I have a famous pastor and a distinguished church, na na na na na

by Dan Phillips

I've mentioned my pastor before, the redoubtable Reddit Andrews, III. I haven't known a pastor who preaches sermons as consistently Biblical, passionate, Christ-exalting, and heart-searching as are Reddit's sermons, and that's why this convincedly Calvidispiebaptogelical family attends Soaring Oaks Presbyterian Church.

Among the many, many things Reddit has done right was to make and retain some excellent friends from his days at Trinity seminary back in Illinois. Reddit knows (and drops) so many big names that we in the Men's Fellowship tease him a fair bit, asking whether he's had lunch with John Owen and Jonathan Edwards, too. Reddit led their chapel program, and in the course of that started a relationship with Dr. D. A. Carson.

You don't need me to tell you about D. A. Carson. I'd be interested in a productivity comparison between the late F. F. Bruce and Carson. The good doctor is a world-class Biblical scholar with NT emphasis, and has written or edited a truckload of books, including popular works, textbooks, and commentaries. He's a rare and precious combination of top-rate academics, love for the Lord, concern for His church, and crackling, powerful communication.

So Reddit is famous now because Justin Taylor writes about the collaboration Dr. Carson invited Reddit to join, and the conference they're having in Illinois. One of the workshops?

Defining Evangelicalism (Ray Ortlund, Jr., Reddit Andrews—Dan Phillips' pastor)

Okay, I made up that last part.

Back to Carson.

I've a long list of URL's I've found that feature Carson's lectures and sermons, and I think I have downloaded and listened to all of them. Last week, I attended the Philadelphia Conference for Reformed Theology meeting in Sacramento, about which perhaps I'll write more later. Carson spoke, and he was brilliant.

But here's the cool thing, on a personal level. Early on I gave Reddit a heads-up, and his friend Dr. Carson agreed to preach to our church last Sunday evening. It's not a large church, as "large churches" are measured today. Large for my experience of churches numbering in the dozens, but it's maybe a couple of hundred or more. (I don't do numbers. Ask my wife.)

So here's this little church and this distinguished, international speaker — and the preaching was wonderful. Don't take my word for it; you can hear it for yourself. My 11yo son Josiah sat with me, and Carson held his attention; he's discussed it with us since, which is very cool.

BTW, as always, I distinguished myself. Before the first meeting at the Conference on Saturday, I went to use one of the two very small restrooms in the large, old host church. It was a neat building, but I've never seen men standing in line before, while the women's room had no line. (Poetic justice, I know, ladies.)

When my turn came, I pushed the door open and unceremoniously whacked a gentleman waiting inside.

I recognized the face.

Yep, you guessed it.

Sigh.

---