As a redeemed people, we bear witness to the good news that Jesus died on the cross, bore our sin, and rose from the grave, conquering death. Believing this good news makes us part of a body that lives and moves together toward seeing Jesus. We don’t do this evangelism thing alone.   Myth #1:... Continue Reading

The reading and preaching of the Word is a special ordinance, an outward means whereby Christ communicates the benefits of his mediation (WLC 154). While our Reformed forebears saw the importance of personal and family devotion (WCF 21.6), they espoused the scripturally-based centrality of hearing and receiving the Word in corporate gatherings.   A pastor recounted the... Continue Reading

A healthy, growing church is one that, by the Word of truth and the medium of grace, realizes the peace of God in unity, and is always maturing as the Body of Christ in its community. We should measure the health of our churches, not by numbers of people, staff, programs, or budgets, but by... Continue Reading

The best advice I have for us is to remember the wise counsel we’ve given to other women. Give yourself a pep talk about your true identity, and then remember how much you have to bring to the church.   I’ve believed many lies throughout my life. Different stages led to different misconceptions – some... Continue Reading

“Once upon a time that was very effective in our country. Those days are long gone. But unfortunately, church leaders still want to leverage ‘the Bible says,’ which is great for people who take the Bible seriously,” said Stanley. “It’s not my audience. … I’m trying to recapture the imagination of people, adults and students... Continue Reading

More than half (54 percent) of U.S. churchgoing Protestants surveyed said they would seriously consider finding a new church if their current one changed its doctrine. This exceeded even the share of churchgoers saying they would switch places of worship if they moved to a new residence (48 percent).   Churchgoers may complain about changes... Continue Reading

Almost ten months later, I watched a show on television where a woman described her experience with postpartum depression and with tears streaming down my face, I whispered aloud, “That’s me.” I called my doctor the next day. Depression is insidious like that. It hides itself behind circumstances and experiences. It can mask itself as... Continue Reading

A Presbytery had examined and approved a candidate for ordination. In the course of that examination, the candidate declared a difference with Westminster Larger Catechism 109.[1] Having approved the candidate for ordination, the Presbytery subsequently approved a motion that the candidate “not be allowed to teach his exception to LC 109.”[2]   At the 2018... Continue Reading

Before I make my case let us consider some of the criticisms of the Graham Rule, which says that men should not be alone with women who are not their wives. One argument says that the rule is unfair to women since it segregates them from the same pastoral care that men receive.   It... Continue Reading

In its order in Geneva College v. Azar, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania ordered the federal government to cease enforcing the mandate and declared “that defendants—the United States Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor, along with their respective Secretaries—violated Geneva College’s rights under RFRA….”   PITTSBURGH – A federal... Continue Reading