Richard invited me to talk about possible blind spots in the commission that I see, and I thought that was presumptuous of me.

So instead, it would be, I think, more helpful if I told you what I see that's encouraging to me and then we'll move

into the last session and I've got ten things listed I'll just tick them off and I don't think any of them will be new to you but I'll say them and then perhaps tell you why at the end they're so encouraging.

These are the marks that I see both in talking with your leaders and in watching this event happen.

A devotion to the Bible and its exposition at the center and the root of all things. Number two, a commitment to robust

God exulting reformed theology. Number three, a commitment to be led in a biblical way by godly, humble, spiritual men as elders.

Number four, a rigorous, intense commitment to church planting, the word

missional would be commonly used in America for that mentality.

A heart for the poor.

Fifth, a global vision, not just London and its global dimensions, but the globe and the unreached peoples outside of England, culturally flexible on the things that are not essential,

willing to be different from congregation to congregation.

Relationally intentional, Richard used the word thick the other day

when we were talking together and I see that intentionality in the network of churches and then

lastly not risk a verse would be a negative way of saying courage. Those are the things that I love. I see them, I love them, I'm

encouraged by them, and then I left out an absolutely essential one, but I thought instead

of making it 11, because 10 was such a nice round number that I would just say like a like a big bubble surrounding them all is a commitment to prayer

Because we are about a supernatural work and if God doesn't unless the Lord builds the house

those who build it labor in vain and so you call down that supernatural power in all those other things

through prayer now the reason that's so encouraging is because I suppose

I've been coming over to England not often but for 20 years or so and I think it might have

occurred to you that along the way both on the American side and on the bridge side

it might have felt like Americans were the innovators and the make it happen,

...