2012 Theme: "The Doctrine of Election"
-FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our 2nd annual meeting!
-- SECONDLY, MASSIVE APOLOGIES are extended to everyone hoping to hear the messages of our RefOC 12 conference here. Soon after the conference, our organizer, the Rev. Kent Moorlach, was issued a call to pastor a church in the state of Tennessee. This call dominated the schedule as such a transition from The OC to a completely new ministry requires much transition and attention. Rev. Moorlach will be handing over "the reigns" of this conference to others who are a part of our RefOC team, AND, as soon as he is able, will be posting the 2012 messages. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!
--- THIRDLY, keep in touch with the ongoing updates regarding our RefOC Speakers and other conferences in our area at our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reformation-OC-Conference/117827328311184
--- IN THE MEANTIME, listen to the radio broadcast (now podcast) of RefOC speakers discussing the Reformation: http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=770:reforming-the-reformation&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74 >>> The Westminster Shorter Catechism: http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=801:an-outline-of-christianity&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74 >>> The Apostles Creed: http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=793:i-believe-the-ancient-creed-of-the-apostles&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74 >>> Christmas and the Incarnation: http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=785:christmas-and-the-incarnation-of-god&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74 >>> and more (also available on iTunes)
---- Please leave us your email and any comments in the comment boxes below!
God bless!
Chosen, called, predestined, elected, foreordained,
foreknown, eternal decrees, sovereignty...*
These are theological terms mentioned in the very pages of scripture -- but how should they be preached?
A prominent doctrine embraced by the Reformers was the electing grace of God which predestines a chosen people to respond to the call of salvation accompanied with the persevering promises for eternal redemption -- all for the purpose of declaring God's glory alone.
Those who have veered from this theological conviction have traditionally found themselves numbered among the Roman Catholic, Arminian, and "Free Will" Protestants, who emphasize a preaching diet stressing the need for "decisions, re-dedications," and a commitment to a personal holiness that continually monitors spiritual devotion.
Is this all bad?
Why do those with Reformation convictions stress God's 'decision' in salvation? How do the Reformed preach a concern for personal holiness and the need to evangelize? How do a people who are confident in their calling, redemption, justification, sanctification and glorification actually live?
foreknown, eternal decrees, sovereignty...*
These are theological terms mentioned in the very pages of scripture -- but how should they be preached?
A prominent doctrine embraced by the Reformers was the electing grace of God which predestines a chosen people to respond to the call of salvation accompanied with the persevering promises for eternal redemption -- all for the purpose of declaring God's glory alone.
Those who have veered from this theological conviction have traditionally found themselves numbered among the Roman Catholic, Arminian, and "Free Will" Protestants, who emphasize a preaching diet stressing the need for "decisions, re-dedications," and a commitment to a personal holiness that continually monitors spiritual devotion.
Is this all bad?
Why do those with Reformation convictions stress God's 'decision' in salvation? How do the Reformed preach a concern for personal holiness and the need to evangelize? How do a people who are confident in their calling, redemption, justification, sanctification and glorification actually live?
Conference Address: 311 W. Yale Loop, Irvine, Ca.
Meeting place of Communion Presbyterian Church (ARP)
Visit our other RefOC Facebook pages listed below!
Visit our other RefOC Facebook pages listed below!
2012 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: THIS EVENT IS FREE!
Schedule & Speakers:
Friday Evening, October 26; 2012
6:00 PM -- Early Breakout Session: "'Election' as Taught and Treated in the Earliest Creeds and Confessions of the Church"
Synopsis: Sometimes, it's not enough to say, "It's taught in the Bible!" Religious groups throughout all of history have been able to justify all manner of belief because they, "read it in the Bible." But when a particular doctrine begins to be codified in the ancient creeds and confessions of the church (and then, usually in response to errors being taught about a particular doctrine), we can then appreciate with greater clarity what the church teaches and confirms for others to proclaim and believe. We will examine these creeds and confessions.
Presenter: Rev. Kent Moorlach is the teaching elder at Communion Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Irvine, Ca. He is a graduate of Talbot School of Theology and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Rev. Moorlach is a life long resident of Orange County and is married to Stephanie; they have three children.
6:45 PM -- Registration and Exhibits
7:00 PM -- Conference Welcome & Introductions
7:10 to 8:00 -- First Main Session -- "Election and Intra-Trinitarian Love: Why Reformed Theology is the True 'Relational Theology'"
Synopsis: When it comes to the doctrine of election, are we forced to side with the 'power-God' of Calvinism or the 'love-God' of non-Calvinism? This false dichotomy has so pervaded today's church that many non-Calvinist scholars have re-named their position "relational theism." Dr. Williams builds a case that the God of John's gospel is not powerful at the expense of His love, or loving at the expense of His power. Rather, the efficacy of God's power in electing sinners flows directly from the intimacy of His love as passionately enjoyed within the Trinity. The elect are living, breathing 'love-gifts' exchanged between the Father and the Son as expressions of their infinite and unfrustratable love for one another. William's Trinitarian analysis of election not only demonstrates that Reformed theology is the true "relational theism," but also offers practical pastoral insights on how this doctrine can help our churches reflect God's love more compellingly in OC and beyond.
