Band of Bloggers

Having briefly mentioned thoughts on the Christian writer and the content of our blogs, the last area I would like to consider before our meeting is thinking about how we communicate the gospel effectively in the blogosphere. This is an important issue and the subject of considerable debate and controversy. Yet, given that we been given the charge of carry the gospel to the world, it is important to consider how effective we are as carriers of this gospel message.

1. Is it ever appropriate to use sarcasm and satire in our blogging as carriers of the gospel?

2. What about controversy? Knowing that people are interested in controversial matters, is it ever acceptable to tackle controversial matters as a means of connecting people with the gospel?

3. Can our attitudes and how we treat (or neglect) our readers cause people to be turned away from the message we carry?

4. Are we taking advantage of the tools and resources available to us to transmit the gospel message to as many people as possible in a God-honoring way?

5. How can we communicate the gospel to people beyond our network or created blog culture? Are we reaching out to unbelievers with our blogs, atheists, seekers, etc.? Should that be a stated goal? If not, why not?

I realize that the issues of contextualization and culture are huge issues here, and I hope that we can come together to target intentional ways we can be good stewards of the gospel trust with creative and challenging discussion.

May we all reflect on how the gospel is at work in our individual lives, the formatting of our blogs, and the manner and ways in which we communicate the gospel through our blogs and in our lives. I look forward to seeing many of you and discussing “The Gospel Trust” in just a couple of days!

The second area for consideration, as it pertains to being entrusted with the gospel, is the content of our blogs.  As we gather together in just a few days for a time of fellowship and discussion regarding the gospel, let us consider how and to what degree we are using our blogs to treasure, uphold, explain, defend, exult in, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with our readers.  I am reminded of something John Piper said just a couple of days ago on Abraham Piper’s blog.  John Piper commented:

Tell them that it takes relentless intentionality to keep a Christ-exalting blog from become a clever blog. The temptation to entertain is almost irresistible.

Relentless intentionality.  In other words, gospel-centered blogging is hard work.  It is concentrated work.  And it is a discriminating work–that is, discriminating against other things that might obscure or diminish the glory and worth of the gospel to which we have been entrusted. 

So with that said, let us consider the content of our blog(s) and remind ourselves of the stewardship of being entrusted with the most important, most valuable, most glorious reality in the universe–the gospel of the glory of Christ.

Some questions for consideration:

1.  How readily accessible is the gospel on your blog?

2.  How does the gospel shape your writing and govern the content of your blog?

3.  Is there regularity or gospel normativity to the overarching purpose and theme to your writing? 

4.  Does the content of your blog reflect joy and delight in the gospel?  Can readers be led to treasure Jesus Christ through what you have written?

5.  How often do you think, plan, pray, and seek the Spirit’s leadership in preparing and posting your thoughts? 

Let us encourage and exhort one another to be faithful stewards of the gospel trust! 

As we are less than two weeks out, I wanted to provide the details for the 2008 Band of Bloggers fellowship. I will be tying up loose ends in the days ahead, but for now, here is all the information you would need to know for this year’s event:

General Info:

2008 Band of Bloggers
“The Gospel Trust”
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 :: (11:30 – 1:30)
The Galt House (Louisville, KY)
Combs-Chandler Ballroom
Tim Challies, Justin Taylor,
Thabiti Anyabwile, Phil Johnson, and Abraham Piper

We will begin serving lunch at 11:30 a.m. as you arrive. There will be greeters and volunteers who will help direct you to the Combs-Chandler room which is on the second floor of the Suite Tower of the Galt House. The panel discussion will begin at noon and will last one hour. We will conclude with a time of corporate prayer and fellowship before we conclude at 1:30 p.m. Lunch will be your choice of either turkey or ham sandwich in a boxed meal which also includes beverage.

Travel Info:

I have created a Google Map with directions from the airport to the Galt House, along with directions to the Kentucky Convention Center (which is only two blocks away). Let me encourage you who are traveling by air to pack an extra backpack or bag to tote your books back (as a second checked piece of luggage). Please arrive early if you can as we will be working with a relatively tight schedule!

Miscellaneous Info:

The last half of the panel discussion will be an opportunity for you to ask questions for our panelists on blogging and “The Gospel Trust.” Please take some time prior to the event to think about what you would like to ask to contribute to the conversation. We will also be asking for those who would like to contribute to Band of Bloggers in the future to sign up at the end of the meeting. Our desire is to foster gospel-centered community in the evangelical blogosphere to encourage one another in faithfulness to Christ His message to which we have been entrusted.

We are making plans to record the discussion and make it available to download in MP3 format. We are also looking to have video available in short YouTube clips from the discussion which we hope to add in the weeks following the fellowship.

The books we will be giving away will be given to you in a BoB Goodie Bag. If any of you are in the Louisville area and would like to help Tuesday morning in putting these goodie bags together, then please let us know either by emailing us or dropping a comment in the meta.

Questions?

If you have any questions yet to be answered, please send them on to thegospeltrust@gmail.com.