I decided a Part Two was in order so that I can give a few more specific takeaways from the conference.
On the first full day, Monday, I was busy directing people to the correct seats in the main session--my fellow volunteers helped out here, since the room was huge. Then I joined them in sitting, and I was a bit sleepy and didn't have a paper to write notes on, so I forget much of what I heard at that time.
There was John Lennox, Kristyn Getty's uncle and a mathematician who had heard C. S. Lewis in person, there was J. A. C. Redman, composer for some Disney films, Avatar, etc. He said to him it's like any other job one might have in a secular workplace. He arranged and here conducted a song that Keith & Kristyn Getty had written, almost medieval-sounding yet with modern chords, I think surrounding the apostle's creed and/or Christ's incarnation. D. A. Carson spoke next, also on Christ's incarnation. To wake myself up, I didn't stay for all of his talk, though I hoped to hear it later in a download.
I meandered through the exhibitors hall, buying some sale-priced books, such as John Lennox's book Have No Fear: Being Salt and Light Even When It's Costly, as well as some Christian postcards.
I ate lunch with strangers--but older sisters in Christ--outside.
The next day I heard Mark Dever teach on marks of a Christian church--and I actually took notes this time. ;)
1. Gospel preaching should be at the center of our corporate worship.
2. Gospel theology shapes our corporate worship.
3. Hearing from God/His Word is all a gift we don't deserve. Ez. 37 Deut. 33 - "Teach Israel Your law..."
4. Usually it is good for preachers to preach exegetically. Early teachers like Chrysostom preached through Bible passages.
5. Silence and reflection. Reading a Bible passage together (Mark Dever has his congregation read Psalm 95 together).
6. Prayers telling of God's greatness. Prayer of praise, confession, and intercession.
Allow time for reflection after the sermon.
Don't be afraid to read God's Word, even long passages!
7. Congregational singing--not overcome with accompaniment.
...So that was all very good. We had an interlude of hearing more music, including a guitarist who played a beautiful arrangement of "O Sacred Head Now Wounded," which we proceeded to sing.
Next John MacArthur taught on Christ's death. I missed the ending, but here are the sporadic notes I got:
How was Jesus' death different than others? God shows us without words in the darkness that came over the earth. Mercy and love were in His words before that.
Jesus is the Light. Darkness for 3 hours. Supernatural. Passover Day.
Is. 13:9-11 - Fury & anger...punish the world....
Joel...Day of gloom and darkness. Great and awesome day of punishment.
Amos 5 - Darkness, not light; for your transgressions are many...
John 10:18 - A voluntary and sovereign sacrifice. He "gave up His breath."
Divine satisfaction is given without a word when the curtain is torn in two!
Haggai - He will shake the earth...
And there I left the room, thinking I had to be at a volunteer meeting to prepare for the Breakout sessions. They had changed the time on that, so I ate some snacks in the meantime, resting on a bench in the beautiful Opryland gardens, then getting some salad at the Quick Service Cafe'.
My "room host" assignment was thankfully not speaking in front of the group, as I had feared, but talking to individual people at the doors and making sure they were in the right spot. It was challenging enough for me, not known for my assertiveness.
I got to sit in on the session after it began, but was still to watch the side door and direct people to the back door.
Sandra McCracken sang and spoke, answering questions from the audience. Her music was soothing.
I stayed at the same place for the next two Breakout sessions.
The couple who spoke, the Michaels, talked about children's songs and literature, how it is often man-focused, not God-focused. They spoke with emotion and conviction, many good points.
I only stayed for the beginning of the next session, enough to get most people seated, then had to go to a volunteer meeting to prepare for our next assignment, which was directing people to the buses to go to Bridgestone Arena.
I enjoyed the concert/talks there very much, in general. It was quite awesome singing "Is He Worthy?" with Andrew Peterson and the thousands of people there, "Holy, Holy, Holy," and other songs. Joni Eareckson Tada talked about her thankfulness and wanting to kneel first thing when she gets to heaven. How often do I kneel in reverence? Not enough, though prayer, as she said, can still be done sitting, etc.
John Piper spoke about Paul in prison, after being beaten and put in chains, singing to God. And then witnessing to the jailer. What an example for us!
Next morning I got to listen in to part of a vocal trainer's talk, and she gave some good tips and demonstrations, even taking volunteers (or asking people to the front) from the audience.
In the last main session, we heard from Os Guiness about his family's mission to China--nothing deep stands out to me--more music, including the convicting, lovely "Give Me Jesus" sung by Fernando Ortega. Also heard a prerecorded interview with Anne Graham Lotz about singing and witnessing. We heard some beautiful, Classical violin, and a Skype video recorded earlier of a woman from China talking with Kristyn Getty--hard to hear, but a good reminder to pray for China.
All in all it was a great conference for the refreshing of the soul and pointing us to do something worthwhile to the glory of Christ, for He died for us and is forever worthy!
