The couples who endure with joy are most often the couples who embrace one another as a complex bundle of strengths and weaknesses, helps and hurts, joys and sorrows, and who set their expectations for marriage accordingly. They are each more concerned with their own holiness than their spouse’s, each quicker to embrace an opportunity... Continue Reading

Ordained PCA ministers (as well as those considering ministry in the PCA) who differ from the PCA’s theological Standards have two options before them: (1) They may lay aside their personal freedom and respect the denomination’s doctrine for the good of others and in the service of others, or (2) They may seek to enter... Continue Reading

They set apart a solemn day of humiliation, to seek the Lord by humble and fervent prayer, in this great distress. And he was pleased to give them a gracious and speedy answer, both to their own, and the Indians admiration, that lived amongst them. For all the morning, and greatest part of the day,... Continue Reading

All of us can stand before the throne of grace with confidence solely because of what Jesus has accomplished (Heb. 4:16). Only Jesus accurately understands the depths of our sin and wickedness, and, incredibly, He still loves us. Not only that, but wonder of wonders, knowing the brokenness and frailty of our nature, He still... Continue Reading

In Jesus the Bridegroom, we unlock the meaning of male-female marriage. In Jesus the eternal King, who came “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45), we find the wrecking ball for slavery and the best foundation for human equality. Scripture’s trajectory isn’t toward... Continue Reading

Who doubts Him? Those who are not Spirit-filled doubt. Jesus tells us to not let our hearts be troubled. That is a command. How can we do it? Our Lord gives His peace and joy. With those within us we will have an irrepressible confidence because our life is hid with Christ in God.  ... Continue Reading

From time to time we enjoy either singing or hearing a hymn with a descant. The descant is a melody or counterpoint sung above the simple melody, usually by sopranos. As the descant rises distinctively above the simple melody, so praise rises above simple thanksgiving.   The Scriptures abound with plaudits of praise to God.... Continue Reading

Are you taking advantage of Lord’s Day worship, the stories of faith, and your regular prayer times to remember all the Lord has done for you? It is important to remember all that the Lord has done so as to strengthen and encourage your faith. Remember the Lord and His goodness! Praise Him for what... Continue Reading

If you react in the short term by canceling your holiday plans because of who your relatives voted for, that reaction probably won’t send the message that you hope it will. The message will most likely come across as arrogant, dismissive, closed-minded, disrespectful, or all of the above.   Increasingly, you might find yourself in... Continue Reading

How does faith and philosophy relate to one another? How does theology and science correlate? How do all these supposed binaries fit into the Christian life? For Bavinck, there is an organic unity because grace in Christ unites both common and special grace.    Herman Bavinck argued for a doctrine called common grace to explain why... Continue Reading

There’s going to be much more to Heaven, but not less than praising the Lord for all eternity. It’s pretty clear in the Bible that we’ll have physical bodies in the New Earth, and eternity will look similar to life now, yet unaffected by sin, decay, and death. But we will be worshiping God with... Continue Reading

For those who have dealt with manifestations of Christian perfectionism, Chang has done a beautiful thing. In reading her personal experiences, her reflections on the writing of others, and her rich meditations on God’s character from his word, you will be deeply encouraged by how you are both loved and delighted in by your God. ... Continue Reading

Evaluate who you are trusting today. Are you trusting in mankind…even your own ability and its meager strength? Here is a way to discern that with one question: How much do you listen to Him through prayer and His Word?   God is perfect in His mercy and grace but also perfect in His judgment.... Continue Reading

A focus on entertainment might get people to come to your youth ministry. But, in the end, we cannot out-entertain the world. We will also set the kids up to look for entertainment as the main measure of what church is rather than help them have a hunger for the word of God above all.... Continue Reading

Joy can be our resistance to the culture of death all around us. Joy refuses to look at unborn children, an aged great-grandmother, and the uncultivated prairie meadow as problems to be solved. Rather, people who live in a culture of joy can receive them as gifts because they can see the Giver—and his Goodness—in them.  ... Continue Reading

