On November 20, 1998 in Orlando, Florida at the annual meeting and fiftieth anniversary of the Evangelical Theological Society, D. A. Carson and John Piper gave back-to-back hour-long plenary addresses to about 1,000 ETS members (mostly college and seminary professors):
- D. A. Carson, “Training the Next Generation of Evangelical Scholars” (MP3)
- John Piper, “Training the Next Generation of Evangelical Pastors and Missionaries” (MP3 | manuscript)
James A. Borland reported this in the next issue of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society:
On Friday afternoon, two plenary sessions were held. In Don Carson’s message, “Training the Next Generation of Evangelical Scholars,” he painted the landscape of the future for Christian higher academics. John Piper then addressed the subject of “Training the Next Generation of Evangelical Pastors and Missionaries.” He pointed out that one may learn much, but if the main thing is ignored or missing, all is lost. That one thing is to know God and to delight in him above everything else. Several questions succeeded Carson’s speech, but a holy hush of meditation followed Piper’s challenge before the large audience began to sing “Fairest Lord Jesus,” a capella (JETS 42 [1999]: 175).
On April 23, 2009 (over ten years later), D. A. Carson and John Piper will once again give back-to-back hour-long addresses on the same topic, only more focused: “The Pastor as Scholar, and the Scholar as Pastor: Reflections on Life and Ministry with John Piper and D.A. Carson.”
Update: Mike Bird reflects on DAC’s lecture.
Bret Rogers says
Thanks for the links! I glean much from reading, listening, and observing these two men, both in the pursuit of holiness and discipline of Evangelical scholarship.
Blessings,
Bret