Interview with David Platt, Part 2

6) Favorite biography?

The most influential biographies in my life have for the most part been missionary biographies. Top three in no particular order would be “To The Golden Shore” (Adoniram Judson), “In the Shadow of the Almighty” (Jim Elliot), and Grubb’s “C.T. Studd: Cricketer and Pioneer.”

7) What will you be speaking on at T4?

An Unadjusted Gospel in an Unreached World: Connecting Gospel Theology with Urgent Missiology – It is impossible to have Gospel theology without urgent missiology. Yet, so few of our churches are radically abandoned to the spread of the Gospel among the lost and the poor in all nations. So what does this say about our theology? In this breakout session, we will explore why and how we must lead God’s people here for the sake of spiritually and physically starving peoples around the world.

8)Which of the main T4G speakers could you “take to the mat” so to speak? (some of you may be too humble to answer who you could physically wrestle but feel free to indulge).

OK…so I’m really not that creative or funny. So I asked for help on this one from some of my old seminary buddies. I am indebted to my good friend and fellow pastor Landon for his advice on this one…
You would think Piper since he’s shorter, but he could be elusive, plus anyone who’s heard the audible voice of God in a hotel room you want to avoid. Maybe next MacArthur since he’s older, but he’s a very athletic 70-something, plus based on his pre-trib rapture belief he could vanish from the ring at any moment. Sproul’s older too but God has predestined him for victory so watch out for that guy. C.J. is out of your league because he could do a pile driver on anyone anytime he wanted (ask Bob Kauflin). Ligon is way too nice and has way more covenant muscles to flex plus he gets all pumped up to the regulative principle music on his ipod. That leaves Mohler and Dever. Since Mohler considers himself a culture warrior he probably knows at least one wrestling move though he has more potential to blog about it than perform it. My money would be on Dever. Unless “take to the mat” has some obscure ecclesiology reference in a dusty parchment written by Sibbes then Dever has absolutely no knowledge about it. The only caution is that anytime he could tag Matt Schmucker and you’d be done!

9) Why are you excited about T4G?

I went to T4G 2006, and it was the same week when I had committed to Brook Hills that I would come to be their pastor. I listened to each of these men preach with an entirely different perspective than I had ever had before (I had not pastored before Brook Hills). I praise God for men who have proven faithful to the Gospel in pastoral ministry for so many years, and who have set an example for me/us in the process. So any chance to hear them, be around them, listen to them, and learn from them, is invaluable, to say the least. I’m really honored just to be there.

Thanks very much to David Platt for talking to us! We’re looking forward to hearing him at T4G.

Interview with David Platt, Part I

1) Where do you pastor?

I am the pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL. We are a predominantly suburban congregation made up of middle-to-upper-class individuals and families trying to figure out how to forsake the American dream for the sake of Christ’s glory in all nations. The great evidence of God’s grace is that these brothers and sisters have stuck with me as their pastor as long as they have.

2) How did you come to Christ?

I was born into a context where I have always had full access to the Gospel. I was also born into a context where I have never been without food, water, and shelter. Needless to say, I am totally overwhelmed by God’s grace when I consider that I had nothing to do with where I was born. As further evidence of His grace, God provided parents and men who poured the Gospel into my life when I was very young, and as a result, I was born again when I was 8 years old. My life as a Christ-follower since that time is the fruit of those who have invested their lives into mine.

3) Describe your call to ministry.

Two of the men who have invested their lives in mine, Eddie and Gregg, spent considerable time with me during high school, encouraging me in my faith and giving me opportunities to lead in ministry. They showed me how to share the Gospel, taught me how to study the Bible, and then gave me opportunities (under their supervision, which I so desperately needed!) to teach and preach the Bible. Through their influence, God formed in me a passion to communicate His Word. By the time I went to college, God had confirmed this call in my life, and in the years since then He has continually refined that call.

4) Tell us about your family.

This year, I am celebrating ten years of marriage to Heather, my first and only girlfriend (this initially sounds great, but the reality is I was just socially awkward all throughout high school and couldn’t get up the nerve to ask anyone out until He brought a beautiful woman into my life who, by God’s grace, was somehow attracted to my social awkwardness). We wanted for about 5 years to have children, but God was not providing in the way we expected Him to. During that process, however, He led us to adopt our first son, Caleb, from Kazakhstan (who is now 3 years old). Two weeks after adopting Caleb, Heather was pregnant, and nine months later, our second son Joshua was born (now two years old). Praise God for withholding Joshua from us until the Father to the fatherless led us by His grace to an obscure city in northwestern Kazakhstan to adopt Caleb. We are now in the process of adopting a little girl from Nepal.

5) What are some of your favorite activities with your family or personal hobbies?

The first two words I hear when I get home are, “Hey Daddy.” The second two words are, “Let’s wrestle.” I love playing with my kids – whether it’s wrestling in the den, football in the yard (or in the den), or toy trucks on the driveway. The ideal family night for us involves pizza and games with the kids before they are off to bed while Heather and I enjoy a quite evening alone. Besides my time with the family, my ideal time is either playing competitive sports or sitting in a corner alone with a book.