Edinburgh Intensive Schedule

The mornings will focus on the following topics.  The afternoons will be spent interviewing local church planters.

Day 1

January 28

  • Sashko and David

    Just a brief introduction to the conference.

  • Sashko Nezamutdinov

    Theological vision is how we see our culture in light of our doctrine, and examining it will likely result in a ministry that serves others rather than ourselves. Differences in theological vision explain why two churches in the same denomination with the same creeds will look completely different to an outsider, or may even vehemently disagree with each other's choice of music, liturgy and programs. It is also why a first-time visitor may feel instantly alienated or embraced. The concept of "theological vision," or "middleware" between doctrine and ministry decisions.

    Recommended Reading:

    Center Church, Timothy Keller (Introduction)

  • Neil MacMillan

    The aim of every sermon is to experience Christ through the text. You need to get people to adore and enjoy Christ through the text. We shouldn’t preach principles or example to live up to but reassure people that living a holy life is derived from faith in Christ. If we tell a particular Bible story without putting it into the Bible story about Christ, we actually change the meaning of the particular story. How do we avoid this and how do we preach Christ even from passages where the gospel is not so obvious?

    Suggested Reading:

    Christ-Centered Preaching, Bryan Chapell

    Preaching, Timothy Keller

  • At Cornerstone Church

    140 Morningside Road, Edinburgh EH10 4DH

January 29

Day 2

  • David Stoddard

    Before you can think about how to write a ministry philosophy, before a church-planting team develops a strategy, before they focus on what kind of church you want to plant, you have to talk about DNA. DNA: it is the stuff of which the CP is made. It is the genetic code which will be carried out in every ministry of the church plant.  As one church planter said, “Everything fails because of the wrong DNA of a CP. We are going to look my Top 11 DNA factors of effective church plants. 

    Suggested Reading:

    Authentic Ministry, Michael Reeves

  • Robbie Sweet

    In this session we will consider why a healthy vision for next generation ministry is not simply something for established churches to focus on. We will look at both the global realities that are impacting the next generation as well as look at ways our local churches can reach the young people in our communities. The next generation is a strategic people group to reach and our church plants are uniquely equipped to participate in the mission of reaching the nations and the next generation.

    Suggested reading:

    Growing Young, by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin

    The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt

    Mission NEXT, by Eric Larsen

  • At Esk Valley

    3 Edinburgh Road, Dalkeith, EH22 1L

Day 3

January 30

  • Neil MacMillan

    The name ‘disciples’ reminds us that the church from the beginning was the ‘school’ of Jesus. Therefore the teaching function must be very important in the church. A disciple is called to give up his own interests in order to obey the call of Jesus. He is also called to the worldwide, overwhelming task of making all nations disciples. Confronting this great task and one’s limited resources, it is easy to lose courage and simply give up. But the church is still to make disciples, teaching them what Christ has revealed so that they will persevere to the end and inherit eternal life. In this session, we will consider the importance of discipleship and how our making disciples has an eternal impact.

    Suggested Reading:

    Gospel-Centered Discipleship, Jonathan Dodson

  • David Meredith

    Out there they think a Church-Planter is the ministry equivalent of a Navy SEAL. Some of the SEAL mottos seem ridiculous when applied to us: “It pays to be a Winner”. Other sayings are nearer the mark, “Never Out Of The Fight".  In this seminar we will look at maintaining both our sanity and spiritual life as a Planter. Come with an open mind.

    Suggested Reading:

    The 2 classics

    Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome, Kent Hughes

    Dangerous calling, Paul Tripp

    Other Outliers

    Zeal without Burnout, Christopher Ash

    Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor, DA Carson

    Fruitful Leaders, Marcus Honeysett

    Sensing Jesus, Zack Eswine

    Some wise dead guys 

    The Mortification of Sin, John Owen

    Prayer, John Bunyan

  • At ETS Building

    Meeting at: Presbytery Hall

    15 N Bank St, Edinburgh EH1 2LS, United Kingdom

January Intensive Info

Edinburgh, Scotland

WHEN

JANUARY 28-30

WHERE

Edinburgh Theological Seminary (15 N Bank St, Edinburgh EH1 2LS, United Kingdom)

WHERE TO STAY

Anywhere near the seminary

GETTING AROUND

You can get a taxi, bus, or tram to Waverley Train Station.  From there it is typically an easy walk to lodging either in OId Town or New Town.  Or of course one can take a taxi from the airport directly to your lodging.

WHERE TO EAT

Please google for the many yummy food choices in Edinburgh

SNACKS

We ask that participants bring any snacks they want during the day.  Lunch and dinner is on your own, or hopefully with others in the cohort.