Category Reformation21

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Is Roman Catholic Baptism Valid?

Over the past 10 years, I’ve been examined by 4 different presbyteries. These have been profoundly edifying experiences that have deepened my love for the brethren and biblical polity. While each presbytery’s exam had its own flavor, a unique blend…

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A Fallen Pastor and His Restoration

A Tragic Reality in the Church – A Fallen Pastor:             The Church of Jesus Christ is not perfect. While the invisible Church is perfect and flawless, awaiting its arrival in the New Heaven and the New Earth, the visible…

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Sermon Prep: Not How Long, But Where?

Many have strong opinions on the amount of time a pastor should take to prepare his weekly sermon, with many affirming that roughly 20 hrs is not just normal but advisable. We’ve probably seen pastors piling up their commentaries on…

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Discipleship in the Reformed World

When I was a Southern Baptist pastor, all I heard about was discipleship. It was their “thing,” almost to a fault. When I moved into the Reformed world, I never heard anything about discipleship. Perhaps my experience is an anomaly…

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Lonely in a Crowd

The weight of loneliness hit me really hard a few weeks ago. I couldn’t explain why. I live on the same property as my family and see them daily. Our small, flourishing church plant provides plenty of weekly fellowship and…

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The Ministry of Presence

Chaplain Mike Gilson in the Spiritual Care Service unit of San Diego’s Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center shared about his visits with a Vietnamese patient and husband who both spoke little English.  The wife had terminal cancer, but later on…

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My favorite Books of 2024

My Favorite Books of 2024   Daily Doctrine by Kevin DeYoung  This is my pick for the Book of the Year. DeYoung has taken a rather unique and refreshing approach to a volume of systematic theology. It is composed as…