The Gospel Reformation Network (GRN) is a collaboration of Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) ministers who are concerned about the balance and accuracy of gospel preaching in our denomination.  Specifically, we are working to bolster the biblical and confessional doctrine of sanctification.  Our concern is that in the fervor of today’s well-placed emphasis on the gospel that the whole gospel should be proclaimed. 

The 2014 Gospel Reformation Network (GRN) will host a number of events and seminars June 17-19 at the Hilton Americas in Houston, Texas, during the Presbyterian Church in America’s (PCA) 42^nd annual General Assembly. Presentations will center on a biblically-based, gospel view of sanctification and holiness in the life of believers.

Dr. Derek Thomas, Senior Minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., will be the featured speaker at the GRN luncheon on Wednesday, June 18. He will speak on “Sanctification and the Gospel – Getting it Right.”  The luncheon will be at 12 PM in Grand Ball Room J; the cost is $20.

Several informative seminars are scheduled for June 17 – 19:

“The Gospel Imperative: Rightly Relating Justification & Sanctification”
                Richard D. Phillips, Senior Minister, Second Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC
Tuesday, June 17 at 2:00 PM in Meeting Room 340 A-B

“Preaching Holiness Without Falling into Legalism”
                Mike Ross, Senior Minister, Christ Covenant Church, Matthews, NC
Tuesday, June 17 at 3:30 PM in Meeting Room 340 A-B

“Not by Faith Alone: Thomas Boston and the Gospel View of Sanctification”
                Philip G. Ryken, President, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
Wednesday, June 18 at 8:00 AM in Meeting Room 339 A-B

“Grace Abounding: Lessons for Today from the Marrow Controversy of 1721-22”
                J. Ligon Duncan, III, Chancellor, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, MS
Wednesday, June 18 at 8:00 AM in Meeting Room 340 A-B

“The Effective Gospel Minister and the Pursuit of Personal Holiness”
                Harry L. Reeder, Senior Minister, Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, AL
Thursday, June 19 at 8:00 AM in Meeting Room 340 A-B

“It is important to provide the church with a balanced teaching approach on the issues of sanctification,” says Dr. Richard D. Phillips, Founding Member of GRN and Senior Minister, Second Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC.  “Our desire is to deal with these issues pastorally and theologically so we can all grow up into maturity in Christ.  As a result, we hope to recover the glory of the whole gospel for coming generations of the Presbyterian church of America.”

The seminars are open to all interested in learning more about the biblical perspective on sanctification.

About Gospel Reformation Network

The Gospel Reformation Network (GRN) is a collaboration of Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) ministers who are concerned about the balance and accuracy of gospel preaching in our denomination.  Specifically, we are working to bolster the biblical and confessional doctrine of sanctification.  Our concern is that in the fervor of today’s well-placed emphasis on the gospel that the whole gospel should be proclaimed.  We are concerned to see the gospel often represented as involving justification alone, without its companion grace of sanctification.  In an effort to avoid legalism, many today are downplaying the biblically vital calling to personal holiness, and even the ability in Christ of regenerate people to obey God’s Word.  Our desire, then, is to point out the biblical mandate for sanctification, to warn against “gospel” preaching that denies or downplays holiness and biblical obedience, to accurately identify the implications of the new birth for obedience in Christ, and to restore the proper use of the law and biblical imperatives to our ministries.  For more information, visit the GRN site.