Qualified, godly, Spirit-filled men were chosen by the people and called by the Apostles to oversee the daily distribution. In this moment we see the beginning of what would become the diaconal office: servants entrusted with the ministry of mercy, stewardship, and care.   Recently, I had the privilege of preaching at our ordination and... Continue Reading

As a church, the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22), we are a body of witnesses. All of us. We live different lives, but we were all created to be Christ’s witnesses to the world. We are fitted by God for that purpose. Some of us go overseas as witnesses, some stay closer to home, but... Continue Reading

Afflictions that lead us to remember former sins are painful; the heartache of failure is discouraging. But remembering God our Father, who sent his Son into this world to take away our sins and to save us to eternal life, where there is no more sin or failure, is the comfort we need.   Afflictions... Continue Reading

No offence is meant; but if anything in these pages should come home to a man, let him not send it next door, but get a coop for his own chickens. What is the use of reading or hearing for other people?   The Apostle Paul instructs Pastor Timothy—and, by extension, all pastors—in the nature... Continue Reading

Hard things recalibrate a man. Difficulty clarifies priorities. Struggle exposes weakness without destroying dignity and forces us to be honest with ourselves: I am not as strong as I thought. I must grow.   Modern life has made it remarkably easy for a man to avoid difficulty. Climate-controlled rooms, automated conveniences, instant entertainment, and endless... Continue Reading

It is good to know–especially when facing the next world–that for every time we have failed to conform to God’s will in thought, word, and deed, by actively sinning or failing to conform to His revealed will, His Son has fulfilled the obedience that we owe.    Dismissing his doctor’s orders, J. Gresham Machen, beaten... Continue Reading

We should follow the example of Christ himself, actively engaged as salt and light in the world, contending for the faith and engaging the culture—with an eye towards restoring the culture—all from a distinctively Christian worldview.   In 2010, sociologist James Davison Hunter—perhaps best known for coining the phrase “culture wars”—published To Change the World:... Continue Reading

The PCA should reject such proposals to change our long-held convictions. We must remain true to the Scripture, which assigns exclusively male leadership in church governance and worship. We must remain true to the Reformed Faith, which has assigned the leading of public worship to ordained men or those training for ordained office.    ... Continue Reading

Ample recent evidence shows how church leaders can be seemingly blind to a talented pastor’s flaws. Unfortunately, gifts lead to rapid ascent and flaws can cause swift collapse. Many ministries never recover. Therefore, if only for pragmatic reasons, the church should focus on godly character—but chiefly we should do so because God does.   In... Continue Reading

To know that Christ will make all things new doesn’t make the pain go away. We walk through, not around, the valley of the shadow of death. But we walk with the one who holds us, who will get us to the other side, who promises that this life is not all there is. There... Continue Reading