Love this, thank you! I appreciate how the post honors Tim as key to both your personal ministry and American Christianity as a whole, while not glossing over your theological differences. This helps me understand him more as I reflect on his life.
Thanks, Fred, for your words. I am grateful that I knew Tim and Kathy before they launched their ministry in New York City. He is indeed a giant spiritual intellect who has made an impact worldwide on tens of thousands of lives for good. I was thrilled to see the evident impact on your ministry, Fred, as it unfolded, and listening in on his poolside or fireside chats with hungry young pastoral minds. Serving as an assessor with him at early church planter assessment centers showed me his Gospel priorities and willingness to challenge the weaknesses and affirm the strengths of developments in the contemporary church movements of the last 40 years. Only my former seminary President Edmund Clowney was able to show me Christ in the Old Testament and true Biblical Theology as Tim has. It challenged my own preaching to get beyond obvious moral lessons into an exposure of the glory of Christ. Tim has always impressed me with his humility and accessibility. I attended Redeemer Church unannounced one Sunday in the church's early years and despite having just preached and interacting with the usual long line of inquirers after his sermon, he insisted on taking my wife and I out to get some pizza even though he only had an hour to interact before an afternoon wedding he had to perform. Another early lesson he communicated to me and that I reflect on to this day was not to depend on natural abilities for success, but instead to understand that true success, lasting impact, only comes from the power of the Holy Spirit received in regular communion with Him. We will miss your physical presence, Tim, but we will never lose your impact on our lives. Well done, good and faithful servant. We'll see you in glory.
So appreciate your raw, sensitive and theological thoughts on the impact Tim Keller has had on City Church and way beyond. We are blessed for his influence-on you. Thank you Fred!
This is really beautiful, Fred. I appreciate how you honor him, even if you disagreed (and don't make the focus of your disagreement the main point of the post, as so many are prone to do, in order to further prove themselves & their point correct). Thank you!
Thank you Fred. I am a beneficiary of Tim Keller's impact on you, on City Church San Francisco, on Community Group leaders, and am grateful to all of you who formed my early experiences as a Christian including by extension Tim Keller whom I never saw, heard, or met. This speaks to the power of transformation in Christianity but also to how brightly and creatively and effectively Spirit can be expressed in one person. I have been and always will be grateful to Tim Keller not for my experience of the what of Christianity but the how. Fellow Readers, don't miss the FredTalk 4 part series that is a joy to read which features more details on the experience and influences of Keller and Redeemer on Fred's earlier days as a pastor.
Love this, thank you! I appreciate how the post honors Tim as key to both your personal ministry and American Christianity as a whole, while not glossing over your theological differences. This helps me understand him more as I reflect on his life.
Thanks Brandon. That was my goal.
Thanks, Fred, for your words. I am grateful that I knew Tim and Kathy before they launched their ministry in New York City. He is indeed a giant spiritual intellect who has made an impact worldwide on tens of thousands of lives for good. I was thrilled to see the evident impact on your ministry, Fred, as it unfolded, and listening in on his poolside or fireside chats with hungry young pastoral minds. Serving as an assessor with him at early church planter assessment centers showed me his Gospel priorities and willingness to challenge the weaknesses and affirm the strengths of developments in the contemporary church movements of the last 40 years. Only my former seminary President Edmund Clowney was able to show me Christ in the Old Testament and true Biblical Theology as Tim has. It challenged my own preaching to get beyond obvious moral lessons into an exposure of the glory of Christ. Tim has always impressed me with his humility and accessibility. I attended Redeemer Church unannounced one Sunday in the church's early years and despite having just preached and interacting with the usual long line of inquirers after his sermon, he insisted on taking my wife and I out to get some pizza even though he only had an hour to interact before an afternoon wedding he had to perform. Another early lesson he communicated to me and that I reflect on to this day was not to depend on natural abilities for success, but instead to understand that true success, lasting impact, only comes from the power of the Holy Spirit received in regular communion with Him. We will miss your physical presence, Tim, but we will never lose your impact on our lives. Well done, good and faithful servant. We'll see you in glory.
Thank you Fred! I appreciated hearing how Tim has influenced your ministry and the creation of City Church of San Francisco.
Thanks Rita!
So appreciate your raw, sensitive and theological thoughts on the impact Tim Keller has had on City Church and way beyond. We are blessed for his influence-on you. Thank you Fred!
Thanks Lois! And great to have you as a subscriber!
This is really beautiful, Fred. I appreciate how you honor him, even if you disagreed (and don't make the focus of your disagreement the main point of the post, as so many are prone to do, in order to further prove themselves & their point correct). Thank you!
Thanks Cara! Hope you and yours are well.
Thank you Fred. I am a beneficiary of Tim Keller's impact on you, on City Church San Francisco, on Community Group leaders, and am grateful to all of you who formed my early experiences as a Christian including by extension Tim Keller whom I never saw, heard, or met. This speaks to the power of transformation in Christianity but also to how brightly and creatively and effectively Spirit can be expressed in one person. I have been and always will be grateful to Tim Keller not for my experience of the what of Christianity but the how. Fellow Readers, don't miss the FredTalk 4 part series that is a joy to read which features more details on the experience and influences of Keller and Redeemer on Fred's earlier days as a pastor.
Thanks Amber. No doubt Tim's influence goes well beyond those who engaged him directly.