Tuesday, August 28, 2012

2012 Rooted Conference Workshops: Session #1

Part of the mission of Rooted is to consider how the Gospel practically applies in specific areas of youth ministry. Recordings from these workshops are below:

Alice Churnock of Covenant Counseling Center in Birmingham, AL:
“Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall…” Media Messages and the Impact on Adolescent Women

Paul Martin of St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham, AL:
Discipling with Grace

Gil Kracke of the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL
Resurrect Me!: The Theology of the Cross and the Sin-Sick Soul


Monday, August 27, 2012

2012 Rooted Conference Recordings: Cameron Cole

We are grateful for an incredible Rooted Conference. Attendees from fifteen different states came to the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL to discuss and consider how the Gospel of grace informs all areas of youth ministry.

Rooted Conference Chairman, Cameron Cole, offered this short reflection about how the Gospel of grace frees youth ministers from a life of performance to conclude the weekend.




Thursday, August 23, 2012

2012 Rooted Conference Recordings: Mary Willson

We are grateful for an incredible Rooted Conference. Attendees from fifteen different states came to the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL to discuss and consider how the Gospel of grace informs all areas of youth ministry.

Mary Willson of First Presbyterian in Baton Rouge, LA received rave reviews for her two plenary talks and her workshop. Enjoy these sermons which have great connections to abandonment in youth culture and good Bible exegesis:


Talk #1: Receiving the King’s Grace (II Samuel 9)

Talk #2: Trusting the Father’s Grace (Matthew 3.13-4.11)

Workshop: Teaching Scripture As Part of the God’s Grand Story

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

2012 Rooted Conference Recordings: Ray Ortlund

We are grateful for an incredible Rooted Conference. Attendees from fifteen different states came to the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL to discuss and consider how the Gospel of grace informs all areas of youth ministry.

Ray Ortlund, the keynote for the conference, themed "Adopted: The Beauty of Grace," did three talks from Romans 8 focused on our adoption as sons and daughters of God. Enjoy these incredible sermons!





Tuesday, August 21, 2012

2012 Rooted Conference Recordings: Timothy George

We are grateful for an incredible Rooted Conference. Attendees from fifteen different states came to the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL to discuss and consider how the Gospel of grace informs all areas of youth ministry.

Dr. Timothy George, Dean of Beeson Divinity School, offered this opening message, entitled "What Is the Gospel?"

What Is The Gospel?

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Titles for the Talks at Rooted

These are the titles for the talks for the Rooted Conference, which starts Thursday, August 9:

1.  The Grace of Present Adoption  (Romans 8:1-16) (Ray Ortlund)

2.  The Grace of Future Adoption  (Romans 8:17-30) (Ray Ortlund)

3.   Receiving the King’s Grace (II Samuel 9) (Mary Willson)

4.   Trusting the Father’s Grace (Matthew 3.13-4.11) (Mary Willson)

5.  The Impossibility of Defeated Grace (Romans 8:31-39) (Ray Ortlund)

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Why I'm Excited about 2012 Rooted: Part 3

Quite honestly, I am most excited about this week's Rooted Conference is because I need to hear the Gospel of grace. I am a sinner who continually attempts to build my own righteousness and to have everything together. In ministry, rarely are there contexts where you can open up, be yourself, bear your issues, and be fed. I cannot wait for Rooted because I expect to encounter Jesus and to be fed.

You, too, can enjoy the Rooted Conference by registering here: www.rootedconference.com.

Sunday, August 05, 2012

Why I'm Excited about Rooted 2012: Part 2

Youth ministry is a lonely job with a great deal of turnover. Very often, you connect with a solid youth minister in your town and that person either goes to seminary, takes an associate pastor position, leaves for the mission field, or decides to sell life insurance. Finding good community and people with experience and expertise in the field becomes a rare blessing.

At the 2010 Rooted Conference, as will be the case with this year's meeting, I found dozens of experienced, sharp, committed youth ministers with whom to share conversations, exchange ideas, and refine my ministry. I cannot wait to see how people from the Northeast, Southwest, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest approach ministry as a means of challenging how I do ministry in the American South. I am extremely excited about spending three days with people who, quite frankly, are much better at the trade than I am, as a means of growing in Christ and in ministry.

You can register for the Rooted Conference on August 9-11, 2012 at www.rootedconference.com


Thursday, August 02, 2012

Why I'm Excited about Rooted 2012: Part 1

The first reason I am really excited about the Rooted Conference is because I like hearing great preachers. The line up for Rooted features interesting, brilliant speakers. In Timothy George, we have an internationally renowned theologian (via his position as Dean at Beeson Seminary and multiple publications) with a keen sense of the pulse of Christianity throughout the world (through his role as an editor of Christianity Today.)

With Ray Ortlund, we have a biblical scholar with a worldwide reputation but who also is in touch with the day-to-day reality of people's lives through his ministry at Immanuel Church in Nashville, TN. He also understands the culture as seen in his blogging with the Gospel Coalition.

In Mary Willson, we have a highly sought-after speaker with a youth ministry background and exceptional academic credentials. She combines a powerful intellect with an approachable sense of humor.

In sum, I just cannot wait to hear all three of these speakers on August 9-11 at the Rooted Conference. You can join us by registering at www.rootedconference.com.