Presenter: Dr. Thaddeus Williams earned his Ph.D. in Theology at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, and has an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Talbot School of Theology. He ministers at Terra Nova Church (www.ourterranova.com), and teaches at various schools, including Biola University and Saddleback College. He is driven by a passion to see the church experience a 21st century “Re-Reformation" centered on the supreme Triune God of the Bible. To that end, Thaddeus has lectured in seminaries and churches throughout Nepal, Francis Schaeffer’s L'Abri Fellowships in Holland and Switzerland, along with churches and conferences throughout the United States. He lives in Southern California with his wife and two daughters.
8:10 to 9:00 -- Second Main Session -- "The Five Points of John Calvin: The 5 Pivotal Events that Shaped the Life and Faith of The Great Reformer"
Presenter: Christopher Neiswonger received his Juris Doctor from Trinity Law and his Masters Degree in Communication and Culture from Trinity Graduate School. Christopher works in the legal department of one of the world's largest NGOs. He is also the host of the Apologetics.com Radio show heard on 99.5FM, KKLA, and speaks at many churches and conferences each year, while serving as a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church of America.
9:10 to 10:PM -- Third Main Session -- "Is 'a Reformed View of Free Will' an Oxymoron? Understanding Libertarian,
Compatibilist, and Biblical Freedom in Election"
Synopsis: Some have complained, 'Why does the devil have all the good rock and roll?" A more recent complaint has emerged "Why does Arminianism have all the good philosophers?" Sure there are exceptions to both complaints but, by and large, non-Calvinists have been on the cutting edge of thinking about free will. Often times objections to a Reformed understanding of election are motivated by the philosophically
defended notion of libertarian free will. Dr. Williams has debated top philosophers (e.g., Vincent Brümmer, University of Utrecht) on the question of freedom and is the author of, Love, Freedom, and Evil: Does Authentic Love Require Free Will? (http://www.monergismbooks.com/Love-Freedom-and-Evil-Does-Authentic-Love-Require-Free-Will-p-20199.html).
He offers philosophical and Biblical clarity on the perennial "free will" problem as it relates to the doctrine of election.
Presenter: Dr. Thaddeus Williams earned his Ph.D. in Theology at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, and has an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Talbot School of Theology. He ministers at Terra Nova Church (www.ourterranova.com), and teaches at various schools, including Biola University and Saddleback College. He is driven by a passion to see the church experience a 21st century “Re-Reformation" centered on the supreme Triune God of the Bible. To that end, Thaddeus has lectured in seminaries and churches throughout Nepal, Francis Schaeffer’s L'Abri Fellowships in Holland and Switzerland, along with churches and conferences throughout the United States. He lives in Southern California with his wife and two daughters.
10:00 PM -- Close of Friday Conference
--> Lamppost Pizza (just 50 yards from our conference location) has agreed to stay open to 12am for us to enjoy late-night fellowship! Join us!
12 Midnight -- Listen to: Apologetics.com on KKLA (99.5FM)
Saturday Morning, October 27; 2012
9:00 AM -- Early Breakout Session: "Defending the Doctrine of Election: Answering the Classic Objections"
Synopsis:
Presenter: Lindsay Brooks is a staff apologist with Apologetics.com and has
been a church musician and professional
musician for 20 years. He is a member of Communion Presbyterian Church and a
husband and father.
9:50 AM -- Registrations and Exhibits
10:00 AM -- Welcome and Introductions
10:10 AM -- Fourth Main Session -- "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God"
Synopsis:
Presenter: Rev. Daniel R. Hyde is a graduate of Westminster Seminary, Ca. (MDiv) and
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (ThM) and is the church planter and
pastor of the Oceanside United Reformed Church in Oceanside. He is also the
author of 12 books: http://www.amazon.com/Daniel-R.-Hyde/e/B001JP85JS/ref=la_B001JP85JS_pg_1?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB001JP85JS&ie=UTF8&qid=1350331227 He
was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church, converted in a Foursquare Church,
educated at an Assemblies of God college, and youth pastored in a
non-denominational church! Rev. Hyde was brought to the Reformed Faith while in
college and was drawn to it through its reverence, transcendence, and mystery in
both theology and worship. He is married to Karajean, and they have four
children.
