3GT Episode 292: Preparing to Commune August 28, 2023 After a summer hiatus, the guys are back! After catching up a bit, they turn their attention to the important topic of preparing to come to the Lord's Table. In the
Living Wills August 24, 2023 The following notes form the minimally-edited substance of one of the lectures I gave at the RPTS last week: they're certainly not definitive or the last word on the subject -
Rest The Biblical Doctrine of Vacation August 23, 2023 The Lord provides His people with abundant opportunities for rest and refreshment.
pastoral ministry "God Knows I Love You" August 19, 2023 The voice on the other end of the phone sounded hollow and unhappy as he expressed to me his fatigue in the ministry: "I imagine I feel about my congregation how Jonah felt about Nineveh.”
Anger Tempering our Tempers August 18, 2023 When we’re sinfully angry, we want to say a lot - to other people, ranting out loud to ourselves, and perhaps especially online. When we’re righteously angry, we want to pray a lot – sometimes without words!
Christ in the Old Testament Jesus: True and Better (from Calvin to Keller) August 15, 2023 A memorial service for the late Tim Keller is being held this afternoon. One of the things Keller will be remembered for is his Christ-centred approach to the Old Testament. He often summarised
CS Lewis on Reading Dead Guys August 14, 2023 There is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books. Thus I
Getting Back To It August 08, 2023 As the summer draws to a close and school begins, many of us enter back into the hectic life of kids in school. There are clothes and supplies to buy. New challenges come,
The God Who Saves August 02, 2023 In Isaiah 63 we find a familiar word used twice. It’s the word hesed or lovingkindness. I say it’s familiar because we run across it in many different places in Scripture.
Changing Eschatology in the RPCNA (Part 2) August 01, 2023 This is the second in a two-part series on the change in eschatology within the RPCNA. The first part explored the postmillenialism prevalent until the middle of the 20th century. This second part
Fair-Weather Presbyterians July 28, 2023 Presbyterians did I call them—no, I do mistake, Such are not presbyterians, who do their church forsake. Midst misery, a' times, standing alone, As by test, true presbyterianism is shown. But
Abuse Philemon and the Opposite of Abusive Leadership July 25, 2023 There is much talk in the church today about oppressive leadership and spiritual abuse, and for good reason! But we may be lacking a positive articulation of what we should be looking for in our spiritual leaders. The book of Philemon is a start.
Across the Lonely Ocean July 24, 2023 Tonight we'll fly Across the lonely ocean, And tomorrow we'll land Upon the Emerald Isle. In times past The trip was joy abounding. But these days, Our hearts ache
3GT Episode 291: Christians and Wealth July 18, 2023 As the three amigos / three musketeers / three stooges (You choose one!) are back together again, they respond to a question from a regular listener. What are Christians who have earthly riches to do?
Race, Church, and Society July 17, 2023 The following guest post highlights a helpful book with the same title. It is written by its author Dr. Frank Smith, pastor of the Atlanta Reformed Presbyterian Church. Among Frank's other
The Covenant of Grace is Better July 13, 2023 There are many ways to compare the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace. If you need a refresher on the two, I would suggest reviewing chapter 7 of the Westminster Confession
humility LORD, My Heart Is Not Haughty July 12, 2023 LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me (Psalm 131:1). By Voice of Fear I
Encouragement July 11, 2023 Pastoral Ministry can be discouraging. Often those whom we pour out our lives for in ministry will break our hearts. Some leave the faith and declare themselves apostates. Others just slowly disappear from
3GT Episode 290: (Local) Church and (Local) State July 10, 2023 Often discussions about church and state are of the big picture variety. Theological debates about Christ's rule over the nations. Arguments over the boundaries of ecclesiastical and governmental authority. Opinions about
Bluebloods? July 06, 2023 In recent weeks I've been studying Jacob's life. Genesis 30 deals with the origins of the Church and the kind of unpromising soil in which the Family of God
Westminster Confession Reading the Confession in Context (1): 'Authentical' July 05, 2023 Responsible preachers – and thoughtful Bible readers – are aware of the danger of taking verses out of context. A similar danger, which many of its adherents are less aware of, applies to the Westminster
A Short Treatise on Slavery July 03, 2023 When you preach in an expositional fashion through books of the Bible, inevitably you are forced to treat topics you might otherwise avoid. Yesterday was such a case. As I was in Ephesians
oldest fragments June 30, 2023 This entry for Gentle Reformation is somewhat different from what I have sent previously, but it reflects a subject to which my mind has turned repeatedly in recent months. What you see above,
fading churches Fading Churches June 28, 2023 The positive impact of churches on the life of our community is fading to black.
