David’s words acknowledge a boundary he could not cross. Christ’s work declares that the boundary itself has been broken. And that is where the passage ultimately leads us.   David’s fall with Bathsheba marks a decisive turning point in the narrative of Samuel. Up to this moment, one theme has defined David’s life above all... Continue Reading

A diluted gospel is one that is robbed of its power. The irony is that, in their concern to treat the symptoms of sin, the Evangelicals “of the Left” fail to deal with the very thing that produces the symptoms: personal guilt. When they have finished their treatment, the parasite is still alive and well.... Continue Reading

Job was as good as dead, but he was not left in his grave. The Redeemer lives, and he vindicates the suffering Job against the accusations of his friends and raises Job to new life. Though many accuse him, Job 19:25–27 succinctly shows that Job holds fast to both vindication and resurrection hope. This confident hope is... Continue Reading

When we gather for worship, our consciences cannot be bound by the latest cultural fads, complex man-made liturgies, or theatrical gimmicks. We simply gather to read the Word, preach the Word, pray the Word, sing the Word, and see the Word in the sacraments. By keeping worship simple, biblical, and Christ-centered, we worship God exactly... Continue Reading

The “moral weight lies not in what AI is, but in what our use of AI is doing TO US…The pressing ethical question is no longer: ‘Does AI deserve to be treated well?’ It is rather: ‘Is one training oneself to be the kind of person who speaks and acts in a way consistent with... Continue Reading

Don’t let your emotions lead your down a dangerous path. Let God’s word be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psa 119:105). Let your convictions spring from God’s word, and not from sentimental feelings about your kids, or the culture, or etc… Our hearts are fickle, but God is the... Continue Reading

Over the course of Church history, and 1,000 years of Jewish tradition before that, at least six different popular views on the meaning of Proverbs 22:6 have been proposed. This has been a great source of confusion and frustration for the average Christian reader. Train up a child in the way he should go: and... Continue Reading

We got the Canons of Dort through persecution, political upheaval, ecclesiastical controversy, and a major international synod. The Canons were born in a fight over grace. That is why they still matter.   On May 6, 1619, delegated pastors and professors from across Europe processed through the streets of Dordrecht to the Grote Kerk, the... Continue Reading

Elders do not best serve the church by merely telling people to grow. Ministry does not happen merely by instructing members to minister. Pastors serve the church by ordering its life according to healthy practices, week after week, year after year, and practically showing members how to do the work.   Most pastors agree on... Continue Reading

We can distinguish between good pastors and pseudo-pastors by what they do when danger and difficulty arise. The pseudo-pastor uploads his resume to job boards and hits the road. The good pastor stays, exhibiting courage, grit, and love. He lays down his life to fight off a wolf, even when the wolf arises from within... Continue Reading