The sermons that most preachers preach are what I call 'safe'. They deal with the legitimate and orthodox issues of the heart, but they never cross the boundaries into the realm of the duties and limitations of the civil magistrate.

Pastor: Well, we have the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, even though they predate theistic evolution. We tried to have a statement declaring the special creation of Adam passed at the national level of the denomination, but that failed. Now we’ll have to wait to see if anyone teaches theistic evolution and then wait for a judicial case to be decided for there to be anything definitive.

Presa began by saying "together we stand, divided we freak out." He said that his presbytery -- Elizabeth -- dismissed its first congregation to ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians recently. He said that throughout the conversations between the presbytery and session "we came to a mutual discovery that the particular congregation is leaving -- not because they see we are apostate or unorthodox -- but because they could not live with the broadness" of the PCUSA.

Each presbytery has seen growth in numbers as well as depth of love for the Lord Jesus Christ. It was reported that over 35% of our membership resides within congregations that were planted in the past 30 years. This shows a significant shift in membership in the last generation.

Could it be that one of the reasons why so many people in our churches are not praying with zeal or giving their resources away or going with the gospel into their neighborhoods or the nations, could it be because they've not been born again? Born-again believers don't have to be cajoled to obey the Great Commission. Born-again believers are compelled to accomplish the Great Commission. And born again pastors are charged with leading them on that mission.

Perhaps Platt’s having raised this issue from within his denominational ranks will lead many to read and study the issue more and not only substitute a more biblical and sound practice in their own pulpits and ministries, but that in doing so that the Sinner's prayer may in time be set aside just as the likes of things like the “Four Spiritual Laws”, etc.

Much has been written over the past several years regarding the Adopting Act of 1729 and the idea of “scrupling.” A recent article by Frederick Heuser included a brief overview of the Adopting Act while pondering the various controversies and splits within our history as American Presbyterians. Dr. Jeffrey C. Francis, Sharp Chaplain of the... Continue Reading

Can U.S residents watch the videos and take the quizzes and exams found on the CCM website? …Yes, U.S. residents may and are encouraged to view the CCM courses, download the readings and take the quizzes and exams for their own edification. This is also true for people who are not interested in academic credit... Continue Reading

The practical impotence of in thesi declarations is why I think them corrosive to the Church's well-being. Church officers are free to agree or disagree with them with whatever degree of openness they prefer; disagreement brings with it no automatic sanctions

What are the theological maturity qualifications for ‘joining the church’? I know the wrong answer. I know churches where you ‘join’ around high school graduation time, so you join and then leave town, maybe never to find your way back to church again.