Theme for 2020

Devoted to the Church

This year’s theme sought to address the topic of Ecclesiology, the study of the Church. The Church (ekklesia) consists of “all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). We affirm that being devoted to God necessarily means being devoted to the Church of God, “which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). When we are saved, we are set apart as His people. As the Church, we are called out of this world and into His fold. Therefore, being devoted to God means that we are also “devoted to one another” (Rom 12:10).

Speaker for 2020

Jerry Wragg

Jerry has served as Senior Pastor at Grace Immanuel Bible Church in Jupiter, Florida, since 2001. Prior to his ministry in Florida, Jerry served for many years as Sr. Associate Pastor and Personal Assistant to Dr. John MacArthur at Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, CA. He serves as Board Chairman and a faculty member of The Expositors Seminary in Jupiter and is a graduate of The Master’s Seminary. In addition to various articles and essays, Jerry has published a book for churchmen entitled Courageous Churchmen: Leaders Compelling Enough to Follow. He is also the founder of the Courageous Churchmen Conference.

He and his wife, Louise, have been married 39 years. They have four grown children and 19 grandchildren. Jerry’s greatest joy is watching the flock become mature followers of Jesus Christ as His truth is brought to bear upon their hearts.

Resource for 2020

Devoted to God's Church by Sinclair Ferguson

Being a Christian is not an individualistic or isolated activity. Believing also involves belonging. Being a Christian, by definition, involves belonging to the church.

This is not a book full of ideas about how your church ought to change or what it needs to do in order to grow or to be successful. Rather it is about how we fit into our own church. There are hallmarks of church life that should be stamped on all our churches because they are applicable everywhere and anywhere — New Testament values for any size of church, in any part of the world, at any time.

Devoted to God’s Church will serve to help new Christians understand what it is to be part of a church, and will also be a refreshing reminder to every Christian of what it should look like to belong to the family of God.

(Published by Banner of Truth)