luther on the Christian Life: Cross and Freedom
- The Creedal Imperative
- Histories and Fallacies: Problems Faced in the Writing of History
- Fools Rush In Where Monkeys Fear to Tread: Taking Aim at Everyone
- The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind
- John Owen: Reformed Catholic, Renaissance Man
- Reformation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
- Luther’s Legacy: Salvation and English Reformers, 1525-1556
- Minority Report: Unpopular Thoughts on Everything from Ancient Christianity to Zen Calvinism
- The Wages of Spin: Critical Writings on Historical and Contemporary Evangelicalism
Conference Schedule
Friday, September 16, 2016
7:00 – 8:15 Session 1: What is Reformation Christianity?
The Reformation happened hundreds of years ago. The world then was very different to what it is now. So is there any point in studying it? What exactly was the Reformation and what elements of Reformation belief continue to be of relevance today?
Saturday, September 17, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Session 2: Reformation faith and contemporary challenges.
The world around us is rapidly changing. What are the fundamental challenges to the faith which Christians face today? And how can our Reformation heritage help us to address them?
10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Session 3: What in the world is the Church?
To think clearly about how Christians are to relate to the world around them, they must first understand who they are as Christians. And to do that, they must understand what the Church is, what she does, what tools she uses, and what her mission is.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Session 4: Living in light of the Gospel
For most of the week, Christians strive to live faithfully in a world that is at best indifferent and at worst hostile to their beliefs. In addition, the reality of sin and of death affects everything. So if the Reformation gospel is true but life in this fallen world is unavoidable, how should we then live?
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Q&A session
Conference Recordings
Session 2: Reformation faith and contemporary challenges. [ 48:34 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download