Catechetical Preaching April 08, 2019 Most Reformed folk are accustomed to expository preaching, where the minister works through a book passage-by-passage week-by-week. But unless you are in a Dutch Reformed church, where there has been a long, four
Psalm 115 To God be the Glory - Psalm 115 April 06, 2019 Introduction It rankles with Christians when false religions capture culture. Eyes sob with tears if pastor-failure hits the news. Zeal for divine glory loathes to learn of Gospel scandal. And Yet... Glory-theft is
Psalm 40:6 Three Cheers for Pierced Ears! April 04, 2019 Mom, I want to get my ears pierced! Considering the many alternatives in today’s world, such a declaration might actually bring relief! There are a variety of reasons people pursue various types
3GT Episode 127: What about Non-Professing Baptized Members? April 02, 2019 Presbyterians baptize their babies. As members of the visible church, as those babies grow up and become young adults, the promised-based hope is that one day they will profess their own faith in
Wedding Banquet Feasting or Faking? April 01, 2019 Introduction Just a brief outline today on the Matthean account of the Wedding Banquet parable in 22:1-14. Context It seems to be the parable that lit the tinderbox of Jewish antagonism that
A Daily Gospel Preached without Words April 01, 2019 Unspoken, silent, like the language of the stars, it is there. Unknowingly acted out, a message unheard. Its natural rhythm a silent echo, a sermon without words. Evening's shadow never fails
culture Cultivating Earth and Eternity March 30, 2019 Christians are called by Christ their king to cultivate both earth and eternity. These two callings are distinct but never separate, and both glorify God.
suffering Never let a "good" affliction go to waste! March 29, 2019 In 2006, John Piper wrote a helpful piece entitled "Don't Waste Your Cancer". The same spiritual truths undergirding his point ought to be applied to every affliction believers face. If we fail to pursue and receive spiritual good in our trials, we waste our affliction.
Sound Medicine A Plea to My Brothers and Sisters Fighting Cancer March 28, 2019 To say that we are trusting God to heal us while at the same time refusing to use the methods that God has given to heal us is folly.
Psalm 87 Glad, Grateful, Guards of God's Gracious, Glorious Gates - Psalm 87 March 27, 2019 Here humble hearts explode into exuberant ecstatic praise - astonished, soaring, sons of Korah bless their amazingly good God. Outline The structure of the Psalm is easy enough to discern: it can be
3GT Episode 126: Angelology 101 March 26, 2019 From hearing a charismatic tell the story of an angel sitting on a dashboard to reading scary Frank Peretti novels in the woods at night, Kyle has been a bit traumatized by angels
Hospitality Hospitality as the Body of Christ March 26, 2019 The church practices hospitality as the body of Christ together.
Responding to Carl Trueman's 'Follow the Money' Lecture March 25, 2019 On March 5-6, Dr. Carl Truman delivered a series of messages for the 2019 den Dulk Lectures at Westminster Seminary California [https://www.wscal.edu/news-and-events/news/2019-den-dulk-lectures-recap]. Entitled “And Miles to Go
Psalm 63 Day and Night - Psalm 63 March 23, 2019 This is a childhood favorite that we sang at morning worship - yet don't let church tradition rob you of its evening worth. Timings of references help us unearth three divisions:
Discipleship Discipleship and the Sacraments March 22, 2019 When we receive the Word and sacrament in faith we are fellowshipping with him who has physically ascended to his Father in heaven and are made his followers. And Jesus intended that this method of discipleship continue until his return.
2 Corinthians 3:1-5 A Magnum Opus March 21, 2019 A recent home movie night featured Mr. Holland’s Opus. In this 1995 film, Richard Dreyfuss plays the role of Glenn Holland, a man who finds himself teaching music in a high school
3GT Episode 125: The Need for Holiness March 19, 2019 “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” So states the letter of Hebrews. The guys meditate and discuss several questions that arise from this warning. Why is holiness necessary for heaven? How
Psalm 40 From Pits to Praise - Psalm 40 March 18, 2019 Another favorite from childhood - I always loved this Psalm which we used to sing to Spohr: later it enthralled, during messianic studies, when I noticed it in Hebrews. Context It helps to
Now That's What We Mean by Gentle! March 18, 2019 Pastor Jared Havener, minister of the Trinity PCA congregation of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, spoke in the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary chapel last week. Jared is a graduate of RPTS and serves on our President&
Psalm 67 Joy To The World - Psalm 67 (or God's Ultimate Purpose) March 16, 2019 There are few hymns in the Psalms that can match this song for joy - it foresees, and fore-sings, the happy outcome of God's wonderful saving plan. Context Employed in temple
The Goodness and Pleasantness of Community March 15, 2019 A few weeks ago I was reading Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers and was struck by the story with which he introduces the book. It’s about a little town in Pennsylvania called
Puritanism, preaching, postmodernism, KJV, post-Christian (Re)Incarnational Ministry? March 13, 2019 Preaching to the spiritually dead (Ezekiel 37, Ephesians 2) does not mean preaching to the ghosts of the past.
A Heart For Discipline March 12, 2019 There is a heart-wrenching chapter in Pat Conroy’s novel The Lords of Discipline . The roommate of protagonist Will McLean is drummed out of the Corps of Cadets. This is a solemn ceremony
3GT Episode 124: About That UMC Vote March 12, 2019 Turns out the pastor spent quite a bit of time watching the deliberations (and wrote a helpful review here [https://gentlereformation.com/2019/03/08/a_church_in_crisis/]). So after sharing some
Short Story Psalm Videos March 11, 2019 Recently Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary had a friend encourage students via a contest to make short videos based on a Psalm that tell a story. Some of the criteria given to the students
