Top 50 Stories on The Aquila Report for 2024: 11-20
Numbers 11-20 of the top 50 articles for 2024
In keeping with the journalistic tradition of looking back at the recent past, we present the top 50 stories of the year that were read on The Aquila Report site based on the number of hits. We will present the 50 stories in groups of 10 to run on five lists on consecutive days. Here... Continue Reading
Millions of Americans Will Do Anything for Their Kids’ Sports, Including Cutting Church
Travel sports has grown into a $39 billion dollar industry while churches are seeing a decrease in members and Sunday worshippers.
On average, kids are spending more than 16 hours each week in sports. Practices, games, and tournaments are eating up a large portion of a family’s time together. And when stressed and overbooked families are looking at their weekly schedules, it is often Sunday worship and midweek church activities that don’t make the cut. ... Continue Reading
The Collected Best Christian Books of 2024
The titles that generated the most positive buzz throughout the year.
A few years ago it always seemed simple to find a few consensus picks. Recently, though, it has become far more difficult. So while I scour as many lists as ever, it is rare for a single book to appear on more than a handful of them. With that in mind, here are the ones... Continue Reading
The Light That Shines Above the Void
Recognizing meaning beyond ourselves makes possible all we cannot understand directly—demons, angels, evil, and unrelenting love.
An image of a baby lying in a rented hay box is so far removed from the world’s view of success that it can only come from another place, and mean something completely different. Imagine for a moment that there is nothing of worth in this world, as worth has no intrinsic meaning. Each... Continue Reading
It’s a Wonderful Strife
Do not grumble. Simple enough, and yet so incredibly hard at times.
As the Author and Perfecter of our faith, the Lord “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Let us, in imitation of our God, live a life of joy no matter the strife... Continue Reading
How to Enjoy the Psalms Even More
The Psalms are full of emotion, hope, drama and music.
The Psalms have always been sung by God’s people. Therefore, when we sing them, we are uniting with God’s people over the earth and over the ages. Even though the languages are different, God’s people from Lusaka to Chennai to Sydney sing Psalms together. In doing so, we are united with all who’ve gone before... Continue Reading
Engage Bespoke Spirituality: Reflections from Conversations on Campus
Bespoke spiritualists are asking, alongside Pilate, “What is truth?”
Because of his claim on truth, Jesus will be a stumbling block to many in this generation, but let’s not add extra, unnecessary offense—Jesus’ radical offer of undeserved grace is offensive enough. Though the truth may appear restrictive to bespoke spiritualists, this truth can set them free, as it has us (John 8:32). During... Continue Reading
Sending Love and Support to Families with Disabilities
Tens of thousands of disabled children and families are desperate for help and hope in Jesus.
“We thank God for Joni and Friends Missouri—and the donors that make their programs come to life. You truly do hold us up when our strength is all but gone. Thank you, from the bottom of our weary souls, for being the hands and feet of Jesus—for loving your neighbors and helping us get through... Continue Reading
Wedding Scripture and Song: Singing and Savoring Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”
The marriage of the Bible’s arc of Messiah’s storyline and musical scores worthy of such a narrative sweeps us up to exalt our sovereign God who triumphs through Christ Jesus to reign eternally over all. The profound worship of the Lord Christ, spanning nearly three hours, is an extraordinary experience. As we have seen... Continue Reading
Top 50 Stories on The Aquila Report for 2024: 21-30
Numbers 21-30 of the top 50 articles for 2024
In keeping with the journalistic tradition of looking back at the recent past, we present the top 50 stories of the year that were read on The Aquila Report site based on the number of hits. We will present the 50 stories in groups of 10 to run on five lists on consecutive days. Here... Continue Reading
Warfield on What Paul Knew of Jesus
Paul’s whole teaching circles around these two great facts: the expiatory death of the Son of God and His rising again.
Paul had known the Christian movement from its beginning; first from the outside, as one of the chief agents in its persecution, and then from the inside, as the most active leader of its propaganda [note: the term did not yet have the negative connotation it does now]. He was familiarly acquainted with the Apostles... Continue Reading
Ascension in “Messiah”: Four Glorious Effects of Christ’s Heavenly Enthronement
If twenty-first century evangelicals built their eschatology on the ascension, it would resolve a host of eschatological errors.
Following the ascension of Christ in Section 33 [of “Messiah,”] which cites Psalm 24:7–10, [the following] sections outline the effect of Christ’s exaltation to heaven. This impact begins in heaven, but flows downhill, if you will, to impact all creation. On earth, the Messiah is bringing his kingdom by way of his Spirit and his Word... Continue Reading
Top Books I Enjoyed in 2024
Good books are like good friends; they challenge and shape us, making us better people.
These books left an imprint on me, causing me to think, feel, laugh, and hope while I read them and after completing them…I share this list, hoping that they do the same for you. I always enjoy reading end-of-year book lists. As in past years, I’ve broken my list up into two categories, “Christian... Continue Reading
Out of the Echo Chamber
We should read some of Western Christendom’s greatest theological classics, such as Augustine’s “Confessions,” “On the Trinity,” or “The City of God,” Aquinas’s “Summa Theologica,” and Anselm’s “Why God Became Man.”
In our own day Reformed theology has almost become a brand unto itself—we have somehow convinced ourselves that there is a unique Reformed approach to all doctrine. Yet, our Reformed forefathers knew better—they benefited from the riches of their common patristic and medieval heritage. We should do likewise. I can remember hearing a colleague... Continue Reading
Don’t Waste Your Marriage
God designed marriage for a purpose far greater than comfort or companionship.
Men, pay attention: don’t waste your marriage. Don’t settle for a life of comfort and consumption. You were made for more than this. Your marriage was made for more than this. In today’s culture, marriage is little more than a mutual agreement to share a life and expenses while grinding away at work and... Continue Reading
To Make Him Known
It's our calling. Every believer's calling.
