“This is nothing more than an attempt by the Seattle Presbytery to take valuable property it had no part in in paying for and to which it has no legitimate claim,” DeFoe said. “It is using tactics dictated by the national denomination to try to block First Presbyterian Church of Seattle from disaffiliating and to... Continue Reading

The claim that Calvin (and other Reformers) continued to teach infant baptism because they remained unduly influenced by Roman teaching rests on an unstated assumption: the only reason one might baptize infants is because of Roman tradition (or perhaps sentiment), that it cannot possibly be a conviction driven by Scripture itself. This is an unwarranted... Continue Reading

“What constitutes this call to preach? Lloyd-Jones identified six distinguishing marks of this divine summons to the pulpit. He himself had felt the gravity of each of these realities weighing heavily upon his own soul. He believed the same spiritual forces should come to bear on all preachers.”   If there is anything else a man... Continue Reading

I love the community. The vast majority hang around for coffee and to chat. Why? Because we have not come to a show, or just done our duty. We are there to meet with the Lord but we are also there to meet with one another. Even the notices reflect the fact that we do... Continue Reading

“How then do we solve the problem of rollover fee that take advantage of the poor when they are in dire straits? As I’ve argued before, I believe a helpful first step is to get churches and other faith-based organizations involved in providing alternatives to commercial lending agencies.”   About twenty years ago I made some... Continue Reading

“Is it apologetic and hesitant rather than authoritative and declarative? Is it unnecessarily offensive? Is it sufficiently varied when compared with your other sermon introductions?”   Following up on yesterday’s post about teaching beginning preachers, here’s my second checklist for beginning (and not-so-beginning) preachers on introducing a sermon. 1. Is it too long/too short? (Too... Continue Reading

Having a well-trained theological mind does not necessarily mean a woman will go into vocational ministry. What about the women she could disciple, the friendships where she could bring informed biblical counsel, and the children (spiritual or physical) she will raise? What if she becomes a doctor who takes care of families, a lawyer who... Continue Reading

While various groups have distorted the Gospel throughout the history of the church, what’s unique today is the pervasiveness of social media. Vicari observes: “The backlash [against someone who proclaims biblical truth] is probably more harsh than it has been for generations, because it comes not only from your friends outside of the church, but... Continue Reading

How much of purity and peace would have been maintained in the church of Christ and will be maintained if elders are sensitive to the first steps of delinquency on the part of the people and bring the word of tender admonition and reproof to bear upon them before they reach the by-paths of open... Continue Reading

God calls his people to worship him together as one spiritual family. The record of the Old and New Testament demonstrates that families worship God together. There is no biblical precedent for removing children from worship and placing them in a room with a volunteer you don’t know in order for them to watch religious... Continue Reading