The Role of Community in Purity
It's not enough for us to live lives of purity alone. We are called to be life rafts for one another, offering the conversation, prayer, and accountability that our brothers and sisters need.
In a world where impurity is not just tolerated but celebrated, we are called to be different. We are called to be a people marked by purity, both individually and collectively. Let us strive to live out this calling with intentionality and commitment, supporting one another in our pursuit of holiness. As we do, we... Continue Reading
WCF 32: Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
How we live now determines what happens when we die.
There are no other options besides heaven and hell. Purgatory is a baseless medieval invention. It is true that following death the wicked and the righteous will enter what is called the intermediate state, an in-between stage. The righteous will eagerly anticipate the redemption of our bodies; the wicked, like fallen angels, will enter a... Continue Reading
Theological Traps that Hinder Evangelism
Are we presently struggling in the quagmire of one or more of the following four traps?
Our sinful flesh, even with a thorough grasp of sound doctrine, can cause us to fail to evangelize. We might maintain a strong stance against hyper-Calvinism and be committed doctrinally to urgency about making disciples and still find ourselves apathetic and passive in evangelism. A trap is something you fall into because you don’t... Continue Reading
When Trouble Comes Near
God does not want us to live in denial of trouble—not of ours nor of those near us. Nor does he want us to keep our distance when it happens.
It’s a wisdom that says, I know that trouble will come. As it came to Job, as it came to Jesus, it will come to me. But God has said, ‘I will be with you. I will never forsake you. And I will redeem all things. This is not the end.’ “All things work together for... Continue Reading
The Role of a Pastoral Apologist: Doctrine and Discernment
Doctrinal accuracy and discernment nurtures the flock and protects them from false teachings and guides them in truth.
It’s crucial for the pastor to maintain doctrinal purity while also exercising discernment against misleading teachings. Both are fundamental to nurturing and protecting the flock. The introduction to this series explored the role of the pastoral apologist. We explored Paul’s charge to Timothy, highlighting the responsibilities and the profound calling of pastors to serve... Continue Reading
Six Words of Advice for Young Seminarians
Maximizing the Seminary Experience
Students contribute to the family of God as gifted brothers and sisters. Within the local body, seminary students may participate in a scaffolding of opportunities for leading, teaching, and serving in all sorts of capacities…local church participation coheres seminary coursework with the Great Commission. For many pastors, time spent in formal seminary training is... Continue Reading
How Should You Make Peace?
God has instructed us to make peace, not keep the peace.
God calls us to be peacemakers, and when we strive to do what He calls us to do, He will reward our faithfulness and bless our efforts. Blessed are the peacemakers. Sadly, in this fallen world in which we live, conflict is a normal part of everyday life. This is true not only among unbelievers... Continue Reading
The Expectations and Responsibilities of Deacons
If we ignore the Bible’s teaching about deacons, we leave God’s people without clear biblical expectations for their leaders.
Training and empowering leaders…requires more than just a good plan or a thoughtful process. It requires the wisdom of self-awareness, the power of grace, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Does your church have deacons? And if so, do you know who they are and what they do? If the answer to these... Continue Reading
The Spirit’s Prayer and the Father’s Promise in Romans 8:26–30
The Holy Spirit prays in a way that, due to our weakness, we do not comprehend.
All things work together for our eschatological glory and good—in part, due to the Spirit’s prayers. What God planned of our salvation from eternity past will certainly come to be. We will be perfectly conformed to the image of His Son and glorified with Him. The Holy Spirit helps us on our way to... Continue Reading
The Storm Center of the Protestant Reformation
Justification by faith is by God’s grace as an undeserved gift.
Those godly believers we all admire and want to be like are the ones who have been through the fire. When the ungodly suffer they are shamed, but when God’s people suffer they love God even more and rejoice in their sufferings. 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God... Continue Reading
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