The better we prepare to fulfill our calling as witnesses, the more consistent and effective we will be in this work that God has appointed to us. And the more we discover just how gracious and kind God is to have chosen us for this vocation, the readier we will be to step into His... Continue Reading
Biblical Characters: One Greater than Jonah
Jesus draws a powerful parallel between Jonah and Himself.
Jonah teaches us about the heart of God—a heart of mercy and grace for sinners. Jesus fulfills that lesson fully. The question for you is the same one that faced the Ninevites and the Pharisees: How will you respond? Two summers ago, I preached through the book of Jonah. It remains one of the... Continue Reading
A Throne Established Forever: Jesus’ Legitimate Reign
Matthew didn’t start his gospel with a dry list of names but with the glorious lineage of a legitimate king.
Jesus’ reign is unlike any other. It is marked by justice, peace, and sacrificial love. His dominion spans all nations and endures forever, firmly established by the zeal of the Lord of hosts. Rejoice Christian! Isaiah 9:7 declares: Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of... Continue Reading
Top 50 Stories on The Aquila Report for 2024: 31-40
Numbers 31-40 of the top 50 articles for 2024
In keeping with the journalistic tradition of looking back at the recent past, we present the top 50 stories of the year that were read on The Aquila Report site based on the number of hits. We will present the 50 stories in groups of 10 to run on five lists on consecutive days. Here... Continue Reading
The Thief’s Good Works
The thief had faith, so he necessarily performed good works.
In verse 42, the thief said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” By acknowledging that Jesus has a kingdom, the thief affirmed Christ’s lordship… Beza observes that the Gospel accounts emphasize how the disciples scattered, with only John remaining at the cross. None of the Twelve spoke on Jesus’s behalf or testified... Continue Reading
Can Naturalists Explain Where Life Originated?
None of the proposed environments offer a viable, reasonable explanation.
Some scientists have proposed an underground location for the origin of life where molecular formation would be protected from water and atmospheric interference. But the underground locations available in the early earth would have been incredibly hostile to the formation of bio-chemical precursors, proteins and RNA. Just as problematic would be imagining a scenario in... Continue Reading
How Should We Apply the Sixth Commandment?
The Sixth Commandment has a broad range of applications for us today.
The Larger Catechism lists examples like “patient bearing of the hand of God,” “quietness of mind,” “charitable thoughts,” and the characteristics of love, compassion, and the forgiving of injuries. This gets at Jesus’ application of the heart (with reference to the Sixth Commandment) in Matthew 5:21–26 and Paul’s instruction in Romans 13:9, 10. True obedience... Continue Reading
The Image of God and Human Dignity in the Immigration Debate
On using Imago Dei as a lever to shift the immigration discussion to the left.
Governments are still accountable to God’s demands in Genesis 9 not to murder the innocent. No immigrant, regardless of their legal status, should be abused or murdered. Yet this does not mean those here illegally cannot rightly be deported, as deportation has nothing to do with human dignity. The topic of mass immigration, insecure... Continue Reading
Hell, Hallelujahs, and Beautiful Feet in Handel’s Messiah
Theological Reflections on Part II Scenes 2–7.
Probably the most famed of the entire oratorio is movement 44, the Hallelujah chorus written entirely from Revelation 19:6, 16; 11:15. In John’s apocalypse, we are given eschatological glimpses of the will of God being done on earth as it is in heaven, “a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the... Continue Reading
(Still) in Awe of the Aged
The spiritually aged know in the depths of their graced souls that they are loved, forgiven, redeemed and remade sons and daughters of the Ancient of Days.
It is not the number of days lived in this world that signals holy wisdom, but the days, and even the moments of eternal consequence, spent in humble, adoring, obedient, active faith in the living God – time that is saturated with Scripture and filled with ongoing prayer or prayerfulness. These moments, infused with eternity,... Continue Reading
Truly God and Truly Man
He became God’s representative before humanity and man’s representative before God.
Jesus, in the incarnation, took a human nature upon the deity, but without mingling or mixing the two. It brought no change upon who He is as God. The human nature did not change the God nature, and the God nature did not change the human nature. Yet, at the same time, these two natures... Continue Reading
The Irishman’s Two Stoves
A theory of nearly everything.
With religious diversity as with many other forms of diversity, we are dealing with an “Irishman’s Two Stoves” problem. From a Christian standpoint, indeed, it might at first seem that the truly ideal polity would be one that was 100% Christian. But we know that this side of the eschaton, even the church itself will... Continue Reading
Top 50 Stories on The Aquila Report for 2024: 41-50
Numbers 41-50 of the top 50 articles for 2024
In keeping with the journalistic tradition of looking back at the recent past, we present the top 50 stories of the year that were read on The Aquila Report site based on the number of hits. We will present the 50 stories in groups of 10 to run on five lists on consecutive days. Here... Continue Reading
My Favorite Books of 2024
In the last ten years or so there have been some fine books written.
‘Cultural Sanctification’ by Stephen O. Presley. In this excellent book of cultural apologetics, Presley argues that the church today must look back to the doctrine, practices, and priorities of the early church to properly navigate life in a culture hostile to Christ and Christians. Daily Doctrine by Kevin DeYoung This is my pick for... Continue Reading
Handel’s Messiah: Worship, Worldliness, and the Way of True Praise
Pursue opportunities to draw attention to what songs are saying, trusting the Spirit of Truth to illumine the mind and quicken the heart.
The fact that people can listen to Messiah and miss what’s being said tells us that musical works on their own, no matter how inspired they might be, don’t always communicate what people need to hear. It’s not far removed from the people of Ezekiel’s day who likened his prophetic judgments to “one who sings... Continue Reading