“The first part of the answer is to affirm that the Word of God says our standing in relationship to God as believers in Jesus Christ is secure. Notice this, for example, from 2 Peter 1. Peter writes not only as a “servant” but also as an “apostle of Jesus Christ” (v. 1). Then he... Continue Reading

Rightly administering the Lord’s Supper is a mark of a true church. It occupies a critically important place in the life of God’s people as a memorial of Christ, the message of the gospel, and a means of his grace. Yet, even among those who share this perspective there remain differences in practice. I will... Continue Reading

Ms. Beeching is not the only one who has underestimated the gravity of our differences over these issues. There have been many others. And that is why we have to test her claim by scripture. Are we all really “brothers and sisters in Christ” even when we disagree with one another about an issue of... Continue Reading

Over the summer we studied Proverbs in our morning devotional time. During the school year, I like to do the catechism. If you are unfamiliar with the use of catechisms in teaching children God’s word, it’s basically a tool that helps children learn biblical truth through a question and answer format. Children have an amazing... Continue Reading

Not only is the right to die incoherent or monstrous if applied rigorously, such legislation actually commits an even greater injustice by allow an avenue to pressure those with chronic illnesses and pain to end their own lives. With the knowledge that all the hospital visits and bills could be ended by a simple choice... Continue Reading

More generally, the elders simply try to keep a finger on the pulse of the congregation’s sense of rest versus overload. Lately, we’ve made the commitment that the addition of something to our church calendar means that something else needs to be taken off. Why? Because we’re about at our limit. Sure, folks might be... Continue Reading

One way to facilitate conversation might be for Leon to notice at least two segments of his white audience — those who are racist and those who don’t think they are (though they may harbor some residue of prejudice), don’t generally make stupid comments to black pastors, and who empathize with black frustrations and resentment. If Leon... Continue Reading

It is the business of preaching, it is the whole gospel of evangelism, that men’s eyes should be opened; not that they should be entertained, or made to laugh and weep; but to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and to knowledge… We are only Christians because the Spirit of God... Continue Reading

“The Old Testament may be likened to a chamber richly furnished but dimly lighted; the introduction of light brings into it nothing which was not in it before; but it brings out into clearer view much of what is in it but was only dimly or even not at all perceived before.” – Warfield  ... Continue Reading

Because we feel the guilt and the remaining corruption of our sin on a daily basis, we need to be reminded that Christ has taken the guilt away in His substitutionary death and have broken the power of sin on the cross. Because we are united to Him, we need to be constantly reminded of... Continue Reading