The 34th annual Scottish Reformed Conference welcomed the ministry of both Dr Sinclair Ferguson and pastor Dan Peters, and also enjoyed a time of joyful fellowship with 400 friends whom we have come to know over many years, writes Richard G. Buckley.
There were new folk who spoke movingly about the Lord’s work in their lives, many families and young people were present, a terrific children’s work was arranged, and a well-selected bookstall was provided by John Rawlinson of Banner of Truth Trust.
We were pleased to welcome for the first time the Revd Dan Peters who ministers in Newcastle and also serves as Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Seminary, also in Newcastle.
Dan Peters preached from Moses’ prayer in Deuteronomy 3. It is a most moving prayer from the lips of the leader of God’s people who was looking forward to going into the Promised Land after 80 (yes, 80!) hard years of wilderness wanderings. The Lord refused him permission, because he had struck the rock instead of speaking to it to get water. This sharp lesson for Moses was followed by his greater insight into the grace of God.
Peters brought out the way Moses began his prayer, his agony of heart that he presented to the Lord, the greater vision he was given by the Lord and the joy that became later. He traced these steps for us under the memorable titles Praise, Pain, Perspective, and Peace.
Sinclair Ferguson preached from Mark 4, on the stilling of the storm. The challenge he presented to us was this: since Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever the same Lord who led His disciples (in more boats than just the one He was in) into the storm, He leads us into storms so that we might learn the same lesson and exercise the same faith.
