Covered or Exposed
No one wakes up one morning and decides to collapse his life. It happens in smaller decisions that felt manageable at the time,
I saw a clip a while back of AC/DC playing in front of a huge crowd at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As the band launched into the chorus of their mega hit, “Highway to Hell,” the crowd joined in lustily, treating damnation like a punchline. With smiles on their faces and hands... Continue Reading
Sentimentality: A Dangerous Path to Confusion
We must not let our emotions drive our thinking.
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
Diminishing the Diaconate
We must remain faithful to the biblical and constitutional principles that govern the diaconate.
Each ordained officer has vowed, “Do you approve of the form of government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in America, in conformity with the general principles of biblical polity?”…We must not strike at Christ’s structure or remove the officers He has appointed. As I continue to unpack my arguments for why I believe my... Continue Reading
A Fresh Look at Proverbs 22:6, the “Parenting Verse”—Part 1
Finding the true meaning of the divinely inspired maxim.
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
How Did We Get the Canons of Dort?
They are the church’s confession that sinners are saved not by the uncertainty of their own will, but by the free, sovereign, and steadfast mercy of God.
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
Ordering the Church for Ordinary Growth
From the beginning of the Christian life, believers are called to practice all the ordinary means of grace—imperfectly but persistently.
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
Caring Enough to Stay: What Pastors Can Learn from the Good Shepherd
Being a good pastor means you must care about your flock, but caring will cost you.
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
Standing Against the Pornocracy
We must take a stand against porn culture.
‘What can I do to protect my children and loved ones from the porn plague?’ some of you might be asking. There would be many things that can be done, but being informed about the insidious nature of porn and the harm it does to all who consume it is vital. This site looks... Continue Reading
Heaven, Earth Made New, and the Glory of Christ: Correcting Our Vision of Eternity
As we wait, let us do so with eager expectation, confident that the best is not behind us—but ahead, in a world where Christ is all in all.
If the future is wholly disconnected from the present, then our lives now might seem insignificant. But Scripture teaches otherwise. “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast… knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV). Because God is redeeming creation, not abandoning it, our present obedience, work, and faithfulness... Continue Reading
Hope for Women with Body Image Issues
You are a woman in Christ. You are his beloved—forever chosen, forever treasured.
Facing our false worship is not the end-game. No, the point of seeing and confessing sin is to be pressed into repentance, which flowers into joy. Repentance is about turning. We turn our eyes away from ourselves and set them on Christ. In him, freedom from body image issues is possible. If you’re a woman,... Continue Reading
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- …
- 3786
- Next Page »
