The Need for Evangelism by Mark Dever
The 2009 Desiring God Pastor’s Conference is in full swing, and I love to have been able to attend. The next best thing is to follow Abraham Piper (@abrahampiper) and Scott Anderson (@anderson_scott) on Twitter and download the audio just hours after the messages are delivered – for free (I have to include the free part to some of my Southern Baptist friends who are still charging an arm and a leg for conference audio these days – sigh).
The first message by Mark Dever is up. It focuses on the need for evangelism and can be downloaded here. Also check out the live-blogging notes from the DG blog. Nicely done.
Explore posts in the same categories: Conferences, Evangelism, MP3'sTags: Desiring God Pastor's Conference, Evangelism, Mark Dever
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Provocations & Pantings 
February 3, 2009 at 2:14 am
if you mean a need to preach the heart of the Gospel, the Doctrines ogf Grace, and the Character of God, yes there is.
February 3, 2009 at 9:32 am
Paul,
No, not necessarily. I don’t think neither Dever or Piper (and myself for that matter) require someone to believe in the doctrines of grace to evangelize. When I was a non-Calvinist, I had someone tell me, “God will never use you effectively in ministry until you are a five-point Calvinist.” This same person had not shared the gospel or led one person to Christ since I had known him (for years). I don’t buy that. And I pray other Calvinists don’t buy it either.
February 3, 2009 at 10:09 am
Amen Timmy.
(by the way, have you heard anything about SWBTS firing all of the calvinists? Wade Burleson put it on his blog, but he refuses to give a source)
February 3, 2009 at 10:31 am
Bro. Timmy,
I didn’t mean that one had to be a Calvinist to evangelize, I was emphasizing the fact that the 5 doctrines form the heart of the Gospel, leaving any of them out is to cut out the heart of the message of God’s Grace to elect sinners.
I WAS SAVED UNDER AN ARMINIAN MINISTRY. But did not grow until the Holy Spirit showed me these doctrines, in the Word of God.
February 3, 2009 at 10:38 am
Matthew,
I’ve seen it, but when it comes to Burleson vs. Welty, I am going to go with Welty. For such a serious charge, one would think that Wade would be more forthcoming in the defense of his remarks.
February 3, 2009 at 10:39 am
Paul,
I understand what you are saying. The fact is that both Arminians and Calvinists are not as faithful in evangelizing as we should be. We all have a great deal of work to do, beginning with repenting of our hard hearts and closed mouths.
February 4, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Great address by Dever. Hopefully, this messsage will make many think twice about using that convenient little, guilt pacifying quote that I hear all too often, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
February 4, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Today, at a funeral, I asked a man how God saved him, he said a man said to him,
” Christ loved you, enough to die for you. Now what are you going to do about it/”
That brought him under conviction, and led to his conversion.
We never know what we say will be used by the Spirit.
Although I believe all Christ died for, will be saved, I want to be there, and hear How God used me in the process.