John Calvin

Christ in the Psalms

The Psalms: Maximally or Minimally Messianic?

January 16, 2024

Charles Spurgeon once recommended a commentary on the Bible with an interesting caveat - the author had "the peculiar idea that Christ is in every Psalm".

worship

Reverence and Emotion in Reformed Worship Part 1

May 04, 2022

This is the first in a three-part series on the role of emotion in Reformed worship (part two is here [https://gentlereformation.com/2022/06/01/reverence-and-emotion-in-reformed-worship-part-2/] ). In these articles, I argue for

John Calvin

A Godly Citizen: Help From the Past

December 15, 2020

How can I be a godly citizen? In answering that question even among Christians there’s been over-the-top rhetoric about tyranny, a brutish need to self-assert "rights," a cowering in fear and anxiety, and a general lack of a wise and discerning spirit.

John Calvin

Wisdom from John Calvin on COVID-19

April 28, 2020

What would John Calvin say to the likes of us about facing COVID-19?

A Guide to Christian Living

Calvin on Christian Sobriety

July 25, 2016

One of the devotional habits I have practiced over the past few summers is to read slowly, section-by-section, through _A Guide to Christian Living. _A gift from a friend, this small book is

Bruce Jenner

Answering This Generation's Question of Essential Identity

May 16, 2016

Each news cycle brings with it one more saga about sexual and gender identity. North Carolina establishing bathroom laws against transgender usage. The mayor of New York City restricting travel to the state

Charles Hodge

Jesus Our Sin-Bearer

February 09, 2015

Over at The Cripplegate [http://thecripplegate.com/], in an article entitled " In what way was Jesus made sin on the cross? [http://thecripplegate.com/how-was-jesus-made-sin-on-the-cross/]", Nathan Busenitz tackled the meaning of

Christian Calling

Calling

December 29, 2014

For a variety of reasons, most notably of which is a class that I am taking on leadership, I have been reflecting on calling.  God calls his people to special areas of service,

Acts 12

Guardian Angels

November 10, 2014

When Peter was in prison awaiting his execution that was to take place the next day, we read in Acts 12 that the church conducted an all-night prayer service for him.  God responded,

Halloween

Browse Worthy: Reformation Day

October 31, 2014

As today marks 497 years since Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenburg Chapel door, why not take a few minutes to reflect on God's use of that wondrous act

Abraham Kuyper

Guest Post: J.K. Wall on the Two Kingdoms Debate

October 20, 2014

_J.K. Wall is a business journalist in Indianapolis, where he is a member of the Christ Church Reformed Presbyterian congregation. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history, writing his

holiness

Weekend Quote: Predestination and Holiness

October 11, 2014

From _The Institutes of the Christian Religion _by John Calvin (Book 3, 23:12): > Another argument which they employ to overthrow predestination is that if it stand, all care and study of

John Calvin

The Things I Learn Grading

March 07, 2014

As I near the end of grading by wading through student papers on worship, I have enjoyed learning or re-learning as well.  Here are a few gleanings to share with you. On communion,

Alfred Edersheim

The Discipleship Growth of...Jesus

February 07, 2014

After His birth events, the one other story of Jesus in His childhood, contained at the end of Luke 2, is such an intriguing one. For it contains an incredible statement. In telling

John Calvin

Calvin on God's Will

September 02, 2013

One of my more enjoyable summer memories will be the morning I had a theological discussion with my daughter, Emory.  She was asking about God's will, particularly the question about how

A Guide to Christian Living

A Sweet Ouch

June 11, 2013

From A_ Guide to Christian Living_ (pages pp.28-31),_ _a devotional extracted from the third book of John Calvin'sInstitutes of Christian Religion: > When Scripture commands us in our dealings with

John Calvin

Calvin's Counsel on Gentle Reformation

April 30, 2013

While studying for a recent sermon series on the Lord's Supper, I read an interesting passage in John Calvin's 1540 treatise on that sacrament. Toward the end of his

Anne Frank

Jesus' Diary

July 17, 2012

A diary, if shared, can open up for us the private thoughts and world of the author. Readers can feel as if they know the person and his or her time when they

John Calvin

Calvin and that Awful Doctrine

March 14, 2012

If there is one teaching that the name of John Calvin invokes, it is that of predestination.  When even Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predestination], certainly no theological publication, begins its definition

Church

iPew?

December 06, 2011

[http://gentlereformation.allegrodynamics.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cc_icons_06.png] John had noticed that his pastor, for quite some time, had been excited.  A longtime churchgoer, John had never seen him