Why We Need More Pastors Like Augustine
Retrieving Ancient Pastoral Practice
But things weren’t always this way. It’s time for the post-Christian church to return to its parochial roots. The bishops and presbyters of the ancient church aspired to nothing more than faithful ministry—possibly ending in martyrdom—in their assigned parish. The paroikia was their focus: a “sojourning community” in a particular time and place. The early... Continue Reading
The Pollution of Man
Knowing our complete inability to save ourselves highlights the grace and mercy of God.
Even if man were to recognize his condition, total inability means that he is powerless, on his own, to change his ways. Just like the leopard cannot change his spots (Jer. 13:23) so we cannot stop our sinful actions and motives. 1 Cor. 2:14 teaches that the natural man doesn’t receive the things of the... Continue Reading
Five Biblical Points of Dordrecht
A look at the statements in the five Articles of Dort (utilizing the acronym T.U.L.I.P.), in order to show their biblical foundations and theological precision.
When we contemplate what Scripture says about the severity of man’s fallen condition, the glory of God’s eternal purpose to redeem a people, the perfection of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, the sweetness of the power of God to bring sinners to Himself, and the assurance of God’s commitment to bring His people to glory... Continue Reading
Weal & Woe
“How can things be so upside down?”
The Psalms are full of cries from the faithful who suffer in and mourn over the overwhelming wickedness that surrounds them. Sin consistently turns the world upside down, and we, God’s faithful, want to see the world right side up. Jesus says to his disciples that if you are part of his people who loathe... Continue Reading
Our Call to Faithfulness
The faithfulness of God to Himself, and of Christ to the Father, provides the deep roots of God’s faithfulness to His covenant people.
The great evidence of being rightly related to God is faithful stewardship of His grace in our lives for His glory. A failure of faithfulness demonstrates that we are not good stewards and do not belong in His kingdom. Inactivity in service to our Lord, when we claim to have been made the recipients of... Continue Reading
He Who Confesses and He Who Does Not Confess: John’s Confession of Faith
Jesus, the Son of God, is the Christ in human nature for the purpose of redemption. To believe aught else is to believe in a false god.
John set forth a simple but highly evocative confessional statement: “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.” (1 John 4:2, 3). The negative part of the confession borrows the context from the first part—that is,... Continue Reading
Pro-Life For All: The Image of God in the Elderly
When people become a burden, our beliefs about humanity begin to show.
If we’re honest, many of us are guilty of complaining about the aged among us being stuck in their ways, slow. And others of us are guilty of passing by the elderly without seeing them as people in need of the gospel. I know I recently came to the realization that being old doesn’t mean... Continue Reading
The Sexual Revolution in a Nutshell
Gay marriage was inevitable, because straights had already queered sex and marriage via the Sexual Revolution.
Just as its loudest opponents feared, granting same-sex couples access to marriage has further aligned the hoary institution with sexual choice, helping sever the link between sex and diapers—at just the moment when abortion rights face their greatest test in a generation. If you want to understand the sexual revolution in a nutshell, read... Continue Reading
5 Reasons to Preach on Predestination on Sunday Morning
Any true study of salvation will have a proper focus on God’s work of predestination.
While the church needs to grow bigger, it must grow deeper first! If the members of the church lack proper knowledge of key biblical truths (like predestination), how will they be able to make disciples in the first place? Predestination is one of the most hated and debated doctrines in the Bible. Yet, Charles... Continue Reading
God’s Eternal Plan of Redemption
God’s plan will come about exactly as he has foretold, and no work of man and no power of hell can frustrate it.
God in His kindness and love and mercy and compassion, and in His infinite grace, looked upon men and women when they deserved nothing but hell and destruction, and gave them the promise of their wonderful redemption that would finally be consummated in His own eternal Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our... Continue Reading