“Overloaded” is the word that best describes me right now. Normally when a preacher describes himself as overloaded it is because he is juggling his teaching preparations, administrative responsibilities and family duties. But that is not what I mean by overloaded.

I could use the term “overloaded” because we received our books today. What a blessing to receive good resources to use in our ministries. But that isn’t why I use the term, “overloaded”. I use it because of the preaching / teaching I have received today.

Today I have listened to Mark Dever and Al Mohler preach two tremendous messages. One started the day and the other ended it. Mark Dever answered the question, “Why people don’t believe” from John 12, while Al Mohler presented a Ministry Manifesto from Colossians 1.

A favorite quote from Mark Dever: “I am trying to protect you from people who are trying to make money off of your conscience.” Let me give you the context. One of the stated applications for the message was “Unbelief is somehow part of God’s larger plan of redemption.” The quote was in reference to people who ignore the fact that some people are hardened against God and offer another program that will somehow miraculously manufacture salvation decisions.

Another favorite quote from Mark Dever: “You don’t need special glasses to tell who the elect or non-elect are, just preach to them all!” One of the stereotypes of Calvinists is that they are not evangelistic. Dever emphatically contends that we need to preach the gospel to all men and let God handle the election.

Al Mohler gave us his counseling method. He said that he asks three questions:

1. What is your problem?
2. What would God have you do about it?
3. Why are we having this conversation?

This was a lighthearted way of him driving the point home that we are first and foremost servants to the Word, not our own wisdom. In giving us his Ministry Manifesto, Mohler gave us a job description of a preacher based on Colossians 1:24-29. One of the descriptions was to rejoice in suffering (verse 24). Mohler profoundly stated, “Christ’s suffering was for our salvation; our suffering is for our testimony.” And he also added, “Does the ministry of the Word shine through the suffering?”

I think my favorite quote from Mohler was, “If you’re going to teach, you need to know something your congregation doesn’t already know, or they won’t need you!” Very true . . . I have a desire to study like I haven’t had in a long time.

Mohler left us with a sobering statement, “Failure is too awful to contemplate.”

So ends another great day . . . I wonder how I can take in more tomorrow.

Please note that yesterday’s disclaimers are still in effect today.