If you won’t give thanks to God for all the goodness he bestows on you, you’ll seek goodness and blessing elsewhere, in created things. You will become a worshiper of idols. Little, then, could be more important in life than cultivating gratitude and thankfulness to God for his many blessings, the blessings of salvation and of... Continue Reading

The purpose of this new body will be to rule wisely over God’s new world. Forget those images about lounging around playing harps. There will be work to do and we shall relish doing it. All the skills and talents we have put to God’s service in this present life . . . will be... Continue Reading

The promises of AI are indeed amazing. The labor- and time-saving potential will save humanity hours of mindless tasks, and we’ve not even begun to realize the potential for medicine, among other things. However, potentials are not actuals, and history is full of unintended (and intended) applications and consequences of technology. The only way forward... Continue Reading

Your heart doesn’t know everything and often forgets what it does know. God does know everything, and he doesn’t forget. He sees more than your most recent fall — the sin that breaks your heart and sheds your tears — he sees a new life and fruit (even in this contrition) that gives honor to... Continue Reading

Romans 3:20 is one of the most humbling passages in the Bible. It crushes human pride. It makes it impossible for us to continue to caress the delusion that we can perform our way into a relationship with God. It lets us know that our best track record of obedience falls woefully short of God’s... Continue Reading

Having regular times of family worship or devotions throughout the week is not only a good way to disciple your family and worship together but also a great way to prepare for Lord’s Day worship. Times of reading God’s Word and singing His praise as a family demonstrate to your kids the centrality of worship... Continue Reading

People will pay high prices for those that do excellent work. This is difficult to find. David was so gifted and so full of character, that it appears his temporary residence with Saul quickly moved to full-time. Eventually, Saul asked David’s father for permission for David to stay at the palace. David was too gifted... Continue Reading

Our love for others must be rooted in our love for God and even more importantly in God’s transformational love for us. But this love cannot be confused with a simple sentimentality or sappy sweetness that so often passes for it today. Rather, our love has to be formed by and founded in the truth... Continue Reading

I think another thing that really contributes to pastoral burnout is practical questions like, Are we sleeping well? Are we exercising and getting outside? Are we eating things that are actually good for our body? Embodiment is very crucial to understanding how to be a good pastor. A lot of times pastors sort of see... Continue Reading

George Bailey didn’t want to run the Building and Loan. He wanted to go to college. He wanted to travel the world. He wanted to have a honeymoon. In every case, he could have folded and pursued his own dreams. But he didn’t. George Bailey saw a need and stepped into the gap. He chose... Continue Reading

Strimple was always forward and outward looking. At the tenth anniversary celebration of WSC he articulated this in his address entitled “For All People—One Christ, One Gospel, One Mandate.” This passion for carrying the gospel into the world had already been expressed in his inaugural address as the first president of WSC, in which he... Continue Reading

We wrestle against our spiritual adversary by holding fast to God and His word, staying the course in seeking His kingdom and righteousness. Perhaps our primary weapon, however, is prayer, not only for ourselves but also for our fellow believers and the work to be done, as Paul stresses: “praying always with all prayer and... Continue Reading

The fact is that taking our children to church each Sunday to worship the living God—rain or shine, good attitudes or bad—is shaping their hearts and minds about what is important. Maybe we hear the whole sermon or only a couple of lines. Either way, God blesses us for our obedience to him. Our kids... Continue Reading

That the scandal has brought down Welby is interesting, not least because he may well be one of the less guilty parties involved. His sins are those of omission. He was not beating young men to within an inch of their lives. But it is also ironic. Welby had been oh-so courageous in the early... Continue Reading

‘Defending Sin’ is an attempt to argue to reveal truth rather than to win at all costs. By defending the biblical account of the fall, Madueme’s work serves a larger purpose. He makes the case that Christians can embrace science without capitulating on matters that Scripture and the Christian tradition have agreed on for millennia.  ... Continue Reading