As a matter of fact the phrase “the system of doctrine” has a definite meaning. The system of doctrine set forth in our Confession of Faith, Testimony, etc., is precisely Calvinism, or the Reformed Faith, in distinction from contrary systems of doctrine which are set forth in other creeds of the post-Reformation era. These contrary... Continue Reading

Ministry is never finished, but we can finish our ministries well. When Joshua was completing his ministry, there was still land unconquered (Joshua 13:1). He finished well but the work was not finished. When the apostle Paul declared that he “had finished the race,” there were still people to reach. In the midst of Paul’s... Continue Reading

“The centerpiece of family worship is the Bible. Read a passage of appropriate length for your family, making any impromptu comments that come to mind. Those with younger children should emphasize the narrative portions of Scripture, and possibly the Proverbs.”   My spiritual mentor began worshiping with his wife before they were married, and has... Continue Reading

Deep work refers to “professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit.” It is work that is most demanding mentally, most consequential in what it accomplishes. Sermon preparation is quintessentially deep work.   Every pastor knows the constant weight of sermon preparation. Sunday is a standing, unmovable... Continue Reading

“The Word work and Prayer work have the added problem of being difficult to measure. Prayer is done ‘in the closet’. Word work is done ‘at the desk’. But consider that the person who is in the closet or at the desk is largely out of sight. That means that it can appear as if... Continue Reading

Whenever parenting is reduced to our hard work, the child’s performance, and the reputation of the family, it becomes very hard for us to respond with selfless faithfulness in the face of our child’s failure. God-ordained moments of ministry will become moments of angry confrontation filled with words of judgment. Instead of leading our needy... Continue Reading

Idealism about daily devotions usually has some good in it, but it can be a recipe for frustration and ungodly guilt over time. I don’t want to disparage good intentions — may God fulfill your “every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:11). And as someone who’s walked... Continue Reading

True discipleship was largely not practiced in the mega-churches, which meant that myriad adults attended church for decades and learned little or nothing about either the gospel or the Law of God. Practically, and Americans love practical Christianity—or so they say—the bottom line was that dad and mom came out of church smiling and feeling... Continue Reading

When John’s father kicked him out of their house in North Africa, he joined the infamous European migration crises and made his way to Turkey by patching together a dangerous route—sometimes on foot, sometimes over water, sometimes at the mercy of human smugglers—always very dangerous for a young man, barely 20.    How does the... Continue Reading

Driven by a zeal for Jesus and propelled by a deep evangelistic fervor, men and women sought to leverage their cultural ingenuity to create churches that appealed to the masses and made it possible for many to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. As with any culture-driven ecclesiology, the upcoming implications of these ideas... Continue Reading