Confessing our sins isn’t a burdensome obligation. Nor is it morbid or masochistic. It is a gift from our gracious God, in invitation to turn back to God and treasure his reassuring mercies.   “There is no perfect church.” The statement has become horribly trite, because we know full well that it’s a euphemism. What... Continue Reading

We live in the dual realities of what God has done and what He’s going to do; of the joy of salvation and the longing for redemption; of what is and what will be. And though we might not be aware of both of these realities in our daily experience, they’re there.   When the... Continue Reading

God has called us to live in the world but not be of it (John 17:14–18). We are to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16)—not hidden from the world, nor absorbed by it, but wisely present in it. Our calling is not blind separation nor mindless imitation, but thoughtful, Spirit-led engagement.   There are three... Continue Reading

Most men will not admit their innate fear of becoming a dad and often cover their insecurity with bravado and bluster. Some devolve into angry, apathetic, or absent parents, and their children suffer the consequences. For those who profess faith and believe in a heavenly father, we have a better path laid out for us.... Continue Reading

As women trust God and bear children in a broken world, they await the new heaven and Earth. There, Christ will receive the fullness of his bride—the fruit of the womb. Labor pains will cease as “His blessings flow, Far as the curse is found.”   Prologue Many words try to explain the power of... Continue Reading

As the Lord’s servants, we can lead our congregations in proper mourning and comfort those who grieve. There is an endless list of possible afflictions: serious illness, a natural disaster and loss of property, unemployment, broken relationships, and many more. As we comfort others, we can encourage them to grieve, but not as those who... Continue Reading

What gets rewarded is God’s gracious work in and through us as faithful (yet imperfect) stewards of His grace (Philippians 2:12–13; Hebrews 13:20–21). In that sense, Augustine was right: “God crowns His own gifts.” May He give us grace to be wise stewards until we receive Him as our blessed reward (WCF 7.1).   Perhaps... Continue Reading

God’s providence ensures that we will be exposed and have access to the books that make up the canon. The attributes of canonical books allow us to then distinguish and identify canonical books from all other currently accessible books. The internal testimony of the Holy Spirit then guides us in correctly identifying these attributes.  ... Continue Reading

It’s easy to fall into the trap of the conventionally humdrum “worship service,” giving little thought to the extemporaneous beauty that becomes a reality when we properly behold the holiness of God. We don’t have to work up some frenzied performance to appease God; we just need to come in faith and truth offering our... Continue Reading

Protecting the sheep requires discernment. Some people’s faith is thrown in doubt by false teaching, others are in on the verge of losing their faith altogether and need saving, others have gone even further and embraced the sin that inevitably flows from false teaching. Our response to each different group and individual is to be... Continue Reading