Kyle E. Sims - Gentle Reformation

Polity Matters (Part 2)

May 09, 2023

Being almost 7 foot tall and 350 pounds, I live as part of the 1%. I walk the earth as a giant. This gives me a unique perspective on how life is to

Polity Matters

April 11, 2023

Are the rules of the church arbitrary? Do we follow the rules as a part of our commitment to Jesus or are they just something we get from the world? This is a

Leaving and Beginning

March 14, 2023

One of the hardest decisions for a pastor is to leave a congregation. When there is a call to a new field there must also be a release from the present minister setting.

revival

Everyday Blessings

February 14, 2023

When I look back over 17 ½ years of ministry in Lancaster. There have been no “revivals” of note. We have had no special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Yet, we can clearly see many days of small things that have added up to changed lives.

football

Complete Victory

January 10, 2023

The University of Georgia won its third Football National Championship last night, totally destroying TCU 65-7 in a game that was a blowout from the beginning. I didn’t watch the game, but

Dealing With Spiritual Warfare

December 13, 2022

As a history major, I have alway been drawn especially to military history.There are many biographies, I have enjoyed reading, of men who have fought in desperate struggles against powerful enemies. For

prayer

Stick To It

November 08, 2022

Some Christians ask the same question when returning to regular devotional time: Why did I stop consistently reading and praying daily? It is essential to ask this question: what makes us quit doing something we know we need and that we see has significant benefits in our lives?

Your Own Copy

October 11, 2022

My early memories of church are scattered but still strong. I can remember the old red brick church on the mill hill, sitting in the wooden pews, my father’s arm around my

Fighting Over Prayer

September 13, 2022

“District won't allow prayers over PA” was the headline article in our local paper. At odds were the school district administration and a state legislator over whether the school district could allow ministers

An On-Going Battle

August 09, 2022

There was a spot on my family's land where a previous owner had dumped their trash. Over the years, antique bottles in various blue, amber, and white hues would appear after rainstorms. Every

Westminster Confession of Faith

The Blessing of the Confession and Catechisms

July 12, 2022

If you grew up in a church that taught the Shorter Catechism and studied the Confession of Faith, give thanks to the Lord because that is a blessing. If, like me, you did not grow up in a church that taught the Confession, then take the time to study it now.

Pray For Your Denominational Meetings

June 07, 2022

It is the synod and assembly season in the reformed world. Many of our NAPARC sister denominations are meeting or just have met. These are important meetings that impact the church in many

Calling a pastor

A Plea To Pulpit Committees

May 10, 2022

Often, pulpit committees will talk with several candidates at one time, even interviewing multiple candidates at one time. There is no hard rule against this practice, but there is some wisdom for not doing it this way.

pastoral ministry

Rethinking Pastoral Ministry Post-Covid

April 12, 2022

There is something special and powerful about being with someone in-person. These opportunities do not need to be lost by pastors and elders, or regular members. We need to have the touch of a sympathetic hug. We need to be able to wipe away the tears. We need to feel the reverberations of a laugh.

Stand On The Rock

March 08, 2022

The Lord is our Rock! The Psalmist expresses this truth in the second verse of Psalm 18. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in

habit

Why Spiritual Habits Are Good

February 08, 2022

I grew up on a small farm on a dead-end road in South Carolina. My parents worked full-time jobs, but we had about ten cows, four horses, 30 chickens, and an occasional goat

Winston, I Have A Feeling We Are Not In South Carolina Anymore

January 10, 2022

Dorothy delivers the famous line to her dog in The Wizard Of Oz. "Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." She was right! They had been swept away by a

love

The Need For Christian Love

December 14, 2021

The church is a place where worldly distinctions are melted away by an intense love fired by a common salvation, a shared hope, and the powerful indwelling by Holy Spirit. It is a love that is active and involved.

The Ruling Elder

The Need For Ruling Elders

November 09, 2021

Now is a time for the Ruling Elder! Presbyterian denominations face great difficulties at the local, Presbytery, and Synod (General Assembly) levels. The input of our ruling elders at every level is crucial

reading

Reading Biographies

October 12, 2021

Reading about Christian's lives glorifies God and encourages you. It can be a massive uplift in times of discouragement and trials.

Daniel

Observations on Prayer from Book of Daniel

September 14, 2021

Preaching through the book of Daniel has been a tremendous joy as it speaks to God's power, His purposes, and His faithfulness. It shows us the Lord's love and help to his people

joy

Where Is Your Joy?

August 10, 2021

Where is your joy? To be honest, I struggle with joy. I know it is a facet of the Fruit of the Spirit. But it is just hard to be joyful when the

Prayer meeting

Problems and Solutions

July 13, 2021

As we enter the second half of 2021, we see the world starting to return to a new normal. We are not returning to 2019, but we can get back to regular routines

prayer

Christ Is Our Help!

June 08, 2021

Only with God do we find shoulders that are wide enough for the issues and problems of our day.

ARP Synod

ARPC Synod 2021 - Why Am I Encouraged!

May 11, 2021

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church will meet on June 8-10 at the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC. As we come together, we are facing several significant and potentially controversial issues. There is