A Pastor’s Best Friend: A Good Catechism
We Need to Affirm Sound Doctrine
A Catechism for Christian Growth is specifically designed to fit into a variety of settings in the Christian life. It helps parents shepherd their children, new converts understand the fundamentals of the faith, and entire congregations learn sound doctrine like catechisms have for centuries. It is a succinct yet systematic scaffolding upon which Christians can fortify... Continue Reading
A Life of Listening, the Voice of One
Be a listener, one who pays attention to the God who speaks.
As we listen deeply and faithfully to Christ the Living Word, as his words in Scripture and his Spirit indwell our brains and imaginations, we may discern his voice through ten thousand voices, and heeding, become the persons we were created to be and long to be. Not long ago I took our daughter... Continue Reading
Why the God-Man?
God satisfied the demands of His righteousness by giving to us a Substitute who stands in our place, offering that satisfaction for us.
God’s grace is illustrated by the satisfaction of His justice in that it is done for us by the One whom He has appointed. It is God’s nature as the Judge of all the world to do what is right. And the Judge who does what is right never, ever violates the canons of His... Continue Reading
Evangelical Maturity
Be not Blown about by Every Fad
One reason Christians today are losing the cultural battle is that they are fighting on yesterday’s front. Athanasius was fighting for Christology. Luther fought for soteriology. The fight today is over anthropology. Yes, all truth everywhere matters, but the battle today rages over what is a human. This issue has implications for sexuality, natural law,... Continue Reading
The Biggest Problem in Worship Education
Invest in Worship Ministries, not just Worship Services
Remember the next generation of worship leaders. Of course, it is urgent to be concerned with what is happening on your platform this Sunday, but what seeds are being planted by your church in the children’s and youth ministry that will be harvested in the future? Public education is abandoning music. The children in your... Continue Reading
Exceptionalism in the PCA
The most common exceptions are differences with the Standards’ teachings on the Fourth Commandment, the Second Commandment, and Creation.
The bottom line is that evaluating candidates and judging differences is not an empirical question, but a theological one. Each court has the right to declare the terms of admission into its membership (Preliminary Principle #2). Simply because a stated difference is commonly granted as an exception does not mean the same difference must be... Continue Reading
Burying the Talents of the Great Rewarder
His commendation awaits. I must not bury his talents, but invest and risk them.
What was the servant doing all those years when the other servants were busy trading for the increase of their master’s wealth? Presumably, looking out for his own wealth. And why? Because he did not believe that it would be worth it to risk spending all those years and all that sweat, only to have his... Continue Reading
Little by Little – Progressive Sanctification
Thank God for his patience with us.
Our Lord is very forbearing with us, not exposing us to all of our sin, selfishness and fleshliness in one go. Yes, the beginning to the Christian life involves a conviction of sin, and repentance and faith in Christ as we seek to turn from that sin. But it will take a lifetime to keep... Continue Reading
Warfield on the Religious Life of Seminary Students
Excerpts of B. B. Warfield’s tract published in 1911.
The importance of the intellectual preparation of the student for the ministry is the reason of the existence of our Theological Seminaries. Say what you will, do what you will, the ministry is a “learned profession”; and the man without learning, no matter with what other gifts he may be endowed, is unfit for its... Continue Reading
Who has Given to God?
In Psalm 50, Asaph instructs us about the true spirit of thanksgiving.
Asaph therefore highlights just one sacrifice as essential: “Offer to God thanksgiving” (Ps. 50:14). Literally, he says, “make a thank offering.” According to OT law, a thank offering was offered in the context of a believer’s gratitude, when a person was grateful for deliverance from enemies or for healing or for some other answered prayer.... Continue Reading
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