God has graciously blessed us with the bold evangelism of D. James Kennedy, the prophetic voice of Francis Schaeffer, the American Presbyterian historical legacies of the Cannada & Rayburn families. I am grateful for the courageous churchmanship of Jack Williamson, the journalism of Aiken Taylor, the biblical exposition of James Montgomery Boice, the careful plans of John Reed Miller, the logic of RC Sproul and the always gracious wisdom of Paul Settle. These were, along with many others, the indispensable men who helped form and strengthen a young Presbyterian denomination into the family of churches we have become.

While we pilgrims are marching towards Zion, this world is our home. It is a home that involves joy and all the resulting toil and arduous labor from the fall of a historical Adam. In this world, in this life, for me and my family, we will serve the Lord within the blessed boundary stones of the PCA. We have all been either baptized into or called here by conviction and courage to be part of the Presbyterian Church in America. For the GRN and for the many thousands of our members, the PCA is too our home.

When Jesus gave the keys to Peter in Matthew 16, he was entrusting spiritual power for the church’s mission to its leaders. Geerhardus Vos famously commented on the relationship between the Kingdom of God and the Church as a “delicate and eminently practical question.” I will leave such great questions for the Doctors of the Church to explicate; but at the very least consider this idea of Church & Kingdom to be understood to mean the Church is the Kingdom.

Going into this Assembly Week let me share a few reasons why I think we all should love the PCA

Fathers in the Faith

God has graciously blessed us with the bold evangelism of D. James Kennedy, the prophetic voice of Francis Schaeffer, the American Presbyterian historical legacies of the Cannada & Rayburn families. I am grateful for the courageous churchmanship of Jack Williamson, the journalism of Aiken Taylor, the biblical exposition of James Montgomery Boice, the careful plans of John Reed Miller, the logic of RC Sproul and the always gracious wisdom of Paul Settle. These were, along with many others, the indispensable men who helped form and strengthen a young Presbyterian denomination into the family of churches we have become.

It was December 1973, a group of long suffering (Southern Mainline) conservatives withdrew from the PCUS because they were fearful of the theological liberalism of the old church and that it needed to be reformed. They would be a “Continuing Church,” and they would not neglect their Confession of Faith. The old church was becoming too much like the World. When the first General Assembly of the PCA was called to order at Briarwood Presbyterian Church our Fathers in the Faith knew they risked much for King Jesus.

Brothers in the Faith

I love the PCA because we joyfully embrace a “Big God” Theology as described by Kevin DeYoung. We network together for church planting and ministerial fellowship in wonderful places like the Twin Lakes Fellowship led by David Strain. I am so grateful for Jason Helopoulos challenging us to practice Family Worship. I rejoice at the way David Garner has recently taught us the theology of Adoption. I am so grateful for Jon Payne’s love of the ordinary means of Grace, Rick Phillips’ unyielding commitment to preach good bible exposition, Harry Reeder’s audacious evangelism, and Ligon Duncan’s love of covenant theology and church history.

Serving by Faith

I am grateful for the thousands of elders within the church who make the PCA so noteworthy. As I look forward to the week to come I hope I will get to see all of you but a few immediately come to mind. I look forward to seeing Mark Casson, who has a passion to serve Christians in Prison with the Gospel. I appreciate the ever-patient Tim Schirm of the PCA bookstore, who helps our churches have useful materials to read and study to help us grown in our faith. I remember almost 30 years ago, where a young David Sinclair knocked on my door my first day on a college campus and included me in a pickup basketball game, suggested a bible study to join, and encouraged me to read John Murray. That first year in RUF I would meet friends who have stuck with me to this very day.

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