11:10 AM -- Fifth Main Session: "The Effectual Calling of God's Elect to Salvation Through the Biblically Appointed Means of Preaching"
Synopsis: What does it mean "to preach the Gospel?" Many modern day notions of the act and importance of preaching go far wide of the original biblical definition and apostolic practices. The Church needs to return afresh to the Holy Scriptures as the foundation of its terminology and methodology. This message will explore the Great Commissions given by our Lord Jesus Christ in the four Gospels together with Apostolic teaching and practice set forth in the New Testament. The power of the message preached is able to bring life to those dead
in trespasses and sins. The new creation was inaugurated at the resurrection of Jesus Christ with the same power of God that is operative in the calling and regeneration of the Elect when the true Gospel is truly preached.
Presenter: Rev. David Th. Stark is senior pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church of Redding, California. He's a graduate of the
Reformed Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He is a founding member of the Covenanting Association of Reformed and
Presbyterian Churches. In his over 30 years of ministry experience, he has planted and pastored several Reformed churches
throughout Northern California.
11:50 AM -- Pastoral Prayer
12:00 Noon -- Lunch (plenty of establishments nearby, or bring a sack lunch!)
1:00 PM -- Sixth Main Session -- "Sovereign Divine Election and An Eschatology of Optimism"
Synopsis: In view of the rampant secular atheism which prevails in Western culture, the ascendancy of a virulent form of Islam on a global scale, and the emergence of a form of Christianity that is either shot through with naturalistic, unbelieving assumptions or is frantically caught up in an effort to package Christianity in the transitory wrappings of the ever shifting sands of pop culture, is it reasonable or even Biblical for the Church to maintain a vibrant optimism about the future global conquest of the gospel and the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ? While most Reformed and Presbyterians, subsequent to World War II, have jettisoned the historic Reformed position of hope in a future age of great
gospel advance, this message seeks to challenge the spiritual heirs of Calvin and the Reformation to consider the connection between sovereign divine election and an eschatology of optimism as a basis for hope in a period of sweeping gospel conquest which is yet ahead on the temporal horizon.
Presenter: John Sawtelle, pastor of All Saints Reformed Church in Brea, CA, is an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America and has served previously in the United Reformed Church. He has a BA in Humanities with a concentration in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from CSU Sacramento, a Master of Divinity from Westminster Seminary in Escondido, CA, and is working on his Masters Thesis n Rhetorical Theory and Criticism at CSU Fullerton. Pastor John loves to preach the Bible verse by verse in order to show God’s people the basis of their doctrinal convictions in God’s word. His life-goal is to be part of a church planting movement that plants more confessionally Reformed churches in the LA metropolitan area than there are AM/PM Mini Marts.
1:50PM -- Seventh Main Session: A Time of Q & A with the RefOC Panel
Synopsis: A moderated discussion to respond to questions about RefOC presentations and Reformed theology in general.
3:00 PM -- Conference Concludes
Sunday Morning, October 28; 2012
AM -- Reformation Sunday Services throughout Orange County - See the tab: "Looking for a Church?"
Sunday Evening, October 28; 2012
Sunday Evening Reformation Service at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Ca.
12141 Lewis Street, Garden Grove, Ca.
JOIN US at perhaps the LAST & FINAL Reformation Service at this location! Participants in the RefOC Conference will be present and participating!
--> Video of the 2011 Reformation Evening Service
sermon is linked here: http://vimeo.com/31612257
JOIN US at perhaps the LAST & FINAL Reformation Service at this location! Participants in the RefOC Conference will be present and participating!
--> Video of the 2011 Reformation Evening Service
sermon is linked here: http://vimeo.com/31612257
--> Add us to your FB Calendar by "Attending" our event:
http://www.facebook.com/events/495602613802256/?context=create
--> Be a part of the discussion on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reformation-OC-Conference/117827328311184
--> Sunday Evening Reformation Service RSVP:
https://www.facebook.com/events/479861988713454/?fref=ts
* ...as an example (these scriptures in the ESV):
Deuteronomy 7:6 "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."
Isaiah 43:1 "But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."
Ephesians 1:5 "...he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,"
2 Timothy 2:10 "Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."
1 Peter 1:20 "He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake,"
Romans 8:29 "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
Daniel 4:24,25 "...this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."
1 Timothy 6:15,16 "... he will display at the proper time - he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen."
Isaiah 43:1 "But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."
Ephesians 1:5 "...he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,"
2 Timothy 2:10 "Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."
1 Peter 1:20 "He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake,"
Romans 8:29 "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
Daniel 4:24,25 "...this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."
1 Timothy 6:15,16 "... he will display at the proper time - he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen."
