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Church

Upcoming Course: The Theology of the Heidelberg Catechism

Join me 2-hours a week for 10-weeks (April 12–June 18) as we make our way through The Theology of the …

Open Bible
Jesus Christ

A Meditation on The Epiphany or Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles

The Epiphany or Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles January 6, 2021 The Collect O GOD, who by the leading …

Open Bible
Jesus Christ

A Meditation on the Circumcision of Christ

The Circumcision of Christ January 1, 2021 The Collect ALMIGHTY God, who made your blessed Son to be circumcised, and …

Practical

Help Publish a Book in Poland

You can help translate & publish my book Jesus Loves the Little Children for the people of Poland 🇵🇱. We need …

Practical

On Election Day

A Pastoral Note Originally Sent to the Brothers & Sisters of the Oceanside United Reformed Church Dear brothers & sisters, …

Death of Guido de Bres
Article

Why I Love the Belgic Confession

Sinclair Ferguson memorably wrote that of the three Persons of the holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit wasn’t the forgotten, but …

Article

Why I Love the Canons of Dort

I don’t remember anymore the precise moment I encountered the Canons of Dort. I do remember it was while in …

Article

Principles for Paying a Pastor

In my past two articles I’ve dealt with aspects of pastoral theology and preaching doctrine. To close out this week, …

Church

A Catechism on Catechetical Preaching

Following up on my catechism on pastoral theology, I’d like to present this catechism on catechetical preaching. This forms the outline …

Article

A Catechism on Pastoral Theology

A catechism on pastoral theology. What follows is a brief catechism, or, instruction using questions and answers. This catechism reflects …

Article

The Devil: Knowing His Craft

The ancient African church father, Tertullian, once wrote about the Romans’ hatred of the title “Christian.” He said this hatred …

Article

The Devil: The Most Important Thing You Need to Know

The Devil. It’s a title that conjures many images in our minds. Following up on my previous armor of God …

Article

The Armor of God: Your Offense Against Satan

At any given point in time, I have several members of the United States Marine Corps under my care as …

Article

The Armor of God: Your Defense Against Satan

When a pastor looks out over his congregation, he shouldn’t merely see sheep who follow their shepherd, but soldiers who …

Article

The Armor of God: The Call to Arms Against Satan

In Ephesians 6, Paul preaches the necessity of Christians being strong against Satan in Christ (v. 10). We call this …

Article

The Armor of God: Being Strong Against Satan

“Why are you called a Christian?” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 32) Because we bear the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26; …

Article

God’s Visible Media: The Sacraments in a Digital Age

“Give us 90 minutes and we’ll change your life.” So said the slogan of a church in Orange County. Churches …

Article

Why the Differences Between Justification and Sanctification Matter

Justification and sanctification. These are two words we talk about a lot as Reformed Catholics. Do you know their differences matter and …

Apologetics

Life in a Decaying and Dark World

If you’ve traveled to a foreign country you’ve experienced the difficulty of not belonging. The language, the culture, the food, …

Article

The Kind of People God Uses

God saves sinners. That’s the message of the Bible. Amen? This reality must never grow old and dull to us. …

Article

Was the Prophet Amos a Dispensationalist?

Many evangelical Christians have embraced Reformed doctrine and moved into historic Reformed congregations.[1] I’m one of them! Collin Hansen’s, Young, Restless, …

Article

Why Sing Hymns?

In Why Sing Psalms? I cited this phrase: “The 150 Psalms shall have the principal place in the singing of the …

Article

Why Sing Psalms?

“The 150 Psalms shall have the principal place in the singing of the churches.” This is how the Church Order …

Article

John Owen’s Theology of Revival

The Language of “Revival” Way back when I posted on a blog about John Owen’s use of the phrase “spiritual …

Article

John Owen on Evaluating Experience

At the end of chapter 13 John Owen’s (1616–83) well-known treatise Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers (1656) we read …

Article

God’s Glory in the Tabernacle

We’ve come to the end of our series on God’s glory in Exodus. This story began in Egypt, moved into …

Article

God’s Glory in His Presence

“Daddy, I want you to go with me.” Dad, tiredly says, “But you know where it’s at. I’ll be right …

Article

God’s Glory in the Tabernacle Entrance

In 1667 John Owen wrote that “the right and due observation of instituted worship is of great importance unto the …

Article

God’s Glory in the Garments

Life is certainly different for us than for our forefathers. We live mostly in cities; they lived in the wilderness. …

Article

Reformed Thoughts on Law and Gospel

A good book is supposed to be like a good conversation partner. When you open it up, you enter a …

Article

God’s Glory in the Mountain

What are the most important doctrines to your Christian faith and life? Without doubt, the death and resurrection of Jesus. …

Article

God’s Glory in the Manna

Manna. What is it? That’s the meaning of the Hebrew word. It was unfamiliar to those in the story of …

Article

God’s Glory in the Sea

Creation proclaims the glory of God: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Ps. 19:1). Another not as well known …

Article

The Glory of God in Exodus

The glory of God is “one of the master images that helps to tell the story of the Bible.”[1] It’s also …

Article

Ministering After Miscarriages

Unless seminaries have changed, you won’t deal with ministering after miscarriages.[1] Or what if there’s a tragic accident? How do you …

Article

An Exhortation to Theology Students

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of ἐπισκοπή (bishop; GNV, KJV, RSV/overseer; CSB, ESV, NASB, NIV) …

peace sign with two fingers
Article

The 39 Articles and Belgic Confession: A Comparison

With great interest and appreciation I write this article.[1] It’s not often that I read about an Anglican who’s heard of …

Article

Good Liturgy is the Best Instructor

Repetition is the mother of skills. I learned this maxim the hard way. I gathered with others every morning at …

Apologetics

Preaching and Predestination

An address first given at the Reformation O.C. Conference on preaching and predestination October 2012 “An opiate of the flesh …

Article

The Problem and Possibility of Reformed Church Unity

An address on church unity and reformed catholicity to the 38th meeting of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council …

Article

Reformed Catholic?

I trust the title of this website sounds shocking. “I thought Reformed guys were ‘Calvinists?’” “Is this guy a Catholic …

Apologetics

Christianity Does Offer Answers to the Coronavirus

A Response to N.T. Wright from the Book of Common Prayer Ever since we began hearing about the Coronavirus we’ve …

Apologetics

The Case for the Resurrection

“I accept the resurrection of Jesus not as an invention of the community of disciples, but as an historical event.” Take …

Apologetics

The Case for the Cross

I assume you are a skeptic of whether Jesus Christ was and is even real. I want to respond to …