The Benefit of the Pastors College

Benjamin Kreps:

Hey everyone. And welcome to the Mark Prater podcast where our aim is to connect our global family of churches with our Executive Director. As you can tell, this is a little bit different.

Mark Prater:

Yes, we are together!

Benjamin Kreps:

Together, finally together again. And we are at the Sovereign Grace Churches Pastors College attending a new class that Jeff Purswell developed and is teaching for the first time on pneumatology. We are on the second day of that class. We have been fed. There has been a fire hydrant of glorious truth and realities that we have been doused. And we are happy pastors, as we record this podcast. We have with us Jim Brown, Senior Pastor of Crestview Church.

Jim Brown:

Crossway Community Church.

Benjamin Kreps:

Crossway Community Church in Crestview, FL. Yes, sorry! And incidentally Jim and I went to the Pastors College together. And this year—actually in June—will be our 10-year anniversary of graduating from the Pastors College. And we're back at this class for the first time in a decade we're sitting under Jeff Purswell. We've been back a number of times for classes, but to sit under Jeff after 10 years, what a blessing it is. So we just wanted to give you an update and give you some info about what's going on here. Mark, how's your time going?

Mark Prater:

It's what you said. It's just been outstanding. I was asked by the PC students at lunch today just where my thoughts on this week are so far. And the first thought that came to mind is that Jeff Purswell is a gift to our family of churches. You know his intellect; you know his teaching ability. Those things combined along with just a pastoral gift, and I just don't want to forget how much of a gift Jeff is to us. So we wanted to record this podcast here because I want to encourage all the pastors in Sovereign Grace to take at least one PC class every year so that you can benefit from Jeff Purswell. It will not only strengthen your soul. It will strengthen what you do. In fact, Ben, you were saying one of the specific ways you were benefiting from this class is not just the content, but in another way. Tell the guys about that.

Benjamin Kreps:

I come usually once a year, maybe twice to a class and we have special visitors to come in and teach and. We always benefit. But one of the things I was thinking about yesterday as we left the first day of teaching was when I come to the Pastors College and sit under the teaching, my wonder and appreciation for what I do as a pastor is just reinvigorated. I get to do this kind of work and to be equipped to go back home. I always head back home full of anticipation of faith and gratitude that God would call us to be pastors. What a wonder. And I feel that once again as we're working our way through this week.

Mark Prater:

By the way, I was just talking to Jeff. He's going to teach again next year. So, if you've not taken this pneumatology class, he's just created it this year, and you must take it next year. It's a really important class. And I want you to understand why. So Jim, tell us just so far, we're only two days in, how are you benefiting from this week.

Jim Brown:

When you told me you were going to ask me that question, I was like, “Wow, where do I begin?” And so I'll go back to the beginning. I mean to initiate the training, Jeff goes back to the very beginning. It's going be a Biblical theology based training class. Jeff warned us right away how we can limit the Holy Spirit and that's what I was already doing. So, with Jeff going back to the very beginning, he's preventing me from limiting my pneumatology, preventing me from limiting the work of the Holy Spirit in my life and my church's life. And that's been a tremendous blessing is just bringing me back around in that way. And another blessing that I just thought of is with these classes is the opportunity to bring guests with us. And so, I've got a couple of young men from my church with me who as we are even learning about pneumatology, we're also practicing pneumatology. So, I am expecting the Holy Spirit to be at work in these men's life as they are experiencing this class with the rest of us.

Benjamin Kreps:

That’s excellent!

Mark Prater:

Ben, what would you add?

Benjamin Kreps:

I had a similar thought as we began yesterday, but I was provoked to remember and keep in mind that even though we desire at my church, for instance, the work of the Spirit as we all do and we press into that, I was warned against the temptation to think that if we just create the right environment and the right setting, then we should expect that we will experience certain things from God. Instead of throwing ourselves in dependence upon the Lord, recognizing the spirit is sovereign and does as he will. And so we don't get to manage him or orchestrate him, but rather desire him. And that provoked me to come back home with a fresh desire and humility before the Holy Spirit, as I lead my church.

Mark Prater:

I think for, for all of us, you know, what Jim just said doing a biblical theology of the spirit, it just heightens your awareness of how the Spirit is at work from Genesis through revelation. And what a wonderful work that is. And then the unique role of the Spirit to point to Christ and to empower and to strengthen the work of Christ in our lives. And so, we, we can't separate our pneumatology from our Christology as really Jeff has been teaching this week and our desires pastors to preach Christ and his work in the gospel. We can't do apart from the Spirit. So it's just been a wonderful week. I can't wait for tomorrow.

Benjamin Kreps:

Yeah. Another day full day teaching. So I'd encourage guys, when you see next year in the Pastors College schedule, pneumatology as Lord willing, that is what Jeff's planning. This is the first time he's doing it, but in years ahead, all of us will be able to repeat that experience. Or if you haven't, bring guys with you. Consider coming. This has been a strengthening time. We're not just learning theology. Our hearts are full. We broke out earlier today in song. We just couldn't restrain ourselves from singing to the Lord. As we press deeply into the work of the person of the Holy Spirit.

Jim Brown:

And I think Jeff was even suggesting this being the first time he's run the class, it's only going to get better.

Benjamin Kreps:

That's right. So, we're the Guinea pigs. Come back next year. You'll get a better class experience than we've received so far as good as it's been. Mark, anything you want to add before we end?

Mark Prater:

Just the importance of the Pastors College in our small family of churches, not only for existing pastors, but for young men that you believe are called to pastoral ministry. Being here is just a reminder, not only what they get in terms of theological instruction, but even interacting with the PC students and how they are not only imbibing, but excited about the values, the gospel DNA that we share. This is invaluable. So send guys to the PC.

Benjamin Kreps:

Well said. So, thank you all for watching our brief update or reading (actually, most people read this). So, that's all for this podcast. We'll see you here next week, Lord willing. Bye for now.