Conference 2027 June 30th-July 5th
Laurelville Church Center
Mount Pleasant, PA
Tentative Conference Schedule (Subject to revisions)
FEAR:
A fountain of Life
“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life . . .”
Proverbs 14:27a
PRESIDENT’S CORNER – PASTOR TERRY REESE
A Theme for our Time: The Fear of the Lord (Part I)
“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.”
In considering the contradictions of the late eighteenth century, Dickens famously observed: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness… we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…” (A Tale of Two Cities) The above could just as easily have been written of our own era! We bear constant witness to the phenomenon of the entire global culture being carefully groomed and deliberately cultivated for the post-rapture unveiling of the Beast (2Thess. 2:7-8, Rev. 13:7-8)—even as the vestiges of historic Christian civilization steadily retreat beneath a cruel and chaotic tsunami of postmodern/post-Christian apostasy. And yet, far from crumbling in despair, we as a fundamental Grace Brethren Fellowship must recognize that we have been granted the awesome privilege of standing boldly as a faithful remnant-witness for Jesus Christ during a supremely pivotal hour of Earth’s history!
This present hour of darkness is laden with enormous opportunity for our torches to blaze with a fierce intensity for Jesus this Conference Year of 2026-27 (Matt. 5:14-16)! The CGBCI has been re-ignited over the years by many soul-stirring and enduring National Conference themes, including the last two: “Aspire to Something Higher” and “Jesus and the CGBCI”—which sought to shake us out the smug and self-satisfied spirit of complacency and mediocrity to which flesh often resigns. Seeking to build upon this thematic foundation, I have chosen as our 2027 Conference Theme “FEAR: a Fountain of Life” (Prov. 14:27a). The aforementioned “FEAR” is the Fear of the Lord— a prevailing and pervasive theme throughout both Testaments, and one that God Himself thunderously underscored at the outset of both the Mosaic (Lev. 10:1-3) and Church Age (Acts 5:1-11) Dispensations—and yet, a theme that has been notably underplayed and de-emphasized within much of today’s popular evangelicalism.
In considering the theological significance and practical application of this theme, let us entertain a few questions with regard to some of the nagging difficulties facing the modern church:
WHY are there so many petty disturbances and divisions over trifles within our local assemblies? WHY is the peace of God’s church often lightly regarded as an optional and therefore disposable commodity?
WHY do our churches—via their cruelty, insensitivity, impiety, irreverence, and slander—sometimes function as factories that specialize in manufacturing stumbling blocks for others to injure themselves upon (Matt. 18:7)?
WHY do our crude business meetings sometimes devolve into primitive law-of-the-jungle displays of boorish behavior that earn a well-deserved public notoriety (Rom. 2:24)?
WHY do so many professed Christians frown upon meaty, doctrinal sermons that call upon them to THINK and take the Biblical theology seriously?
WHY does a goodly portion of church people blasphemously assume that God was lacking in common sense when He gave us a deep and voluminous collection of inspired Books that He further calls upon us to imbibe and absorb with uttermost diligence?
WHY does contemporary self-styled “evangelicalism” now allow a plethora of ridiculous major heresies to flourish within the perimeters of its “Big Tent”? Open Theism? Annihilationism? Theistic Evolution? “Neo-orthodox” denials of absolute Biblical inerrancy?
WHY do we find it difficult to focus upon or find satisfaction in the reverent and sincere worship of God in our midst?
WHY is the focus in ministry and outreach today too often upon self and our “felt-needs”—as opposed to the glory of God?
WHY is postmodern evangelicalism increasingly comfortable with a reduced and emasculated—even feminized—version of Deity?
WHY is hellfire preaching that warns of final judgment (like that of Jesus in Matt. 25:41, 46) increasingly seen as a lapse into “poor taste?”
WHY would many people who attend evangelical churches choose to find solace in the mindless milquetoast ramblings of Joel Osteen—as opposed to tuning into the messages of Dr. Whitcomb (easily accessible on sermonaudio.com)?
WHY are the lifestyle standards of the Christians largely imperceptible from the prevailing ethos of the surrounding culture (Rom. 12:2)?
WHY is there a rebellious contempt for pastoral authority (even regarding the management of the pulpit and the worship service), infidelity regarding weekly attendance, and basic indifference towards the organized program and agenda of the local church?
WHY does the expression “a God-fearing man” seem so oddly antiquated to this generation (Gen. 22:12, Job 1:8)? Should we apologize for employing such terminology, which is at odds with the “spirit of the age?”
In summing it up: this generation isn’t believing the right things. We aren’t doing the right things. We are apathetic to the revealed will of God and indifferent to Biblical guidance. Our worship is unfocused and misdirected. We have unbiblical conceptions of Deity and the Afterlife. In short, things are getting pretty “messed up.” Might I have the temerity to suggest a common denominator? Could it be a deficiency regarding the FEAR OF THE LORD? A lack of reverence and awe concerning the Divine Presence? A disregard for a Holy, transcendent, infinite God? A misapprehension of who God is, and what He is? A lack of sensitivity to His omnipresent pervasiveness and continuing sustaining influence? A casual dismissal of those consequences associated with not fearing that which God Himself has plainly told us we should fear? A greater fear of man, as opposed to One that Jesus told us that we should fear (Matt. 10:28)?
This alarming shift in the church’s understanding and attitude that has not occurred overnight; rather, it has discernably been developing for centuries. As we further explore this topic and study together, I have provided a brief list of recommended materials:
Albert N. Martin. The Forgotten Fear: Where have all the God-Fearers Gone? Note the title of Dr. Martin’s book, which speaks of the present evangelical crisis. The book is available at Amazon both in Kindle and paperback formats. An audio lecture series that closely follows Dr. Martin’s book is freely available both at Monergism.com (https://www.monergism.com/fear-god-lecture-series ) and sermonaudio.com. Written transcripts of the audio series are also available
Robert A. Morey & Charles Welty compiled an excellent and uncompromising study entitled Fearing God: The Key to the Treasure House of Heaven. This book includes Bunyan’s The Fear of God, Gill’s The Fear of God, and Edwards’ Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. While no longer in print, used versions can be found at various places online. A PDF version can be freely accessed at Internet Archive by simply registering for a free account. (https://archive.org/details/fearinggodkeytot0000more/page/n7/mode/2up )
Until next time, brothers and sisters, may our Lord strive with you all, and multiply His grace and mercies!