The Shepherds’ Conference is meeting here this week at the Grace Community Church, where Dr. John F. MacArthur, Jr. serves as pastor-teacher. This conference is an annual meeting held for pastors, church leaders, etc. And it is always a great blessing. In the providence of God, John MacArthur has been one of the greatest influences for expository preaching in my life. I have learned much from his teaching and writing. His commitment to sound doctrine and Bible exposition has been a model that I have tried to follow. Likewise, the congregation he serves in many ways reflects the the message he preaches. That, also, is a great encouragement and challenge for me.

The keynote speakers this week are John MacArthur, Mark Dever, R.C. Sproul, Al Mohler, Steve Lawson, and Ligon Duncan. These men are all evangelical heavyweights. There are also various session each day on expository preaching, pastoral issues, and current issues. There was no way that I could get to them all. So I ordered the tapes of the ones that I was eager to hear or had not already heard. Various publishers are also present for the conference. And each year they give away books. This year some 20 books were given to each attendee. I really praise God for this. Most conferences get you there and then try to sell as much product to you as they can, in order to fatten the pockets of the high profile leader. But this one of the few conferences consistently gives its attendees. May their tribe increase! And may God’s continued blessings be on John MacArthur, Grace Church, and The Master’s College and Seminary.